Livingston County prosecutor prepares for new drug court

Posted on October 1, 2017
Livingston County State’s Attorney Randy Yedinak expects the new drug court to begin within the next few months. (Photo Cynthia Grau/WJBC-WJEZ)

By Cynthia Grau

PONTIAC – Livingston County State’s Attorney Randy Yedinak says a new method to fight drug problems is coming soon.

Yedinak updated the Pontiac Kiwanis on the advent of a new drug court coming to the county in a few months to counter an ever-growing drug problem.

“It all starts a lot of times with a traffic stop,” Yedinak explained. “An individual gets pulled over and they find drugs in the car, and that person then is a valuable source because we turn them ultimately into someone who works with police to identify where they got the drugs, and ultimately get to the people who are dealing the drugs.”

The prosecutor also said efforts continue to combat truancy and crack down on criminal activity in the county’s parks.

Cynthia Grau can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…