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MONDAY FEBRUARY 13
FATAL CRASH
A fatal crash on I-57 this morning around 6 o’clock. Killed in a single vehicle rollover accident was a male passenger in a car being driven by 37 year old Eboni L. Williams of Champaign. Police have not yet released the name of the dead man. Williams sustained serious injuries in the crash and is currently being treated in an area hospital.
WATSEKA TRESPASS
37 year old Joshua Huff of Watseka faces a charge of criminal trespass after police were called to a residence Friday night in the 200 block of N 2nd Street to investigate a dispute.
ILLEGAL GAMBLING
Kankakee businessmen Jimmy Lacost and his son Michael W. Lacost have pleaded guilty in federal court to conducting an illegal gambling business. Both could receive up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 250-thousand dollars. The Lacosts could face additional penalties of up to five years probation and an additional fine of a half-million dollars.
MOMENCE ARREST
Kankakee County Sheriff’s officers have arrested 41-year-old Amy Buikema of Momence for domestic battery. A woman who shared a home with Buikema told police that she awoke to find the microwave in the kitchen of the home on fire and Buikema running water over their cordless phone. The woman told officers that when she confronted Buikema she was struck repeatedly in the face.
HOOPESTON DRUG CHARGES
Three Hoopeston men have turned themselves in to Iroquois County Jail all were wanted on charges of tampering with anhydrous ammonia equipment. Anhydrous ammonia is an ingredient often used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. The three are 19 year old Bryan M. Daily, 18 year old Jarrod C. Burton and 18 year old Josh Hasbargen. Burton and Hasbargen remain in the Iroquois County Jail in lieu of bond, daily has posted bond and has been released from custody.
PEMBROKE BURGLARY
The Kankakee County Sheriff’s office is investigating the theft of a water heater, copper pipe and electrical wiring from a Pembroke Township home last week. A resident of the home on East 3000 South Road reported witnessing a man dragging a large item away from the home and into the woods. Officers found evidence of forced entry at the rear door of the home but so far have not apprehended any suspects.
VOTING
If you want to help select the candidates for president, congress and the state general assembly, you will need to register to vote by February 21. Early voting starts February 27. If you want to cast an early ballot you must go the county clerk’s office between the 27th and March 15. Absentee voting began February 9. If you want to vote absentee, you can do so at the county clerk’s office until March 19. Absentee ballots can also be sent though the mail. The deadline for a mailed absentee ballot is March 15.
WATSEKA ARREST
Watseka Police arrested a man on Sunday for possession of a controlled substance, being a pedestrian under the influence and having an open container of alcohol in public. 27 year old Christopher L Bowers of Watseka was stopped in the 200 block of West Walnut when an officer saw him with the open container and watched him smash it in the street. He was booked into the Iroquois County Jail where he awaits a court appearance.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY
KMEG BUSTS
KMEG agents have arrested a Kankakee man for delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver. Arrested was 39-year-old Wesley Norrgran. And KMEG officers have arrested a Bourbonnais resident for delivery of cocaine within 1-thousand feet of a school. According to police, 30-year-old Quaashi Whitlow delivered crack cocaine in a parking lot in the 400 block of John Casey Road in Bourbonnais.
ESTATE TAX
State Representative Jason Barickman has introduced legislation that would eliminate the state portion of the estate tax. Barickman says the tax unfairly targets farmers and business owners. Barickman says the current high tax rates have forced many families to sell pieces or all of family farms or businesses.
EXPRESSWAY MEETINGS
Will County officials say the proposed route for the Illiana Expressway will be good for Will County. The Illiana corridor planning group is recommending a route that would start at interstate 65 between Cedar Lake and Lowell in Indiana and end at interstate 55 near Wilmington. Will County Engineer Bruce Gould says if and when the route is built it will greatly reduce truck traffic on Will County roads. A final route will be chosen by the end of 2012 and construction could begin in 2015. Two public meetings have been scheduled on the proposed expressway. One will be held in Crown Point, Indiana on February 22 at 5pm at Crown Point High School and another is set for February 23 at 5pm at the Holiday Inn in Matteson.
KHA
US Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan says public housing authorities in Illinois will receive more than 128 million dollars that will be used to make large-scale improvements to their public housing units. Kankakee Housing Authority Executive Director Randy McGill says the 300-thousand dollar portion it will receive out of that total will not be used for any large scale improvements. McGill says some of that money will also be used to pay salaries locally.
