Weekend News on WGFA >

• The Will County Sheriff’s department is investigating a fatal accident that killed a 21-year-old man. William Quigley Jr. of Wilmington Township died early Wednesday in a single-car accident. Police said his car rolled and caught fire after hitting a utility pole. There were no witnesses to the accident on Arsenal Road. Quigley was the only occupant in the vehicle.
• An armed robbery of a restaurant in Anderson, Indiana jailed three Kankakee residents. 20-yr-old Markis Harris, 18-yr-old Michael Randle, and 17-yr-old Jessica Clinton all face a felony charge of armed robbery. Bonds were set at $60,000 each. All three were jailed in Mandison County, IN. They allegedly robbed a robbed a Buffalo Wild Wings restauarant late Wednesday morning. Indiana State Police stopped a get-away car in Indianapolis about an hour after a restaurant manager was held up at gunpoint. Anderson Police said authorities found a handgun, $2,500 cash and clothing in the car; clothing that matched the description of the assailant.
• Warrants were issued Wednesday against two suburban Chicago men suspected of breaking into a Paxton convenience store and stealing $3,600 worth of cigarettes last month. The Paxton Record reports
  on his last day on the job, retiring Ford County State’s Attorney Tony Lee filed charges of burglary, felony theft and criminal damage to property against Jeffrey A. Kemp, 32, of Markham, and Allen T. New, 25, of Harvey. Identical charges were filed earlier this month against a third suspect in the Oct. 26 break-in at the Casey’s General Store in Paxton. 40-year-old William S. Oppelt of East Hazelcrest remains in the Ford County jail on a $25,000 bond. The trio are believed to be part of a professional burglary ring operating out of the Chicago suburbs that targets cell phone and convenience stores. They are suspected of committing three “smash-and-grab” burglaries within a three-hour period at stores in Ford, Iroquois and Champaign counties on Oct. 26. The others occurred at a convenience store in Clifton, where cigarettes were stolen, and at a cell phone store in Champaign, where multiple phones were taken. New remains in custody for two separate burglaries at cell phone stores in LaSalle Count. Kemp’s whereabouts are unknown.

ILLIANA NEWS NOTES for Friday, November 28, 2008 >

Apartment fire in Fowler, IN…. Pontiac woman gets prison time for bank robbery….. Two Indiana men injured in traffic accident….. Ashkum residents face drug charges…… Black Friday shopping season……

A sunny Friday, high near 44. A cold wind from the west at 5-10. Sunny Saturday, high at 47. Snow likely Sunday, high near 39.

— Watseka Christmas Parade 7 pm this evening —

• A Thanksgiving night fire damaged an apartment in downtown Fowler, IN. Quick response by firefighters stopped the fire from doing major damage. The fire occurred in a second floor apartment on Fifth street. Fowler Fire Chief Bill Burton said that the fire was contained in a matter of 15 minutes, and he believes it to be an electrical fire. No one was in the apartment at the time of the fire, and those in the adjacent apartment were able to evacuate safely.
• A Pontiac woman was sentenced to four years in prison for her role in a December 2007, bank robbery in El Paso. The sentence is the second in a recent bank robbery case for 23-year-old Noelle Huss. She was sentenced in April to another four years for her involvement as a “tagalong” with her boyfriend in the November 2007, robbery of the Vermilion Valley Bank in Cullom. Jason Satterfield, 30, of Pontiac earlier received a 14-year sentence for the El Paso bank robbery and 10 years for the Cullom holdup. Woodford County State’s Attorney Mike Stroh said Satterfield and Huss robbed the El Paso bank to obtain money for drugs.
• Serious injuries reported to two Indiana men after an accident last night at the Kankakee-Will County line. 27-year-old Tylond Haden and 27-year-old Darian Robinson of East Chicago, IN were taken to Riverside Hospital. State Police report the vehicle left Route 1 and overturned. Haden was ejected; Robinson was trapped inside. Grant Park Fire and EMS also answered the call at 10:30 pm.
• Two Ashkum residents were arrested by State Police Wednesday after a stop for an expired registration sticker. 29-year-old Matthew Faulkner and 21-year-old Katherine Murphy face charges of possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.
• A Vandalia man—24-yr-old Derrick Leppard—was found passed out behind the wheel of his car near Iroquois County Road 150-E and Route 1. Hoopeston Police and State Police responded to a car parked on the highway at 4 am Thursday. Leppard was jailed in Watseka.

