N-CAT planning reduction in services

If you use NCAT – North Central Area Transit – prepare for a reduction in services.  According to Wayne Cyzy, transit manager, the State is unable to reimburse NCAT for the money it is owed forcing  NCAT to reduce its transportation services starting December 5.

This includes operating only from 8:00 to 4:30pm., not adding any additional routes, rides from Streator to Peru and Peru to Streator  will be offered only on Tuesday.  Rides to Earlville, Seneca, Lostant, Rutland, Ransom and others will be offered on a limited and space availability basis.   IVCC riders, in the Spring Semester, will only have group pick-up times of 8:00am, Noon, and 3pm. There are other adjustments as well. NCAT has been in operation for 3 years, but like other similar transport systems is taking the hit because of a budget impasse.

 

Bow-And-Arrow Killer to Learn Fate Tuesday

The Varna man who was convicted in a bow-and-arrow killing will find out in the coming days if he’s going to get a new trial and, if not, how much time he’ll spend behind bars.

Twenty-two year old Bradley French will be back in court for a hearing on Tuesday. The motion for a new trial proposed by French’s lawyer was postponed again last month, after information from what he called an “anonymous phone call.”

Anthony Tomkiewicz believes info from the call could help his client’s case. The Aurora lawyer is looking into allegations of misconduct against one of the key witnesses in the case. French was convicted earlier this year of using a bow-and-arrow to kill an Oglesby man on Father’s Day of last year.

If the motion for a new trial fails, he faces between 20 and 60 years in prison.

Millions in Gaming Losses Only Translate to Tens of Thousands for Cities

If you use NCAT – North Central Area Transit – prepare for a reduction in services.  According to Wayne Cyzy, transit manager, because the State is unable to reimburse NCAT for the money it is owed, NCAT is forced to reduce its transportation services starting December 5.

This includes operating only from 8:00 to 4:30pm., not adding any additional routes, rides from Streator to Peru will be offered only on Tuesday.  Rides to Earlville, Seneca, Lostant, Rutland, Ransom and others will be offered on a limited and space availability basis.   IVCC riders, in the Spring Semester, will only have group pick-up times of 8:00am, Noon, and 3pm. There are other adjustments as well.

NCAT has been in operation for 3 years, but like other similar transport systems is taking the hit because on a budget impasse.

Rough Crash Requires Extrication, Life Flight North of Putnam

Life Flight had to be called called to the scene of a rough crash near Putnam.

Initial calls came in just before 7:00 Thursday morning about a crash involving a car and a tree along Route 29 just north of Putnam. An individual involved in the crash needed to be pulled from the vehicle by several emergency crews. Traffic would have to be rerouted in the area.

Right after the initial calls came in; Hennepin firefighters were called to assist Henry. We’ll continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

Area Food Pantry distributes holiday food

Over 1000 clients of the Hall Township Food Pantry have food for Thanksgiving thanks to holiday baskets given out this week.  48 volunteers assisted over 330 families to chose from a wide variety of foods and fixings for their holiday table.

Food Pantry Director Jan Martin called it a busy but rewarding event.