LIMESTONE PROMOTION
A seven-year member of the Limestone Township Fire Protection District, Michelle Holocker, has been promoted to the position of deputy chief. Holocker has also served as lieutenant and captain for Limestone firefighters.
FARM BUREAU MEETING
The Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau is hosting a crop insurance meeting on Tuesday February 21 at 7pm in the Farm Bureau Building in Gilman. Illinois Farm Bureau Senior Director of Affiliate and Risk Management, Doug Yoder, will be the speaker. He will cover the new trend-adjusted a-p-h option along with other important factors needed to make the best crop insurance decisions. Reservations are not required. For more information contact the Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau at 1-800-424-0756.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 15
AMTRAK COMPLAINT
Amtrak is asking federal rail regulators to investigate the Canadian National Railway’s role in slowing down passenger trains headed out of Chicago on their way through Kankakee to southern Illinois. Amtrak says CN is violating federal law that gives passenger trains right of way over freight. Amtrak says CN trains are interfering with the operation of all of its routes. Canadian National says its preparing a response to the Amtrak complaint due by March 9, a deadline set by the surface transportation board.
DOMESTIC BATTERY
A Kankakee man has been arrested for domestic battery after allegedly beating up his girlfriend. 39 year old Joseph D. Lynch was arrested late Saturday night after he reportedly shoved his girlfriend into his truck and struck her in the face several times with his fist.
CANDIDATE ANNOUNCED
Brook, Indiana resident Kyle D. Conrad has announced his candidacy for the office of Newton County commissioner, district 1, in the upcoming may 2012 republican primary. Conrad is a former clerk of the Newton Circuit Court, having served from 1991 to 2000, during which time he was twice awarded outstanding clerk awards by the association of Indiana counties and the association of clerks of circuit courts of Indiana. Conrad believes the priorities facing Newton County include the dwindling revenues and increasing costs to operate county government.
VOTE
Kankakee County Clerk Bruce Clark wants to remind everyone that Tuesday is the last day for registration or transfer of registration for persons wanting to vote in the March 20 primary. You can register at the county clerk’s office on the first floor of the county administration building on Court Street which is open weekdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm. The clerk’s office also will be open this Saturday from 8:30am to noon to accommodate those wishing to register but unable to come in during regular office hours. You can also register by mail. The form you need for that is on the county clerk’s website, www.kankakeecountyclerk.com. If you register by mail you will need to include a photocopy of your driver’s license or state id.
CASH DASH
During his first year in office, Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s Cash Dash program returned more than 101-million dollars in unclaimed property to their rightful owners. That number is usually around 80-million a year. In addition, the number of web searches went up by 2-point-2 million over 2010. Unclaimed property includes money transferred from inactive bank accounts, stocks or bonds, or safe deposit box contents. Rutherford has visited 98 communities across the state to help boost awareness of the program. To see if you have anything waiting for you, go to www.treasurer.il.gov and look for cash dash.
COUNTY BOND
The Kankakee County Board on Tuesday took action to reduce interest on debt for a 2004 bond issue for construction at the county jail. County Board Chairman Mike Bossert says a refinance of the bonds will result in substantial savings.
RIVERSIDE
There is a free presentation tonight at Riverside Medical Center on carotid artery disease. Cardiologist Hershel Wix says there are warning signs for carotid artery disease. If that sounds like a stroke to you, you would be correct, and carotid artery disease can lead to one. Tonight’s presentation by Dr. Wix begins at 6pm. If you would like to attend you can register by going to Riverside’s web site www.riversidemc.net/events or you can call 866-268-6866.
SCHOLARSHIPS
State Representative Lisa Dugan is partnering again this year with the Conference of Women Legislators to assist deserving women pursuing degrees but hindered by family issues or economic hardship. The Bipartisan Coalition of Women Legislators in the general assembly are making available scholarships of 25-hundred dollars for use in the 2012-13 school year to pay for tuition, fees or books. Applications can be downloaded from the COWL website www.cowlil.com. Applications must be postmarked by March 30.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16
PRIMARY BALLOT
In addition to narrowing the field of candidates, voters in the Kankakee area have some local issues to decide on the March 20 primary ballot. On the ballot for voters in limestone township is a proposal to levy a new tax for road construction and maintenance. That tax levy would cost the owner of the average home about 83 dollars a year, if approved. Both the City of Kankakee and the Village of Bradley have a referendum question on the ballot that would allow residents and businesses to buy electricity from suppliers other than Com Ed.
