Man and woman arrested after car chase

A car chase fit for Hollywood started with a trip to the Ottawa Wal-Mart Super Center.  Employees of the store called the police after spotting two people they thought were shoplifters early Wednesday morning.

Ottawa Police Chief Brian Zielman says the two were gone before officers arrived, but they were able to spot the car they thought was involved on nearby I-80.

Police say Demetius Bracey of Chicago wouldn’t pullover for them instead they say he sped away, reaching speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.  Stop sticks set out near the Marseilles exit popped its tires and caused it to crash.

Bracey and a woman with him, Felicia Sykes of Worth, were arrested.  Bracey is facing many charges while Sykes was already wanted for retail theft in DuPage County.  They were taken to the county jail.

IVCC rolling out tech center campaign

Feeling generous?  They’ll gladly accept your money at Illinois Valley Community College to put towards their Community Technology Center.

The college next week will kick off a campaign to raise $2.1 million for things for the new building.  They’re calling their effort, “It takes a community: preparing tomorrow’s workforce today.”  Naming rights will also be a possibility.

The kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday before their monthly board meeting.  Groundbreaking for the tech center will be at 2p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8.  They want to have the building ready for late 2013.

Teens accused in graffiti spree indicted

Graffiti featuring puppies and kitties has left three teens in Ottawa indicted for felony defacement charges.

Cody Harney, Jamil Garbutt and Cameron Dyer were indicted Tuesday for a vandalism spree that hit more than a dozen businesses in October.  They’re free after bonding out.

Accused Dollar General Robber Pleading Guilty

The teen accused of robbing Dollar General in La Salle plans to fess up to the crime.

According to the NewsTribune, the 14 year old boy was in court Tuesday when attorneys announced an agreement.  The boy will admit to aggravated robbery and be sent to the department of juvenile justice for a two-month evaluation.  After that, state officials will decide what’s best for him.  The teen is expected to officially plead guilty at a December sentencing hearing.

The teen is accused of entering the Dollar General in late September and demanding cash while wearing a ski mask and indicating he had a gun.  He allegedly made way with 700 dollars in cash.

Gambling Expansion Still Up For Debate

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – An Illinois House committee has approved a new, smaller gambling plan that backers hope can survive a threatened veto by Gov. Pat Quinn.

It passed 8-2. Democratic Rep. Lou Lang says the measure could be changed even more before a vote by the full House.
Lawmakers approved a major gambling expansion during the spring legislative session. But they never bothered sending the bill to Quinn out of fear that he would veto it.

The new proposal would still allow slots at racetracks but not at Chicago airports. It also lowers the amount of growth allowed for existing casinos.

It would allow five new casinos, including one in downtown Chicago.

Governor Coming Back To The Area

Veteran’s Day is bringing the governor to Marseilles.

Pat Quinn is due in town Friday afternoon at 1:30.  He’s visiting the Illinois Fallen Soldiers Tree Memorial at Illini State Park.  The memorial has a tree planted for every Illinois soldier killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

There will be Memorial Day events going on before the governor’s visit including a 21-gun salute, guest speakers and bench dedication near the city’s 175^th anniversary mural.

Displaced Eaglets Coming To Starved Rock

The bald eagle population at Starved Rock State Park will go up by at least two this Saturday.

Two eaglets will be released into the wild at Plum Island this Saturday afternoon.  The bald eagles were rescued earlier this year after their nest was blown down by a storm in Mooseheart.

Plum Island was picked because the eaglets won’t have to migrate.  Hundreds of bald eagles flock to the island during the winter.

If you want to see the eaglet release, meet up at the Starved Rock Visitor’s Center starting at 11.

Former Utica Man Could Face Murder Charges

Called a person of interest in his grandfather’s death, a man will be in La Salle County Court today.

23 year old Garrett Kern of Cape Coral, Florida will be in court today in Ottawa for a 2007 charge of unlawful possession of marijuana when he lived in Utica.  He’ll then be released to the U.S. Marshall’s Office to be shipped back to Florida to answer questions in the death of his grandfather James Arthur.

Arthur’s body was found in Florida last week.  He was last seen late last month with Kern.  Kern was arrested late last week at a shelter in Chicago.