State Says County Nursing Home Dropped Ball

Sexual abuse of ten different residents at the La Salle County Nursing Home was going on for months, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The department says there was no intervention and inconsistent documentation by the county nursing home officials after over a dozen reports of sexual abuse towards dementia patients were made. One male resident at the home allegedly would touch women’s breasts, make others kiss him and use vulgar language. The alleged incidents happened between January and May of this year.

The reports indicate the male resident targeted dementia patients and would try luring them into his room. When nurses stopped him, he would berate them using obscene language. The accused man was transferred to a inpatient psychiatric unit on June 5th.

The state says additional time is needed to monitor the nursing homes ability to implement “Abuse Protocol”. The nursing home was initially put under something called “Immediate Jeopardy” but that title has been removed.

Charges pending after search of Ottawa home

What are you growing this summer? Investigators in Ottawa say a home on Westwood Drive had a dozen marijuana plants.
Police searched the home Tuesday. They say they found the plants, drug packaging material and cash.
A man living there, Bradley Campbell’s been arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released after posting bond. Charges related to what was found during the search are pending.

Identity Thief Caught In Mendota

A woman in Mendota was busted yesterday for allegedly committing identity theft.

Carmen Quintana was arrested at her home yesterday on a Lee County warrant for felony identity theft. She was taken to the Lee County Jail on 20 thousand dollars bond.

Mendota Police claim Quintana profited by using someone else’s name at her job in Lee County.

Amber Alert Cancelled

State Police have found an abducted three year old girl in Plano.

Investigators say Rheannon Jerman was last seen at seven o’clock last night. She was found minutes after seven this morning along with her alleged abductor 40 year old Theresa Harskey.

No word on charges for Harskey.

Streator Pharmacy Techs In Trouble

Two women in Streator may not be handing out prescriptions for much longer. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation recently cracked down on Jenny Hayes and Stephanie Murray.

The state has placed the women’s pharmacy technician licenses in “refuse-to-renew” status. Both are accused of diverting controlled substances from their employer. In Murray’s case, she’s accused of taking the drugs and giving it to another person.

Peru Wants Uniform Water Meters

The old water meter checked once a month by the city’s meter reader is on the way out in Peru.

Though it’s not mandatory yet, the city allows you to have an outside meter installed for 25 dollars. The meters cost the city 105 dollars a piece but they’re hoping to see more people have the new meters installed.

Alderman Jack O’Beirne is the head of the Water and Sewer Committee. He says they want to see more people use the outside meters because they’re easier to read. With an outside meter, the reader can just walk by and scan your water usage. With old meters you have to be home to let someone into the basement. If you’re not around, the city bills you based on an estimate that can become inaccurate overtime.