Alleged Pharmacy Robber Is Caught

A Streator man out on bond for domestic battery now faces more issues.

Jimmie Rice was arrested Wednesday night for robbing the Ottawa Health Mart Pharmacy.  He’s accused of going into the drug store last Friday and threatening the pharmacist with a knife so he could steal pain killers.  Rice was in Ottawa court yesterday and was officially charged with robbery.

His bond is 150 thousand dollars.

Murder Arrest Made In Amboy

A 32-year old Amboy man is charged with murder after breaking into an elderly couple’s home.

Matthew Welling will be arraigned today for killing 79-year old Delmar Leroy Daniels Wednesday night in his Amboy home.  He was arrested last night after investigators say they got a tip about his involvement.

According to SaukValley.com, Welling has cuts on his body which he allegedly got from a struggle with Daniels.  Daniels’ wife was found inside the home pinned between her wheelchair and wall.  She was taken to Mendota Community Hospital with minor injuries.

A cause of death for Daniels hasn’t been released.

Former Bureau County Sheriff Dies

A former county sheriff and police chief in Bureau County has died.

Melvin “Mel” Hult died Thursday.  Hult was Bureau County Sheriff from 1974 thru 1984, being there for the opening of a new county jail.  He retired in 2000 as police chief in Princeton.

Services for Hult are with the Norberg Memorial Home in Princeton.  There will be a law enforcement escort to his internment.

New President For St. Marys Hospital

There’s a new man in charge at St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator.

John Flanders has been named the hospital’s new president and CEO.  He replaces Interim President Brian Dietz.

Flanders comes to Streator from Oregon City, Oregon, a town of about 32 thousand just south of Portland.  He was the chief operating officer of Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center which has about 20 more beds than St. Mary’s.

Hospital officials didn’t say what the contract terms are.

Inmate Deaths At Pontiac Prison Under Investigation

PONTIAC, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois Department of Corrections says it is investigating the deaths of two inmates at Pontiac Correctional Center.

The department says 65-year-old Richard Anderson and 60-year old  Jerry Singer both died the weekend of July 7 at the maximum-security  prison.  Livingston County Coroner Michael Burke is still waiting on results of the autopsy on Singer before determining how he died. Burke says he found no signs of trauma or violence on Singer’s body.

Anderson’s autopsy was done in Peoria County.

Murder Investigation In Amboy

Crime scene investigators are at a home on the west side of Amboy looking for clues to a potential murder.

An elderly man was found dead in his house last evening on West Main Street.  His name hasn’t been released.  Speaking to the Sauk Valley News, Lee County Sheriff John Varga says there is blood on the floor and wall of the man’s home but no weapon was found.

The man’s wheelchair-bound wife was in the home alive when police arrive.  She was taken to Mendota Community Hospital with unknown injuries.  Varga doesn’t believe she was involved in her husband’s death.

The house is surrounded by police tape.

Peru Elementary Spending More Money Than They’re Making

While some people think the money just rolls in for Peru schools, the elementary district’s budget looks like many others.

Superintendent Mark Cross says the district ended up spending more money then it brought in during the last fiscal year which ended June 30^th.  According to the News Tribune, Peru Elementary had revenues of $10.5 million and expenses of $11.2 million.

Cross says to get thru the budget deficit, they’ll keep spending down.  Peru like many other districts faces delay in state funding.

Princeton Food Pantry Offering School Supply Help

Have you done any school supply shopping yet? Believe it or not, it’s that time of year again.

If you have trouble affording supplies, one option could be the Bureau County Food Pantry.  The pantry in Princeton is offering school supplies for qualified families with students in kindergarten thru 8^th grade.  Students must attend school at: Dover; Kasbeer; Malden; Manlius; Tiskilwa; Princeton; Van Orin or Ohio.

The first school supply distribution date is next Tuesday.  Call the food pantry in Princeton for more information.