Local lawmakers react to Blagojevich sentence

Hefty but appropriate, that’s how State Representative Frank Mautino feels about the 14 year prison sentence given to former Governor Rod Blagojevich.

Mautino says what Blagojevich did impacted the teacher’s retirement fund and the U.S. Senate.

Mautino served on the house special investigation committee that found grounds for Blagojevich to be removed from officer nearly three years ago.  He says federal Judge James Zagel chose many of the same issues when handing down the sentence.

State Senator Sue Rezin thinks 14 years was a strong sentence that should be a sign that severe consequences are going to be attached to poor behavior.

Rezin says Blagojevich’s apology to Judge James Zagel Wednesday was too late and done to receive a shorter prison sentence.  She says lawmakers need to create more reforms that set the bar much higher.

Rep. Kinzinger Says Justice Served With Blagojevich Sentence

Reactions are rolling in about Rod Blagojevich’s 14 year prison sentence.

Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger says while the punishment won’t restore statewide or nationwide certainty in Illinois, “some justice was served to our state today”. Kinzinger says the state needs to now move past this “humiliating” part of history and work together.

The congressman says Blagojevich never understood the difference between serving the public versus his own interests and because of that, Illinois suffered the consequences.

14 years in prison for former Governor Blagojevich

CHICAGO (AP) – The federal judge who sentenced Rod Blagojevich to 14 years in prison said the former Illinois governor eroded public trust in government and the good he did didn’t mitigate his crimes.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel sentenced Blagojevich on Wednesday after listening to the 54-year-old Democrat make a last-ditch plea for mercy.

Zagel says Blagojevich did some good things for people as governor but that he’s more concerned that the former governor wanted to use his powers for himself.

Zagel says Blagojevich’s crimes were especially harmful because of the position he held. Zagel said: “When it is the governor who goes bad, the fabric of Illinois is torn and disfigured and not easily repaired.”

Suspected heroin dealer arrested in Marseilles

A heroin dealer is off the streets according to area drug officers.

Jason Carmen of Marseilles was arrested Tuesday for unlawful delivery of controlled substance.  He’s accused of delivering under 15 grams of heroin to Tri-Dent officer.

Carmen was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Deer Hunting Numbers Released

Are local hunters getting worse or are deer getting more elusive? The number of deer shot during the seven-day firearm season was down in Bureau, La Salle and Putnam counties.

La Salle County hunters brought down 1,158 deer this season, 110 less than last year. Hunters in Bureau County nailed 1,276 deer this year, 150 less than 2010. In Putnam County, there were 470 deer killed this season, 29 less than last year.

Statewide, over 97 thousand deer were shot, a thousand less than a year ago.

Work Starting On Streator Solar Farm

The first-ever solar farm in La Salle County could start going up next week.

Invenergy received the go-ahead permit today from La Salle County to build a 140-acre solar farm in Otter Creek Township northeast of Streator. Invenergy says the solar farm will have enough solar panels to power 29 hundred homes. They also say it’ll provide 100 jobs and 300 thousand dollars in increased tax revenues for surrounding tax districts like Streator High and Illinois Valley Community College.

A few months ago, the La Salle County Zoning Board of Appeals voted 4 to 3 against the farm. Members voting against think it takes away valuable farmland.

The La Salle County Board though voted nearly unanimously in support of the project.