Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:
Residents from the town of North Judson discussed gas prices with the North Judson Town Board members at their recent meeting. The residents expressed their concern that the prices in North Judson are higher than the surrounding communities.
The Culver Community School Board voted to close Monterey Elementary School at its meeting this week. More cuts are forecast as the Board has to cut $855,000 from the budget in the next two years.
112 employees were laid off from IU Health LaPorte Hospital this week. IU Health Starke Hospital CEO Linda Satkoski says no lay-offs are expected at the Starke facility.
Congressman Joe Donnelly announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senator’s race in 2012. If he get the Democratic nomination, he will face current U.S. Senator Richard Lugar and his Republican opponent, State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, in the Primary Election.
The Shore Club restaurant and bar at Bass Lake is expected to open on May 23rd under new management. The menu will feature American cuisine plus French and Asian features.
The Starke County Commissioners are moving forward with replacing the deck on bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch at 400 North and Range Road. The project must be approved by the DNR before construction can begin.
The Culver Town Board is applying for a grant to conduct a water study. Residents have been complaining about low water pressure and flow issues, bad taste and strange sediment in the water.
Starke County Sheriff’s officers investigated a one vehicle car accident in the Hamlet area Wednesday night. 74-year-old Don Paul was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police believe a medical condition caused the crash.
Kevin Eggert was sentenced to three years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, all of which were suspended after Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall accepted his plea agreement. He plead guilty to a count of Intimidation, a Class C Felony.
Corey Czarnecki was injured in a motorcycle accident when he darted to miss a dog on County Road 600 North in LaPorte County. He is recuperating in a Chicago hospital.
Donald Smith was ordered back to the Starke County Jail Wednesday after he told Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall that he was not taking his medication for schizophrenia which was a term of his initial release from jail. Smith’s bond was revoked and a jury trial was set for June 29th.
Tom Bridegroom, a former Starke County resident, died after falling four stories while taking photos of a model in Hollywood. He had graduated from Culver Academy in 2000 and he attended Vassar College.
The Bass Lake Fire Department battled a house fire at 6560 S. State Road 10 at Bass Lake yesterday afternoon. The $500,000 home was a total loss. Preliminary reports show that lightning was the cause of the fire.
Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall sentenced John Brooke to 22 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections for Brooke’s role in the events surrounding a police shootout at Bass Lake in February 2010.
And that is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.
