Starke County Fireworks Net Almost $1000 Profit

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Fireworks event was a success last week.

According to Knox Mayor Rick Chambers, a profit was made in this year’s event. The fireworks show, hosted by Mad Bomber, was conducted at $7,800 and with other expenses, the total cost came to $8,559. Over $4,000 was donated toward the event, and gate fees totaled $2,437. Two fundraisers brought in a little over $2,500. In all, $9,461 was collected which provided a $902.46 profit for the city.

Mayor Chambers and the Fireworks Committee thanks everyone who was a part of this year’s success and the Mayor said the show will go on in 2013.

Pulaski County Continues To House Some Starke County Inmates

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Jail

An agreement has been made to house inmates from the Starke County Jail in the Pulaski County Jail. If the population goes over the rated capacity of 62, a certain number of inmates will be transported to the Pulaski County facility.

Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem explained that the agreement does come at a price.

“We pay them twenty dollars per day, per inmate and that they will house them, feed them and provide their medical care,” said Norem.

Continue reading →

Two Important Meetings In Starke County This Week

Posted on Author WKVI

Two important meetings are scheduled to be held this week in Starke County.

The first, the Knox City Council will be meeting on Tuesday to discuss their proposed water rate increase. Discussion will be held over Umbaugh and Associates’ recommendation to increase the water utility rate by $6.70 a month and the council will vote on whether or not to approve an ordinance increasing the water rate. A public hearing will also be held, and the meeting will take place at Knox City Hall at 7 p.m.

A special meeting for the North Judson Town Council will be held on Thursday at 4 p.m. CT to discuss the North Judson Industrial Park. According to Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry, expected attendees include Town Superintendent Marshall Horstmann, Charlie Weaver and Larry Wickert of the Starke County Economic Development Foundation.

Ted Hayes Begins New Career

Posted on Author WKVI
WKVI Groundbreaking in 1987 (L to R) LeRoy Gudeman, Harold Weinberg, Tom Bell, Ted Hayes, Ralph Harbison and Mike Gurrado (missing from the picture-Almo Smith)

To all of my WKVI friends,

Today, I begin a second career in Knox.  After 43 years at the radio station, I have formed a new company, Hayes Media Solutions.  In the early stages, I will be publicizing information from IU Health Starke Hospital.  In my almost 50 years in broadcasting, I have always been interested in health-related issues, so this new task will be a labor of love.

Continue reading →

Funeral for Former Starke County Sheriff to Be Held Tomorrow

Posted on Author WKVI

Funeral services for a former Starke County Sheriff will be held tomorrow afternoon.

Wilkus Minix passed away Wednesday, July 5 at the Pulaski Memorial Hospital in Winamac. He was the Starke County Sheriff from 1995 to 1998, and he was also an officer for the North Judson Police Department and the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.

He was a member of the Starke County VFW and the Knox American Legion. He also served as a California Township Advisory Board member and was a former precinct committeeman for the Republican Party.

Funeral services will be tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT at the Braman and Son Memorial Chapel in Knox with visitation today from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. He will be interred in the Crown Hill Cemetery in Knox.

No Fires Reported Over Holiday For Starke, Pulaski Counties

Posted on Author WKVI

Despite the controversy regarding Pulaski and Starke counties’ recent decisions to rescind their burn bans, no fires were reported on Fourth of July in either county.

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department reports that while they had no fire calls on the holiday, they did receive a number of noise complaints because of the fireworks. Overall, it was a safe Fourth of July for the county. No fires and no serious injuries were reported, and the Starke County fireworks celebration went off without a hitch.

Continue reading →

Registration Schedule For Knox Schools Released

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

Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa announced that the school registration schedule has been released this week.

“The high school, middle school and the elementary school released registration dates for the upcoming school year,” said Gappa. “I know it seems like the old school year just ended, but that information will be posted on the website and we will get that information out so everyone is aware of the registration times for the upcoming school year.”

The registration days will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, July 31 through Aug. 2, at the Knox elementary and middle schools, and Aug. 1 and 2 at the Knox High School. To download a full schedule, click here.

Freshmen registration is Thursday, Aug. 9 from 8 to 11 a.m. Back to School Night is Monday, August 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. at all schools, and the first day of school for Knox students is Tuesday, August 14.

Washington Township Elementary School to Be Demolished

Posted on Author WKVI

The Washington Township Board has decided to demolish the old elementary school building at the corner of Division Road and State Road 23. The board noted that the building poses a safety hazard and needs to be demolished.

Washington Township Trustee Shelly Kemble said the board is taking bids for the demolition.

“The Washington Township Board will be accepting sealed bids for the demolition and removal of the Washington Township Elementary School and pumphouse during the board meeting on July 24,” stated Kemble. “The contractor must have liability insurance and the sealed bid must be brought to the July 24 meeting.”

Continue reading →

Smoking To Be Prohibited On Starke County Government Campuses

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

The Starke County Commissioners at their recent meeting approved a motion prohibiting smoking on all Starke County government building campuses – this but one day after the state’s new smoke-free air law took effect, prohibiting smoking in most businesses throughout Indiana. Smoking will not be allowed on the properties of the annex building, courthouse, jail, county highway garage, ambulance garages, and other county-owned buildings.

The minimum state provisions for the new smoke-free air law require all non-exempt buildings to post signs prohibiting smoking within eight feet of any entrance, but the commissioners’ motion prohibits smoking on the property as a whole and requires smokers to travel as far as the sidewalk to light up.

North Judson Residents Receive Sprinkling Water Discount

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board

In an effort to reduce the cost of watering lawns with sprinklers, the Town of North Judson has applied nearly $6000 in sprinkling rate credits. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry says this last billing gave $5991.28 in credits to their water customers who have been using sprinklers to keep their lawns watered.

