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BREAKING NEWS: Fire sweeps through ill-fated Manteno greenhouse

Rachael Reynolds-Soucie: Ride-along an eye opener

Officer Michael Knight was heading east on East Station Street Halloween Eve when a call for a 10-37 came across ...
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'New Moon' premiere breaks theater records (VIDEO)

Vampire lovers made history last night. More than 1,400 lined up on Schuyler Avenue in Kankakee for the 12:01 a.m. ...
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Update: Kankakee H.S. studying Gates Foundation plan

Nov. 20, 2009, 11:11 am The multimillion dollar investment the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is making in education could have an impact in Kankakee ...
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Dwight Christmas parade coming up

Nov. 20, 2009, 11:10 am Participants are being sought for the 14th annual Dwight Christmas parade, which will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. ...
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Watseka food drive on Saturday

Nov. 20, 2009, 11:09 am Residents can help supply Watseka food pantries for the holiday season by donating nonperishable foods to the Watseka Kiwanis Club's ...
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Area shows generosity with Thanksgiving meals

Here is a list of area churches and agencies that are hosting Thanksgiving dinners: * The Caldwell Chapel AME Zion ...
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Correction: Social service agencies

Nov. 20, 2009, 11:08 am * An article that ran on Page A2 on Nov. 11 about social service agencies incorrectly stated that advocates of ...
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More H1N1 clinics scheduled in Kankakee County

Nov. 20, 2009, 11:06 am The Kankakee County Health Department has scheduled additional H1N1 influenza clinics. The department will be distributing this vaccine according to ...
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Beecher man on trial again for father's murder

Nov. 20, 2009, 11:05 am Charles D. Hardig, 43, of Beecher, will sit through the second day of his second trial for the alleged murder ...
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Arraignment set for Fairclough on child porn charges

Nov. 20, 2009, 11:04 am A convicted sexual predator indicted Wednesday on federal child pornography charges is scheduled to appear in court next week. Former ...
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Police blotter: Nov. 20

Nov. 20, 2009, 11:04 am Pigs allegedly damage yard A St. Anne resident in the 14000 block of East Manor Drive reported Tuesday that she ...
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Another big money winner surfaces?

Nov. 20, 2009, 11:02 am What area scout leader is the third local resident to become a big winner on what should be known as ...
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Kilbride dubbed Judge of Year

Nov. 20, 2009, 11:02 am Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride has been named Judge of the Year by the Illinois Chapter of the ...
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Operation phone home to benefit troops

You can't wrap up this gift. But one size really does fit all. And Kankakeean Tammy Massie hopes to make ...
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'Rogue elf' mystery solved

Nov. 20, 2009, 10:58 am The identity of the person who entered a Herscher residence and put up Christmas decorations while the family was away ...
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State jobless rate bad omen

Nov. 20, 2009, 10:57 am When asked to speculate on what Kankakee County's unemployment rate may be when those numbers are released Wednesday by the ...
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Illinois unemployment hits 11 percent

Nov. 19, 2009, 12:58 pm CHICAGO (AP) -- Illinois' unemployment rate has hit its highest level since August 1983. The Illinois Department of Employment ...
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New charges leave first victims' families 'speechless'

Nov. 19, 2009, 11:40 am One mother gasped. The other could say only she was "speechless," after learning Wednesday of a Kankakee man's indictment on ...
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Fairclough indicted on federal child pornography charges

Nov. 19, 2009, 11:26 am A former Christian youth counselor and convicted sex offender was indicted Wednesday on federal child pornography charges after investigators said ...
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Should Ryan get partial pension?

Nov. 19, 2009, 11:15 am Former Gov. George Ryan’s criminal conviction shouldn’t bar him from collecting a state pension for the 20-plus years when he ...
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Bourbonnais Village willing to modify code enforcement law

Nov. 19, 2009, 11:10 am Resisting a call to scrap the recently adopted code enforcement inspection law in Bourbonnais, Village President Paul Schore said he ...
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Officials encourage smokers to quit

Nov. 19, 2009, 11:09 am As part of the Great American Smokeout, a nationwide effort by the American Cancer Society being celebrated today, area health ...
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Dennis Yohnka: Shooting a pet just cruel

Nov. 19, 2009, 11:07 am My brother and sister-in-law are dealing with a serious anger issue these days. And I don't think I can help ...
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Gold coin dropped in The Salvation Army bucket

Nov. 19, 2009, 11:05 am A 2003 Lady Liberty Double Eagle gold coin was dropped in The Salvation Army bucket Wednesday night. The Salvation Army ...
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Flight service timeline

