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May 9, 2008

WIU students taking part in graduation ceremonies today and tomorrow

Western Illinois University students and alumni will be graduating today and tomorrow in Macomb and Sunday in the Quad Cities during Western's Spring 2008 Commencement Weekend. Some 1,950 students, including more than 1,525 undergraduate and approximately 420 graduate students who have applied for graduation. At 2 o'clock this afternoon, Academic Honors Convocation will take place in Western Hall. At 4 p.m., the military science department Army ROTC Commissioning will take place in the University Union Heritage Room; and at 5:30 this evening, Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony will begin in Western Hall. Three ceremonies will take place at WIU on Saturday.



Defense attorney for Daniel Belknap has filed several new motions

The defense attorney for 30-year-old Daniel Belknap has filed several new motions, including one to move the trial location because of publicity. This move comes less than two weeks before a jury trial is set to begin for Belknap, who is charged two counts of first-degree murder and one count of child endangerment. Belknap’s attorney, Ron Hanna of Peoria, also filed a second defense motion seeks to exclude the “snitch” testimony of Jeffrey Ahlers of Bloomington and Joe Burgess of East Peoria. Police have videotaped statements from both men, who each shared a cell with Belknap at different times, telling police about implicating statements Belknap made while he was being held on federal methamphetamine conspiracy charges. Other defense motions include one to dismiss the charges against Belknap because of a violation of his 120-day speedy trial right, and another seeks to have potential jurors fill out a 24-page questionnaire on information ranging from medications they are taking to inquiring whether they follow news of current events. A hearing for all of the motions has been set for May 13th.


Daniel Belknap

Quad Cities man arrested for striking roommate with metal pan

A 28-year-old man from the Quad Cities was arrested for allegedly striking one of his Macomb roommates multiple times with a metal pan. Joshua DeCrane is facing felony charges of aggravated battery and criminal damage to property over $300. Macomb police were called to an apartment on south Albert Street after DeCrane reportedly had been arguing with his roommates about rent and bill and allegedly grabbed a metal pan and struck 23-year-old Martin Schultz of Macomb at least eight times on his back,arm, chin and head. He also allegedly damaged a door and a telephone in the apartment.

WIU student arrested on charges of damaging vehicles in campus parking lot

A 18-year-old Western Illinois University student was arrested after he was allegedly caught damaging vehicles in a WIU campus parking lot. Joshua Wright of Plano, was arrested on charges of criminal damage to property over $300 and illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor. According to reports from the WIU Office of Public Safety, Wright was arrested in the 'Q' lot just after 4 a.m. Sunday after he damaged numerous vehicles parked there. Wright was released from jail after posting $10,000 bond.
Macomb Police set to join "Click it or Ticket" campaign

The Macomb Police Department has announced that they will be joining more than 500 other local, state, and county law enforcement agencies in a state wide “Click it or Ticket” crackdown. This crackdown is designed to target seat belt violators throughout the month of May. During the campaign law enforcement officers in Macomb will be conducting special enforcement activities focusing on seat belt usage. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation this is going to be the largest Click it or Ticket mobilization in the state's history. The aim of the new campaign is to save more lives and push for 100 percent compliance.



Master plan for former Carthage College improvements approved by planning commission

A master plan outlining improvements for the former Carthage College campus was accepted Wednesday by the local planning commission. Local veterinarian Dr. Doug Groth, who is a partner in company that purchased the land, outlined the plans at a public hearing Wednesday. The former Anthony Hall building will be office space for the Carthage Veterinary Service, Ltd. and Professional Swine Management, LLC. A portion of the two dormitory buildings on the south side of U.S. Route 136 are currently undergoing renovations to be used as temporary housing for the company’s interns and temporary employees. Five of the buildings on the 12-building site will be torn down because of their condition. Other plans include developing a training center for employees and turning the auditorium into a functional facility that the community can also use. Groth said the developers have been working with the city to determine the best community uses for some of the spaces, such as an auditorium and meeting rooms. Portions of other buildings will also be rehabilitated into apartments or leased office space. The plan to renovate the property is a 5- to 10-year one. The recommend master plan and the necessary zoning change now goes to the City Council for consideration at their Tuesday meeting.

Carthage College
Peoria School district will begin shorter school days next year

Students in Peoria are about to get a shorter school day, but not because they've earned it. School officials say they want to cut 45-minutes from the school day to save money. District 150 officials say shaving the time off the school day could save them about 645-thousand dollars over the school year. Parents, and even some students, don't care how much it'll save, they want kids in school for as long as they can. Peoria's school board says with changes in the class schedule kids should not suffer from a shorter school day, they added that it could, in fact, help some kids do better in classes. Peoria schools are trying desperately to save money, as they need to find a way to chop two-point-four million dollars from their budget. The new, shorter schedule, will begin with the next school year.
Moffitt wants to place surcharge on serious traffic violations

Legislation being sponsored by 74th District State Representative Don Moffitt would place a surcharge on serious traffic violations that would provide more funds for fire services in the State of Illinois. Moffitt says a $20 surcharge would be placed on convictions of DUI and court supervision...Don Moffitt. Moffitt’s legislation was approved in committee on Wednesday and now moves on to the full House of Representatives.

Don Moffitt

News Archives

Local Obituaries

Obits are aired following the news in the mornings on WLRB and WLMD. For time of services and complete obituary information click on a name below...
Ann Mullin-Renshaw 67 Macomb
Peggy L. Garrett 33 Vermont
Dennis R. Trone 77 Petersburg
Bonnie B. Hickman 63 Galesburg
George B. Langeland 81 formerly of Rushville
Edgar B. Umphryes Sr. 72 Versailles



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