TRANSIT
A transportation bill under consideration in the US House could cost Illinois 900 million dollars in federal highway funds and mass transit support including money for the River Valley Metro mass transit district. The bill would eliminate dedicated federal fuel tax money for public transit. Metro’s director of operations says the local transit district received federal funds totaling 1-point-2 million dollars in 2011. Those dollars are then matched with state funds. Losing the federal money could eliminate access to the state dollars. We asked metro’s managing director Rob Hoffman if such a radical change to transit funding actually has any realistic chance of passage. Hoffman says the transit district is doing everything it can to prevent passage of the transportation bill in its current form.
KINZINGER
An analysis by the Chicago Tribune shows that Congressman Adam Kinzinger is one of the top budget hawks in the entire Illinois delegation with his own office budget. The analysis shows Kinzinger returned 180-thousand dollars of taxpayer money out of funds allocated to him to pay staff salary, maintain their offices and costs of day to day operations, in his first year in office. That amount is 70 percent higher than the figure reported from the office of his primary challenger, fellow Republican Representative Don Manzullo. The amount is equal to more than 12 percent of Kinzinger’s office budget.
CULTRA BARICKMAN
The Iroquois Republican Women’s Club held a meet the candidates event at the Crescent City Grade School last night. The event led to an interesting exchange between State Representative Shane Cultra of Onarga and his opponent Jason Barickman over the state inheritance tax. Barickman introduced legislation this week calling for the elimination of the state inheritance tax, but Cultra says that move is counter to Barickman’s voting record on the issue. Cultra says a previous bill that raised the exemption on the inheritance tax was not supported by his opponent. Meanwhile Barickman defends his stance on the inheritance tax. He says the raising the exemption on the inheritance tax was just a small component of an otherwise bad bill.
SNC LIBYA
SNC-Lavalin has reported the dismissal of its executive vice president after he was tied to a security operation to extract Mohamar Kadafi’s son from Tripoli when that city was under attack by rebel forces. The former VP denies any involvement, but has resigned after 27 years with SNC-Lavalin. SNC-Lavalin is the company that is involved with US Representative Jesse Jackson Jr in plans for a third airport in Peotone. The report about the SNC-Libya connection appeared in Saturday’s edition of the Globe and mail.
ART EXHIBITION
An art exhibition honoring the Journeys People Face When Confronted with Cancer will be on display at the Provena St. Mary’s Regional Cancer Center in Bourbonnais from March 6 through 9. The Oncology On Canvas Art Exhibition is open to the public Tuesday through Thursday March 6 through 8 from 8am to 4pm and Friday March 9, 8am to noon.
CUB TRIPS
Time to shake off the winter blahs and think about something spring. Once again this year, the Bourbonnais Township Park District will be offering charter bus rides to see the Cubbies without the hassle of Chicago traffic. The bus trips to Wrigley Field are slated for the Cubs-Dodgers game on May 4 and the Cubs-Mets game on June 27. The fee for residents of the Bourbonnais Township Park District is 58 dollars – 69 dollars for non-residents. For more information call the park district at 815-933-9905.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17
ALERT SYSTEM
The county sheriff wants you to be aware of a change to the community alert system. Current users of the sheriff alert system will need to update their account preferences to receive alerts from the sheriff’s office such as notifications of tornado warnings, school closings or child abductions. The new system is called Codespear and instructions needed to enroll are on the Kankakee County Sheriff’s website at www.kankakeecountysheriff.com or www.sheriffalert.com.
DEBATE
There will be a debate between US Congressman Adam Kinzinger and Congressman Don Manzullo on Tuesday, February 21, at Celebrations in Watseka. The event will begin at 6pm with a meet and greet and the debate will begin at 6:30pm. The two congressmen will face each other in the March 20 primary with the high vote getter being the republican candidate for the Illinois District 16 Congressional seat. The event is being hosted by Iroquois County Republican Women.
HABITAT
Habitat for Humanity of Kankakee County has received a 15-hundred dollar award from AT&T. The AT&T investing in Illinois award provides resources and recognition to organizations that are improving the lives of people in their community. AT&T asked State Representative Lisa Dugan for suggestions on who should receive the award in this area. The chairman of Habitat for Humanity of Kankakee County, David Johns, says he sincerely appreciates Representative Dugan’s support.
