( Undated--jc) -- Parts of central Illinois have registered record snowfalls after a winter storm struck and then lingered for much of the weekend. Springfield broke a 55-year record for daily snowfall on Saturday. It cites the National Weather Service as saying the 8.4 inches of snow that fell on the capital, Total snowfall at the state capitol is 12 inches. Nearby Jacksonville led the snow totals with nearly 16 inches. In the McLean County town of Normal 10 inches of snow fell over the weekend.
8 inches fell in Tuscola, 9 inches fell in Dwight. In Chatsworth 7 inches of snow fell. In Odgen 6 inches of snow hit the ground. The same for the Champaign Urbana Rantoul area and just over 6 inches fell in the Paxton area and into Southern Iroquois County.
DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Leo P. Schmitz regretfully announces the line of duty death of ISP District 15 (Downers Grove) Trooper Christopher Lambert. On January 12, 2019, at approximately 4:45 p.m., Trooper Christopher Lambert #6527, was on scene of a three-vehicle traffic crash, in the left lane on I-294 near Willow Road. While handling that crash another vehicle in traffic failed to stop and struck Trooper Lambert while he was outside of his patrol car. Trooper Lambert sustained serious injuries as a result the crash and was given CPR by an off duty nurse, before being transported to Glenbrook Hospital. At approximately 7:24 p.m., Trooper Lambert succumbed to his injuries
SPRINGFIELD – In his final clemency review, Gov. Bruce Rauner Friday granted 30 clemency requests and 4 commutations. He denied 268 requests. It is important to note that the backlog from previous administrations has been cleared and there are currently no pending clemency petitions in the Office of the Governor. Each person granted clemency has recently undergone a criminal background check through the Illinois State Police Law Enforcement Agencies Data System.
(Paxton--ba) The Paxton Buckley Loda Show Choir is in their competition season.
P-B-L Show Choir Director Christina Mauck talks about their first competition, and what audiences can expect to see from the students of PBL for this season.
PBL Show Choir director Christina Mauck
(Gilman-jc) -- COUNTRY Financial along with Ford-Iroquois Farm Bureau will host an informational crop meeting on January 23rd beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Farm Bureau Building in Gilman. A light breakfast of rolls, juice and coffee will be served. Doug Yoder, COUNTRY Financial Crop Agency Manager, will discuss changes to the Federal Crop Insurance Program for 2019. Reservations are not needed. For more information, call 815-265-4712.
SPRINGFIELD – Friday, Governor. Bruce Rauner signed into law legislation eliminating unnecessary and impractical barriers to important sun protection methods for children in Illinois.Current law requires students to bring a physician’s prescription to possess or use sunscreen at their school or camp due to sunscreen’s classification as an over-the-counter drug by the FDA. House Bill 4685 will allow students to possess sunscreen while on school property or at a school-sponsored event without a physician's note. In addition, schools must implement a curriculum that teaches students about skin cancer and how to reduce the risk for it.
This legislation will go into effect immediately.
(Buckley--ab) Buckley Christ Lutheran is hosting a free will donation spaghetti Dinner in early February. The event is set for February 3rd from 11 AM to 2 PM. Christ Lutheran High School Executive Director Sandy Spitz provides some details for the fundraising event...
C-L-H-S Executive Director Sandy Spitz
(Paxton--ab) Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold represents the city for the “Grand Ole Flag” project. The idea was initiated by Paxton Fire Chief Dennis Kingren. Mayor Ingold talks about the city council’s role in making this dream into reality...
Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold
(Paxton--jc) The next step in the process to place a 150 foot pole structure to fly a huge American Flag on Paxton’s west side is a meeting with the local school district. The Grand Ole Flag committee organizer Denny Kingren is set to meet with Paxton Buckley Loda High School school board member Dave Bachtold on Wednesday to look at possibilities for the site and a proposed path to a site for the structure. The Paxton Grand Ole Flag committee continues to meet to find ways to fund the project, look at the possibilities for place, liabilities, start up and yearly costs maintain a huge American Flag near Interstate 57.