Nov. 19, 2009, 11:02 am * 1985 -- Federal Aviation Administration Automated Flight Service Station constructed for $875,000 from Kankakee Valley Airport Authority; $150,000 from ...
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Halvorson vows to save Lockheed-Martin jobs

In an effort to save local jobs, U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, plans to ask Lockheed-Martin Corp. to review its ...
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History in a Minute

Nov. 19, 2009, 10:59 am Today's "History in a Minute" feature is a biography of Clyde Tombaugh, the central Illinois astronomer who discovered Pluto. His ...
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Vampire film to shatter local theater attendance record

Nov. 19, 2009, 10:59 am Tonight's midnight showing of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" at Paramount Theatre will shatter the record for a midnight release. ...
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Rogue elf decorates family's apartment - police investigating

Nov. 19, 2009, 10:50 am It's a scenario of some residents' dreams: After returning home from a weekend getaway they find that someone has decorated ...
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A dramatic change may come at Kankakee High

Kankakee School District 111 officials are hopeful a learning plan developed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will pull ...
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Ryan home for holidays?

George Ryan, as well as his family and friends, is hopeful that the imprisoned former Illinois governor will be home ...
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Convicted sex offender indicted on federal child pornography charges

Nov. 19, 2009, 8:41 am A former Christian youth counselor and convicted sex offender, was indicted Wednesday on federal child pornography charges after investigators said ...
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Hospitals restrict child visitors to prevent H1N1

Nov. 18, 2009, 10:55 am In an effort to prevent the spread of the H1N1 flu to children -- who are most susceptible to the ...
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H1N1 doses packed at CSL Behring

Nov. 18, 2009, 10:53 am The wait for the H1N1 vaccine was frustrating for many in the area who stood in line for the shots. ...
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Correction : Habitat emphasizing energy efficiency

Nov. 18, 2009, 10:52 am * The Daily Journal edited incorrect material into articles about Habitat for Humanity of Kankakee County in Monday's edition. The ...
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Police, fire headquarters are now 'Green'

Nov. 18, 2009, 10:51 am Mayor Nina Epstein and Police Chief Mike Kinkade pulled brown wrapping paper off a gold sign hanging in the entryway ...
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Local news briefs: Special ed grant review

Nov. 18, 2009, 10:50 am The Kankakee Area Special Education Co-op has been awarded grants from the Illinois State Board of Education for IDEA Part ...
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Local news briefs: Thanksgiving dinner offered in Coal City

Nov. 18, 2009, 10:49 am A free Thanksgiving dinner for all will be served from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Berst Center, ...
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Bennett hired to advise village on development, TIF district

Grant Park has hired Jeff Bennett of Bennett Commercial of Kankakee to serve as an economic development and tax increment ...
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Grant Park officials must control spending to bail out village

Nov. 18, 2009, 10:44 am A pattern of deficit spending that began three years ago resulted in sharp shortfalls in Grant Park's general fund just ...
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Family displaced after fire damages Beaverville home

A rural Beaverville family is now in temporary housing after they were displaced from their home Tuesday afternoon following a ...
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Exotic dancing's toll

With the closing of Stages adult entertainment club on Kankakee's south side, several questions remain. What was the price of ...
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Various factors lead to demise of airport facility

Nov. 18, 2009, 10:37 am Technological improvements, efficiencies and reduced general aviation traffic are the primary factors that has led to the pending closure of ...
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Curtain falls on Stages adult club following zoning battle

Nov. 18, 2009, 10:36 am The city of Kankakee finally stopped the music. Stages, the adult entertainment venue at 1045 S. East Ave., closed its ...
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Beginning to look like Christmas

The snow is yet to fly locally, but plenty of other signs of the approaching Christmas season have already arrived. ...
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Lucrative jobs leaving Kankakee Airport

After nearly 23 years, the federal automated flight service station at Greater Kankakee Airport will close Feb. 1, throwing 28 ...
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Police blotter: Nov. 18

Nov. 18, 2009, 10:33 am Violating parole Dandre D. Washington, 25, of 662 W. Station St., Kankakee, was arrested at 12:43 a.m. Sunday in the ...
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Police blotter: Nov. 17

Nov. 17, 2009, 10:58 am Drugs James R. McCoy, 38, of 3425 W. Corning Road, Peotone, was released on bond Monday following his arrest Saturday ...
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Judge imposes weekly court appearances

Nov. 17, 2009, 10:57 am Sometimes even judges can become frustrated, and that's just what happened Monday when a Kankakee County judge learned of yet ...
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Two small towns, too many car burglaries

