Thom Morin Outlines Handicapped Parking Plan to Knox City Council Members

Thom Morin presents his handicapped parking plan to the Knox City Council

Thomas Morin recently appeared before the Knox City Council and the Starke County Commissioners with a detailed 22 page document that lays out a handicapped parking plan for city and residential parking.

In his presentation, Morin explained to the Knox City Council what he wanted for the downtown Knox business district.

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WKVI Blood Drive in Progress!

The American Red Cross bus is parked at WKVI ready for donors!

The WKVI/American Red Cross Blood Drive is from now until 4:00 p.m. CT today (Friday). You are encouraged to come to the WKVI Radio station, 400 W. Culver Road in Knox, and give your all important blood donation.

All blood types are needed. If you are 17 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and are in good general health, you may be eligible to give blood. Call (574) 772-6241 and schedule a time to give blood.

WKVI's Tom Berg was one of the first to donate blood today!

Knox City Council to Gather Bids for New Sign at Community Center

Knox City Council #2
Back Row: Mayor Rick Chambers, Ed Blue, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Greg Matt and Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

Knox City Councilman Greg Matt described the electronic sign at the Knox Community Center as a dead horse. Matt told his fellow councilmen that he had a conversation with a representative of Vanadco Signs about the condition of the unit and came away convinced that it can’t be repaired.

The sign is occasionally on, but the right message isn’t displayed and other times it’s off for no reason. A new sign with enhanced graphics, featuring 64,000 color combinations, has been priced at $14,400 for the city. This would include training for office staff who could program it from City Hall.

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‘Ted Hayes Remembers’ Program to Feature Broadcast Buddies

Ted Hayes and Harold Welter

When two young men begin careers together they don’t always look down the road thinking they’ll work with each other almost a half century. This week’s Ted Hayes Remembers program will feature “Broadcast Buddies”, Ted Hayes and Harold Welter.

Ted and Harold have worked together at two stations over 43 years. This week they’ll remember some of their radio highlights.

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Lisa Owens Appears on ‘Breaking Down the Bars’ Program on OWN

Lisa Owens

America got its first look at Lisa Owens behind bars Tuesday night on the new Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).  Owens was filmed on location at the Rockville Correctional Facility as part of a series entitled “Breaking Down the Bars”.

The episode reviewed the crime that led to her incarceration at Rockville which was the shooting of her husband, Jeff, in their Knox home.  For that crime, she was sentenced to 40 years behind bars, but she is being given an early release after serving just ten years.

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Knox Soldier Honored in Wall of Honor Ceremony

Published by Courier-Journal.com:

The shadowbox honoring Sgt. Joseph A. Ford was flanked by Sgt Raymond Pendleton, left, and E4 Specialist Arjan Manwani. (By Jenna Esarey, Special to the Courier-Journal)

With numerous family members and friends on hand, an Indiana National Guard soldier who died in Iraq was honored Saturday at a Wall of Honor ceremony at the New Albany National Guard Armory.

Sgt. Joseph A. Ford was 23 years old when he was killed on May 10, 2008 in a non-combat vehicle accident.

Ford’s sacrifice was recognized with the dedication of a shadowbox containing a folded American flag, Ford’s picture, biography and all of his ribbons, awards and medals from his military career. Approximately 75 people turned out for the dedication, including many members of the HQ & HQ Troop of the 1st Squadron, 152nd Cavalry Regiment based at the armory.

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Oprah Winfrey Network to Feature Lisa Owens in ‘Breaking Down the Bars’ Program Tonight

Lisa Owens

The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) will feature former Knox resident, Lisa Owens, tonight on the “Breaking Down the Bars”. The program features eight inmates incarcerated at the Rockville Correctional Center.

Owens, who is eligible for release this year because of a modification of her 40 year sentence, was convicted of shooting her husband, Jeff, while he was in the shower. The crime took place on May 18th, 2001. The case was heard before then- Starke Circuit Court Judge, David Matsey and was prosecuted by then-Starke County Prosecutor, Kim Hall. She plead guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter. The modification order was signed by Judge Richard Kickbush.

