Historic Peru drive-in wins juicy honor
So, you really think there’s nothing to do this weekend? 19 events on our calendar
in Peru THIS SATURDAY: 11am: Pearl Harbor Day Parade, 1:30pm: Christmas Parade, 2pm: Pictures with Santa, Christmas Tree Lighting, Movies, Entertainment & More!
THIS SUNDAY: 8am-1pm: Breakfast with Santa! Watch Santa fly off to the North Pole in his helicopter from the Peru Washington Park at around 1 p.m. Brought to you by CITY OF PERU and the PERU RECREATION BOARD
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peru.il.us
www.newstrib.com | Thursday, December 5, 2019 | 75 cents
No one speaks out vs. marijuana sales Spring Valley planning commission makes recommendation to council stipulating rules for cannabis By Kim Shute BUREAU-PUTNAM BUREAU CHIEF
NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/SCOTT ANDERSON
Jim Andreoni, attorney for the city of Spring Valley, listens to citizens’ comments during a public hearing on cannabis-related businesses at Spring Valley City hall on Wednesday evening.
Educators, coaches, peers pay respects to MHS leader Bob Cooper
Spring Valley’s mayor hosted a public forum Wednesday to gauge residents’ interest on the municipal marijuana debate, but based on attendance, it doesn’t appear to be a contentious issue for the city. A baker’s dozen people showed up in council chambers for the forum, and four of those were planning commission members. When asked by Mayor Walt Marini who would like to speak, a lone woman raised her hand. Mary Ballerin said she’s a fourth-year medical marijuana card holder. Her thought is that people are going to be buying marijuana come Jan. 1 so why not bring that revenue to Spring Valley.
“I think a decision should be made as soon as possible. The people who want a business can’t apply if the city opts out, so it’s not fair to them.” — Debb Ladgenski, Spring Valley economic development director “I know people who travel over an hour to get it,” she said. “An email was sent that the Ottawa facility (which currently caters to medical patients, but is in line for recreational sales in the new year) will have unprecedented lines the first day.” Ballerin said the Ottawa location, frequented by current Illinois Valley medical card users
is recommending patients in the new year travel to Arlington Heights, which is medical-use only, for their prescriptions to avoid long wait times. “You can’t judge a book by its cover,” Ballerin said. “A lot of people smoke marijuana and you don’t even know it.” “You can draw people from Ladd and Cherry and other areas
that will come here because it’s less of a drive,” she continued. “Would you rather make the tax money here or bring it to other counties? If you put it in the industrial park, people will come off the interstate to buy it and take it home with them. They won’t bring it downtown; they can’t stand there and smoke it so it won’t hurt downtown. I don’t see a negative on it.” Local business owner Andrew Martinez stepped up to show his support for bringing cannabis-related businesses to the Valley. “It’s going to be legal so they’re going to buy it elsewhere and bring it here anyway,” he said. Martinez, who owns Drewskies and Outer Limitz, said he has plans to open a dispensary and See CANNABIS Page A3
Unusual murder trial off to unusual start
By Dave Elsesser
Prosecutor will argue there’s no way Cusick drowned in toilet on her own
SPECIAL TO THE NEWSTRIBUNE
By Tom Collins NEWSTRIBUNE SENIOR REPORTER
MENDOTA — Even in failing health, Bob Cooper gave no inch. When a visitor suggested that the lifelong Cardinals fan jump ship in favor of the rival Cubs, Cooper — bed-ridden and too weak for conversation — snapped his eyes open and set things straight. “Nooo waaay.” It wound up being one of the final times the longtime Mendota High School principal spoke. Son Mark Cooper laughed as he shared the story, noting that his father, also an avid Bears fan, mustered a similar response to an overture about the Packers. It’s an anecdote that likely See COOPER Page A3
As the murder trial opened Wednesday for Kenneth Cusick, Josh Mammen, sitting in front of a photo of him with his mother, Tracy Cusick, who died 13 years ago, testifies about his pleasant memories of his mom. La Salle County State’s Attorney Karen Donnelly (left) led the questioning of Mammen for the prosecution.
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Tracy Cusick’s son recalls last good night with his mother
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Son, 25 now, testifies in case against Kenneth Cusick as trial opens By Brent Bader SHAW MEDIA
One of the first witnesses in the Kenneth Cusick trial shared a happy memory of the deceased Tracy Cusick, and one of her last. Josh Mammen, 25, of Utica is Tracy’s son from a previous relationship and was brought forward to testify about life with Tracy as well as the night prior to her death. Kenneth Cusick, 52, of Ottawa is charged with drowning his wife
Tracy in a toilet in their home 13 years ago. The defendant was in attendance for opening arguments and testimony Wednesday morning. Mammen, 11 at the time, was off from school for the day celebrating Martin Luther King Day and spent it working on a school project. “I’ve never seen her so happy,” Mammen said. The two were working on a “rock ‘n roll” project and discovered both of them had an affinity for The Grateful Dead. He never heard her listen to the music and she didn’t know he was even familiar with the rock band.
A picture was shown at the start of Mammen’s testimony depicting a Halloween photo of the two and Tracy’s daughter. Mammen said life with his mother was pleasant and he shared fond memories, including trips to Buffalo Rock State Park to visit the bison and hike. He recalled Tracy was a preschool teacher at Zion Lutheran for a couple of years but believed she was unemployed at the time of her death. One of those fond memories took place the night before her death, when Tracy and her two children gathered to watch See SON Page A2
OTTAWA — Can an adult accidentally drown in a toilet? Not a chance, La Salle County’s top prosecutor says. With murder suspect Kenneth Cusick looking on, state’s attorney Karen Donnelly stood before a jury Wednesday and told them not to believe Cusick’s claim that he found wife Tracy dead in their Ottawa home, her face immersed in the water of a downstairs commode. During opening statements, Donnelly explained that toilets are designed to prevent accidental drowning and there have been no recorded cases of an adult drowning. Human physiology, she said, also precludes it; the moment Tracy lost consciousness her center of gravity would pull her out of the bowl, not deeper into it. “This case will show that’s not possible,” Donnelly said. But Cusick and his lawyers are not disputing the physics of plumbing — they dispute the manner of Tracy’s death in 2006. To hear defense attorney Ryan Hamer tell it, pathologists will testify that Tracy died from a lethal overdose of methadone of alcohol and methadone. “Kenny had absolutely nothing to do with this death,” Hamer said, adding later, “The state cannot possibly prove their case.” If the state can prove it, Cusick would be convicted See TRIAL Page A2
TS! WEEKEND EVENDec ember 8
Friday December 6
Saturday December 7
* 8-11 pm Music in the Back 11 am Guided Winter Hike 12 & 1:30 pm Historic Trolley Door Lounge: River Road Trio Americana Tours* (County, Alternative)
Sunday
11 am Guided Winter Hike* 12:00 &1:30 pm Historic Trolley Tours* *Reservations Required
815-220-7386 starvedrocklodge.com