WGFA NEWS for Wednesday, November 11, 2009 >
WX > A sunny Veterans Day in Illiana, high today near 60. NE wind 5-10.
— Veterans Day Services around the area today –
> Iroquois County citizens are paying for public safety in Champaign and Vermilion counties; also in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. If you shop and dine-out when visiting the neighboring counties, you’re helping to support public safety there. Perhaps–reason why local citizens should support such a public safety tax here in Iroquois County.
Tuesday, the Iroquois County Board pledged support for a one-half cent retail sales tax that’s expected to generate more than one-million dollars to help keep sheriff’s deputies on the road for patrol duties. It’s pointed out, this is not a property tax. Taxable items are limited. And the tax is so minute, you’re half-cent on the dollar won’t even be noticed. Visitors to Iroquois County will also be supporting the tax — that finds the money going to maintain county law enforcement patrols.
The County Board is fronting $25-hundred dollars for publicity brochures to educate the public about the public safety tax.
The one-half cent tax applies to all people who purchase goods and eat in the county. But it excludes all licensed vehicles, automobiles, farm implements, prescription and non-prescription medicines and groceries.
> Speculation about the status of Iroquois County Sheriff Eldon Sprau’s term has been put to rest. The sheriff’s been contemplating early-retirement from his term which runs thru November 30, 2010. Financial losses from the county and the state of Illinois bites into Sheriff Sprau’s pending retirement pension. He addressed the county board Tuesday morning he’s labored over a decision to retire early, but he said he took an oath to serve the people of the county and he will fulfill his term.
Sheriff Sprau said he has nothing to apologize for, he’s done the job he was elected to do and will nothing different. He said doing the right thing, sometimes offends certain people and isn’t popular, but he will be working to support the public safety tax and enhance the sheriff’s department.
> A Democratic member of the Kankakee County Board has resigned. Nicky Yates is giving up his seat on the board, effective November 30th. Yates said he’s had enough; calling the Board a “mockery of county government.” He said corruption runs rampant and the racial environment is troubling.
> A Newton County, IN traffic accident Monday left one person dead. The accident happened on U-S 41 south of State Road 114. Ellen Strong was a passenger in an SUV when she was ejected from the vehicle when it rolled over.. Emergency responders said the SUV was forced to swerve to avoid another vehicle.
> Jurors in the James Brown manslaughter trial Tuesday heard the accused say ‘he had no reason to believe the subjects burglarizing his shed were armed.’ During the playing of a police interrogation tape, James Brown told the Iroquois County Sheriff’s Department’s Chief Investigator Randy Eimen ‘the person he saw taking items from his rural Beaverville shed “did not threaten him with any harm.” The jury heard Brown say he was startled and fired two shots from his .12-guage shotgun at a pickup truck when the truck’s brake lights came on and the driver’s side door opened.
The person Brown observed taking his tools fled on foot. Authorities later discovered the lifeless body of Heather Todd inside the pickup truck.
The 68-year-old Brown is standing trial for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated discharge of a firearm.
“Your Illiana News Source” — 94.1 FM, WGFA