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Knox Resident who Bowled Six Decades to Talk about Career in Feature Program Today

(L to R) Hanna Mlekodaj, June Cruse, Betty Collins, Celine Gurrado, Marcella Hauser

It’s Friday, and Ted Hayes will be in with another Ted Hayes Remembers (click to hear) program. For six decades, Hanna Mlekodaj has bowled on a women’s bowling team and some mixed teams too. She has bowled in 50 state tournaments and three national tournaments and has been honored for her secretary work by the State Bowling Association.

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Knox Resident Reports Purse, Car Stolen

police badge

Sandy Hansen of Knox is missing her purse…and her car.

According to police documents, on Tuesday, March 1st, Sandy left her purse under the front desk in the Starke County Abstract office in downtown Knox and she went on break between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. When she returned, her purse was gone. She searched the office and could not find her purse. She called police to report the theft.

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Knox Federation of Teachers President Discusses School Vouchers

Dick Wagner

Much of the controversy occurring at the Statehouse since the recent legislative session began involves the Governor’s education reform initiatives. For the next three days, we’re going to look at the reform issues through the eyes of Dick Wagner, President of the Knox Federation of Teachers, which represents a majority of the teachers in the Knox School System.

Vouchers, tenure, and collective bargaining will be discussed with Mr. Wagner.

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Knox City Police Department Report for February

Knox City Police Chief Clint Norem
Knox City Police Chief Clint Norem

Knox City Police Chief, Clint Norem, reports that in the month of February, the Department had 316 calls, responded to 11 accidents and completed 21 incident reports.

13 people were arrested on 20 traffic charges, 23 people were arrested on 31 criminal charges and 2 juveniles were arrested. Of those arrests, 2 included Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated charges, 1 Public Intoxication charge, 3 were Battery charges, 5 were active arrest warrants and 7 involved drug charges. No ordinance violations were reported in the month of February.

City of Knox Garbage Rates to Increase

Last week, Knox Mayor Rick Chambers reminded the City Council members that the cost of garbage pickup in the City would increase on August 1st. The total cost will go up just over $5,000.

“In 2010, it was $206,967.60,” the Mayor told the Council. “On July 31st, it will go up to 212,076.”

The increase per customers is only pennies.

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Knox City Council Agrees to Move Forward in Acquiring Building Across from City Hall

Knox City Council #2
Back Row: Mayor Rick Chambers, Ed Blue, Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston, Greg Matt and Attorney David Matsey. Front Row: Linda Berndt, Jeff Berg and Ron Parker

The deal that the City of Knox has with Beverly and Carl Wells for a building that they own across from Knox City Hall might be on again. Wells had offered the building to the City at the February 8th City Council meeting, and on a 3-2 vote the Council members agreed to purchase it for $120,000 with $20,000 down and 5 year annual payments of $20,000 a year.

Because they needed two appraisals to purchase the property, the deal could not be consummated in the time line given by Wells. He told Mayor Rick Chambers that he was going to start remodeling the building for offices if the City didn’t take agreement that week. That seemed to end the negotiations.

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Glen Kay to be Featured on the ‘Ted Hayes Remembers’ Show Today

Glen Kay

Ted Hayes Remembers Glen Kay

Back in 1976, residents in Knox got to see their first New Orleans style funeral procession. The Jerry Fuller Jazz Band provided music as they carried Glen Kay’s casket from the funeral coach to the burial site at Crown Hill Cemetery. They played a dirge going up the hill, but coming down, they broke into the old New Orleans song, “Eight Men Going To This Funeral, But Only Seven Of Us Coming Back.” The mourners then
reassembled at Glen Kay Clothing and Shoes for a rousing Dixieland concert and refreshments.

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Knox City Council Discusses Fire Territories

John Julien

Trying to be proactive in anticipation of the elimination of township government, the Knox City Council invited John Julien, of Umbaugh and Associates, to explain the formation of a Fire Territory.

As explained by Julien, contiguous areas or townships could form a Fire Territory. The Knox Volunteer Fire Department has an agreement with Center Township and a contractual arrangement with part of Jackson Township to provide fire service. Under a Fire Territory, all property owners in the created district would pay the same tax rate for fire protection. They would also receive a uniform level of service.

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