Week in Review for June 27th-July 1st, 2011

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

Mercan Lyncook of Parma, Ohio lost his life early Sunday morning after he jumped into the Yellow River off the abandoned train Bridge near the historic Depot in Knox and never resurfaced. Preliminary autopsy results have found that Lyncook died of asphyxiation because of drowning.  The Knox-Center Township Fire Department recently purchased a boat for river rescues and it was used in the rescue attempt.

The plane is prepared for take-off

The Indiana Civil Air Patrol conducted training exercises in Starke County last weekend. Aerial photos were taken of bridges along State Road 39.

Nathan VanDerAa had a probation violation hearing in Starke Circuit Court where Judge Kim Hall invoked his original 60 day sentence and terminated his probation unsatisfactorily.

Starke County will receive federal reimbursement for the levee break at the Robbins Ditch that occurred in April. 75% of the cost of damages will be reimbursed.

Officers from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a vandalism incident at the Monterey Elementary School that occurred on Thursday, June 23rd. Graffiti was found on the exterior of the building.

Gerald Boyd

Gerald Boyd of Knox was arrested Saturday after police reportedly found baggies containing cocaine in his pants pocket.

The Pulaski Memorial Hospital Board recently approved a $1 million building project that will add doctor suites and an area for group practice just south of the hospital.

Jack Haut

Jack Haut’s trial has been set for July 20th at 9:00 a.m. Haut is charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Causing Death and Reckless Homicide in an incident that took the life of Thomas White.

The teacher contract ratified by the Knox Federation of Teachers was approved by the Knox Community School Board Monday afternoon. The contract begins July 1st and ends June 30th, 2013.

Starke County Economic Development Foundation Director, Charles Weaver, said this week that he has been securing information for three general contractors who are expected to submit bids for the proposed Sysco redistribution center in Hamlet.

Amber Howard said her children are now beginning to talk about an attempted kidnapping incident that occurred in her back yard three weeks ago. The suspect attempted to kidnap a her one-year-old son.

Niki Hochstetler was found guilty of two counts against her after a Starke Circuit Court jury deliberated just an hour Thursday. She was found guilty of a charge of Battery, a Class C Felony and Battery, a Class A Misdemeanor. She was found not guilty of Criminal Mischief and a second charge of Battery, a Class C Felony.

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