Development Director Takes Over as President for Organization Providing Services to Children

An Illinois Valley agency that provides services for children has a new leader as of Thursday.

The Starved Rock Regional Center for Therapy and Child Development has named formed Director of Development Tracy Beattie to be their new president. The group, formerly known as the Easter Seals of LaSalle and Bureau Counties, will be celebrating 70 years of operation in 2016.

Beattie will be overseeing all of the agency’s operations as well as being responsible for increasing donor support to the organization.

SRRC provides speech, physical, developmental, and other therapy services to more than 500 children per year in LaSalle and Bureau Counties.

Rockford Man to Stand Trial Monday in Armed Robbery Case

A Rockford man’s trial for an armed robbery in Streator will be getting started Monday.

William Webb was in an Ottawa courtroom Thursday morning for his final pre-trial hearing. The 51-year old Webb is accused of shooting at a Streator Police officer while trying to escape after robbing the south side Circle K back in August.

At the time of his arrest, Webb was on parole for a murder conviction in Winnebago County. He’s been charged in this case with attempted first-degree murder, armed robbery, and aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Webb is still in custody where he would need to come up with $200,000 to be released.

Streator Arsonist Pleads Guilty to Setting September Fires

A Streator man is off to prison after pleading guilty to some heated charges against him.

Twenty-two year old Antonio Tinoco entered the plea on both charges of arson that he faced. He was accused of being behind a car and garage fire that happened at two separate locations one night in early September.

He was sentenced to five years in prison for each fire. However, Judge Cynthia Raccuglia said the two sentences would be able to be served at the same time.

If convicted, the sentence for Tinoco could’ve ranged from 3 to 28 years in prison. Probation was not an option in either case.

Giving Tuesday proves to be a huge success for St. Bede Academy

Any time you can raise an amount that doubles the goal you set, you know you’ve done something right. One Illinois Valley school is celebrating that accomplishment after their total was tallied for an annual day of giving.

St. Bede Academy had set out to raise $30,000 for this year’s “Giving Tuesday.” Within the 24-hour campaign, they had raised a total of $36,000. That’s not counting the matching donations that brought the total amount raised to $66,000.

The money will go to the St. Bede Annual Fund. The $66,000 was also an improvement over the school’s 2015 total, when they were able to raise $64,000.

Two parades planned Saturday in Peru

A couple parades Saturday in Peru will have bring out different emotions.

The city’s annual Pearl Harbor Day begins with a line up at 10:45 at the Peru Rescue Station on Water Street before ending up at the South Shore Boat Club for an 11:30 service. During the service there will be a 21 gun salute, flyover and wreath laying ceremony.

The scene will then shift at 1:30 to the Peru Public Library for the start of the Christmas Parade. The parade will go to city hall for a meet and greet with Santa along with holiday music and lighting of the children’s Christmas tree.

Attorney general’s office playing a role in Clifford Andersen court case

When and if Clifford Andersen goes to trial regarding the death of Deb Dewey, Putnam County States Attorney Christina Judd-Mennie won’t be prosecuting him alone.

With a population of 6,000, it’s very rare for Putnam County to have a homicide. Because of the complex and high profile case, Judd-Mennie says she has reached out for help. Members of the Illinois Attorney General’s office will be part of the prosecution team against Andersen.

Andersen meanwhile has hired Drew Parker from the Parker & Parker law firm in Peoria. His trial is supposed to start May 8th.