ILLIANA NEWS NOTES ON WGFA FOR TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2007 > BUDGET DEADLINE NEARS, COMPTROLLER ISSUES WARNING….. GOVERNOR NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT BUDGET…… SECOND ARSON TRIAL CLEARS WATSEKA MAN……. PICNIC in the PARK TODAY……. CLIFTON MEETING UPDATES VILLAGE SEWAGE SYSTEM…….
A HOT, STUFFY AFTERNOON WILL CLOSE OUT JULY. SUNNY WITH A HIGH AROUND 90. MORE OF THE SAME TOMORROW.
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An Iroquois County jury Monday found Matthew Wilkins NOT GUILTY of aggravated arson for a 10-year-old Watseka fire. The jury took just about 30 minutes to return the verdict. Wilkins was accused of setting fire to the Toggery children’s store after he was unable to locate any money in the busienss. At least that’s what he allegedly told his ex-wife, who testified against him in an earlier trial that left the jury undecided. This time–Amy Oliver didn’t show up to testify, crippling the State’s case against Wilkins. Wilkins has two more arson cases pending against him here locally.
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A 7 pm meeting tonight in Clifton will find the Sanitation and Sewage Disposal committee providing an update on the village sewage system. The informational meeting is scheduled at the Clifton Community Building.
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Three area lawmakers are hosting a Picnic in the Park Town Meeting tonight. State Reps Lisa Dugan and Careen Gordon and Senator Debbie Halvorson are partnering with the Bourbonnais Park District in hosting the picnic meeting at the Perry Farm. The meeting is from 5:30 ’til 7:30. Family entertainment is offered.
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Governor Rod Blagojevich Monday signed a bill designed to make Illinois more attractive to those deciding the location of the next-generation coal-to-energy plant. The measure–it’s hoped–will pull the FutureGen plant to Illinois. A site selection announcement is expected in November.
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The Governor’s not too worried about the budget deadline tonight. But Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes says the state will not turn into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight. Hynes says the state needs a new budget—either a 12-month or one-month—by August 8th, in order not to have payroll affected.
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Kankakee County court dispositions— 18-year-old Curtis Edwards of Kankakee plead guilty to Home Invasion. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. 20-year-old Horace Gyles of Kankakee pleaded guilty to Robbery. He was sentenced to four years in prison. 26-year-old Elijah Dabney of St. Anne pleaded guilty to Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance. He was sentenced to 30 months felony probation and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine.
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