August is always a special month in Knox. The annual “Knox Horsethief Days” week of festivities are always held in August, and this year was the 53rd Horsethief Week in a row. The week of Horsethief was always special when I was a kid, and it still is special today. Congratulations to Ron Best, the entire Knox Horsethief Committee for the great planning, and thanks for the hard work you all put in; it provided us all with a great festival. This year’s Horsethief Week was FANTASTIC and featured a couple of new events that everyone enjoyed. They are already working on the planning of Horsethief 2015. It really did come off well this year, we were spared by the predicted rains, and all the scheduled events were held as advertised. Thank You ALL for the hard work & dedication!

On the eve of Horsethief Week this year, we all lost a great friend and a major “Horsethief Week” supporter. Former Knox Mayor and lifetime borough resident JENNIFER LEE WESNER passed away on Sunday, August 17th, 2014. It was a sad day for all in the community. Jennifer did so much for the town of Knox over the years and was a friend to all of us. We will miss Jennifer and may her legacy of goodwill and harmony live on forever.

CONGRATULATIONS to Mr. Gary Weaver who was named “Citizen Of The Year” here in Knox. Gary is totally deserving of this honor, the list of things Gary does for our community is extensive. The little league ball field has never been in better shape. Gary spends a lot of time up there, tending to both the ball field and Peanut Park. Always working with the youth, Gary serves as Vice President of the “Clarion County Sportsmen for Youth,” and Gary is a leader every year at the Clarion County Youth Field Days event. We all say thanks to Gary for his efforts and congratulations!

TRAFFIC SIGNALS — On Tuesday, August 26, a special Knox Borough Council meeting was held publically at the municipal building concerning the traffic signals at Main and East State Streets. The meeting was attended by PennDOT officials Melissa McFeaters and David Tomaswick who presented options and answered a litany of questions from a packed house of Knox Borough residents. The forum went very well. Borough residents provided valuable feedback with valid questions and concerns on the proposal to remove these lights and go to the “4 WAY” stop sign system. At the end of the meeting, it was decided that another traffic COUNT study at this intersection was in order. Dave and Melissa informed us they will have the PennDOT engineering folks set up the tooling for this traffic count in a week, and then the decision making process (on this intersection) can continue after these numbers are in hand. We say thanks to both Pa. State Rep Donna Oberlander and Senator Scott Hutchinson who attended this meeting in support of the borough and supporting the process of “getting it right” for the people. Thanks also to Dave and Melissa (PennDOT) for answering all the questions that our borough residents presented. It’s certainly a “hot box” topic here in Knox.

CROSSWALK — We have received approval from PennDOT to install a “crosswalk” down at Huston Avenue and SR 338. This was great news (contingent on Knox Borough Council approval). It will open up the foot traffic at a designated crossing point area over SR 338 (Riverside Store Area) Presently there are NO crosswalks anywhere on SR 338 (Miller Street) that folks can safely cross over at a designated area. We say thanks to PennDOT on this one.

FOODSTOCK — I wish to proclaim September as “FoodStock” month in Knox. FOODSTOCK is a community effort here in Clarion County collecting non perishable/non expired food items for the Clarion County Food Pantries and Food Banks. Sometime during the week of September 16 thru the 23rd, FoodStock bags for donations will be distributed door to door in KNOX by Boy Scouts, Keystone SMILES, and/or students from Clarion University. Please consider leaving a couple items in these bags and setting them back out for collection. They will pick up these bags in a couple of days after distribution. Let’s hit a home run here in Knox and help stock up the county food banks. There is a cost for these bags. If you choose NOT to participate, please leave the bag out for pickup. They want them back either way. Jennifer Keth is the chairperson of the FoodStock committee. This effort is driven countywide by the Clarion Area Chamber of Business and Industry. It’s a good thing; it’s FOODSTOCK 2014 in Clarion County.

KNOX BOROUGH POLICE have been doing a great job for us all. They have had a lot on their plate lately with the festival activity, Interstate 80 traffic slamming our town by going around the construction out there, and all the issues of law enforcement in Knox. They are doing their jobs and dealing with many factors in this effort. It’s not always as easy “black and white” as it seems. Knox Borough Council has committed to installing cameras in their vehicles, and it will be happening sooner than later. These cameras will provide audio and video of “real time” activity, thus providing a valid document for review by all, protecting our officers and public alike. We all stand behind our police force and respect their hard work and dedication. Thanks Guys!

KNOX BOROUGH MAINTENANCE GANG — Last, but certainly not least, I would mention again how lucky we are to have Woody McCleary and his gang doing all the great stuff they do daily keeping this town running like a Swiss Clock. Day in and day out these guys quietly go about their business keeping the vital infrastructure in our borough up to snuff. These guys are a great bunch, not to be taken for granted. Any town would love to have the crew we have here. Thanks Guys!

ON WE GO into September 2014, Hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend.

Mayor Frank Agnello
Knox, Pa.