Henry explained that because the water that is used to sprinkle lawns doesn’t go through the sewer system, the sewage charges are reduced. She says the discounted sprinkling rate is applied to customers that have used more than their average amount of water, and the credit is applied automatically.

With this hot, dry summer, it’s the perfect incentive for residents to sprinkle their lawns and bring some green back to their grass. Henry says this reduced rate is a big service to the community because it encourages them to water their yards and keep grass and plants from becoming too dry from the arid heat.

Public Invited To Tour Knox Elementary School Palmer Wing

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Facility Study Committee met with Curt Pletcher from Umbaugh and Associates on June 26 to go over the financial feasibility of renovating or constructing a new Palmer Wing of the Knox Elementary School. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said they are trying to figure out how either project would impact the tax rate of the school district.

“The board wanted to have an idea of what direction to go,” said Gappa. “We will meet again with an architect within the next two weeks with our committee and at that point we will invite people in who came a year ago to start making more firm plans.”

Continue reading →

Yellow River Project To Kick Off Soon

Posted on Author WKVI
Yellow River

Work on the Yellow River project could begin soon, according to Starke County Surveyor Dennis Estok, who says the project will address two problems.

“We’ll be pulling out a lot of the fallen trees in the river,” explained Estok. “They do a lot of damage and they’ve ruined a lot of banks. A lot of landowners have lost a lot of ground because of this. It’s not only that, it’s the recreation aspect. I know a lot of people who canoe and they do not hardly travel that route because of the many fallen trees.”

Continue reading →

Fireworks Tonight At the Starke County Airport

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Fireworks celebration is tonight at the Starke County Airport! The gates open at 6 p.m. and there is a five dollar charge per carload. The Starke County Fireworks Committee encourages you to get all of your family members and friends together to attend the fireworks celebration.

There will be several vendors on hand to sell food and other goods, the Starke County Amateur Radio Club will have information available on their organization while members provide demonstrations and a remote controlled plane club will be flying model airplanes. Enthusiasts of both organizations will be available to answer any questions.

The fireworks show will begin at dusk.

Starke, Pulaski Counties Lift Burn Bans

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners approved a motion repealing the county-wide burn ban on Monday, putting an end to the ban that lasted three weeks, from June 18 to July 2. Storms that had tore through the area last weekend had brought moisture back to the parched summer weather, alleviating some concern of fires caused by the dry conditions.

North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Chief Joe Leszek discouraged the commissioners from lifting the ban so soon, but the commissioners were also pressured by others to lift the ban in light of the recent rains. A motion was approved to lift the ban with the possibility of reinstatement in the future, and Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem says they will carefully monitor the situation in case conditions worsen.

Continue reading →

Hearing Set For Monday In Case Against Connie Miller

Posted on Author WKVI

The Attorney General filed a civil lawsuit against former North Judson Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller last week.

The lawsuit stems from a special report for the Town of North Judson filed by the State Board of Accounts earlier this year citing alleged financial discrepancies totaling $74,408.67 during the period of time between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2011. Miller was asked to reimburse the town for the alleged discrepancies.

Miller, in a letter to the state board of accounts, wrote that she “strenuously objected to any allegations or suggestions” that she had “done any wrong for personal gain.” She also wrote that she was confident that the discrepancies set out in the report can be rectified.

Matthew Baker Receives Sentence In Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

Matthew Baker was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Thursday after pleading guilty to four counts against him.

The Knox man was sentenced to 10 years in the Department of Corrections with two years suspended, on a charge of Dealing in Methamphetamine, a Class B Felony. On the Class D Felony charge of Attempted Battery, he was sentenced to 18 months in the DOC with none of that sentence suspended. He will spend one year in the Starke County Jail on each of the two misdemeanor counts of Taking a Child to a Nuisance. None of that sentence was suspended. The three lesser counts will be served concurrently, but the Dealing in Methamphetamine charge will be served consecutively to those charges.

He will also serve two years on probation. He will be applying to the home detention program when he is eligible to serve his sentence on probation, and if he successfully completes the CLIFF Program, he can petition the court to modify his sentence.

Report Storm Damages Online To Department of Homeland Security

Posted on Author WKVI

It wasn’t a tornado went through the area on Friday, but strong straight-line winds that caused power outages across the listening area and extensive damage to homes and boats at Bass Lake and several other locations.

If you sustained damage caused by severe weather Friday or Sunday, report it to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security by going online to www.myoracle.in.gov/hs/damage. If you don’t have internet access, contact a friend or neighbor for help, or go to the local library and someone can help you with you in this process.

Continue reading →

Starke County Burn Ban To Be Reevaluated Today

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners will discuss the burn ban during their regular meeting this morning at 9 a.m. The current ban expires today.

Despite the ban, the county’s fireworks celebration will proceed as scheduled. Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem confirmed that the event will be held at the Starke County Airport on Wednesday, July 4, regardless of the status of the ban.

Continue reading →

Knox City Council Adopts Anti-Nepotism Policy

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox City Council

The Knox City Council last week passed a motion to adopt a policy regarding conflicts of interest and nepotism in office, a policy required by new state law as of today. City Attorney David Matsey says this is the first step required to conform to Indiana’s new guidelines, and they will next pass a resolution and draft an ordinance reenforcing the policy.

The council adopted the minimum provisions required by state statutes for nepotism, prohibiting a person from supervising a direct relative. Matsey pointed out that the law does not prevent grandparents from supervising grandchildren in office, and it only affects direct supervisors.

The law only applies to future hirings, and Matsey told the council that a list of all employees will need to be made to note employees that are related.