Local News
Top Kokomo Fire Dept. officials resign
Myers named acting chief
The two highest administrative members of the Kokomo Fire Department have resigned their positions as a result of Mayor Greg Goodnight laying off 12 firefighters last week.
Chief Scott Kern, a member of department for 20 years, and Assistant Chief Randy Wilson submitted their letters of resignation to Goodnight on Friday, according to city spokesman David Gavin.
The resignations took effect on Sunday. Both Kern and Wilson remain with the department.
Gavin said Goodnight has named Deputy Chief Brad Myers as acting and interim chief of the Kokomo Fire Department.
Earlier this month Goodnight ended the Fire Department providing ambulance service and those duties were shifted to both Howard Regional Health Systems and St. Joseph Hospital.
The lay-off of the 12 firefighters was not unexpected when the city closed down the Fire Emergency Medical Services.
Jeremy Shaw, president of Local 396 of the Firefighter’s Union, said last week that since Goodnight took office on Jan. 1, 2008 the number of firefighters has declined from 121 to 100.
Kern said last week that Goodnight’s decision jeopardizes safety at fire scenes for members of the department.
- Local News
-
-
Attempted child abduction reported
Howard County Sheriff deputies are asking for the public's help to locate a suspect in connection with an attempted child abduction early Saturday morning.
-
Kokomo has benefited from bailout along with Detroit
President Barack Obama on Friday heralded the recent turnaround for U.S. automakers, arguing that thousands of jobs and increased production vindicate his unpopular decision to bailout the industry.
-
Bids are in on fire station
Six bids came in on the future Kokomo Fire Station 2 this week, and anxious contractors won’t have to wait long to hear the city’s answer.
-
Horse still living in town
Kokomo resident Dyanna Neal expects to be recompensed for being led to believe she could keep a horse within city limits.
-
Tipton County receives $1.56 million from INDOT
Tipton County has received $1.56 million from the Indiana Department of Transportation for road work that will better accommodate the future resident of an 80,000-square-foot factory on U.S. 31.
-
Obama hails auto bailout as good news in Michigan
President Barack Obama says his administration's bailout out of U.S. car companies saved more than 1 million jobs and kept communities that depend on the auto industry afloat.
-
New bus service on the horizon
Kokomo city officials are ready to begin work on a downtown transit station for the new city fixed-route bus system, putting a September start date on the horizon.
-
Kokomo Beach filled to capacity for annual Duck Derby
Long before the doors officially opened, and way before Papa John’s Pizza had to call for back up, the 12th annual Samaritan Caregivers Duck Derby was deemed a success by event organizers.
-
Extended jobless benefits starting
Indiana officials says some people eligible for extended unemployment benefits can apply now, rather than wait as had been expected.
-
GM not changing anything for now
General Motors leaders on Wednesday addressed the company’s business operations and competition to its workers in Kokomo, GM said.
GM spokesman Kevin Nadrowski said company leaders spoke to their Kokomo employees during a routine update meeting. The company told the workers it is "assessing its business model," he said, but he would not further comment on the discussion.
“We’re not making any announcements, and there are no immediate changes to
operation,” he said. - More Local News Headlines
-
Attempted child abduction reported
