The Jim Thorpe Borough Council, at a regularly scheduled meeting Thursday night, adopted its 2011 budget.

The budget was originally expected to see a 1 mill property tax increase, but Borough Manager Wes Johnson challenged himself over the last month to whittle expenses down to a more palatable level for taxpayers.

The result is a very tight budget that requires only half a mill increase and produces a $71 surplus in place of a possible $128,000 shortfall, in part due to the expected revenues of the newly adopted amusement, occupational, and local services taxes.

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The borough of Jim Thorpe won’t be surrendering the body of the famed athlete for whom the municipality was named without putting up a fight.

Two documents have been filed in U.S. District Court, Scranton, in response to a lawsuit initiated by Thorpe’s son, Jack Thorpe, who wants the athlete’s remains to be brought back and buried in Oklahoma.

Currently, the body is in a mausoleum along Route 903 in the borough.

The defending court actions were filed by attorney William G. Schwab & Associates, who is working pro bono on behalf of the borough, and attorney James R. Nanovic of Nanovic Law Offices, solicitor for Jim Thorpe borough.

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Two years ago, the Kemmerer Carriage House, located at the end of Kemmerer Park in Jim Thorpe, was on the verge of destruction.

Vandalism and the degradation of time had transformed the once beautiful structure into a health and safety hazard. The Jim Thorpe Borough Council was weeks away from demolishing the structure, when John Drury stepped in with a plan to save the building.

Drury, who is a local entrepreneur and preservationist, also sits on the board of the Kemmerer Memorial Park Association. When he learned of the borough’s plans to raze the Carriage House, he told the Kemmer Park Board that he was willing to put his own money toward securing the building.

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Noting his heavy load of work and responsibilities, Jim Thorpe Borough Council President Justin Yaich announced his resignation from the post at the end of the council’s regularly scheduled meeting Thursday. This does not mean that Yaich is leaving the board entirely, in fact he will become its new vice-president.

Yaich made the move because vice-president does not carry nearly as many obligations as president. He is also currently campaigning for a seat in the state House of Representatives, a position that is now held by Keith McCall, who is not seeking re-election.

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After a two-month interview process, the Jim Thorpe Borough Council announced the hiring of a new borough manager at its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday. The new manager is Wesley Johnson, who currently lives outside of Altoona.

The interview process was conducted by three members of the council, W. Todd Mason, Gregory Strubinger and John McGuire, who were randomly chosen by council President Justin Yaich.

The borough initially received more than 50 applications. They conducted six initial interviews, all with candidates who had over 20 years experience in municipal government.

Johnson was chosen for his broad range of experience in municipal government, including administration, code enforcement, borough management and finance. He has worked in both large and small government, with planning committees and negotiating teams.

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For the first time in 25 years, the Jim Thorpe Police Department will have a sergeant. Officer Michael Bokeko was appointed to the position by the Jim Thorpe Borough Council at its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday.

Sgt. Bokeko was chosen for the position after obtaining the highest score on a qualifications test, which was taken by the Jim Thorpe Police Department’s five top officers.

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The Jim Thorpe Borough Council expressed an interest in reversing recent changes in downtown parking meter policy at its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday.

In the last year the meters have changed from 25 cents for a half hour minimum to a 50-cent an hour minimum.

This move has upset the Jim Thorpe Chamber of Commerce, who view the change as unpopular among visitors. The Chamber of Commerce has requested that the meters be returned to their old format of 25 cents for a half hour.

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Times-News: Should Thorpe be allowed to rest in peace? Borough residents debate the fate of their adopted hero and namesake | June 26, 2010
JTN comment: The headline of this story suggests Mr. Thorpe is not resting in peace and that’s absurd given the time, energy and care taken by not only the residents of Jim Thorpe but his family to ensure the Native American was buried properly.

Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Opinion: At the end of the day, may honor remain | June 25, 2010
JTN comment: In this opinion piece, TL editorial writers take a wider view of the issue while also arguing that the town of Jim Thorpe held up its end of the argument.

Times-News: Going home? Jim Thorpe’s son files lawsuit to return father’s remains | June 25, 2010
JTN comment: This is basically the hard news story covering the lawsuit filing in federal court in Scranton.

Chicago Tribune: Borough sued over remains | June 24, 2010
JTN comment: This is the hard news story with comment by John McGuire.

NPR: Son wants Jim Thorpe’s body moved | June 24, 2010
JTN comment: Story is AP but has comments from NPR readers.

USAToday (AP): Jim Thorpe’s son sues Penn. town for return of sportsman’s remains | June 24, 2010
JTN comment: The AP story but this one has some comments from readers of USA Today.

Carbon County Magazine has links to the lawsuit and the original agreement here >>.

Jacob Arner, an area developer, was appointed by Jim Thorpe’s Borough Council to a newly-created board that will oversee violations of a recently adopted code. Earlier this year, the council adopted the International Property Maintenance Code and decided to create a board to hold hearings for borough residents.

 Read the full story here from the Times-News. >>