Knox Community School Board To Meet With Architecture Firm

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board discussed the Facility Study Committee’s progress with the Palmer Wing. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the committee is still gathering information on whether to build a new wing or to rehabilitate the deteriorated structure.

“Our board has a committee that will meet this week with a representative from the Barton, Coe and Villema architecture firm in Fort Wayne,” said Gappa. “We will proceed with talk about the possibility of a renovation or replacing the Palmer Wing at the elementary school.”

After the Committee meets with the architect, Gappa says the Board will plan meetings with the public.

“We plan to have some more public meetings and invite the members of the public in and get input on which direction to go,” said Gappa.

Starke County 4-H Royalty Announced

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County 4-H Royalty winners have been announced! Dylan Shively and Elizabeth McGaughey were crowned yesterday at the Starke County 4-H Fair in Hamlet.

The son of Deanna and David Shively, Shively is a ten-year member of the Starke County Rebels and a six-year member of the Junior Leaders. Shively is a 2012 graduate of Oregon-Davis High School.

Soon to be a senior at John Glenn High School, McGaughey is a nine-year member of the Cloverleaf 4-H Club and a five-year member of Junior Leaders. She is the daughter of Jane and Todd McGaughey.

In recognition of his years of service to the Starke County Fair, James Hardesty was awarded the Starke County Fair Board President’s Memorial award.

The William Barbknecht 4-H Scholarship was presented to Emily Pucel, and Dylan Shively received the Charles “Todd” Troike Memorial Scholarship.

Burn Ban Still On In Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

The burn ban in Starke County has once again been extended for two weeks, this time to be reevaluated on Aug. 6 at the commissioners’ regular meeting at 9 a.m.

Campfires, other recreational fires unless enclosed in a fire ring at least 23 inches across and ten inches high, open burning of any kind except grills, and the burning of debris are prohibited. Burning is, however, allowed in burn barrels with a one-quarter inch mesh top from dawn to dusk.

The commissioners and EMA Director Ted Bombagetti will review the conditions and decide whether or not to continue the burn ban at their next regular meeting.

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Knox Man Arrested Following Search of Residence

Posted on Author WKVI

A Knox man was arrested Friday after a search warrant was conducted at his residence.

Late Friday night, a search warrant was executed by Starke County officers in the 700 E. block of East State Road 8 in Knox. During the search, officers reportedly found methamphetamine, precursors to manufacture methamphetamine, controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.

Christopher Kennedy was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Chemical Reagents or Precursors, Controlled Substances and Drug Paraphernalia, plus Maintaining a Common Nuisance. He has since bonded out of the Starke County Jail.

Special Meeting Held Regarding North Judson Industrial Park

Posted on Author WKVI
Charles Weaver
Charles Weaver

A special meeting was held at the North Judson Community Center last week regarding the industrial park, and while nothing definite was decided, the meeting brought together members of the community to share ideas and gather information.

The industrial park has been dormant for quite some time, and the Starke County Economic Development Foundation wanted to work with the North Judson Town Council to put their heads together and come up with some potential possibilities for the development of the park. The meeting also reviewed any current issues with the park.

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Starke County Fair Kicks Off Today

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Fair officially kicks off today! Starting at 6 a.m., 4-H swine, sheep, and goats can be entered until 11 a.m. From 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., contestants for the 4-H cake decorating, flowers, and gardening and crops categories can enter, along with open class foods, food preservation, and hay and grain.

At 10 a.m., fishing opens at the conservation building, and at noon, the 4-H livestock sonoray will take place. Judging for the cake decorating, flowers, and gardening and crops categories will take place at 12:30 p.m., and the poultry, pigeon and waterfowl showing will take place at the poultry and rabbit barn.

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North Judson Man Arrested For Theft Of Air Compressor

Posted on Author WKVI

A North Judson man was arrested Wednesday after a theft investigation.

