WGFA NEWS FOR Wednesday, March 10, 2010 >
WX > Showers before noon today, cloudy otherwise. High near 64. South winds at 10-15 mph. Showers likely tonight and Thursday.
– Gov Quinn delivers Budget Address today at noon –
> Iroquois County’s financial picture has been painted so dismal that now, there’s a proposal to close the county jail to save money. Sheriff Eldon Sprau laid out a financial savings that would save a bundle of money. But not everyone is excited about losing the lock-up.
Yesterday-the county board heard the sheriff’s proposal. But more info is needed, so it’ll be at least another month before any decisions are rendered. Just how much money would be saved is still being assembled. Should the jail in Watseka be closed, arrestees would be housed at the Kankakee County jail — under Sheriff Sprau’s proposal.
The proposal comes after last week’s lay-offs of four deputies and a correctional officer. The lay-offs are the result of a failed referendum last month. Voters said NO to a public safety tax referendum.
> Community leaders across East-Central Illinois will be listening closely today as Governor Pat Quinn delivers his budget address. Most mayors, county officials, school superintendents and service group leaders want to know what – if anything – the Governor plans to do to get state payments back on track. Many are several months behind in reimbursements. State Rep. Lisa Dugan is anxious to hear what Governor Quinn will say. But she also admits anything said will be painful.
> The Daily-Journal reports federal lawsuits involving the Fitts brothers– Tom and Scott — are expected back in U.S. District Court in Urbana this week. Scott Fitts is the former Police Chief in Grant Park who was indicted for allegedly operating a prostituition sting out of the local police department, while he was chief. Tom Fitts is still a part-time officer in the community, but was a lieutenant until he was demoted and had his pay cut as part of a cost-saving measure. His suit contends his civil rights were violated. Tom Fitts is also seeking another $5,000 for service while he was acting-police chief following his brother’s arrest in 2008.
> A repeat spelling champion is headed back to Washington, D.C. Chris Bayston, a 7th grader at St. George Elementary School, defended his title as champion Tuesday, outspelling 23 other student spellers from Iroquois and Kankakee counties. Chris won the local spelling bee in the National Scripps Howard Spelling competition at Olivet Nazarene University. He’ll represent the area again in national spelling competition in D.C. in May. Chris is the son of Brian & Melissa Bayston.
The Scripps Howard Bee is organized by the I-Kan Regional Office of Education and sponosred by the Daily-Journal.
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