The water infrastructure for the splash pad at Wythogan Park is ready to go. Mayor Dennis Estok still hopes to open the attraction at the end of May. Continue reading
Knox Redevelopment Commission Approves Money for Park Projects
The Knox Redevelopment Commission has committed up to $80,000 in Tax Increment Financing money to a couple of Mayor Dennis Estok’s initiatives. He asked them for $40,000 to help pay for the splash pad in Wythogan Park. The city council has approved the expenditure of money from the Economic Development Income Tax and Riverboat funds to cover the rest of the cost. TIF funds are captured from commercial and industrial property within a designated area. Continue reading
Date Confirmed for Knox Fireworks Display
The City of Knox Fireworks will take place Saturday, July 2nd in Wythogan Park. Mayor Dennis Estok told the city council last night the display will cap off a day’s worth of activities that will get under way with a 1 p.m. parade through the downtown area. It will be followed by activities in the park. Estok adds the splash pad should be operational by then. Continue reading
Knox Mayor Reports Progress on Splash Pad Project
The splash pad Knox Mayor Dennis Estok envisions adding at Wythogan Park is close to becoming a reality in time for warm weather. The mayor told the city council last week he’s gotten the labor for the concrete, plumbing and excavation donated. Continue reading
Knox Mayor Addresses Fireworks Plans During Town Hall Meeting
Knox mayor Dennis Estok further explained some of his proposals for the city during a town hall meeting Monday. Much of it was spent discussing his plans to bring the city’s July 4th fireworks back to Wythogan Park. It’s part of his effort to bring more people into the park and revitalize the Downtown Knox. Continue reading
Knox Mayor to Host Town Hall Meeting Monday
Knox residents will have the chance to share their ideas and concerns with city officials next week. Mayor Dennis Estok will be holding a town hall meeting at 6:00 p.m. Monday at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center. Continue reading
Fireworks to Return to Wythogan Park
Knox Mayor Dennis Estok is bringing the city’s July 4th fireworks display back to Wythogan Park. They’ve taken place at the Starke County Airport northwest of Knox for the past several years. Estok wants to bring them back downtown to ensure youngsters are able to attend. His plans call for a parade to kick off the celebration. Continue reading
Knox Council Approves Funds For Splash Pad
The City of Knox will have a community splash pad by Memorial Day. Adding that amenity to Wythogan Park was one of Mayor Dennis Estok’s main priorities. He discussed the plan in greater detail with the city council Tuesday night. Continue reading
Overdose Awareness Day Event Planned in Starke County
Starke County holds the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of average accidental poisoning by exposure to drugs, medications and biological substances in 2009 and 2010. That’s according to mortality data from the Indiana State Department of Health. Local leaders are working to raise awareness of the problem. They’ve placed 61 ribbons on the lawn at IU Health Starke Hospital – one for each of the lives lost to drug overdose over the past seven years. Continue reading
National Farmers Market Week Encourages Locals to Support Locals
There’s only a few more months left for prime Farmers Market season. The Knox Farmers Market runs until Halloween and then they close up for the year. In an effort to highlight the importance of farmers markets across the country on Saturday, August 1st U.S Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the start of the 16th annual Farmers Market Week. It began Sunday August 2nd and will run until Saturday August 8th. Continue reading
WoodStarke is Back!
Come out to Wythogan Park on August 29 for an event full of music, food and fun for everyone. WoodStarke is scheduled to commence at 10 am and run all day on that Saturday in August. Throughout the day, highlights will include a variety of music, games for the kids and artistic displays as well as activities focusing on local talent and Starke County. Similar to last year’s event all activities and healthy food will be free to the public, however this year’s event will feature something new. Continue reading
Vendors Wanted for Knox Farmers Market
The Knox Farmers Market will get under way in a new location on Wednesday, June 17. It will be open each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Wythogan Park across from the train depot. Continue reading
Reyes Sentenced to 17 Years in DOC
A Grovertown man was sentenced to serve 17 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections during a hearing in Starke Circuit Court yesterday.
Ryan Reyes, 19, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to two counts of child molesting as a Class B felony in two separate cases and criminal mischief as a Class D felony in a separate case.
Woman Sentenced for Her Part in Battery Incident
A woman accused of assisting a suspect in a battery incident at Wythogan Park in Knox in July was sentenced in Starke Circuit Court on Thursday.
Samantha Smith, 19, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement with the state to a charge of assisting a criminal as a Level 6 felony. She drove a car with the battery suspect as a passenger from the scene of the crime. That suspect had struck another teenager in the head. The force of the impact caused the teenager to fall to the ground where his head hit a cement walkway and caused serious injury.
Many Activities Going on in Knox this Weekend
Downtown Knox will be bustling today with a veteran’s parade and the free WoodStarke Festival at Wythogan Park. The parade organized by the Blue Star Mothers will begin at 10 a.m. CT at Five Star and concludes at the Starke County Courthouse. U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, Representative Jackie Walorski and veterans will speak on the courthouse steps after the parade concludes. Veterans, service members and their families are invited afterward to lunch at Knox United Methodist Church. Continue reading
Additional Lighting Deemed Best Option for Wythogan Park
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers will get quotes from NIPSCO to add more lights to Wythogan Park in an attempt to curb vandalism. The Knox Park Board decided strategic lighting is the the most cost effective option to deal with problems there. Continue reading
Ideas Offered to Combat Wythogan Park Vandalism
Knox City officials have several options to consider when it comes to curbing vandalism at Wythogan Park. Mayor Rick Chambers hosted a community discussion last night to gather thoughts on the issue. He says several good suggestions were offered.
Knox Park Department Completing Projects
Knox Park Superintendent George Byer gave an update to the Knox City Council members last night on the state of the city’s parks.
Byer said since the vandalism has tapered off a bit, the park crews have been able to work in Heritage Park. They’ve installed a bench, a swing set, teeter-totter, and rehabilitated the monkey bars. Water Superintendent Todd Gardner will be helping the park department with running a line for a water fountain at the park. The board has plans to build a shelter at the park next year.
Public Input Sought on Problems at Knox Park
City and county officials want the public’s input on how to make Wythogan Park safer. Mayor Rick Chambers and others are hosting a community meeting this evening at 6:30 at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in downtown Knox to discuss incidents of vandalism at the park. The Knox City Police Department has stepped up patrols through the park, but Mayor Chambers is seeking other suggestions as well. Continue reading
Community Meeting Set to Curb Park Vandalism
The number of vandalism reports in Wythogan Park has slowed, but it continues.
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers is attempting to gather information to help curb the ongoing damage reported in Knox’s most popular park.
A meeting is set for Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox where opinions will be noted about ways to improve security. Any other suggestions will be welcome during this information session.
