VETERANS DAY NEWS ON WGFA, November 11, 2008 >
Area Veterans Day services…. Budget vote for the Iroquois County Board Wednesday…. Alcantar DUI trial pushed ahead….
A chance of freezing rain and sleet this morning, then cloudy with a high near 44. Rain tonight, then rising temps and high near 50 tomorrow.
– News, Weather, Sports on the links at WGFARADIO.COM –
- A change of venue is under consideration in Iroquois County for the trial of Luis Alcantar. He’s an illegal Mexican immigrant, accused of the traffic death of 76-yr-old Martin Dettmering, of Buckley. Alcantar is accused of driving drunk. The felony aggravated DUI case finds the 22-yr-old Alcantar represented by Kankakee attorney Joe Anthony. The trial was scheduled to begin in Watseka Monday, but Anthony filed a motion for a change of venue before Judge Susan Tungate. A hearing is now set for December 3rd at 9:30 am. Police said Alcantar ran thru a stop sign on a rural road north of Buckley September 2, 2007. Iroquois County State’s Attorney Jim Devine says Alcantar was drunk when he broad-sided Dettmering’s car. Dettmering died of his injuries about two-months later. Alcantar originally was ticketed for failure to yield at a stop intersection. But in a Nov. 1, 2007 indictment, Devine upgraded Alcantar’s charges from simple DUI to felony aggravated DUI, because of Dettmering’s death.
- A Watseka motorist was ticketed for Failure to Yield following a two-vehicle colission involving farm machinery. Louis Bossong was westbound on Iroquois County Road 1400-N approaching Illinous Route 1. 21-year-old Stephanie Reiners of Milford was southbound on 1 with a 3-year-old juvenile. State Police report Bossong pulled into the intersection where the vehicles collided. Reiners and the child were treated at IMH for minor injuries.
- The Watseka American Legion Post 23 is hosting a Veterans Day Service today. The public is invited to the Legion Home for the 11 am event.
- Many communities have special ceremonies planned this morning for Veterans Day. Most schools are closed for today’s federal and state holiday. Government offices are closed, and there is no regular mail delivery. Most banks are not open. CTA, Metra and Pace are running on their regular schedules, and today is not a parking meter holiday. November 11th marks the day World War One ended in 1918. Veterans Day was known as Armistice Day until 1954.
- The Iroquois County Board (Wednesday) will vote on a new FY budget. The numbers still show a $4,033 deficit. Several members still raise their eyebrows about the possibility of OKing a red ink budget plan, but the expected tax revenues yet to come in have others feeling a little more comfortable. The Board meets at 9 am Wednesday. Meanwhile—the Policy & Procedure committee has recommended a hiring freeze, effective Wednesday (Nov 12th) and continuing through FY 2009 and until further notice. The committee also is feeling the pain of an insurance hike over the next year. A $500,000 injury claim has raised more red flags over the ongoing budget difficulties. The claim-officials have been advised—will result in a 25% insurance increase.
- “From Heaven’s Throne” is this year’s theme for the Iroquois County Christmas Cantata. Rehearsals are underway. There will not be a Wednesday night rehearsal tomorrow (Nov 12th). The final Wednesday night rehearsal will be November 19th. This week’s Sunday practice will be at 2 pm following the memorial service at the First Christian Church. All remaining Sunday practices will be at 1 pm.
- The Cissna Park FFA Alumni Scholarship Auction is tonight at the Cissna Park American Legion Home. Dinner is from 5-7; the auction is at 7 pm.
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