Local Farmer Cheated Bank Out Of Millions

Farming is a competitive industry and a farmer in Bureau County has admitted to lying, cheating and stealing to get a leg up.

The Moline Dispatch says David Duckworth of Buda pled guilty Wednesday in federal court to money laundering and fraud.  In 2008, he got a 1.1 million dollar loan from the Bank of Toulon using stored grain and future grain from 2009 as collateral.  Unknown to the bank, Duckworth sold his grains using other names to avoid bank liens.

In 2010, Duckworth got another loan for 950 thousand dollars.  While his grain was supposed to be collateral, he then sold his grain again using different names.  He also lied about money in a hidden account during his bankruptcy.

Duckworth will be sentenced in December.

Governor visits IVCC to talk about Community Tech Center

Hyping job creation and green technology, Governor Pat Quinn paid a visit to Illinois Valley Community College Thursday afternoon.  The main topic was the $31 million Community Technology Center that’s to be built on campus.  It will house the technology, drafting, computer and related classes.

With a line of orange clad labor union reps behind him, Quinn said the construction job would create 200 jobs.  The state is contributing nearly $23 million while IVCC is paying $7.6 million into the total.  The building will use a geothermal heating and cooling system and possibly wind power.

The building is scheduled to be ready by the end of August 2013.

LC board votes in favor of solar farm

Here’s hoping for sunny days in southeastern La Salle County.  A proposal that includes building a large solar farm in Otter Creek Township has received the blessing of the La Salle County Board.  Only one board member was against it Thursday afternoon.

Invenergy says it would cover 140-acres northeast of Streator and have enough solar panels to power 29 hundred homes.

Plan in place to handle human remains at La Salle construction site

The open field on the La Salle side of 24^th and Chartres Street won’t be open much longer.  Work has begun to build an Ancare Veterinary Clinic.  But before the building can go up, special care is being taken to find and remove human remains that were buried there during the mid 1800’s.

La Salle Mayor Jeff Grove says any bodies will be handled in a respectful manner and placed in a vault at St. Vincent’s Cemetery.

Route 23 Being Torn Up In Ottawa

There could be some traffic issues on the north side of Ottawa.

Starting Monday, crews will be resurfacing Route 23 from Etna Road south to just below the big hill coming into downtown Ottawa.  The job also includes rebuilding sidewalk ramps and traffic signal work.

Trying to minimize the headache, the resurfacing will be done at night, from 7pm until 6am.  Sidewalk work and pavement marking will happen during the day.

The project should be done by mid-November.

Boy Bands Set To Invade Peru Airport

There should be plenty of loud shrieking this Saturday night at the Peru Municipal Airport.

Nickelodeon stars Big Time Rush headline the latest “Concerts for a Cause” event put on by Lou’s La Grotto.  The foursome is expected to hit the airport stage around 8:45.  Opening act and fellow boy band Days Difference will take the stage around 6:45.

Gates open at 3 and that’s also when a carnival will be open.  Benny the Bull is expected to make an appearance as well.

Tickets are 40 dollars which includes parking.

Fire Chief In Bureau County Eyeing New Job

Fighting fires in Iowa could be in the future for an area fire chief.

The Moline Dispatch reports that Princeton Fire Chief John Petrakis is one of ten finalists to become the fire chief for Davenport, Iowa.  Petrakis and the other semi-finalists will be interviewed Monday.

Petrakis has been Princeton’s fire chief since June of 2009.  He came on board with the department in 2004.