TOP NEWS STORIES ON WGFA for Monday, January 5, 2008 >
First 2009 baby born at IMH…. Daily-Journal’s Citizen-of-the-Year: Dave Mayotte….. Halvorson Senate replacement expected today….. Arrest made in Danville murder….. Crash kills 2 in White Couty, IN….. Watseka Holiday B-Ball Tourney concludes today……
Mostly sunny today, high near 31. Wind chills at 1-degree. Snow in the forecast tomorrow, 1-3 inches possible.
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* The first baby of 2009 arrived Saturday at Iroquois Memorial Hospital. Isaac Henry Johnson was delivered by Dr. Phil Zumwalt at 11 am. Isaac Henry checked in at 8 lbs 14 oz and measured 21.5 inches in length. His proud parents Jay & Susan Johnson of Kankakee. Isaac’s big sister was also on hand to welcome him; that’s 2-yr-old Elizabeth Marie.
* The Kankakee Daily-Journal has named Watseka Fire Chief Dave Mayotte its 2008 Citizen-of-the-Year. The newspaper lauds Mayotte’s role in directing emergency flood relief efforts during the historic Watseka flooding in January and February. Mayotte credits the efforts of his own department’s volunteers and the many county-wide volunteer firefighters who provided mutual aide, but the fire chief’s leadership gained respect in that he too was a flood victim. Mayotte’s own home was ruined while he focused on emergency help for the many other flood victims. A full-time professional firefighter for the Tri-State Fire Protection District in the Chicago-suburbs, Mayotte has served as Watseka’s Fire Chief the last eight years.
* Democratic leaders from four area counties meet today to select a replacement for Illinois State Senator Debbie Halvorson. Halvorson will sworn in Tuesday as a new member of Congress, representing the 11th District. A legislative reappointment committee consisting of chairmen from each of Illinois’ 40th Legislative District’s counties — Will, Kankakee, Cook and Iroquois — will vote on three candidates vying for Halvorson’s seat, which she officially vacates at 10 a.m. today. There are three candidates vying for the appointment including former 11th congressional district candidate John Pavich, an attorney; Will County board member John Anderson, of Monee, an attorney; and Toi Hutchinson, a former Olympia Fields village clerk and Halvorson’s former chief of staff. The selection meeting takes place in Kankakee.
* A 19-year-old Danville man was arrested Saturday in connection with the New Year’s Day shooting death of Alberto Cardoza. Acting on information from Danville police, authorities in Erlanger, Ky., took Joseph T. King into custody about 3 a.m. Saturday, according to a release from Danville Police. Bond was set at $1 million by request of the Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office. The 18-year-old Cardoza was killed just after midnight Thursday in the 700 block of Bryan Avenue. Cardoza attended a New Year’s Eve party there. King is expected to be arraigned on Monday in Kentucky before extradition to Illinois.
* The 17-year-old accused in the shooting death of a Manteno man in Kankakee will face three counts of first-degree murder. Formal charges are expected to be filed January 16th when Byron Moore appears before Chief Judge Kathy Bradshaw-Elliott. Ryan Graefnitz, the 23-year-old murder victim, was killed early last Saturday in the 500 block of South Chicago Avenue in Kankakee after an apparent drug deal had gone bad between Graefnitz, Moore and a 14-year-old Kankakee boy. Bond has been set at $2 million.
* Two teenagers were killed Saturday in a single-car crash in White County, Indiana. Police said the victims were in the same vehicle. 18-yr-old Kimberly Hittle of Battle Ground and an un-identified 19-yr-old male resident from Brookston died in the wrekc on 300 East. 19-yr-old Chad Hooker was the driver of the vehicle whe it crashed. He was treated for minor injuries. Two other teenagers were treated for serious injuries. Investigators said alcohol was not a factor.
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