Mautino named to redistricting committee

New census results mean new boundaries for Illinois’ congressional and state legislative districts.  State lawmakers will be responsible for the new map.  Among them will be Democrat State Representative Frank Mautino.

He was named to the Special House Committee on Redistricting Thursday.

The revised district map will be used for the first time during the March 2012 primary.

Towne says he is following the law in regards to the death penalty

Remarks by Governor Pat Quinn about an area states attorney’s decision to continue pursuing the death penalty for a man accused of murder has that states attorney speaking out.

La Salle County Prosecutor Brian Towne says the governor’s remark that Towne should “read the law” regarding the death penalty was inappropriate and unnecessary.  Quinn commented about Towne while being interviewed on Chicago radio last weekend.

Towne has said he’ll continue seeking the death penalty for Keith Mackowiak who faces murder charges for the deaths of Al and Catherine Twardowski.

Towne says the death penalty is in place through July 1, so it isn’t the law yet.  He adds that People vs Keith Mackowiak isn’t the only death penalty case that’s pending.

Dead animals found on rural Ottawa property

Garbage bags containing the bodies of dead animals are what investigators say they found after returning to a rural Ottawa property where 20 neglected animals were discovered earlier this week.

La Salle County Animal Control Officer Gary Wind says he and humane investigator Peggy Rizzo were at the home Thursday and found the bodies of two chihuahuas, a cat, a pot bellied pig, a rabbit, and a ball python.  Wind says the bags were being stored with other waste in a small building behind the house.

On Monday, Wind found 16 dogs, a cat, two lizards and a pony at the home.  He says they had been abandoned and were starving and dehydrated.  They animals are being cared for and are expected to survive.

Wind says he still working on a report that will eventually be given to the states attorneys office.  It’s believed two women who have moved out of the area were responsible for the animals.

Three Accused Of Selling Stolen Copper Wire

A man from Oglesby was arrested yesterday for his alleged role in stealing copper wire from a business in Ottawa.

Oscar Hernandez was picked up on a warrant yesterday for burglary.  He and Stephanie Lobb and Jacob Davis of Ottawa are accused of stealing spools of copper wire from Halm Electric last Friday.  Investigators say they were led to Hernandez, Lobb and Davis when they sold some of the stolen wire to a recycling business in Ottawa.

Besides the burglary charge, Davis was also arrested for possession of a controlled substance and resisting a peace officer. Lobb also was wanted on a warrant for a different charge.

All three were taken to the county jail.

Tickets To Trace On Sale Now

Tickets are now on sale for Trace Adkins and Eric Church’s concert in Peru.

42 dollars gets you a ticket and parking for the June 25^th show at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru.  Tickets are available at Lou’s La Grotto in Peru and Wyanet Carpet.  You can also order them by calling Lou’s.  Proceeds will benefit an area school.

La Salle County Broadcasting which includes 99.3 WAJK, 96.5 the Wolf and AM 1220 WLPO is presenting sponsor for the Lou’s La Grotto “Concerts for a Cause”.

Drug Trafficking Arrest Near Utica

A man from California probably wishes he had driven the speed limit.

A state trooper says Robert Magaziner was speeding before he was pulled over last night on Interstate 80 just west of Utica.  A search of Magaziner’s car allegedly turned up 49 pounds of cannabis in the trunk.

He was arrested for cannabis trafficking and taken to the county jail.

Longtime Area Sewing Center Closing Its Doors

A staple of downtown Ottawa is closing up shop after today.

Barb Mann is closing her Mann Made Sewing Center after putting her building on the market.  Mann says she wants to focus more time on family but will continue to do sewing classes at Reddick Library and IVCC.  She also will continue with her “My Blankie” side business.

Mann started working at the sewing center for her mom when she was just 16.

Man Who Robbed Ottawa’s Walgreens Gets Prison Sentence

A homeless man has been given prison time for robbing the Walgreens in Ottawa.

23 year old Louis Babcock pled guilty Thursday to robbing the Walgreens on December 28^th.  He admits to stealing 330 dollars out of a register at the store.

Babcock was given six years in prison.  He’ll get credit towards his sentence for already serving 88 days in the La Salle County Jail.

New Unemployment Figures

Things are looking up on the job scene both locally and statewide.

New unemployment figures are out which have every county in the state lowering its jobless rate.  Bureau County’s February unemployment rate is 11.8 percent, down three percent from a year ago.  Putnam County’s latest jobless rate is 12.4 percent, compared to 15.7 percent a year ago.  La Salle County has dropped its jobless rate from 16 to 12.7 percent in the past year.

According to the state, the Ottawa-Streator area specifically has a 12.5 percent unemployment rate, down over three percent from last year.