Knox City Attorney David Matsey says the city may soon be purchasing two properties. The properties belong to Don Nordstrom, and the city is currently waiting on a proposal from the owner regarding the purchase price.
Matsey identified the properties as 304 S. Main St., formerly known as Marsh Manor, and the vacant laundromat located across the street from the Knox Community Center.
Seniors from the North Judson-San Pierre High School participated in their final events for their high school careers this week. Superintendent Lynn Johnson said a banquet was held Wednesday night for the students.
“We had our Senior Night and we did recognize many of our Senior students with scholarships from different community organizations,” said Johnson. “We did honor our Valedictorian, who is John Eckert, and the Salutatorian Christopher Lippelt. Both boys have done a wonderful job in their school careers academically, athletically, and in community service.”
A staff breakfast has also been scheduled for today at 8 a.m., something that Johnson says is done every year.
Graduation for Knox Community High School Seniors is set for tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Weinberg Gym. Valedictorian Taylor Quella and Salutatorian Brenden Owens will be addressing the student body and a slide show of pictures will be presented.
The guest speaker will be Dr. Byron Holm, owner of the Holm Medical Clinic at Lifeplex and the Holm Medical Clinic in Walkerton. Dr. Holm is a 1965 Knox High School graduate.
A friendly face in the Knox Clerk-Treasurer’s office is leaving. Bertha Blue has been the utility clerk for 25 years, and yesterday was her last day on the job. A party was held in her honor at Knox City Hall.
Blue explained she took up the position after the previous utility clerk left.
“I started part-time and then the girl left and I began as the utility clerk,” said Blue. “I began full time work in 1987.”
Visitors to the North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School may have noticed a few changes. The Starke County Youth Club North Judson site beautified the outside of the school with a new landscape and sign as part of a community service project.
A request to approve a statement of benefits for Hoosier Custom Plastics was tabled by the Knox City Council last week because no one from the company was on hand to answer questions.
The document the council was being asked to sign would confirm the company is in compliance with what was promised when the tax abatement was approved.
According to the figures submitted by Hoosier Custom Plastics, the company has between 31 and 33 full-time employees, with a total yearly salary of $707,000. At the time the tax abatement was approved, the owners promised 20 employees and $595,000 in salary. Both figures would prove the company is in compliance, but the council members wanted someone representing the plastics firm to appear to answer questions.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston said when he spoke to a representative of the company on the phone it was stated that they’re “busting at the seams,” and “running out of room,” which would indicate business is booming.
A request for a company representative to be in attendance is being made by Houston.
With 375 adult criminal offenders reporting to the Starke County probation office for services, Chief Probation Officer John Thorstad said recently that the state has come up with new methods to identify what each offender needs to be successful in the probation program.
“Indiana has come up with a new risk assessment that determines what type of programs or what type of involvement an offender needs with probation,” Thorstad said.
But a lot of the success depends on attitude.
More than 400 national, state, and local education leaders – including U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan – met in Cincinnati last week for a two-day conference on transforming the teaching profession.
More than 100 school districts from 41 states sent teams to the event, and one of the two Indiana school corporations to send representatives was Oregon-Davis. Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney, Teacher Association President April Max, and School Board President Chris Lawrence attended along with a team from Ft. Wayne.
For the past few months, select students at the Starke County Youth Club Knox site have been working to put together an event that would honor many area residents. Named Checkmates, this group started with a grant from Indiana Service Learning After School.
Checkmates decided to invite Starke County veterans and retired citizens to a game of chess. Once invitations were designed, professional prints were sent out to all of the potential Checkmates guests.
The Checkmates event was held on May 16, when food was served, tables were set, and the boards were prepared. What followed was 90 minutes of community involvement and fun.
At the end of the day, the entire youth club came together and provided a great service to its community. Each child involved showed great respect, cooperation, and effort in creating a memorable event that should be commended by all.
A Cruise-In For A Cure event is planned for Friday, June 8. Rhonda Noah of Key Bank says this is the first time they’ve hosted a show like this, and they’re proud to welcome cars, trucks, motorcycles, and all other types of vehicles to compete in the cruise-in. A $15 donation is required per vehicle, and all proceeds from the event will go directly to the Starke County Relay For Life.
Cancer survivors will judge the cars and pick a top three, and Noah says they’re hopeful this event brings in some new faces.
A trial is scheduled for a man who has pleaded not guilty to eight charges stemming from an incident in Starke County on Oct. 16, 2009.