Nov. 17, 2009, 10:56 am A rash of car burglaries in the little hamlets of Woodland and Sheldon are sending the two police chiefs scrambling ...
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Big savings at new Aldi

The Aldi store on Kankakee's south side had only been opened a few minutes when Jessie Curtis, of Kankakee, headed ...
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Jeff Bonty: Meaning of season more than glitz

Nov. 17, 2009, 10:53 am Driving home from a birthday party Saturday night, I saw a few houses had the Christmas lights and decorations turned ...
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Trash, leaves unwanted mix

Nov. 17, 2009, 10:52 am Kankakee Public Works Superintendent Bert Dear said Monday approximately 550 loads of leaves have been picked up by the city ...
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H1N1 vaccine urged before holidays

Nov. 17, 2009, 10:51 am The Ford-Iroquois Public Health Department is encouraging parents to immunize their children as soon as possible to help prevent H1N1 ...
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New breast cancer recommendations ignite debate

Nov. 17, 2009, 10:47 am The topic of breast cancer is hard to contain in a purely scientific discussion. To those who have it, it ...
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Christmas comes early for boy with MD

Christmas came early for 17-year-old Luke Hebel, of Manteno. It's only fair: The problems of old age arrived prematurely, too. ...
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Brown beats cancer, avoids jail; civil suit still pending

James Brown, a rural Beaverville resident who was acquitted last week in the 2006 shooting death of an Indiana woman, ...
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Fitts sentencing nears

Nov. 17, 2009, 10:42 am Former Grant Park Police Chief Scott Fitts will have one more status hearing before being sentenced for his role in ...
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North Carolina searchers find body of missing 5-year-old girl

Nov. 16, 2009, 2:28 pm SANFORD, N.C. (AP) -- A missing 5-year-old whose mother was accused of offering her for sex was found dead off ...
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Wilmington falls short in battle of top teams (VIDEO)

CARTHAGE -- After the final game of their high school football career, tears flowed from seniors on the Wilmington sideline ...
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At 84, Danforth resident not retiring

Nov. 16, 2009, 11:26 am Some workers dream of retirement in their 40s. Others make plans to slow down in their 50s or 60s. A ...
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Police blotter: Nov. 16

Nov. 16, 2009, 10:48 am Battery * Eric James Gordon, 27, of 16641 W. Natoma Drive, Lockport, was arrested at about 3:26 a.m. Nov. 8 ...
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Lawmakers to vote on Illiana Expressway funds soon

Nov. 16, 2009, 10:47 am U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, of Crete, says she is encouraged by Gov. Pat Quinn's recent statement of support for the ...
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Happy homeowners with Habitat

"If you have a dream, God holds on to your dream and I don't care how long it takes, he ...
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Habitat facts

Nov. 16, 2009, 10:46 am Did you know? * In 1984, former President Jimmy Carter, a carpenter and furniture maker, and First Lady Rosalynn worked ...
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Mike Frey: A few thoughts on dinner and smoking

Nov. 16, 2009, 10:42 am A couple of news items surfaced last week which invite comment. Without further adieu, here goes: * A recent survey ...
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HUD population

Nov. 16, 2009, 10:42 am In the city of Kankakee's application for a $10 million federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant, it uses several population forecasts ...
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HUD: By the numbers

Nov. 16, 2009, 10:41 am Neighborhood Stabilization Program grant city of Kankakee application $8.3 million To buy and rehab abandoned, foreclosed homes $991,000 To ...
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Housing help aim of $10 million grant for Kankakee

Nov. 16, 2009, 10:40 am The city of Kankakee should hear early next year about its $10 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ...
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Top Chicago school official apparently drowns

Nov. 16, 2009, 10:38 am Authorities believe a body pulled from the Chicago River is that of Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott. Chicago ...
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Winter preparation urged

Nov. 16, 2009, 10:37 am Residents in Illinois experience about five severe winter storms each year, according to the National Weather Service, prompting a host ...
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Police Blotter for Nov. 14

Nov. 14, 2009, 2:20 pm Arrow strike An arrow was apparently shot at a house sometime between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday in the ...
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James Brown found not guilty

Nov. 13, 2009, 9:51 pm After 90 minutes of deliberation, a jury Friday night found James Brown, 68, not guilty in the 2006 shooting death ...
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Willis remains in prison on Brown burglary

Nov. 13, 2009, 2:21 pm He briefly was known as the one who got away. But Albert Willis, Jr. was caught a month after he ...
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Brown trial opens: When did he shoot?