94.1 FM, WGFA — “Your Illiana News Source”

ILLIANA NEWS NOTES ON WGFA for Wednesday, Nov 26, 2008 >

Watseka, Herscher, Manteno high schools gain grants….. More wind farm talk…. Home values jump in 3 area counties….. Senator Durbin asks if it’s time to free George Ryan ? ……

Weather–sunny today, high near 44. T-Giving Day likely sunny, high near 45.

– More high school holiday B-ball results –

Watseka High School is one of three local high schools named recipients of a grant to promote safe driving for teens. Herscher and Manteno are also recipients of a $2,000 grant to develop a Teen Safe Driving Program. The schools will now compete for more grant money and a grand prize to develop post-prom activities. It’s a first for Watseka. Both Herscher High School and Manteno High School won the grant for the second year in a row. The schools are among 106 schools selected from more than 200 statewide, chosen based on their identified traffic safety issues and their plan on how to implement a teen awareness program in their respective community. The grant is funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation and Allstate’s Your Choice Charity Program. Operation Teen Safe Driving is currently in an online competition to win an extra $15,000 from Allstate charity. To vote for the Operation Teen Safe Driving contest, visit www.allstateyourchoicecharity.com. Voting ends Dec. 10, and individuals can cast one vote every 24 hours.

• The Beecher Village Board is interested in a wind farm for Washington Township in Will County. Element Markets is an alternative energy company showing interested. Spokesperson Tim Smith said the company is only in the erarly stagte of exploring the possibility. He said the eastern section of the township could support about 50 wind turbines.
• The Vision Energy Company is also pursuing wind farm operations in Iroquois, Ford, Livingston and Kankakee counties. The K-4 Wind Project has already gained the approval of the Iroquois and Ford county officials. The company also operates the Benton County, IN wind farm.
• Three area counties show an increase in home values. Most of Illinois recorded a drop in median home prices in October. The Illinois Association of Realtors reports median home prices were up by 3 percent in Grundy County, 5 percent in Kankakee County, and 8 percent in Livingston County. Across the state, overall median home prices dropped by 10 percent in October. In the three-months from July thru August, the median price for all home sales in Kankakee County dropped just 0.9 percent compared with the same period last year, according to the state Realtor association. The biggest drop came in Ford County, where the median home sales price dropped 23 percent. Iroquois County prices fell by 4.3 percent; Grundy, 8.5 percent; Livingston, 5.9 percent, and Will, 7 percent. Figures include data on single-family homes as well as condos and multiple-unit buildings.
• Former Gov. George Ryan has been in prison for more than a year for racketeering and corruption. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) says it might be time to let him out. Durbin says he has spoken to Ryan’s wife, Lura Lynn, about the impact Ryan’s punishment has had on the family. He has lost his pension and other retirement benefits, and now he is separated from his family. Durbin says he believes both Ryans have had health problems. “Let’s look at the price that he’s paid,” Durbin said (Tuesday) in Springfield. “His family name has been damaged; he has, at an advanced moment in his life, been removed from his family; he has lost the economic security which most people count on at his age; and he is separate from his wife at a time in which she is in frail health.” Durbin says he is considering writing to President Bush to ask for a sentence commutation – not a pardon.

ILLIANA NEWS NOTES on WGFA for Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008 >

Free T-Giving Dinner…. Two Benton County schools closed today, water problems….. Pace considers mayoral run….. Economy hits Carle…. DACC considers wind farm degree…..