TRIAL DELAY
Lawyers for one of two men accused of the murder of Kankakee barber Joseph Buckner the third were in court Wednesday to tell a judge they need more time to review evidence. A continuance was granted, delaying the beginning of trial for 19 year old Dannie Kendrick until at least March 14. Dannie Kendrick and his cousin, Ricky Kendrick face charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with the shooting death of Buckner. Ricky Kendrick is scheduled for an appearance in Kankakee County Court on February 23.
BARICKMAN CULTRA
The war of words continues between State Senator Shane Cultra and State Representative Jason Barickman. Both men are vying for the republican nomination for the district 53 state senate seat in the March 20 primary election. The tiff began Wednesday night during the meet the candidates event in Crescent City when Cultra claimed publicly that Barickman voted yes on rate hikes for Com Ed and Ameren. Barickman says the facts are he voted against the rate hike. Barickman says it would be appropriate for Mr. Cultra to retract his accusation and apologize for not being truthful during the campaign.
COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE
There will be an indoor community wide garage sale on Saturday February 25 from 8am to 2pm at the Kankakee Civic Auditorium at 8th and Charles. The event will feature 40 booths, a bake sale and concessions. The event benefits the River Valley Special Recreation Association.
JOB GROWTH
A national publication places the Kankakee Bradley area in the top 10 in the nation in job growth in the past year. The Christian Science Monitor says the Kankakee Bradley area experienced a 4.6 percent job growth rate in 2011. The newspaper says employment growth here was greatest in the trade, transportation and utilities sectors. Education and health services also performed well. The paper notes that no one can describe the economy here as booming because unemployment still remains high at 11.4 percent, more than three percentage points above the national average.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Conference of Women Legislators is making scholarships available to women whose pursuit of a degree has been interrupted by family issues or economic hardship. Scholarships of 25-hundred dollars will be available for the coming school year to pay for tuition, fees and books. State Representative Lisa Dugan of Bradley is a member of the Conference of Women Legislators. Dugan says all of the money for the scholarships is obtained through fundraisers. The number of scholarships is limited so you should apply right away. Applications can be downloaded from the Conference of Women Legislators website www.cowlil.com. Deadline for submitting applications is March 30th.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 20
DOMESTIC BATTERY
Iroquois County Sheriff’s Police have arrested 33 year old Dale S. Robidoux of Loda for domestic battery after a physical altercation with his girlfriend. Robidoux later posted bond after a bond hearing and was released. Early this morning, police re-arrested Robidoux for violation of bail bond. He was taken to the Iroquois County Jail where he remains awaiting a court appearance.
HARMS ENDORSEMENT
The candidacy of republican candidate Josh Harms in the new 106th house district has received a boost with the endorsement of former State Representative Bill Black. Harms says, if elected, his first priority will be bringing back jobs to central Illinois by lowering corporate tax rates and reducing regulation. Black says harms will not be co-opted by the go along to get along mentality. Harms is a teacher at Watseka High School.
INDIANA REAL ESTATE
Watseka Police investigated an accident that happened Saturday at the intersection of Walnut and Third. A vehicle driven by 21 year old Cody Vanderwal of Manteno was stopped at a red light on 3rd when a vehicle driven by 58 year old Scott A. McCullough of Watseka made a right turn from Walnut and struck the side of Vanderwal’s vehicle. McCullough was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and improper lane usage.
KMEG ARREST
Kankakee area drug enforcement agents made an arrest late last week in connection with a year-long undercover investigation that netted more than a half-pound of cocaine. Agents of KAMEG arrested 23-year-old Elijah J. Scroggins of 550 South Nelson Avenue after making four purchases of cocaine with a street value of about 21-thousand dollars. Scroggins is charged with 3 counts of delivery of cocaine within 1-thousand feet of a school—a class x felony punishable by 6 to 40 years in prison.
INDIANA REAL ESTATE
The Indiana real estate markets report released by the state association of realtors shows 2012 is off to a positive start with home prices better last month than they were for the same month in 2011. Statewide, the number of closed home sales increased almost 14 percent. The number of pending home sales increased more than 17 percent. The median sale price for a home increased 1 percent and the average sale price increased two-tenths of a percent.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 21
CHAMBER
The President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce told Will County business leaders, meeting Joliet on Monday that state legislators need to get serious about fixing the problems that are having a negative effect on the private sector. Douglas Whitley says Illinois businesses have felt ignored and neglected by state government. Business leaders say more needs to be done to lower such things as workers compensation costs.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Catholic Charities in the diocese of Joliet is closing its offices for four days to help close budget gaps. Because of a lack of funding that the diocese says has left it financially paralyzed, offices in Kankakee, Bourbonnais, Joliet, Morris and Lombard were closed Friday and will also be closed on March 5, April 9 and May 25. Staff will not be paid. Catholic Charities has laid off nine staff members and says the furlough days will prevent future layoffs.
