Go Cart Crash Kills Teenage Girl

A tragic accident involving a go cart has taken the life of an area teen.

According to the Daily Journal in Kankakee, 17-year old Lynzee Josephson of Ransom was killed Tuesday afternoon after she drove a go cart into the path of a pickup truck in rural Kankakee County.  She was pronounced dead at the scene.

So far no charges have been filed.  An autopsy on Josephson is scheduled for today.

Ottawa Says Bring On Video Gaming

Don’t count Ottawa City Council members among those against video gaming machines in bars and other establishments.

Without any discussion, the council unanimously agreed to lift a ban on gaming devices that will legally pay out cash.  Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach said if people want to spend money on video gaming machines, then they may as well spend cash in Ottawa.

The state is expected to start giving out gaming licenses later this year to bars, veteran’s homes and fraternal organizations that have liquor licenses.  The licenses will also be available for truck stops.

State budget cuts could leave local school districts with less funding

While your children are looking forward to summer vacation, state lawmakers will have education on the mind as they figure out a state budget.  One way lawmakers could cut the budget would be to make local schools pick up the cost of pensions.  The state has also been reimbursing schools less for driving students to and from school.

State Superintend of Illinois public schools Chris Coch says anytime the state doesn’t pay the schools the costs are made up locally with property taxes or cuts.

Coch says districts feeling the pinch could have to reduce staff and cut un-mandated programs like arts and music.  He says some districts have had to borrow money or have had a hard time making payroll.

He doesn’t know yet what will happen with Regional Offices of Superintends.  There’s a proposal to streamline offices.

It’s unclear when state lawmakers will pass a budget and Governor Pat Quinn will sign it.

Police Say They Busted Big Prom Drinking Party In Utica

How many people can fit into a villa at Grand Bear Lodge?  State Police say dozens of people were in one for a post prom party.

Troopers say over 70 people between the ages of 15 to 20 were throwing a drinking party at the Utica lodge Sunday around 3am.  All of them were from Joliet, Shorewood and Plainfield.  Over 20 people were arrested for underage drinking.  Troopers say they also found over 80 grams of cannabis.

Around the same time, troopers showed up at westbound Interstate 80 near Marseilles for a rollover crash.  Teenagers Samantha Janacek of Mokena and Justin Carr from Frankfort were both taken to Morris Community Hospital.  They were also ticketed for unlawful possession of alcohol.

Princeton Fire Chief Leaving

An area fire chief is leaving for a new job.

Princeton Fire Chief John Petrakis is resigning next month to become fire chief in Channahon.  He started in Princeton as deputy fire chief in 2004 and became chief in 2009.

Petrakis was a finalist last year for the chief job in Davenport, Iowa.

Petition Drive Latest Thing In L-P Coaching Saga

A petition is the latest approach by students who want a couple coaches to be renewed.

Baseball team members and some others are gathering signatures to keep Bill Booker on as head baseball coach and Jake Burke as boys track and field coach.  Both also are assistant football coaches.

Around 30 students protested with signs outside L-P High School Monday claiming that Booker and Burke have already been told they’re not being renewed as coaches.  The L-P School Board is expected to make personnel decisions tomorrow night.

Last month, the entire varsity baseball team showed up at the board meeting in uniform to show support for Booker.  No board action was taken.

Six Car Accident On Route 71

A six-car pileup injured one person and shut down a stretch of Route 71.

According to Kendall County deputies, Steven Shanks of Seneca and Anthony Krause of Marseilles were among the six drivers involved Monday afternoon’s crash east of Yorkville.  Shanks was ticketed for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.  Kaity Anderson of Yorkville was given the same ticket and was also taken to Copley Medical Center in Aurora.

The stretch of Route 71  was closed for an hour during clean up.