Piece Of New York Comes To Utica

An American flag torn up but not destroyed during the attack at the World Trade Center came to Utica.

The Utica Fire Department hosted the National 9/11 flag Wednesday afternoon in the fire station.  New York firefighter Jimmy Sands is accompanying the flag across the country with the next stop being this weekend’s Kentucky Derby.  He says the flag was hanging from a building just south of the south tower on 9/11 when the attacks happened.  About 40 percent of the flag was destroyed.

Sands’ group “New York Says Thank You” hopes to hit all 50 states with the flag.  In each state, a piece of an American flag that survived a disaster is sewn onto the 9/11 flag.  Utica sewed a piece of a flag that withstood the 2005 tornado.

Once the flag is restored to its original design, it’ll hang in the lobby of the future World Trade Center memorial.

State Closes Area Campgrounds

Sewage issues have closed the Illini State Park campgrounds.

DNR officials closed the campgrounds due to a problem with the park’s wastewater treatment system.  They’re working on an emergency system to reopen the facilities.  The DNR expects the campgrounds to be closed until at least May 23^rd.

Anyone with reservations can call the Illini State Park office for a refund.

Three charged with murder for Ottawa death

Two million dollars is the bond for two men and a woman charged with murder in Ottawa.

Jason Ward of Aurora, Luis Alberto Lomeli of Sheridan, and Jamie Lomeli of Ottawa were arrested Tuesday.  The Lomeli’s are brother and sister.  They appeared in La Salle County Court Wednesday morning and were charged in the death of 30 year old Darrio Hunter of Ottawa.

Police say they found Hunter lying on the driveway at a home on Pierce Street early Monday morning.  Assistant State’s Attorney Brian Vescogni says Hunter died of blunt force trauma to the head.  The murder is described as a robbery gone bad.

Sylvia Enriquez is also charged in the murder with obstructing justice.  She’s accused of driving the three murder suspects from the scene so they could destroy evidence.  Bond for Enriquez is $150,000.

Brawl In Ottawa Sends Man To Hospital

A large fight has a man from Ottawa being treated in a Peoria hospital.

28 year old Craig Jessen is in fair condition at St. Francis Hospital.  He was flown there Saturday morning after a brawl broke out at a large house party in the 700 block of Superior Street in Ottawa.

Ottawa Police Chief Brian Zeilman says a melee spilled into a street and Jessen fell underneath a van and partially run over.  Police were called to the scene around 4am Saturday.

Zeilman says incident is still under investigation.

Accused Murderer Was Just Out Of Prison

One of the men charged with murder in Ottawa was just released on parole last Wednesday.

Jason Ward of Aurora was released after serving over two years in prison for aggravated battery to a school employee in Lee County.  Prior to that, he served time for aggravated robbery in Kane County and residential burglary in Cook County.

The Cook County conviction happened when he was just 18.

Road project bids and dontations on Peru Council agenda

A full agenda is in store for the newly seated Peru City Council Wednesday.  The bids are back for this summer’s street project.  The lowers bid came in at nearly $537.

They’ll also accept a donation for the Peru Pool Fund and a couple of summer programs.

The Peru City Council meets at 7:30pm.

St. Bede Academy names top 10 seniors

With graduation approaching, St. Bede Academy’s has announced their top ten students of 2011.

Making the list were Connor Armstrong, Hailee Brayton, Britney Burkart, Robert Hamill, Melanie Kim, Xuechen Liu, Timothy Pec, Benjamin Read, Ayethaw Tun and Elizabeth Voitik.