Week in Review for August 1st-5th, 2011

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

Andy Howes’ remains returned to Knox on Monday and he was escorted to Knox from the Indianapolis airport by the Indiana State Police, Knox City Police Department, Starke County Sheriff’s Department and the Patriot Guard. A memorial service was held Tuesday night at the Knox Community Center and he was laid to rest Friday in Arlington National Cemetery.

Brett Kersey of Kewanna was arrested Thursday, July 28th after an investigation revealed evidence of an alleged sexual assault at a Knox home. Kersey was arrested on preliminary charges of Child Molesting, Rape and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor.

Katlynn Surfus

Katlynn Surfus was crowned the Harvest Festival Queen last Saturday. Cheyenne Garza was crowned Tiny Miss and Courtney Moore was crowned Little Miss Harvest Festival.

The City of Knox will observe National Night Out on Monday, August 8th beginning at 7:00 p.m. around the Courthouse Square. A street dance will be held and you will be able to meet the Knox City Police officers, firefighters, EMS and the neighbors in your community.

Paul Mathewson

The Starke County Commissioners approved funding for a vehicle for EMS Director Paul Mathewson. $1,500 was appropriated to repair a vehicle for the Director’s use.

The Pulaski County website was recently hacked and the Pulaski County Commissioners approved a request by Nathan Origer from the CDC to have Golden Technologies in Valparaiso address obvious security issues on the website.

Starke County Jail

Starke County Commissioner Kathy Norem, Starke County Councilman Dave Pearman, Sheriff Oscar Cowen, Jail Commander Greg Hewitt and Chief Deputy Bill Dulin will be attending a training program on August 21st-26th at the National Institute of Corrections in Colorado.

The Starke County Commissioners recently toured the LaGrange Jail and the Elkhart County Jails to get an idea of how their facilities are laid out. Some features at these jails may be incorporated into the Starke County facility, if and when it is built.

The Oregon-Davis School Board met in special session this week where the Board officially renamed the Board room and the administration room the Mrs. Susan Rowles Board Room. She recently retired as the School’s Treasurer, a position she held for many years.

Anita Goodan and Tony Stewart

NASCAR driver, Tony Stewart, was in Lakeville Tuesday to meet fans and sign autographs. Stewart is a native of Indiana and has another Hoosier, Ryan Newman, racing with him.

Petitions will be sent to taxpayers and registered voters in Tippecanoe Township for deannexation from the Culver Community School Corporation.

Edwin Buswell of KIRPC told the Starke County Commissioners this week that he is seeking a grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to fund debris removal from the Yellow River from the Knox area to the Marshall County line.

Nathan VanDerAa

Nathan VanDerAa plead not guilty in federal court to two counts of Unlawful User of Controlled Substances in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition and one count of Manufacture of a Controlled Substance. The plea deadline date is September 13th and if a plea agreement is not reached, he will go on trial on September 20th.

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