Local school wins Thursday “I Love to Read” Challenge

Posted on Author WKVI
WSBT-TV's Krisin Bien reads to Knox Elementary School students.
WSBT-TV’s Krisin Bien reads to Knox Elementary School students.

A reporter and photographer from a South Bend television station paid a visit to Knox Elementary School this morning.WSBT-TV’s Kristin Bien shared a story with the more than 900 students, teachers, faculty members and staff gathered in the Knox Elementary School gym. The school won the station’s Thursday “I Love to Read” challenge with 13,000 votes. Bien said this is quite impressive, as Wednesday’s winner got 7,000 votes. She read the book “Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing” to the students and stressed the importance of reading. Bien also granted an interview to two reporters from “The Redskin Riot”before returning to South Bend.

 

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Knox Police Arrest Alleged Burglary Suspect

Posted on Author WKVI

police lights 2A Wabash man was arrested Tuesday, Jan. 29 after he was allegedly seen stealing scrap from a home in Knox.

A neighbor called police to report a burglary in progress at 0208 S. 500 E. and reported seeing the suspect messing with the gutters at the residence before seeing the suspect try to force the garage door open. He reportedly saw him enter the south garage door and then put some items into his truck before leaving the scene. The witness was able to give a description of the vehicle to police.

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Knox School Board Hires Teacher for New Program at Elementary School

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
A new teaching position is being created at the Knox Community Elementary School and Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the school board hired a teacher for that position Monday night.

“We’re creating a Title One Preschool program at the Knox Elementary School, so the board did approve the transfer of kindergarten teacher, Jana Hazelton, to become the preschool teacher. They also approved the hire of Robyn Griffith to be the preschool paraprofessional in that classroom. Marla Krulik was hired to be the kindergarten teacher to replace Jana Hazelton for the rest of the current school year,” stated Gappa.

We’ll have more on the upcoming preschool program in a future newscast.

Bible Baptist Church Begins Work on Family Life Center

Posted on Author WKVI

Pastor James Adcock
Pastor James Adcock
Families will soon have a new place to go to exercise and stay warm during the winter months as well as the option of attending various classes or activities. Pastor James Adcock of Bible Baptist Church in Knox said the church is working on building a “family life center,” which he said will offer a gymnasium, classes, office space, nursery area, and a warming kitchen.

Adcock said he was inspired to create the center to help people who are unable to travel to Plymouth for the Lifeplex, and he said he wanted to provide an area for people to walk in a warm environment in the colder months.

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Knox Planning Commission Appoints Bruce Williams as Planning Commissioner

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers
Planning Commission President Jeff V. Berg

After more than a month without a planning commissioner, the City of Knox Planning Commission last night made their appointment for the position. Greg Matt was not re-appointed to the position on Jan. 1, and a debate has been ongoing between Mayor Rick Chambers and the Planning Commission over who has the authority to appoint the planning commissioner.

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Knox Community School Board Discusses Update on Referendum

Posted on Author WKVI
Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board was updated on the public question that will be presented to voters in the school district on May 7. Superintendent A.J. Gappa gave this status to the school board members.

“The DLGF did approve the ballot language to be placed on the referendum ballot so that information now goes to the local county election board who will have a meeting to adopt that resolution and move forward from there,” said Gappa.

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Knox Freshman Orientation Meeting Set for Feb. 20

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox High School officials are getting incoming Freshman students ready for the new school year.

Current 8th grade students and parents are invited to attend a Freshman Orientation meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium. This meeting will help students start thinking about the transition to high school. Topics will include course scheduling, attendance, discipline expectations and extra-curricular opportunities.

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Knox Man Sentenced for Theft, Auto Theft

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man received his sentence in the Starke Circuit Court this week after he pleaded guilty to charges of Auto Theft as a Class D felony and Theft as a Class D felony following his arrest on March 8, 2012.