On Monday, July 9, Rebecca Brown told Starke County police that an air compressor was stolen from a pole barn on her property at 1417 W. 400 S. in North Judson. She went to the pawn shop on Tuesday, July 10 and found the air compressor. After an investigation, police found that the air compressor was pawned by Michael Tolson well before she discovered it was missing. Stealing someone’s air compressor is a surprising thing especially today when there are a lot of affordable yet great options on https://occupythefarm.org/how-to-refill-co2-tank-with-air-compressor or with any local hardware stores.

Tolson, 22, was arrested on a preliminary charge of Theft. He is in the Starke County jail with no bond.

Higdon Receives Two Years For Fleeing Police

Posted on Author WKVI
Raymond Higdon

After fleeing from police in a vehicle on April 27 before he was ultimately arrested and charged with Resisting Law Enforcement, Driving While Suspended, and Reckless Driving, Raymond Higdon appeared in the Starke Circuit Court this week for his plea and sentencing hearing.

Higdon pleaded guilty to Resisting Law Enforcement as a Class D felony, and the other charges were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. Higdon will serve two years in the Department of Corrections with none of that sentence suspended, and he will also be required to pay all court costs and submit to a DNA cheek swab.

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Court of Appeals Upholds Haut’s Sentence

Posted on Author WKVI
Jack Haut

The Court of Appeals has upheld the conviction and sentence against Jack Haut.

Haut was found guilty by a jury of a Class C Felony charge of Reckless Homicide and was sentenced to eight years in prison. A jury found that Haut had driven his pickup truck on U.S. 35 north of Knox and into the path of a motorcycle driven by Tom White, who died from injuries in that accident. Haut claimed he had no recollection of that event and chemical tests proved that he had controlled substances in his body at the time of the accident. A police officer had testified during the trial that Haut appeared intoxicated at the scene.

The Court of Appeals noted in their decision that sufficient evidence supported his conviction and the court upheld the jury’s decision and the judge’s sentence.

Class Action Lawsuit Against Starke County Still On Hold

Posted on Author WKVI
Jack Haut

The class action lawsuit against Starke County by former Starke County Jail inmate Jack Haut is still at a standstill, as the court is currently awaiting an expert witness report from the plaintiffs to substantiate their allegations that the jail is so overcrowded that conditions are unconstitutional for inmates.

While they have until Aug. 30 to do so, the plaintiffs have been having a rough time coming up with the expert witness report required by the court. It was reported that they had found an expert witness and had begun developing the report, but the witness unexpectedly passed away, effectively bringing them back to square one. They now have to hire a new expert witness to work on the report, and until then, there is no trial setting for the case.

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Charges Dropped Against Former Hamlet Street Superintendent

Posted on Author WKVI
John Goble, Sr.

The State of Indiana has dropped charges against former Hamlet Street Superintendent John Goble, Sr.

Any outstanding summons regarding charges in this case have been ordered revoked.

Goble had resigned from the Town of Hamlet in January, and his temporary replacement reportedly could not find certain pieces of equipment. A current equipment inventory list and receipts did not match. A warrant was issued for Goble’s arrest and he was arrested in late March on a charge of theft. He pleaded not guilty to the charge in Starke Circuit Court.

After further investigation, the State of Indiana filed a motion to dismiss the cause without prejudice, which was signed on June 27.

Two Ordinances Passed By Knox City Council

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

Two ordinances were passed this week at the meeting of the Knox City Council on their first readings. The first ordinance increased the water rate for the city in two phases: the first would increase the rate by $2.35, and the second would raise it an additional $2.35, effectively making a total increase of $4.70.

The second ordinance passed was an amendment to the sewer and stormwater ordinance, increasing the rate by $1 this year and an additional $1 next year.

An additional appropriation was also approved at the meeting. The appropriation moved $140,000 from the Cumulative Sewer Fund to rebuild the lift station located on Claybaugh Drive in Knox, near the South Side Fire Station. Another $27,301.08 was moved from the Sewer Improvement Fund, and $21,000 in EDIT funds were also appropriated for the project.

Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston says the council will also be reestablishing the Cumulative Capital Development Fund in the near future.