FEST THEME
Organizers for the Bourbonnais Friendship Festival have announced this year’s theme: it is …Mardi Gras Festival of Friendship … and mark down this date … June 24. That’s the day of the friendship festival grand parade. For more information on the festival go to www.bourbonnaisfriendshipfestival.com.
COACHING MILESTONE
During the 2012 season, Kankakee Community College’s head softball coach Dennis Clark will notch his 1-thousandth coaching victory. Clark’s 999th victory in his 29 year career at the school capped a 2011 season record of 49 wins, 11 losses and earned the cavaliers a third place finish in the nation. That followed a 2nd place finish in the 2010 national tournament. For 2012, the cavaliers hold the pre-season number 2 rank in the NJCAA Division 2 softball. In all his years as head coach, Clark’s teams have not had a losing season.
LINCOLN DAY DINNER
The Newton County Republican party will hold its annual Lincoln Day Dinner tonight at 6pm at the Beaver Township Community Center in Morocco. This year’s keynote address will be given by US Senator Richard Lugar. Tickets for the event are 25 dollars and can be purchased by calling 219-275-5953.
AIRMEN
Last May, the general assembly voted to rename a stretch of I-57 from Wentworth Avenue in Chicago to Sauk Trail Road the “Tuskegge Airmen Memorial Trail.” At least 300 people packed the Markham City Hall Monday as Governor Pat Quinn joined local service organizations for the dedication.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22
CAR CRIMES
There has been a rash of reports to police of crimes to vehicles parked outside residents homes in Kankakee, Bradley and Bourbonnais. Late Sunday night Kankakee Police had their hands full investigating reports of windows being shot out of vehicles all over the city. Officers found 20 vehicles with damaged windows from a pellet gun. Bradley Police say similar crimes have been occurring there over the past week. In Bourbonnais, a dozen residents reported their vehicles had been the targets of burglaries late last week. Kankakee Police say one victim reported the pellet gun shooter or shooters were driving around the neighborhood in an older model silver or gray Dodge Intrepid.
CHILD ABUSE
A Kankakee woman has been arrested for child abuse. Kankakee Police say 36 year old Tynisa D. Smith allegedly hit her son in the hand with a hammer several times and took pliers to his tongue. Smith’s son told his aunt about his mothers actions on Sunday when he was dropped off at her house and she noticed that his hand was very swollen.
CLIFTON CRASH
A Clifton woman was injured in a one car rollover crash on county road 2900 North near the intersection of 200 East in Iroquois county. Iroquois County Sheriff’s Police say 19 year old Adrienne Jordan was westbound on 2900 North when she lost control of her vehicle, which left the roadway on the south side. Jordan then over-corrected causing the vehicle to veer off the north side of the roadway and into a ditch. Police say the vehicle rolled over several times coming to rest in a field. Jordan was transported to Riverside Hospital.
ONU
The Village of Bourbonnais will seek a Community Development Assistance Program Grant from the federal government to assist Olivet Nazarene University in building a locker room addition. The addition has been requested by the Chicago Bears. Mayor Paul Shore says making certain the Bears requests are met means retaining jobs in the community. Mayor Shore says Bears camp generates 200 to 250 jobs for area residents.
KINZINGER MANZULLO
At the debate between Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Don Manzullo last night in Watseka, sponsored by the Iroquois County Republican Women, the clash between the two candidates centered on who is the more conservative candidate. Kinzinger says the choice comes down to old conservative values and new. Manzullo says his record speaks for itself. He voted against bailouts and voted to cut 2-point-7 trillion dollars from the federal budget. He says Kinzinger has failed to vote to cut spending.
ENTERPRISE ZONE
Two weeks ago, the Kankakee City Council narrowly voted to approve expansion of the Enterprise Zone to Herscher to insure that the village could retain a local car dealership. Herscher Mayor Ray Schneider says his town was in danger of losing a major sales tax revenue source. After the vote earlier this month, it was revealed that one alderman had a conflict of interest, so the council was forced to reconsider. The vote last night was again very close and Sixth Ward Alderman Rich Browne initially abstained but then voted to approve the expansion. But not before a five minute recess. The vote to approve the expansion was 7 to 6 with one abstention.