Zachary Tomerlin, 19, faced two cases in the Starke Circuit Court; the charges of Theft stemmed from an incident in March when police received a report of subjects stealing scrap metal from a barn in Starke County. An investigation into the matter led police to arrest Tomerlin and Daniel Bradley, 21, for the theft.

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Knox Street Dept. Plans to Patch Problematic Potholes

Posted on Author WKVI

With all the freezing and thawing that’s been going on, the prominence of potholes throughout the area is on the rise. Knox Street Superintendent Jeff Borg told WKVI that the weather has been surprisingly gentle to the roads – that is, until these last few days. A few potholes have popped up in the area, and Borg said his crew is hoping to get those filled up soon.

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Three Arrested after Knox Police Find Drugs in Car

Posted on Author WKVI

Three people were arrested after police reportedly found them in possession of drugs.

Knox City Police officers noticed a vehicle parked at the Next Door Food Store gas pumps in Knox for an extended amount of time during the overnight hours Friday. Police approached Shaun Fugate who was cleaning the windshield and asked for his identification and the vehicle’s registration. As officers were gathering all of that information, they allegedly smelled burnt marijuana on Fugate and inside the vehicle.

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Knox Park Equipment Damaged in Shipment; Replacement En Route

Posted on Author WKVI

The installation of the new playground equipment for Wythogan Park has hit a bit of a snag. Park Superintendent George Byer told the city council at their meeting last week that the equipment was delivered, but it had been damaged during shipment. As a result, the installation of the equipment is on hold until the replacement equipment has been received from American Playground. The company has agreed to deliver new equipment themselves to the park.

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Knox Council Discusses Laundromat Salvage Progress

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

Cleanup efforts at the old Knox laundromat continue as the Knox City Council this week heard an update from Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston who explained the contractor is still hauling out washers, dryers, and scrap from the old building. However, while the cleanup efforts can continue during the winter, Mayor Rick Chambers said the city will have to wait for warmer weather before completing the demolition. He said he’s hopeful that the building can be removed without damaging the nearby trees.

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Knox School Board to Fill Vacancy on Library Board

Posted on Author WKVI
Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board is looking for a candidate to fill a position on the Starke County Library Board. Superintendent A.J. Gappa announced the resignation of the school board’s appointment last week.

“The board did accept the resignation of Nick Jacobs as their representative on the library board,” stated Gappa. “There is an open position for anyone interested in being on the library board. You can submit your name to the superintendent’s office at the Knox Community School Corporation.”

For more information, call (574) 772-1600.

Knox Council Approves Budget Reductions

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council this week approved two budget reductions in response to cuts from the state. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston explained that two city budgets suffered from cuts at the state level: the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund, with a balance of $413,131, was cut by $24,536; and the Park Department’s budget was also cut by $11,135 for a total budget amount of $146,358.

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Knox School Board Recognizes Fundraising Efforts by the Cheerleaders

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Community School Board recognized the Knox cheerleaders during their meeting this week. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the girls raised a good amount of money for charity.

“Mrs. Hazelton brought in five of her cheerleaders who talked about the efforts that they made for the American Cancer Society last fall,” said Gappa. “They made over $1,800 to donate to the cancer fund.”

Gappa added that most of the money was collected in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

School Messenger Program Now Running at Knox Schools

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Community School Corporation’s School Messenger program is now up and running. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the program will be helpful in alerting students, staff and parents about school emergencies.

“That’s the service that will report, by text message and email, school messages such as school delays or closings or other important information that would come from the school,” said Gappa.

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Knox Man Arrested Amidst Sexual Battery Allegations

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was arrested last weekend on allegations of sexual battery.

A woman called police to report that she had been attacked by Ryan Povilaitis. She told Knox City Police that Povilaitis was intoxicated and came into the room in the residence they shared and he allegedly forced himself on her. The performance of the sexual act was not committed, but it was attempted. The oral form of the act reportedly occurred. He also allegedly poked the victim with toothpicks and hit her with other objects.

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