Week in Review for March 21st-25th, 2011

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

Sam Frain has been named the second district acting Republican Party Chairman. He is finishing the term of Joyce Smith who passed away Wednesday. A caucus will be held in April to permanently fill the vacancy and Frain is expected to be a candidate for the position.

The Eastern Pulaski School Board may eliminate the Driver’s Training course from its curriculum. While most school corporations offer the class in the summer and through private contractors, Eastern Pulaski offers it as an elective class during the school year.

Paul Warnke

The Koontz Lake Sewer project is underway. Paul Warnke said the project, that will include 90,000 of low pressure sewer main and a clean water plant, is expected to be complete in 2012.

The Pulaski County Airport Association informed the Pulaski County Commissioners that the runway at Arens Field will be extended 800 feet. The addition will extend over 100 West which could be closed by the FAA when the project gets underway.

LaPorte County Sheriff's Department
LaPorte County Sheriff's Department

An autospy of LaPorte County Jail inmate, 37-year-old Roy E. Young, of Michigan City, revealed that he died of cardiac arrhythmia induced by a drug overdose, Saturday. Young had reportedly told a his cellmate that he had swallowed cocaine during a LaPorte Police traffic stop, Saturday, in an attempt to avoid being arrested for being in possession of the drug. A plastic tie off baggie was found in Young’s intestinal tract.

The Starke County Community Corrections staff held a grand opening ceremony, Tuesday, for their new office at 1911 South Heaton Street.

Pulaski County Sheriff, Michael Gayer, is looking into getting a million dollar policy on six inmates in the jail so they can get out into the community and work. The insurance coverage is the only thing that is holding back inmates from working in the community.

Jackie Walorski

Jackie Walorski announced her candidacy, Tuesday, on WKVI, for the 2012 Indiana US Congressional seat.

IU Health Starke Hospital

Administrators from IU Health Starke Hospital appeared before the Starke County Council to ask the Council and the Commissioners to form a committee to monitor short and long term plans for the health facility. The Council and Commissioners agreed to form that committee.

The Knox City Council voted to repair the non-working emergency sirens on the north side of the City, even though they will be obsolete at the end of 2012.

Seven teachers were given reduction in force notices last week within the North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation.

Starke County Treasurer Linda Belork

The Starke County Commissioners will determine whether or not the Treasurer’s office is in need of a full-time clerk. The funding for the position will be taken out of the Commissioner’s budget or an employee from a different office will fill the position.

And that is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.