Grant helps secure victim counselor for Lake Co.

Federal money will be funding the creation of a new victim and witness counselor in State's Attorney Michael Waller's office.

Waller said this week that the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority, was providing the funding.

He said a total of $268,283 will be provided to fully fund the position for three years.

Victim and witness counselors are assigned throughout the divisions of his office, Waller said, and help people understand the court system and the role they will be playing in it.

The person in the new position will be assigned to assist misdemeanor domestic battery victims and counsel those involved in aggravated battery, cyber crime, identity theft and fraud cases, as well.

When the new position is filled, Waller said there will be 14 victim and witness counselors working in his office.

Sheriff scholarship: Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran has announced his office will be offering one $500 college scholarship through an Illinois State Sheriff's Association program.Lake County residents who will be full time students during the 2010-2011 school year are welcome to apply for the scholarship.The money can be used for tuition, books and fees only. The scholarship is open to students in all academic fields.Students must be enrolled in an institution of higher learning within Illinois to qualify for the scholarship.Applications are available at the sheriff's office in Waukegan or on the Internet at lakecountyil.gov/sheriff.Applications must be completed by April 12 and be returned to the sheriff's office at 25 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan, 60085.Heard in the hallway:Congratulations to Christine Burnside, a counselor at the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center, and Assistant State's Attorney James Newman. The pair announced their engagement last week.