Arguments heard in case of fired Ottawa teacher

The case of “Timothy Burgess vs. Illinois State Board of Education” could wrap up in a month or so.

La Salle County Circuit Judge Joe Hettel heard from lawyers on both sides Wednesday afternoon and says he’ll make a decision later on. Burgess is a former Ottawa High School teacher who thinks he was wrongly fired by the Ottawa High School Board. He wants the judge to get him his job back.

During tense times at the high school involving elimination of building trades and union negotiations, the board fired Burgess early last year based on “inappropriate and unprofessional conduct.”

Jimmy Johns under fire for employee non-compete clause

Do you know anyone who has worked at Jimmy Johns? Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is suing the sandwich joint for what she calls unlawful non-compete agreements.

Madigan claims Jimmy John’s requires all employees to sign a non-compete agreement where they can’t work at any other place that makes at least 10 percent of its revenue from sub sandwiches within a few miles of a Jimmy Johns for at least two years. The attorney general says the agreement is illegal and unenforceable.

Madigan says “by locking low-wage workers into their jobs and prohibiting them from seeking better paying jobs elsewhere, Jimmy Johns has no reason to increase wages or benefits.” Her office is looking for other companies that have similar no-compete agreements.

In the immediate Illinois Valley there are Jimmy Johns in Ottawa, Utica, Peru and Spring Valley.

Ottawa Police Arrest Two Men for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Underage Victims

The City of Ottawa may be a safer place for teens after two men were arrested for alleged sex crimes.

Thirty-five year old Caleb Andersen from Ottawa and 52-year old Randy Barile of Marseilles were arrested Wednesday by Ottawa Police. Both men were charged with two counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse after they each allegedly has sex with someone between the ages of 13 and 16.

Both men were taken to the LaSalle County Jail where they are each being held on $40,000 bond.

Peru man out of jail while being indicted on three felony sex charges

Called a “sexual predator” by the state police, a Peru man is out of custody while awaits trial for alleged sex crimes.

Forty-seven-year-old Miguel “Mike” Fraga was indicted Tuesday by a La Salle County Grand Jury. He’s charged with predatory criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault and sexual relations with a family member. He was arrested last month as part of a joint investigation by the Peru Police Department, Illinois State Police and La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Fraga came up with $20,000 to get out of jail. He’s due back in court tomorrow.

Construction flagger hurt near Triumph

A construction flagger was hurt near Triumph in an unusual accident.

Deputies say 18-year-old Jonathan McConville of Earlville was driving a company truck Tuesday morning when a hose fell out and hit a flagger. The flagger, 53-year-old Alice Gill of Marseilles was taken to OSF St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota with minor injuries.

McConville was ticketed for having an unsecured load and failing to stop for a flagger in a construction zone.

Body found Wednesday in SW Lee County

An unoccupied pickup truck on a Lee county road led a deputy to a grizzly discovery late Wednesday morning.  Lee County Sheriff John Simonton said a deputy found the empty truck on Maytown Road – at a point four miles north-northwest of Ohio. Simonton said the deputy followed a path on the road’s north shoulder.  At the bottom of the embankment, was a water-filled ditched containing a man’s body.

It was determined the man was 54 years old.  Simonton says no foul play is expected; however, the incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s and Coroner’s offices along with the State Police Crime Scene Investigator.  The name will not be released until the next of kin are notified.