Princeton Hit-and-Run Trial Pushed Back to December

A woman believed to be involved in a fatal hit-and-run now won’t be on trial for her actions until December.

The final pretrial hearing for 23-year old Haylee Miller had been scheduled for Friday in a Bureau County Court. Miller appeared in court out of custody for the first time since being arrested back in June. Earlier this week she came up with the $3,000 needed to be released from custody.

She is charged with failing to report an accident that resulted in a death.  The death is that of 31-year-old April Williams of Princeton.  The fatal crash happened in late June on the west edge of Princeton.

Miller’s trial was pushed back today to December 5^th. She’s due back in court for a final pre-trial hearing on November 8^th.

Ottawa Woman Arrested, Charged in Husband’s Overdose Death

After her husband died of a heroin overdose earlier this year, an Ottawa woman is now believed to have played a role in the death.

Police arrested 29-year-old Catherine Smith earlier this week for a drug induced homicide, a Class X felony.  Smith’s address has her living on Ottawa Avenue in Ottawa.

Her husband, 34-year-old Richard Gregorie was found unconcious this past April at a home in rural Kane County.  He later died at a hospital in Geneva.  Gregorie’s official cause of death was heroin and fentanyl intoxication.  Investigators say Smith was with Gregorie when he died.

Also charged with drug induced homicide is 28-year-old Aaron Moore Chicago.  Bond for both Smith and Moore is $150,000.  Smith is due in Kane County Court November 3^rd.

Peru Police, Northview Elementary Staff to Hold Emergency Drill after Dismissal Friday Afternoon

If you happen to see police and emergency crews outside Northview Elementary Friday afternoon, there’s no need to worry.

The Peru Police Department and Northview staff are planning an emergency procedure drill this afternoon. The drill will be held after student dismissal.

Police will be stationed on Shooting Park Road for the drill, which should be finished by this evening.

Man Responsible for Early Morning Crash in Spring Valley Turns Himself in

The man police were looking for after a startling accident Friday morning in Spring Valley has turned himself in.

Twenty-four year old Alec Virgo was arrested at the Spring Valley police station shortly before 11:00. Police were called about a vehicle crashing into a vacant building at 221 East Saint Paul Street shortly after 2:30.

A gas line was ruptured and police evacuated a nearby apartment following the accident.  Fifteen people in the apartment were kept out of their homes for nearly three hours.

Virgo was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, failure to report an accident, reckless driving, defective brakes, and driving in the wrong lane. He was given a court date and sent on his way.

Jonesville man flown to Peoria after falling from bicycle in Oglesby

If you’ve been following the story of an injured bicyclist in Oglesby, he’s from Jonesville.

A passerby Wednesday night saw 36-year-old Martin Brumley injured along North Columbia Avenue. He was taken to OSF St. Francis Medical Center where a spokeswoman says they cannot give his condition.

Oglesby Police Chief Jim Knoblauch says from all indications Brumley was hurt after a fall. He says though that it’s still under investigation.

Citizens group trying to rally troops in support of L-P referendum

With a little over a month before the election, a group has sprung up on Facebook called “Vote Yes! Renovate LPHS.”

The group is backing the $38 million tax referendum question on next month’s ballot that would make repairs and renovations to the decades old high school. The group says the referendum is a “no frills, downsized proposal focused on critical repairs and renovations.”

The L-P Board of Education initially was looking at a $67 million tax question that included an addition to the current school. They backed off when many told voters said that was too high of a price to pay.

You can find the pro L-P referendum group by clicking Renovate L-P

Chicago Tribune picks Long over Skoog

If you put much stock into newspaper endorsements, than you may be voting for Republican Jerry Long.

The Chicago Tribune has put out its endorsements and they chose the retired truck driver from Streator over Democrat Andy Skoog. The endorsement calls Long an independent Republican and a “believer in the late Milton Freidman’s philosophy of smaller government.”

The Tribune also advises you toss in the trash all the mailers you’ve been getting involving Long and Skoog since the paper claims they are filled with misleading information.

Some Illinois Valley Cub fans will be left out of playoff broadcast

There could be some angry and surprised Cubs fans in Ottawa and Streator.

Saturday night’s Cubs playoff game is being shown only on the MLB Network. While everyone can get that channel on Comcast, DirecTV and Dish Network thanks to a free preview this weekend, Mediacom doesn’t offer the MLB Network. A Mediacom spokeswoman told Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO that they “regret the inconvenience this will cause.”

You may have to search hard to even find tonight’s Cubs game since its on Fox Sports1. FS1 is channel 551 on Comcast, channel 63 on Mediacom, 150 on Dish Network and channel 219 on DirecTV. You can the MLB Network on Comcast at channel 516, at 152 on Dish Network and on channel 215 on DirecTV.

Shadows of the Blue and Gray back in Princeton

It may not be Halloween weekend, but a lot of great costumes will be flooding Princeton’s City County Park this weekend.

The annual Shadows of the Blue and Gray weekend is kicking off Saturday with a meet and greet with General Grant, the entrance of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, and a battle reenactment. Sunday there will be an address from President Lincoln, battle reenactments, and Civil War-era medical demonstrations.

Michael Robinson is a re-enactor and a member of the planning committee. He says even though it’s not the biggest event in the state, passion is what makes it great. Robinson went on to say more than 100 re-enactors are planning to participate this year, up from less than 40 the year before.

If you’re interested in checking out the weekend’s festivities, the park opens at 9. You can register to participate in the festivities by clicking Shadows Blue and Gray