Tom Berg Continues His Record Attempt As More Support Pours In

Posted on Author WKVI
An employee of Alliance EMS fitted Tom with an oxygen mask for a breath of fresh air.

With just 91 hours left to go as of 5 a.m. this morning, Tom Berg is still holding strong in his attempt to break the world record for the longest continuous radio broadcast by a single host.

Yesterday was a busy day for Tom, as he had visitors in and out of the studio providing him with donations, gifts, tips, tricks, and all kinds of other support.

More people have come forth and pledged to donate $1 per hour Tom stays on the air to charities, and numerous businesses from Knox have provided him and his witnesses with food and other supplies. Alliance EMS visited Tom yesterday with an oxygen mask to get him some fresh air, and even WNDU visited the studio to run a piece on his efforts. You can view the article at: http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/Knox_radio_DJ_attempts_world_record_162279326.html

Finally, Mikey’s Pizza Pit Stop in Knox surprised Tom with his favorite pizza – chicken bacon ranch.

No Water Restrictions in Starke County… For Now

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

Several communities in the state have ordered water restrictions due to severe drought conditions.

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers said that the water superintendent has not ordered any restrictions for Knox, and said the water supply and level look good. Officials will be monitoring conditions.

North Judson Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann is asking residents to monitor water use and supply. Check for leaky faucets and any other unnecessary leaks to help conserve water just in case a restriction is ordered.

Fort Receives 10-Year Sentence For Dealing In Methamphetamine

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

A number of plea and sentencing hearings were held in the Starke Circuit Court by Magistrate Jeanene Calabrese yesterday afternoon.

Mary Fort pleaded guilty to one count of Dealing in Methamphetamine as a Class B felony. She also admitted to committing two probation violations in that she failed to attend Narcotics Anonymous classes, and failed to pay fees and court costs related to her probation. She was also arrested in March, and failed a random drug test for methamphetamine.

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NJSP Schools Pleased With ISTEP Scores

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

The ISTEP scores at the North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation improved overall this year, according to Superintendent Lynn Johnson.

“This year’s results were very good,” said Johnson. “Our three-year trend has shown some significant gains. Our fourth graders scored 86 percent in math and the fifth graders had 91 percent.”

Johnson said the results show in the corporation’s analysis of the three-year trend.

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Burn Ban Reinstated In Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI

Effective as of noon yesterday, the Starke County Commissioners have reinstated the burn ban due to an increase in fire activity and increasing drought conditions. Campfires, other recreational fires unless enclosed in a fire ring at least 23 inches across and ten inches high, open burning of any kind except grills, and the burning of debris are prohibited. Burning is, however, allowed in burn barrels with a one-quarter inch mesh top from dawn to dusk.

This will be in effect until July 16, when the commissioners and EMA Director Ted Bombagetti will review the conditions and decide whether or not to continue the burn ban.

Starke and Pulaski counties had previously lifted their burn bans on July 2, joining four counties in the state at the time that reported their bans as lifted. While Starke County has reinstated the ban, the Pulaski County Commissioners have not yet made the decision to do so. Their next meeting will take place on Monday, July 16, when they will review the current conditions and decide what course of action to take regarding their burning policy.

Knox Skate Park Committee To Be Established

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers announced this week that he and Chris McLaughlin of Werks BMX in Knox will be forming a committee to discuss ideas for improving the skate park – this after McLaughlin informed the city council that they need to find a way to raise funds to maintain the skate park.

Chambers said that the skate park had only been designed with a five-to-eight year life expectancy before it would need some heavy maintenance, and that deadline is quickly approaching. It was pointed out that there are grants available that the city can look into to have the skate park redone, but the price of such a project is pretty steep.

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Knox High School Graphics Department Receives Flexo Press Machine

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox High School Graphic Arts Department has received a flexo press machine to help expand the many programs in that department.

The Mark Andy 830 flexo press comes from Bettylyn Kraft from the Phoenix Challenge. Knox High School is the only school in the state to add a flexo press to the print education program, allowing students to print packaging and other labels.

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