Pulaski County Council Finalizes Pay Raise for Chief Deputy Coroner

Pulaski County Council: back row: Mike Tiede, Kathi Thompson, Brian Young; front row: Scott Hinkle, Rudy DeSabatine, Jay Sullivan (not pictured: Ken Boswell)

The Pulaski County Council has finalized a significant pay raise for Chief Deputy Coroner Jon Frain, but not without some opposition. Council members approved a pair of wage revisions Monday.

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Pulaski Superior Court Requests More Money for Witness Fees, Examination of Prisoners, Pauper Counsel

Just a few weeks into 2019, Pulaski Superior Court has already used up its annual budget for examination of prisoners and witness fees. Judge Crystal Brucker Kocher told the county council and commissioners Monday that the two line items had a combined $3,000 budgeted for this year. That money is used to hire doctors for the process of determining whether defendants are competent to stand trial.

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Financial Aid Workshops to be Held Next Weekend for College Goal Sunday

Students planning to attend college next fall will be able to get some free help with some of the paperwork next weekend. As part of College Goal Sunday, financial aid professionals around the state will be hosting workshops on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It needs to be filed by April 15, in order for students to qualify for federal and state grants, scholarships, and student loans.

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Mother and Son, Father and Son Arrested for Drug Dealing by LaPorte County Police

A mother and son and a father and son were all arrested this week, in a pair of investigations by the LaPorte County Drug Task Force. Police say Michelle Burgess, 46, of LaPorte, and Kolin Burgess, 20, of Kouts, were taken into custody, following an investigation on the distribution of heroin and meth in the City of LaPorte. Both face Level 5 felony charges of dealing in methamphetamine, while Michelle Burgess is also accused of the Level 5 felony of dealing in a narcotic drug.

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Vote to Add New Secretary for Pulaski County Prosecutor’s Office Ends in Tie

Pulaski County Council: back row: Mike Tiede, Kathi Thompson, Brian Young; front row: Scott Hinkle, Rudy DeSabatine, Jay Sullivan (not pictured: Ken Boswell)

The addition of a new secretary for the Pulaski County Prosecutor’s Office appears to depend on a recommendation from the county commissioners, after the county council was once again unable to reach a clear consensus Monday.

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BraunAbility Announces Plans to Move Global Headquarters, Research & Development to Carmel

BraunAbility is moving its headquarters to Carmel. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation says the company will locate its global headquarters in Carmel’s Lakeside Green Business Center, while also building a new 20,000-square-foot Research & Development and Technology Center in the city. Manufacturing operations will stay in Winamac.

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UPDATED: Starke County Park Board Meeting Canceled

Update: Tonight’s Starke County Park Board meeting has been canceled due to weather. The next regularly-scheduled meeting is Tuesday, March 12.

The Starke County Park Board will meet tonight for the first time in more than five months. It will be the first meeting for new member Rik Ritzler, who was appointed by the county council last month. Ritzler previously worked with the park board on various projects, in his capacity as county highway superintendent.

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Police Respond to Possible Burglary, Reportedly Find Meth, Pills Instead

A report of a possible burglary reportedly led to the discovery of methamphetamine Sunday morning.

Starke County Police say they, along with Hamlet and Walkerton police, responded to a possible burglary in progress call at around 6:30 a.m. Officers say that when they got there, they determined that no burglary took place, but they did find methamphetamine, prescription pills, syringes, and paraphernalia.

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Pulaski County Council, Commissioners to Make BZA, Plan Commission, KIRPC Appointments

The Pulaski County Council and Commissioners are expected to make appointments to various boards and commissions tonight. Appointments to the board of zoning appeals, advisory plan commission, and Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission will be discussed during tonight’s joint council and commissioners meeting.

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Winamac Park Board Considers Replacing Dead Ash Trees

Entrance to the Winamac Town Park

After years of removing dying ash trees from the Winamac Town Park, park officials are now beginning to look into replacing them.

Park Manager Dave DeLorenzo brought the issue to the park board Thursday.

He estimated that 90 to 95 trees have been lost to the emerald ash borer, although there are some that remain. He asked the park board about working with the Tree Committee to gradually plant a variety of new trees over the next few years.

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Pulaski Commissioners Agree to Let IT Department Move from Justice Center to Annex Building

Pulaski County Commissioners: Mike McClure, Jerry Locke, Kenny Becker

Pulaski County’s IT Department will be getting a more visible office space. On Monday, the county commissioners gave IT Director Matt Voltz permission to move his office to the Annex Building, in the space formerly occupied by the Healthy Families office.

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