Illiana Weather — Partly sunny, high near 36. NW wind around 15 mph.

– Boys and Girls Prep holiday Basketball this week in Illiana –

Bishop McNamara High School wants no one going hungry during Thanksgiving. For the 20th straight year, Bishop McNamara Catholic High will serve Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. The meal will be served at noon on the McNamara campus, 500 W. Brookmont Boulevard in Kankakee. The doors will close at 12:30 p.m. There is no cost, but reservations must be made by calling (815) 933-7620. Arrangements for delivery can also be made by calling this number, and persons interested in volunteering at the event can also call the number as well.

Water problems have closed two Benton Community Schools today (Tuesday. Benton Central Junior Senior High School and Prairie Crossing Elementary School will be closed. Superintendent Ross Sloat says the drinking water at the two schools tested positive for bacteria on Friday.
He says Benton Schools followed state guidelines, which require more testing for accuracy, before shutting off the water.
Otterbein and Boswell Elementary Schools will still have classes Tuesday.

Theodis Pace is considering another run for Kankakee mayor. But unlike an independent run back in 1993, this time he plans to run as a democrat. Should he make the run, he will run against Nickey Yates and Robert Ellington-Snipes in the February primary election. On the Republican side, Nina Epstein and Tim Schmidt will face off in a primary. The winners will compete in the April general election. (Daily-Journal)

Danville Area Community College officials hope to launch a new associate degree program that would prepare students for a high-tech, high-paying, high-demand career in one of the fastest-growing segments of the energy industry – wind energy. Trustees today (Tues) will vote on whether to offer a wind-energy technician associate degree program at the campus. If the DACC and Illinois Community College boards sign off on the program, it could be ready by the fall 2009 semester. Highland Community College in Freeport is the only community college in Illinois offering this type of program, and Rock Valley College in Rockford is developing one.

Carle Clinic laid off 21 employees Monday, citing a need to cut staff expenses. The affected employees were primarily in “manager-level” and support-service positions, according to a statement from the clinic. No employees providing hands-on patient care were affected, the statement added. Executive Vice President Mike Bukosky said, “Despite making other operational cuts, it remains necessary to reduce staff.” Employees will be eligible for severance payments, based on years of service. They will be eligible for rehire, but will be provided outplacement assistance and career counseling. In early October, the Carle Foundation eliminated 72 of its 3,060 positions. The jobs were not those directly affecting patient care.

NEWS NOTES on WGFA for Monday, November 24, 2008 >

IL woman dies in head-on crash in Indiana…. Rensselaer teen dies in Jasper County crash….. IDOT giving motorists a holiday break….

Weather— Rain and snow likely this morning, becoming party sunny, high near 41. No snow accumulation expected.

– Prep football season ends for Central, Kankakee –

• A Beecher woman was one of two people who died and another person was seriously injured Sunday evening in a head-on car crash in Cedar Lake, Indiana. 64-year-old JoAnn White was a passenger in one of the cars involved. She died at St. Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point. Cedar Lake Fire Chief Todd Wilkening said the accident happened about 6:15 p.m. at West 135th and Patterson avenues. Cedar Lake resident Thomas Christie, 32, was pronounced dead at 6:45 p.m. He died at the scene after suffering blunt force trauma, according to the coroner’s office. Christie was driving alone. The driver of the second vehicle, who was not identified, was in serious condition Sunday night at a local hospital, Wilkening said. Toxicology tests are expected to be performed as early as today.
• A teenager from Rensselaer, IN was killed last Thursday when her car was hit by a younger driver’s car in Jasper County. 18-year-old Nicole Tholl died at the scene of the crash at County Road 500N and 450W. Police report 16-year-old Taylar Risner of Rensselaer drove thru a stop sign, pushing Tholl’s car into a utility pole.
• Eighty-five-percent of the drivers in America don’t properly check their tire pressure. That’s according to a study by the Rubber Manufactures of America, which is urging motorists to be tire smart before hitting the roads for Thanksgiving travel. Kim Weber, director of government relations for the RMA, explain what’s the best way to determine if you need new tires. She said using a penny, insert the coin into the tread. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, you need a new tire. More information about tire safety is available online at www.betiresmart.org.
• The Illinois Department of Transportation plans to suspend construction in work zones to give motorists a break. Work will be stopped from 3 pm Wednesday thru midnight Thursday.
• The post-season ended for a couple of prep football teams Saturday. The central Comets were defeated 52-14 by Elmhurst Immaculate Conception in the 2A semi-final. Wheaton St. Francis edges out the Kankakee Kays 21-20 in the 5A semi-final.

