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Saturday, November 7, 2015

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‘From dope to hope ...’ CPASA holds town hall meeting on local heroin/drug issues By Goldie Rapp grapp@bcrnews.com

PRINCETON — Community Partners Against Substance Abuse (CPASA) held a town hall meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Bureau County Metro Center to inform residents about the current local issues surrounding heroin, prescription drugs and alcohol. The meeting, which contained a full audience, featured Tim Ryan and “Kyle the Kid,” who are both heroin addicts in recovery. Ryan, 47, of Naperville shared his story about his 27-year-long addiction with heroin — he talked about how it “robbed his soul” and eventually caused him to lose his family, home and job. His addiction still haunts him today, especially know-

ing he led his own son into addiction. His son died of a heroin overdose at age 20 in August 2014. Through the years, Ryan spent a lot of his time in jail, the court system and in rehab facilities due to his addiction. It wasn’t until he ended up serving time in the Sheridan Correctional Center that he was finally able to become clean and sober, which he has remained three years later. During his time at that correctional center, Ryan wrote up a business plan for his Man in Recovery Foundation, which he runs today to help educate people about addictions and find solutions for those suffering with the heroin epidemic. Through his foundation, Ryan has worked with people from ages 12 to 78. He said the average heroin addict is a 22-year-old white female and a 23-year-old white male.

Kyle the Kid is just one of many who has sought help through the Man in Recovery Foundation. On Wednesday, Kyle, 19, shared his dark journey with drugs, which began when he was just 13 years old. Kyle said at that age, he was depressed, lonely and didn’t like who he was, so he turned to drugs. The relief he felt under the influence, however, was short lived after his drug addiction turned him onto heroin. He said the drug transformed him into a lying, cheating, stealing person he never imagined he would become. “Using drugs was a complete waste of time. I watched every single person I thought I had a relationship with completely die a horrific death. I watched myself turn into someone you couldn’t even possibly imagine. I completely destroyed my family situation, and I had no goals for myself. I was living an even worse life for myself

Dope to hope Page 2

Bank robber sentenced Restitution has been paid in full By Dave Cook dcook@bcrnews.com

PRINCETON — Before Darryl Anthony Woods Jr. was sentenced on Friday, Nov. 6, for his part in the robbery of Princeton’s Centrue Bank on May 28, his mother paid restitution in full, in the amount of $1,722, in hopes of her son receiving a shorter sentence. Before being unshackled and rising to stand before Judge C.J. Hollerich, Woods, 28, had met privately with Bureau County Public Defender Michael Henneberry and Bureau County State’s Attorney Geno Caffarini and reached an agreement, which was later approved by the judge, to waive his sentencing hearing and to accept the punishment of being incarcerated for four and one-half years, with 100 days credit for time already served, followed by a two-year mandatory supervised release period. Woods will have six months after his release to pay $752 in fines and court costs. Because of his substance abuse and addiction problem, which was believed to have played a part in his decision to commit the robbery, Woods was also ordered to enter a recovery program during his time with the Illinois Department of Corrections. Before the procedure began, Woods, head down and shoulders dropped, held his file and read through it.

Sentenced Page 4

BCR photo/Dave Cook

A sweet taste of the holidays at Candy Cane House The Perry Memorial Hospital Auxiliary hosted its annual Candy Cane event in the hospital lobby on Nov. 5 and 6. Proceeds from the sale of holiday decor, gifts, cookies, make-up, raffle tickets and a pot roast lunch benefited the auxiliary group which will use the funds to purchase equipment for the hospital.

The State of the Counties

County leaders share common successes and challenges By Dave Cook dcook@bcrnews.com

PERU — At the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development seminar dubbed the “State of the Counties,” held Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Mario’s Maples restaurant in Peru, area leaders from LaSalle and Putnam counties

came together to share their successes and common struggles with members of local government, business and education. No spokesperson from Bureau County attended; instead the county sent a short brief. LaSalle County Board Chairman Jerry L. Hicks began by describing the abilities of the county’s new financial system and the help it’s providing. He also spoke of the

upgrades to their historic courthouse and how the county’s water survey, being conducted by the federal government, is still in progress. Hicks then announced LaSalle County has made a three-year commitment, at $58,000 a year, to the Economic Development Corporation of North Central Illinois and spoke of the benefits of a unified effort to bring

Counties Page 4

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