Jon Frain has officially been selected as the next Pulaski County coroner. He was the only candidate in a Republican Party caucus Monday.
Continue readingJon Frain Named Next Pulaski County Coroner
Only One Candidate on File to Replace Behny as Pulaski County Coroner
Pulaski County Republicans will likely have an easy decision, when it comes to choosing the next coroner. As of Friday, Jon Maxwell Frain was the only candidate on file at the County Clerk’s Office. He currently serves as chief deputy coroner.
Continue readingPulaski County Coroner Announces Retirement, Republicans Schedule Caucuses
Pulaski County will soon have a new coroner. John Behny has announced his retirement from the position, effective at the end of the year.
Continue readingPulaski County Coroner’s Office Confirms Identity of Fatal House Fire Victim
The Pulaski County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identity of the individual who was found at the scene of a fatal house fire that occurred in rural Kewanna last month.
Continue readingPulaski Commissioners Once Again Hold Off on Approving Coroner’s Office Shower Installation
The Pulaski County Commissioners have once again asked for more information, before approving an OSHA-mandated shower installation at the Coroner’s Office. A $1,900 proposal from Action Plumbing was first presented to the commissioners back in July. Maintenance Director Mia Salyers gave some more information during last week’s meeting.
Continue readingPulaski County Coroner Investigates Two Fatal Car Crashes
Two separate car accidents in the same area this month claimed the lives of two Wheatfield residents.
Continue readingPulaski County Coroner’s Office to Transfer Funds to Cover Chief Deputy’s Raise
Now that Pulaski County Chief Deputy Coroner Jon Frain has finally gotten his pay raise, county officials now have to figure out where the money is going to come from. Last month, the county council voted to pay the chief deputy 82 percent of the coroner’s salary, which more than quadrupled Frain’s pay rate to almost $8,100 a year. While the Coroner’s Office had about $8,000 budgeted for that purpose in previous years, that figure had been cut to match Frain’s previous pay rate.
Continue readingPulaski County Coroner ‘Tickled to Death’ with New Facilities
After months of work, the Pulaski County coroner’s new morgue and office space is fully up and running. Coroner John Behny gave an update to the county council and commissioners last week, saying the facility is proving to be a good thing. “I just scratch my head. That place is amazing,” he said. “From what we started with just a few weeks ago to now, we’re tickled to death, just tickled to death. So is everybody else that has to come in there.”
Continue readingPulaski 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.
Continue readingWinamac Man Dies in Crash on U.S. 421
A Winamac man is dead, following a crash on U.S. 421 near Francesville Tuesday afternoon. The Pulaski County Coroner’s Office says it happened near County Road 600 South. Ronald Mark Vititoe, 72, was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:20 p.m. by Coroner John Behny.
Continue readingPulaski County Election Board Finalizes Fines for Late Campaign Finance Reports
Some Pulaski County candidates who failed to turn in pre-election campaign finance reports by October 19 will not be fined. The Democrat Central Committee, Coroner John Behny, former Circuit Court judge candidate Tim Murray, and former county council candidate Doug Roth all failed to turn in their reports by the noon deadline.
Proposed Raise for Pulaski County Chief Deputy Coroner Dies for Lack of Second in Council Meeting
The Pulaski County Council still isn’t ready to give the county’s chief deputy coroner a pay raise. Jon Frain has apparently been getting less than $150 per month for the job, even though more than four times that amount has been available in the coroner’s budget.
Pulaski County Officials Update NIPSCO Contact Information to Prevent Gas Shutoff at West Annex
Pulaski County officials had to resolve some confusion over the county’s NIPSCO billing. Coroner John Behny told the county commissioners last week that he recently got a call from a NIPSCO representative with an order to disconnect gas service to the former Winamac Masonic Lodge, now called the West Annex.
Pulaski County Commissioners Approve New Name for Former Winamac Masonic Lodge
The former Winamac Masonic Lodge officially has a new name. The Pulaski County Commissioners voted Monday to name the building the “West Annex.” The county bought the building back in June. It will house the Coroner’s Office and Emergency Management Agency.
Pulaski County Commissioners Recommend Pay Raise for Recently-Rehired Chief Deputy Coroner
Pulaski County Chief Deputy Coroner Jon Frain is apparently back on the job, after resigning amid a wage dispute. Coroner John Behny told the county commissioners Monday he rehired Frain, when the Coroner’s Office found itself short-staffed a couple weeks ago. “I was away for an autopsy, had to leave the county,” Behny explained. “We got another call. Fulton County assisted Mr. Frain. So we were grateful that he was there and was able to respond in a very timely manner. That helped EMS and first responders and our sheriff’s deputies.”
Chief Deputy Coroner Position to be Discussed during Pulaski County Commissioners Meeting
The Pulaski County Commissioners will meet tonight in the County Highway Garage. They had planned to move back to the courthouse, but an unexpected delay in the elevator project has led to a change in location.
Pulaski County Chief Deputy Coroner’s Resignation Leads to Heated Wage Discussion
The Pulaski County Coroner’s Office is facing a staffing shortage, following the resignation of the chief deputy. Coroner John Behny told the county council last week that his lone deputy Jon Frain had “had enough.” “I not only lost my chief deputy,” he said. “I also lost a facility for which to check the bodies over and do our autopsies and so forth. I’ve lost all of that. I’ve lost storage of our files. I’ve actually gone backwards. I’ve gone from having an office. I got displaced. I have nothing. Our building isn’t going to be ready for some time.”
Pulaski County Coroner’s Office Releases Name of Victim Found at the Scene of Last Month’s House Fire
The Pulaski County Coroner’s Office has released the identity of the individual who was found at the scene of a house fire in rural Medaryville last month.
The Coroner’s Office identified the male victim as William O’Neil Toosley. The next of kin has been notified by the Chief Deputy Coroner. Continue reading
Coroner’s Office Fees Approved by Pulaski County Commissioners
Cremation will soon require a $25 disposition permit in Pulaski County. The county commissioners Monday adopted a pair of fee-related ordinances recommended by the Coroner’s Office. One of them creates a formal system of releasing bodies for cremation, according to Coroner John Behny. “Any time someone would be cremated, they would contact us and we would authorize, and they would send the money to the Auditor’s Office,” he explained.
Pulaski Commissioners to Discuss Proposed Wind Turbine Ban, Coroner’s Fees Tonight
A potential ban on wind turbines will be considered by the Pulaski County Commissioners tonight. The county’s advisory plan commission recently recommended banning wind energy convergence systems, over concerns about the safety and welfare of the community, flicker issues, and local fire departments’ ability to provide fire protection to the structures.