“Your Illiana News Source” — 94.1 FM, WGFA

WGFA NEWS NOTES FOR Friday, November 21, 2008 >

Trial date set in Iroquois County Clerk’s case…. Bomb Threat arrest…. KAMEG arrest…. Police presence on roadways dcasering holidays….. Winter forecast: warmer than normal….. Vermilion County 9-1-1 completes move…..

A sunny Friday in Illiana, high near 29. Weekend outlook: sunny Saturday, high at 38. Sunday high of 45 and sunshine.

–Central Comets host Elmhurst (Immaculate Conception) in 2A IHSA football action Saturday, 5 pm on 94.1 FM –

• Judge William Schmidt has set a March 17, 2009 trial date for Iroquois County Clerk Mark Henrichs. A defense motion asking for the State to pay the indicted clerk’s legal fees was taken under advisement. Henrichs pleaded not guilty to eight felony counts, including felony theft, forgery and official misconduct. The case is being prosecuted by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. The indictment alleges Henrichs falsified sale documents of a camping trailer that he personally owned. He sold the trailer to the county for $17,500 to be used as an emergency polling place. The accusation alleges Henrichs did not disclose he owned the trailer and the sale price was well-over what he paid for it. Judge Schmidt (Wednesday) heard arguments from Henrich’s attorney Frank Simutis and Assistant A-G Mary Bucaro concerning Simutis’ request that he be appointed a special-state’s attorney in the case, which would require Henrichs’ defense be paid by county taxpayers. (State’s Attorney Jim Devine’s involvement poses a conflict of interest). A status hearing prior to the March trial date is set for January 30th.
• Reed-Custer High School senior will be in Will County Circuit Court today. 17-year-old Robert Angone was arrested Thursday on felony disorderly conduct charges for making a bomb threat at the School Wednesday. About a dozen police officers, plus bomb sniffing dogs from the state police, searched the school and found no bomb, according to acting Braidwood Police Chief Brandon Myers. Police said there was a confession. Angone will be charged in Will County Circuit Court and is in custody at the Will County Adult Detention Facility in Joliet.
• State troopers will be out in force to crack down on speeding, drunken driving, failure to wear seat belts and other safety issues, as motorists travel to-and-from their Thanksgiving get-togethers. Troopers will be posted every 10 miles on highways the day before Thanksgiving and the Sunday afterward, according to state police Master Sgt. Brian Ley. The patrols will be from noon to 10 p.m. Nov. 26 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov 30, but state and local agencies will have extra patrols throughout the holiday weekend.
• The government reports Winter looks likely to be mild in the Midwest and dry in the Southeast. Warmer-than-average temperatures are expected for the nation’s center, especially Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center said above normal readings are also likely in a large area extending from New Mexico, Colorado and Nebraska in the west to southeastern South Dakota and southern Wisconsin. The rest of the 48 contiguous states have equal chances of being warmer or cooler than normal, the forecast said.
• The project to set up 911 communications in Vermilion County is coming to fruition. Director Vic Vanesse says the older 9-1-1 center simply ran out of room. Work has been ongoing since March to set up 911 operators in a new communications center in the sublevel of the Public Safety Building. The new center takes over the space used a number of years to coordinate emergency management agency services in the county. Unlike the current setup, the new location allows for more storage as well as training and locker rooms, and larger offices for Vanesse and the 911 coordinator. At the center of the area, five operator stations are setup with a sixth available for expansion. Funding for new 911 communications center comes from a number of sources. A state grant of $63,000 was applied toward the new computer system while the Danville Building Commission and Vermilion County and Vermilion County Emergency Telephone System Board joined together to pay for the rest — about $137,000.