Nov. 13, 2009, 2:20 pm It seemed to come down to one question in court Tuesday: When did the Beaverville man, on trial for fatally ...
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Victim's supporters attend Brown trial

While an Iroquois County jury hears testimony about a Beaverville man, little is known about the Indiana woman he is ...
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Brown trial correction

Nov. 13, 2009, 11:03 am The newspaper is in the business of communication, not miscommunication. But unfortunately, it happens. And it happened in a story ...
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Send cookies to troops, but pack them with care

Nov. 13, 2009, 10:59 am The holidays without cookies -- unthinkable, even among soldiers in harm's way. Each season, generous Americans send boxes of cookies ...
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Unpasteurized milk story correction

Nov. 13, 2009, 10:57 am * An article in Tuesday's edition of The Daily Journal reported on a Chatsworth farm that allows customers to purchase ...
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Visiting Polish military officers witness Veterans Day ceremony

Three military officers from Poland were among the crowd at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery on Wednesday to honor American veterans. ...
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Why the world won't end in December

Nov. 13, 2009, 10:48 am Today's nationwide premiere of the movie "2012" has a lot of people panicking over a "prediction" that the world will ...
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Police blotter: Nov. 13

Nov. 13, 2009, 10:47 am Drugs Ebony Hodges, 23, of Minneapolis, Minn., was arrested Wednesday by Iroquois County sheriff's Police on a charge of delivery ...
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More H1N1 clinics set for Kankakee

Nov. 13, 2009, 10:46 am The Kankakee County Health Department has scheduled three walk-in H1N1 flu vaccination clinics to be held over the next several ...
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Local news briefs: Impound fee wins approval in Beecher

Nov. 13, 2009, 10:45 am A $300 impoundment fee on vehicles seized by police is now in effect in Beecher. The fee, approved Monday by ...
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Salvation Army kettle campaign kicks off

The Salvation Army kettles will be heading out to shopping locations throughout Kankakee County today as the charity kicks off ...
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Kankakee County Board: Should tape-recorded minutes be made public?

Nov. 13, 2009, 10:40 am Just a few weeks after a shouting match erupted over expense receipts at a Kankakee County Board Finance Committee, a ...
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Brown says he watched burglar before he shot

James Brown testified Thursday that he was so scared when a truck's brake lights came on that he urinated in ...
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A 3rd burglar involved in Brown shooting?

Nov. 13, 2009, 10:38 am Totally surprising everyone in the courtroom and those who have followed the case of James Brown -- on trial for ...
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Special report to provide details of Ali settlement

How much money was the Kankakee School District 111 Board of Education willing to pay former Superintendent Brian Ali to ...
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Halvorson reviews H1N1 plans

It's too early to start looking back on the H1N1 flu outbreak of 2009, but U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, ...
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Sprau will complete term as sheriff

Nov. 12, 2009, 12:23 pm Iroquois County Sheriff Eldon Sprau said Tuesday he will complete his term in office before retiring next year. He addressed ...
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Henrichs reports to jail

Nov. 12, 2009, 12:22 pm Former Iroquois County Clerk and Recorder Mark Henrichs, who was sentenced last week, reported for jail Wednesday, Sheriff's Lt. Randy ...
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Book chronicles three generations of a farm family

In 1898, Terra Brockman's great-grandparents, Herman and Maria Brockman, settled on a 160-acre farm about a mile north of Danforth. ...
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Book pays tribute to Grandma

Terra Brockman's book pays tribute to her late Grandma Henrietta Brockman, who was approaching 101 when the book was started ...
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Lile Lake dedication fitting Veterans Day gift

A big grin spread across Bill Hicks' face as he listened to the speeches during dedication ceremonies for Lile Lake ...
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Ind. man killed in crash

Nov. 12, 2009, 10:57 am A DeMotte, Ind., man was killed after being thrown from a Trailblazer Monday that crashed after the driver tried to ...
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Fugitive nabbed in Sun River Terrace after a Danville shooting

Nov. 12, 2009, 10:57 am A Danville fugitive caught Wednesday morning in Sun River Terrace was taken into custody later that day by Vermilion County ...
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Flu closes Grace Baptist for the rest of the week

Nov. 12, 2009, 10:54 am The flu has hit home at Grace Baptist Academy in Kankakee and the school will be closed through the end ...
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Dennis Yohnka: 'Sidewalks' lead to great stories

Nov. 12, 2009, 10:53 am I never planned to use my column to promote events. I wanted to keep this space for sharing stories about ...
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