Moreno and Nelson receive trial dates in Bureau County

Trial dates have been set for two men allegedly involved with separate shootings in Spring Valley.

Angel Moreno of Spring Valley is accused of shooting and killing Kyle Zinser of Spring Valley.  He’ll go on trail for involuntary manslaughter April 28 before Bureau County Circuit Judge Marc Bernabei.

Joshua Nelson of Chicago will go on trial April 7 for home invasion.  Police believe Nelson was around when a man from Ladd was shot while in Spring Valley.  Police say they’re still looking for another person.  Neslon’s case will be heard by Judge Cornelius Hollerich. 

Moreno and Nelson were in court Friday.

La Salle man accused of sexual assualt in Fulton County

On parole for a theft, a man from La Salle is facing new charges.  Michael Eubanks was arrested Thursday at his home for predatory criminal sexual assault.  The charge was out of Fulton County.

Eubanks was also wanted for a parole violation and for missing a court date in Bureau County.  Police say another charge is pending.

Eubanks was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Victim’s Name Released In Bureau County Crash

If you’ve been following the story about a fatal crash near Sheffield, the victim’s name has been released.

48-year old Lisa Boehle of Princeton died of multiple trauma according to Bureau County Coroner Janice Wamhoff.  Boehle was the passenger of Carol Headley of Princeton.  Headley is accused of running a stop sign Wednesday evening on Route 40.  Her car was hit by a semi.

Headley was flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria where she is in critical condition.

The semi driver is from Iowa and wasn’t hurt.

Teachers’ Strike Looming In Mendota

A last ditch effort appears to have failed to avoid a teacher’s strike in Mendota.

The Mendota School Board of Education has posted a message on the district website saying they anticipate teachers will go on strike starting Monday.  If they do, schools will be closed and all extra-curricular activities will be cancelled until further notice.

The board and teachers’ union met Thursday night with a mediator but were unable to reach an agreement.  The biggest issue is health insurance.

Alleged Spring Valley Shooter Due Back In Court

You should know by the end of the day when a Spring Valley man is supposed to go to trial for a fatal shooting.

20-year-old Angel Moreno of Spring Valley is due to be arraigned Friday in Bureau County Court for involuntary manslaughter.  He was arrested last Saturday at his home after allegedly shooting 23-year-old Kyle Zinser in the leg.  Zinser was pronounced dead in Moreno’s house.  Investigators say Moreno waited several hours to call 911 after shooting Zinser.

Moreno is being held in the Bureau County Jail on $50,000 bond.

Exelon And La Salle County Reach Tax Assessment Agreement

If you think your tax bill is a lot, imagine paying over 23 million dollars.

Exelon has agreed to a seven-year tax assessment where they will pay out over 23 million dollars this year to 11 taxing bodies.  Seneca High School is the biggest beneficiary of the power plants $485 million dollar tax assessment.  They will get $8.7 million in property taxes from Exelon.  Seneca Grade School gets $6.3 million, La Salle County $4.6 million and Illinois Valley Community College $1.7 million.

La Salle County Board Chairman Jerry Hicks says all sides walk away happy with the tax settlement.  Exelon’s taxes are about 20 percent of La Salle County’s total tax levy.

The settlement with Exelon comes after a few years of negotiations and costly tax objections.  The county claims the power plant’s assessed valuation is $760 million while Exelon thinks their plant is worth $385 million so they didn’t exactly meet half way.

Under the 7-year agreement, Exelon’s tax assessment will go down the next three years of the settlement, stay the same in year five before going back up by 30 million dollars in the last year of the deal.