WGFA NEWS NOTES for Thursday, November 20, 2008 >
Pontiac Prison Supporters Rally in Springfield….. Ex-State Trooper pleads guilty….. More Testimony at public hearing for suspended police officer……Veteran Ford County mayor resigns…..

Cloudy and a chance of Flurries today, high near 36.

– Central Comets, Kankakee Kays in football play-offs Saturday -

• A public hearing for suspended Grant Park Police-Lt. Steve Marcotte wrapped up last evening. Now, a local police committee will have to decide what, if any action, is appropriate. Marcotte’s accused of not following department policy to turn over a weapon that was acquired from a local citizen. Marcotte’s attorney, Tom McGwire, maintains the accusations against his client is an act of retaliation by also suspended Police Chief Scott Fitts-who faces indictment for allegedly operating a prostitution sting out of the Grant Park police department. Marcotte testified in that case against Fitts. Should Marcotte be let go, the matter could wind up in court.
  Former Illinois State Police Special Agent Brad Cluver has surrendered his right to own a weapon and was placed on probation for two years after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges. The 51-year-old former cop plead guilty to unlawful use of a weapon in Ford County Circuit Court on Tuesday. He also turned over his Firearm Owners Identification Card. The Gibson City resident entered the plea through a plea agreement with State’s Attorney Tony Lee. Under the agreement, more serious felony charges of aggravated assault on a police officer with a firearm were dismissed. The Paxton Record reports Cluver was arrested in February following a two-hour standoff with police at his apartment in Gibson City. Officers from several agencies arrived at the apartment after a Gibson City officer who responded to a domestic disturbance call at the apartment was allegedly threatened by Cluver while Cluver had a gun in his waistband. Gibson City Police Chief Steve Cushman said in February police were able to persuade Cluver, who they said appeared heavily intoxicated, to exit the apartment before taking him into custody. A woman at the apartment was unharmed. Cluver was a special agent for Illinois State Police when he resigned in 2002, according to the state police public information office. Cluver started his career with state police as a trooper in 1983. As part of the plea agreement, Cluver was placed on 24 months probation. (Paxton Record)

  A Ford County Mayor has resigned. The Village of Melvin’s mayor, Marvin Beck, stepped aside from the post he held the last 10 years. The resignation was effectivce November 1st. Beck also served as a village village trustee for about 30 years prior to becoming mayor. Tracey Mott, a trustee, has been appointed to fill Beck’s term as Mayor. Local resident Jeff Grider was appointed to fill Mott’s trustee seat.

  A march on the state Capitol Wednesday focused on the Blagojevich Administration’s plan to close the Pontiac prison. Hundreds of prison workers and their families chanted, “Where’s Rod? Don’t close Pontiac” as they swarmed the first floor of the statehouse. Guards such as Bobby Walker from the Lawrenceville prison say some of Pontiac’s maximum-security inmates have been transferred to his prison, which he says isn’t equipped to handle tougher inmates. Guard Ralph Portwood of Stateville, and supply officers Randy Hellman and Pat Rensing of Pinkneyville, say the situation is getting dangerous.
  Senator Dan Rutherford of Pontiac said the rally did an excellent job of showing Governor Rod Blagojevich, ‘Don’t Close Pontiac. Rutherford said “AFSCME, the City of Pontiac and the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce all deserve credit for providing a clear message in Springfield.” For over five months, the entire central Illinois area has been fighting to keep the prison open because the proposed closure would affect the second largest employer in Livingston County and severely cripple the area economy. On November 18, a Johnson County Circuit Court Judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Illinois Department of Corrections from making any other unusual transfers until after another hearing Deccember 1.

