LPHS speaks out on Makeever accident

LP High School administration is speaking out on Matt Makeever’s Saturday morning accident. Matt Baker, Director of Communication and fundraising, said the high school community is deeply saddened and will make grief counselors available Monday. Those needing to talk to one should contact Stephanie Jeanblanc, Associate principal. The release said a substitute teacher will cover Makeever’s summer school class starting Monday. In keeping with the family’s request for privacy, the school will not make any further comment at this time. The release did say Makeever recently returned from a national conference ready to teach. The staff’s thoughts and prayers are with Makeever and his family.

La Salle Play Goes On Despite Loss Of Production Member

The show will go on at Stage 212.

Phil Grant is directing “Grease” and says performances this weekend and in the future will go on as scheduled even after a member of the production team was hit by a train Saturday morning in La Salle.

“Grease” runs thru August 4^th but according to Stage 212’s Facebook page tickets are all sold out.

Ottawa Man Hit By Train Along La Salle Riverfront

A math teacher at L-P High School is in the hospital after being hit by a train.

La Salle Police and EMS got a call around 1:45 this morning about a man lying on the ground just north of railroad tracks in the 100 block of 1^st Street.  25-year old Matthew Makeever of Ottawa was taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital with severe head injuries and later flown to a facility in Peoria. Makeever had been playing piano in the orchestra for the current Stage 212 production of “Grease”.

Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

Marseilles Suing Barge Company For Flood Costs

More and more people are joining together in suing a Tennessee barge company, blaming them in part for flood damage in Marseilles.

The Marseilles City Council voted this week to sue the barge company after several barges broke free April 18^th and smashed into the Marseilles Dam.  The city, Marseilles Elementary School District and dozens of property owners are suing the barge company for millions of dollars.  The barge company claims the barge damage didn’t cause the record flooding.

August 30^th is the last day anyone can file a lawsuit against the barge company regarding damages in the Marseilles flood.

Putnam County Man Facing Meth Charge

A Magnolia man is in trouble for meth.

Daniel Price was indicted this week in Bureau County Court for the Class X felony of unlawful possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance.  Spring Valley Police say Price had meth when they pulled him over for having a bad muffler April 11^th.  A cannabis charge was dropped.

Price has posted 10 thousand dollars bond and is out of custody.

Police Arrest More Than A Dozen Members Of Biker Gang

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) – Rockford police entered a Hells Angels clubhouse and arrested more a dozen associates of the club on charges of aggravated battery, armed robbery and kidnapping.

The arrests Friday were a result of an investigation by Rockford police that began in June. Officials were looking into allegations of criminal activity that occurred at the clubhouse.

Police say the victims of the crimes were associates of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Gang. After reviewing the allegations with the Winnebago County state’s attorney’s office, arrests were made.

The charges against those arrested include aggravated kidnapping of a child under 13 years old and aggravated battery with knives, an axe handle and Taser. The child was not harmed.

The clubhouse was later condemned by the city.

Durbin Ready To Take On “Stand Your Ground” Law

CHICAGO (AP) – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin says he will hold a hearing on so-called “stand your ground” laws.

About 30 states have some form of the law, which gives a person the right to use deadly force to protect themselves if they feel their life is in danger. A Florida version of “stand your ground” played a role in the trial of George Zimmerman, who was acquitted in the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin.

Durbin says he’ll hold the hearing in Washington in September. Durbin says the hearing will explore the influence of the gun lobby in creating the laws and how “stand your ground” has changed the legal definition of self-defense.