(Springfield--jc) --The partial government shutdown means some visitors to see the Abraham Lincoln sites may see the museum, but not other sites. Visitors to Lincoln's home in Springfield are leaving disappointed, but the managers at Lincoln's presidential museum are looking to change that. Lincoln's Home is a National Park. Meaning the federal government oversees it. Lincoln's presidential library and museum is a state asset. Meaning it's not closed during the partial government shutdown.Chris Wills with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum said officials are considering a plan to have employees from Lincoln's museum head over to Lincoln's home so both can stay open. Willis says there are a lot of details to work out for the sites to open with volunteers.
(Chicago--jc) --- Illinois' next governor plans to match the state salaries of his top employees with his own money, a practice that one Republican lawmaker said raises enough ethical questions that he's considering filing legislation to prohibit it.Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker created a private entity called East Jackson Street LLC to funnel private dollars to match the taxpayer-funded state salaries of his top aides such as deputy governors and communication staff, according to multiple media reports. State Representative Grant Wehrli, Republican -Naperville, says he has concerns about augmenting state employee salaries with private dollars.
(Paxton--jc) State police and Paxton Firefighters were on the scene of multiple crashes in the southbound lanes of Interstate 57 on Sunday afternoon. Police say the snow covered roadway, motorists traveling too fast and a high volume of college traffic was the cause. Paxton firefighters were called out several times to help with the accidents. Traffic in the Paxton area was opened back to full traffic around 7 last night.
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) — Residents of a central Illinois city can glimpse what it's like for those whose only shelter is their car while raising money for a group that supports homeless people. The third annual Night In A Car homelessness simulation will be held in February at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bloomington. The program, organized by Trinity Lutheran and Home Sweet Home Ministries — which provides services for the homeless— aims to highlight the difficulties faced by homeless people who sleep in their cars by having participants do the same for one night. Up to 250 people are homeless on any given night in Bloomington-Normal, and some of those live in their cars, said Mary Ann Pullin, CEO of Home Sweet Home.
DANVILE, Ill. (AP) — Police in the Eastern Illinois community of Danville have arrested an 18-year-old man in the slaying of a woman whose body was found in a motel room earlier this month. Danville police detectives arrested Henry D. Graham of Danville on Friday afternoon on a first-degree murder charge in the death of 29-year-old Tara Jackson of St. Joseph. On Jan. 3, the woman's body was found in a Danville motel after having apparently been strangled. Police determined that Jackson and Graham knew each other but have not provided any details about why they believe Graham killed her.
(Springfield--ab) Despite the federal government shutdown…state officials says snap benefits will be available through February. Snap benefits…which used to be called food stamps, will be distributed around January 20th. Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary James Dimas says that allocation is for February food needs.
Illinois Department of Human Services Secretary James Dimas
About one point eight million Illinoisans receive snap benefits.
(Springfield--jc) The state capitol will be busy today. Its inauguration day in Springfield. Democrat elect J B Pritzker becomes governor in ceremonies that begin at 11 this morning in Springfield.
(Urbana-jc) -- Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup has released the name of a deceased female discovered inside a burning garage in the 600 block of South Church Street in Homer, Illinois on the evening of January 11, 2019. Angela Lewis, age 57, of Homer, Illinois was removed from the burned garage by Homer Firefighters and pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner at 5:55PM, on January 11, 2019. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday morning at the Champaign County Regional Autopsy Facility. The Champaign County Coroner’s Office, Champaign County Sheriff’s Department, Homer Fire Department and the Illinois State Fire Marshal are investigating this death. An inquest may be held at a later date.
(Iroquois County--jc) -- This years officers for the Iroquois County Fair are set for 2019. Elected to the board are Paul Ahlden, Dave Arseneau, Harold Copas, Dave Perzee, and Marvin Perzee. Jayme Senffner of Clifton and Larry Haigh of Chebanse were elected to serve their first two year term on the Fair Board, John Brassard of Milford retired after 8 years and Don Wilken of Loda retired after 60 years. Long serving fair President Marvin Perzee announced that he was stepping down as President due to health issues. An election was held and Paul Ahlden was elected President, Marvin Perzee, First-Vice President and Kathy McTaggart 2nd Vice President. Contracts were renewed for Brian Zecher, Treasurer, Pat Ward, Secretary, and Debbie Krones, Competitive Exhibits Coordinator.
