Alleged Ottawa Times Blogger Will Face Questioning

The alleged Ottawa Times blogger facing a libel lawsuit will face the music next week.

Judge James Lanuti has ordered Carol Miller of Ottawa to give Attorney George Hupp a deposition Wednesday afternoon at Hupp’s office in Ottawa.  Hupp represents Don and Janet Maxon of Ottawa who are suing the blogger named “Fabfive” for libel.  The blogger claimed the Maxon’s tried bribing the Ottawa Planning Commission to support a bed and breakfast.  Hupp thinks Carol Miller is the blogger who made the bribery claim.

“Fabfive” released a retraction earlier this month in regards to the ongoing lawsuit.  The blogger says they’re post about the Maxon’s allegedly bribing city officials to support a bed and breakfast was just opinion and not meant to be taken as a fact.  The blogger says they hoped the retraction can be the olive branch which puts to rest hard feelings.

New charges for sex offender

It was back to jail for a convicted sex offender found in La Salle.

Police say they arrested Nicholas Snyder but not without a short foot chase Thursday.  Snyder was wanted for questioning in a domestic battery investigation.

He was arrested for that plus a Will County warrant for not registering as a sex offender, a new count of not registering as a sex offender, obstructing police and a couple of minor drug charges.  He was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

IVCC Struggles In Supporting Athletics

Because it’s not self-sustaining, the Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees is again dipping into a separate area to pay for athletics.

The trustees last night voted 5 to 1 to transfer 185 thousand dollars from the college’s auxiliary enterprises bookstore fund to pay for sports.  They’re also transferring seven thousand dollars from the bookstore fund to support childcare.

Trustee David Mallery voted against both transfers arguing all students shouldn’t pay for things used by just a few.

ATM Thief Sent To Prison

A man from Ottawa has been sentenced for a late-night robbery at an ATM machine.

22 year old Derrell Pachter pled guilty yesterday to vehicular invasion.  He was sentenced to five years in prison but will be credited with 87 days already spent in the county jail.

Prosecutors say Pachter approached a woman who was in her car this past June using the ATM at Financial Plus Credit Union in Ottawa.  The woman claims she struggled with Pachter as he tried robbing her of 280 dollars.  At one point he allegedly lunged into her car.

Using a description from the woman and the credit union’s security tape, police were able to come up with Pachter as the suspect.

Besides the prison sentence, Pachter also has to pay 280 dollars in restitution to the victim.

Woman arrested for stolen truck

Police Thursday night arrested two people from Detroit after pulling over a rental truck reported stolen out of Michigan.  It happened on I-80 near Ottawa.

The woman driving, Diamond Warren was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and improper lane usage.  She was taken to the La Salle County Jail.  A man with her, Elfonso Workman was arrested for illegal transportation of alcohol.

Oglesby commissioner wants vicious dog ordinance

Those of you who think something needs to be done about pit bulls, at least one Oglesby city commissioner agrees.

Tom Porter says he’s pushed for some type of dangerous or vicious dog ordinance in Oglesby since he was elected.  He doesn’t want to say pit bulls are a problem in town but says he gets calls from many people who are concerned.

Porter says attorney for the city Vince Brolley hasn’t found anyone to help craft an ordinance that will be upheld in court.  The main hurdle is making an ordinance breed specific.

Streator had a pit bull ordinance in place but was recently suspended and is being revised to be known as a dangerous animal’s ordinance.

Craig Morgan and Rodeo Drive at Bureau County Fair tonight

The sounds of Craig Morgan and Rodeo Drive will fill the grandstand at the Bureau County Fair Friday night.  The country music show begins at 7:30pm.

The fair features livestock and other exhibits, a carnival, beer garden and food stands.

The fair runs through Sunday in Princeton.