Huge Pot Bust Near Marseilles

A motor home rolling thru the Illinois Valley was filled with marijuana.

State Police stopped Mitchel Ledbetter of Arizona on Interstate 80 near Marseilles over the weekend.  Troopers say they found over 270 pounds of cannabis under beds and bench seats inside the motor home.  The teen was arrested for possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.

His passenger, Arturo Guevara also of Arizona was wanted on a warrant for cannabis conspiracy.  Both men were taken to La Salle County Jail.

Salty Discussion In Ottawa About Where To Store Salt

Where to store salt has the Ottawa City Council at odds.

The council voted 3 to 2 in favor of going out for bid on a new 150 thousand dollar salt shed.  Streets Commissioner Dale Baxter says the cost isn’t an extreme amount of money for a building that will last decades.  Mayor Bob Eschbach and Finance Commissioner Dan Aussem disagree.

Eschbach says he still wants to build a public works building in the future so it doesn’t make sense to build a permanent concrete salt shed at the current streets building. He also thinks a senior housing development is interested in land where the shed would be.  Aussem thinks they should just spend 25 thousand dollars to fix up an existing storage building to store the same amount of salt.

Baxter argued for the new shed saying he already budgeted 95 thousand dollars for it and has been frugal with his budget.

Quinn to propose closing Tamms, Dwight prisons

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn wants to close two prisons, including a “super max” institution at Tamms.

An administration official said Tuesday that Quinn’s budget proposal also calls for closing the maximum security prison at Dwight and six transition centers for inmates nearing their release dates. The official was not authorized to discuss the proposal publicly and would speak only on condition of anonymity.

In all, the facilities house about 2,650 inmates. Closing them would increase crowding in facilities that are already far beyond capacity – more than 48,600 people in space meant for 33,700.

The budget Quinn is scheduled to deliver Wednesday also calls for closing two youth prisons and four facilities operated by the Department of Human Services.

Defense rests in the Mackowiak trial

It only took a day for Keith Mackowiak’s defense attorney to call their witnesses in the double-murder trial.  Attorney Gerald Kielian called his first and last witnesses Tuesday, the same day La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne rested the prosecution’s case.

Mackowiak is accused of murdering Al and Catherine Twardowski in their rural Seneca home in July 2007.  He did not take the stand.

Closing arguments will begin at 8:30am Wednesday.

IVCC Edible Car Contest returns Wednesday

Cookies for wheels, a piece of fruit for the carriage and the random Rice Krispie treat are some of the ingredients or parts that go into edible cars.

For several years Illinois Valley Community College and high school students have put their science and engineering skills to the test in the annual edible car contest.

This year’s contest is at 12pm Wednesday in the IVCC cafeteria.

Earlville Shooting Victim Is Identified

The home intruder shot and killed in Earlville is from California.

The county coroner says 22-year old Raymond Maldonaldo died during the Sunday morning home invasion.  His alleged partner Marcus Samarripa from the same town in California fled the scene and was eventually caught in Ottawa.  He’s in the county jail.

The homeowner, Joel Contreras is in trouble as well.  Police say he was growing marijuana in his basement.

Contreras was also taken to the county jail.

Staple Of Marshall County Board Dies

During a time where people’s approval rating of politicians seems to be at an all-time low, Dean Deffenbaugh kept being re-elected time and time again.

The 90-year old man from Lacon died Sunday of a heart attack at his home.  He retired from the Marshall County Board three years ago after serving on it for 36 years.  Deffenbaugh was the longtime building and grounds chairman.

Services for Dean Deffenbaugh can be heard during AM 1220 WLPO’s In Memoriam.

Prosecution Rests Against In Seneca Murder Trial

The prosecution has rested its case against accused murderer Keith Mackowiak.

State’s Attorney Brian Towne called the last of his 49 witnesses Thursday afternoon before showing a jailhouse video where Mackowiak confessed to killing Al and Catherine Twardowski in their rural Seneca home in 2007.  The video was taped less than a week after the murders.

Mackowiak attorney Gerald Kielian is now calling witnesses to the stand.  He’s expected to call around a dozen people to testify.  It’s not known if Mackowiak will take the stand in his defense.

The case could get to the jury this week.

Jewel Shortens Hours Just Before Closing

If you want to check out Jewel in Peru for going out of business deals, you have to do it early in the day.

As of last Thursday, the store’s hours were shortened to 7am-6pm.  It’s setting up for the eventual closure March 2^nd.  75 jobs are being lost.  Employees were told about it last month.

Driving by the store you can already see empty shelves inside.

Deadline Arrives For Registering To Vote

If you want to vote in next month’s primary, make sure you’re registered.

Today is the last day to register to vote for the March 20^th primary.  Today is also the final day you can change your address with the county clerk’s office.

Absentee voting for the primary is already underway with early voting starting on Monday.