• Residents of Grundy County are calling for change in the wake of the deaths of a mother and her two children in a car accident Nov. 6th. The citizens want a Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter and safety improvements to Illinois Route 47. The Ottawa Times reports the deaths of Mandy Jahn, 27, of Dwight, and her two small children have prompted a meeting set for 7 p.m tonight at Coal City Middle School. The other driver in the Jahn fatality, Ann M. Getz, of Ransom, had prior arrests for driving under the influence and could be sentenced to up to 28 years in prison. County Coroner John W. Callahan is suggesting safety improvements at the intersection where the fatal accident happened. Getz was driving west on Gardner Road when police said she ran a stop sign. (Callahan said there should be rumble strips on the Gardner Road, flashing yellow lights on the “stop ahead” signs, flashing red lights on the blacktop’s stop signs and more lighting at the intersection).

“Your Illiana News Source” — 94.1 FM, WGFA

TOP NEWS STORIES ON WGFA for Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Judge halts Pontiac Prison transfers; Rutherford reacts…. Pontiac Mayor lashes out at State over prison closing…..C-I school district plans for high school deactivation….. New Crime rates in IL…..

Weather—Partly sunny today, high near 44. Cloudy tonight, low near 30 and Thursday, sunshine with high at 37.

–Girls Prep B-Ball continues at CPCI and Prarie Central –

New figures show crime in Illinois fell by more than 3 percent last year, continuing a 13-year slide that resulted in 210,000 fewer crimes than in 1994. The numbers were released today by the Illinois State Police. Locally, Iroquois and Will counties showed a crime rate decline — 19.8 percent for Iroquois, 0.5 percent for Will. Rate increases for the four other local counties: Ford, 15.7 percent, Grundy, 18.7 percent,
Kankakee, 1.5 percent, and Livingston, 5.3%. *

Inmate transfers from the Pontiac Correctional Center have been halted, at least for the time being. A Johnson County Judge issued a ruling, preventing any “unusual or extraordinary” transfers of Illinois Department of Corrections inmates until December 1st, when the next court hearing will take place. The order was granted at the request of AFSCME workers statewide. State Senator Dan Rutherford is pleased with the ruling. The ruling will slow the state’s rush to close the Pontiac prison, according to AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall. The AFSCME lawsuit filed in Southern Illinois, argues that the state should not transfer Pontiac inmates before it resolves a union grievance over safety risks posed by the transfers. The union has accused Illinois Prison officials of moving too quickly to transfer inmates out of the soon to be closed Pontiac prison. AFSCME is also hoping for a last minute miracle that could save the lock-up in Pontiac. A rally aimed at that is planned for this afternoon in Springfield.

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The state is putting prisoners back out in the streets. That’s what Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy thinks. During a Tuesday press conference, McCoy blasted the state, saying prison officials are not bringing people back into the corrections system once they violate parole. McCoy says it’s a strategy that allows the governor to tout how low Illinois’ recidivism rates are. But McCoy says it dangerous to let people skate by on parole violations. He points out the person of interest in the slayings of actress Jennifer Hudson’s relatives was on parole last summer. Coincidentally, the person was housed at the Pontiac prison for a period of time. McCoy claims the state is purposely keeping people out of prison to save money. Illinois Prison spokesman Derek Schnapp does not agree, he says the state has been nationally recognized for its parole program. McCoy’s lashing out come as part of a final push to save the Pontiac prison. Governor Rod Blagojevich ordered it closed at the end of the year to save money.

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The communities of the Crescent City school district approved a referenda vote two weeks ago to deactivate the District 249 High School in favor of sending students to neighboring school districts. Now, the school board is focusing on approving contracts with three other districts where students have the option of attending. (Cissna Park, Iroquois West and Watseka). District 249 Superintendent James Mann says the adjustments for the future include community folks as well as students. Mann says the role of the school board now, is to maintain what’s currently in place K thru 8. The board will also need to manage the contractual agreement with the three receiving school districts.

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