Mackowiak hearing continued to next Friday

A hearing to throw out evidence gathered during and right after Keith Mackowiak’s arrest started Friday in La Salle County Court.
Mackowiak Public Defender Tim Cappellini questioned reports or lack thereof filed by sheriff’s deputies and investigators who were on scene when Mackowiak was arrested after being found in a shed at his family home in Seneca. Cappellini also wondered why the police didn’t tell Mackowiak what he was being arrested for, saying they needed to because of state statute. Investigators said they took Mackowiak into custody for being a suspect in the deaths of Al and Catherine Twardowski yet in his report, Investigator William Crouch says Mackowiak was arrested on a Cook County Warrant.
For his part of Friday’s hearing, States Attorney Brian Towne had each witness testify that Mackowiak didn’t struggle with police and was never coerced or physically threatened during and after his arrest. The idea that Mackowiak was under the influence of drugs or alcohol wasn’t brought up yesterday.
The motion to suppress hearing picks back up again next Friday afternoon. It could last several weeks.
When Mackowiak goes to trial, he faces the death penalty.

Free tours available at Starved Rock Lock and Dam

If you’ve ever wanted a closer look at the Starved Rock Lock and Dam Saturday is your chance.
The Army Corp of Engineers is giving free tours at the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center across the river from Starved Rock.
Tours will leave every half an hour starting at 10am. Tours take about 45 minutes. The last tour leaves at 4pm.
To take the tour you must be a U-S Citizen and you can’t bring purses, backpacks, water bottles and other items for safety reasons.

Santa Returns On His Harley

It’s not too early to be thinking about Christmas shopping. A motorcycle parade and toy drive will be touring the Illinois Valley Saturday afternoon. It’s the 3rd annual Operation Claus event.

Line up for the parade is at 11 in Utica. The parade heads out to Oglesby at 1 before going thru La Salle and ending up at the Peru Eagles. There’s no cost to ride but there’s a 10 dollar charge for the Eagles. You can get in for free if you bring a new, unwrapped and unopened toy.

Food, live music and drawings will happen at the Eagles.

Plenty Of Wine Sipping In Utica

Unlike past years, no worries about flooding affecting the annual Vintage Illinois Wine Festival this year.

The 7th annual event kicks off tomorrow at Matthiessen State Park. It runs from eleven until six on Saturday and from noon until five on Sunday.

Twenty-one wineries from across the state are taking part in the festival. In addition to wine tasting, there’s food and live music. Cost to get into the festival is fifteen dollars.

Lou Ann Lenzie will broadcast from the wine festival on 96-5 WKOT tomorrow from 11 until noon.

Two Hurt In Crash Near Sheridan

A crash south of Sheridan sent two area men to the hospital.

James Pagoria of Ottawa and Kory Elleby of Yorkville were taken to Ottawa Regional Hospital Wednesday after crashing into one another at the intersection of Route 52 and County Highway 3.

Elleby was ticketed for failing to yield at the intersection. Pagoria was also ticketed for driving an uninsured vehicle. Both were given court dates.

Counterfeit Cash At Fair

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office needs your help in finding out whose behind some phony cash that was used at this year’s Sandwich Fair.

Officials say fake 20 dollar bills were used at last weeks fair. If you have any information, call the sheriff’s office. You could receive a thousand dollar reward if your tip leads to an arrest and conviction.