A Knox woman was arrested Wednesday after police executed an arrest warrant and search warrant at her home.
Officers went to Sherry Wireman’s home on 150 South in Knox to execute an arrest warrant and while they were serving the warrant, officers reportedly saw drug paraphernalia in the residence.
For men and women facing an unintended or crisis pregnancy situation, there is an organization looking to provide practical and emotional support to help those in need. The Bella Vita Pregnancy Resource Center in Knox, a not-for-profit organization, provides free pregnancy tests, options counseling, peer advocate-assisted mentorship and various educational programs in an effort to support those facing a crisis pregnancy situation.
The members of the Kankakee Valley Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #129 handed out two awards last week – the first two of its kind in the lodge’s history.
The members named Knox City Police Officer Chad Dulin as Officer of the Year. He was given this distinction for his heroic act after a scary accident on Feb. 11, 2012.
A Knox man was sentenced in Pulaski Circuit Court recently after pleading guilty to amended charges in a plea agreement with the State.
David Mattes, Sr. was charged with Stalking, a Class C Felony and Residential Entry, a Class D Felony after an August incident in which he allegedly entered a woman’s home in Pulaski County without permission.
In a hearing last week, Pulaski County Prosecutor Stacey Mrak moved to amend the second count, Residential Entry, to a charge of Trespass as a Class A Misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty to that charge. Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn sentenced Mattes to 12 months in the Pulaski County Jail with 11 months suspended and to be served on probation. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim in this case.
Free Cervical Cancer and Breast Cancer screenings are scheduled for tomorrow and Wednesday in Knox. The first screening will be at Dr. Browne’s office from 1-5 p.m. CT and will be conducted by Nurse Practitioners Jennifer Frasure and Erin Duff. The second screening will be held in the office of Indiana University Health physician Dr. Lyjia Strachan, OB/GYN on Wednesday from 1-4 p.m. CT.
Dr. John Taylor, another IU Health Starke Hospital OB/GYN, said pap tests and screenings for cervical cancer are important.
A special meeting for the Knox Planning Commission has been scheduled for Jan. 14, and Board President Jeff V. Berg told WKVI that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the appointment of a planning commissioner.
A dispute is currently ongoing between Mayor Rick Chambers and the Planning Commission as to who gets to appoint the planning commissioner. Chambers said he believes it’s his appointment, while Berg feels the appointment is theirs to decide. Unfortunately, Chambers said it’s a confusing matter because it has been done both ways in the past.
Continuing her efforts to raise awareness of the health problems in the county and the newly-formed coalition, “Moving Starke County Forward,” former state representative Nancy Dembowski appeared before the Knox City Council asking them to proclaim 2013 a “Year of Health” for the city of Knox.
Dembowski explained that because the county had come in second-to-last place for health rankings in the state, she said it’s time to see what can be done to improve health in Starke County. She said that a proclamation from all county governments would help spread the word, and she said the organization is also planning a number of county-wide health contests. On top of that, Dembowski said the group is hoping to hold a drug symposium in the spring to raise awareness of the harmful effects of drugs.
An ongoing dispute in the city administration for Knox has left one office empty, as former Planning Commissioner Greg Matt was not re-elected to his position. Worse, the Planning Commission and Mayor Rick Chambers are at odds as to who elects the planning commissioner – Chambers said he believes the planning commissioner is a department head appointed by him, but the Planning Commission believes he is an employee appointed by the commission.
The Knox Community School Corporation will soon be implementing a new program that will enhance communications between the three schools, parents, guardians and patrons.
School Messenger will be utilized to help get the message out to subscribed patrons about important school events such as closings or delays or school emergencies. Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that a mass text message will be sent out on Monday, Jan. 14.
A financial aid meeting has been organized by the officials at Knox High School.
The “Paying for College” workshop will be Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 6:30 p.m. CT in the high school cafeteria.
The Knox City Council is trying to come up with a solution to a problem that is not uncommon to them, but inconvenient all the same. Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston told the council that he received a notice from the State Board of Accounts detailing their budget order and explaining what amounts each budget would receive.
Houston explained that on the whole, the budgets are looking good, but there are two budgets that will need to be reworked due to cuts from the state. The Motor Vehicle Highway Fund, with a balance of $413,131, was cut by $24,536 – not a hefty cut, but still a hindrance. The Park Department’s budget was also cut by $11,135 for a total budget amount of $146,358 – another small cut, but park officials are calling it another obstacle to their five-year plan.
The Knox Community School Board met for the first time this year on Monday night. Before the meeting convened, Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the elected school board members were sworn into office.
“City Judge Charlie Hasnerl came in and administered the oath of office to the four elected members,” said Gappa. “The returning members are Kirk Bennett and Jerry Fletcher and two new members to the school board are Wendy McIntire and Kurt Kemble.”
The new year brings new appointments to various governmental boards.
The Knox School Board will be appointing a new president during their meeting Monday night, as well as a vice president and secretary. Harold Welter held the position of president for the past two years. He was not elected back onto the board so the members will be making a new selection.
Two new members will be welcomed Monday night: Kurt Kemble and Wendy McIntire. They will be sworn into office and several other appointments and memberships will be made. Conflict of Interest Statements will be signed and the 2013 board meeting dates will be approved. Other business that comes before the board will also be discussed.
The Knox City Police Department had a busy year last year.
In his annual report, Police Chief Clint Norem stated that 4,207 calls were made to the department in 2012 with 116 accident reports taken and 384 incident reports written.
A construction project on U.S. 35 north of Knox has several people scratching their head, as no permits have been filed in Starke County nor the city of Knox.
However, despite the lack of filed permits, City Building Administrator Greg Matt said it appears that NIPSCO is building a substation. He explained a permit is required for them to build a substation, and on top of that, plans for the structure must be submitted as well.
Three Knox residents were arrested Friday on several drug charges.
Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at 2885 E. 150 S. in Knox. Three people were found and detained inside the residence. A search of the property was conducted and detectives and officers found an inactive methamphetamine lab, methamphetamine, controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.
A demolition date has not yet been set for the former home of the Knox theater and the offices of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation.
City Planning Administrator Greg Matt said the city of Knox is in the midst of applying for a grant to take down the building at the corner of Main and Lake streets. The grant’s matching funds will be paid by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. If the grant is obtained, a date will be set for the demolition of the building in downtown Knox.
An archiving company has been inside the building to take out the antique theater chairs, the limestone from the outside of the building, and the tin ceilings.
The original owner and operator of the Zingo Service Station in Knox has died.
Walter Allen, 99 of Knox, was also bestowed the title of Kentucky Colonel by two different Kentucky governors. Kentucky Colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Commissions for Kentucky Colonels are given by the governor and the secretary of state to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation.
A Knox man was arrested following the execution of a search warrant in the wake of a burglary at the Ruthie Drive apartments.
Alysia and Kevin Bowman left their apartment around 11 a.m. on Christmas Eve to spend time with family, and later that night, Alysia received a message from a friend who informed her that her apartment door had been kicked open. Her neighbor confirmed the door had been kicked in, and the pair rushed home to see what had taken place.
A Knox man was arrested Wednesday after an alleged domestic battery incident.
Police were called to a home in Giles Court after a call came in about a woman who had been battered by her husband. The victim told police that her husband, Bernard Breese, told her about an infidelity and she got upset. She told police that an argument ensued and he tried to hug her but she reportedly told him to not touch her. She said Breese allegedly picked her up and threw her down on the ground. Her head hit the ground which caused an eye and forehead injury. The victim then ran across the street to call the authorities.
