WGFA WEEKEND NEWS, Saturday-Sunday, 11-14, 11-15-09 >
WX > Illiana’s weekend outlook, a mostly cloudy Saturday, high near 63. SW wind at 10-15. Sunday 30% chance of showers, high near 55.
— Verdict in: James Brown not guilty –
> An eight women, four men jury has found a 68-year-old Beaverville man not guilty of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated discharge of a firearm. James Brown hugged his tearful wife in the Iroquois County courtroom Friday evening after the jury acquitted him for the 2006 shooting death of Heather Todd. The jury deliberated 90 minutes. Brown left the courthouse in Watseka without comment.
Brown admittedly shot and killed the Indiana woman during the early morning hour of May 22, 2006. But he told the jury he feared for his own safety after he investigated a burglary in progress on his rural Beaverville property site.
Brown testified that he watched a person carry items from his storage shed but then, fired two shotgun blasts at a pickup truck when the vehicle’s rear brake lights came on and the driver’s door opened. Todd was in the driver’s seat of the pickup. The man burglarizing the shed fled on foot and was arrested later.
> Illinois is reporting 12 new deaths and 368 new hospitalizations from H1N1 flu. Meanwhile—local and area vaccine clinics are scheduled.
Friday’s update brings to 48 the number of Illinois H1N1 flu deaths since April. Nearly 1,400 Illinois residents have been hospitalized since the global epidemic began. Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold says some health departments have enough nasal spray vaccine, but still need injectable vaccine. The state is helping coordinate the transfer of unused nasal spray vaccine to areas where it can be used.
More than 1.2 million doses of vaccine have been shipped to Illinois. County health departments have most of them. The state also is ordering vaccine for doctors serving patients most at risk for complications.
> The Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department has clinics scheduled today (Sat). The at-risk visitors can get vaccines at the PBL High School cafeteria in Paxton and at the Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department Office in Watseka. Today’s clinics are from 9 am ’til 3 pm. The Kankakee County Heath Department on West Station Street in Kankakee is also hosting a clinic today 8 am ’til Noon.
An H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Clinic is also scheduled next Tuesday and Thursday in Newton County, Indiana. It’s for Newton County residents ONLY that fall into one of the vaccination “target groups.” Contact the Newton County Health Dept with any questions 219-285-2052.