Dale Hite was present for his pretrial motions and instructions hearing Tuesday, where he faces charges of Resisting Law Enforcement Resulting in Death, two counts of Reckless Homicide, and counts of Resisting Law Enforcement, Possession of Methamphetamine, Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign and Failure to Use Headlights from Sunset to Sunrise.
E&B Paving has been awarded the Knox City Streets paving contract, pending review of the city attorney and street superintendent. The bid came in at $74,855.
Streets to be paved include Division Street from 300 East to the railroad tracks, Chicago Street from U.S. 35 to Prettyman Street, the alley behind Lady Bug Cleaners, St. Louis Street from U.S. 35 to Pearl Street, and South Portland Street from Culver Road to Delaware Street. Lafayette Street from Bower Street to Roosevelt Road will also be paved, along with Pearl Street from the railroad tracks to John Street.
Also, Covenant Concrete won the sidewalk construction bid for $15,323. Sidewalks will be installed on John, Prettyman, Shield, and Lafayette streets, near U.S.A Cafe and the Pearl Street Clinic.
Betty and Allen Chesak will serve as Grand Marshals for the 2012 Mint Festival Parade. The North Judson Mint Festival Committee named the two at their recent meeting.
Betty has been involved with the Mint Festival since its beginning 35 years ago. Many of those years she was the Mint Festival President before retiring from the committee in 2010.
Allen is a Starke County farmer. Working with his father Charles, he was involved with mint farming in the early years. The mint farming blended in well with the corn and soybeans also grown on the property.
The Chesaks will ride in the parade on Sunday, June 17.
Remember when you were a kid and mom scolded you for not eating your vegetables? The Starke County Youth Club Hamlet site students have just completed a project that focused on the health effects of eating vegetables.
Last week, the students took visitors on a trip through their garden, showing off the healthy vegetables they had raised. There was everything from radishes to leafy greens in specially-built growing boxes.
The highlight of the program was the presentation of baskets full of fresh vegetables to the St. Mathew’s church and Community Services food pantries.
After almost five days on the run, Joshua Hunnicutt turned himself in to the Starke County Jail on yesterday afternoon. Hunnicutt had been on the run since he climbed a wall and razor-wire in the recreation area of the jail to escape on May 23. Hunnicutt told police he surrendered because he realized he would eventually be caught.
Hunnicutt reportedly told the police that he had made a very poor decision to escape, and said he does not even remember what took place prior to escaping.
He is currently being held in the Starke County Jail on his previous charge of possession of methamphetamine and a new charge of Escape as a Class C Felony with no bond set at this time.
Police say they will interview Hunnicutt and a report will be forwarded to the Starke County Prosecutor’s Office for review of any additional charges.
Fifteen Starke County prisoners are being housed in the Pulaski County Jail after it was decided by county officials and Sheriff Oscar Cowen that the extreme overcrowding was just too dangerous to allow it to continue.
Commissioner Kathy Norem said yesterday that she feared the overcrowding might trigger an outbreak of violence against other prisoners or jail staff. The overcrowding puts extreme pressure on the staff, which may have contributed partially to the recent escape.
Recently, the population ran over 80 prisoners, and it’s hoped that the measure will keep the prison population at 62 or below.
The housing of prisoners in Pulaski County is being accomplished under a temporary agreement.
A grateful nation paid tribute to its fallen heroes yesterday during Memorial Day services around the country. Here in the Kankakee Valley, residents attended services under hot and humid conditions.
At Knox, Senator Jim Arnold of La Porte gave the Memorial Day address at Crown Hill Cemetery.
The Starke County Council recently voted to fund a request for new financial software for the auditor and treasurer’s offices. A representative of Low attended the council meeting with Interim Treasurer Kasey Clark.
It was explained that the new tax and auditing software would be beneficial to not only the auditor and treasurer, but office holders and department heads alike.
Knox City Attorney David Matsey has made Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston aware that a more formalized process has to be used for water disconnect in the city. As it is now, residents can be up to two months behind on their water bill before a disconnect is performed.
According to a court case from Evansville, due process has to be followed before the disconnect. In other words, a resident would have the right to have a hearing before the disconnect occurs.
Matsey said the hearing could be held before the Board of Public Works to satisfy the court decision. A process will be created by the attorney and Houston on this matter.
Information about the case was sent to the city by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.
The Knox Harvest Days Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, June 5. Michelle Bachtel said last week that plans seem to be on schedule and advertising and sponsorship funds are currently being collected. Further details on events and times will be discussed at on June 5 at 6:30 p.m.
The Harvest Days celebration is August 24 – 26, with many of the activities taking place in Wythogan Park.
