WWII vet John Renskers talks about Honor Flight experience
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2013
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Musick: Special teams stay precise through mud, rain Arkush: Battling delay, poor conditions earns gritty win
Matt Forte
Heartland hurting after storms County avoids major damage Most issues utility related By STEPHEN Di BENEDETTO sdibenedetto@shawmedia.com
Journal Star –Fred Zwicky
Chuck Phillips looks out at the aftermath of a tornado that tore off part of his roof and left houses around him destroyed Sunday, and left a path of devastation through the north end of Pekin. Intense thunderstorms and tornadoes swept across the Midwest on Sunday, causing extensive damage in several central Illinois communities while sending people to their basements for shelter.
Homes destroyed by tornadoes By DAVID MERCER and DON BABWIN The Associated Press WASHINGTON, Ill. – Dozens of tornadoes and intense thunderstorms swept across the Midwest on Sunday, leaving at least six people dead and unleashing powerful winds that flattened entire neighborhoods, flipped over cars and uprooted trees.
Illinois took the brunt of the fury as the string of unusually powerful late-season tornadoes tore across the state, injuring dozens and even prompting officials at Chicago’s Soldier Field to evacuate the stands and delay the Bears game. “The whole neighborhood’s gone. The wall of my fireplace is all that is left of my house,” said Michael Perdun, speaking by cellphone from the hard-
hit central Illinois town of Washington, where he said his neighborhood was wiped out in a matter of seconds. “I stepped outside and I heard it coming. My daughter was already in the basement, so I ran downstairs and grabbed her, crouched in the laundry room and all of a sudden I could see daylight up the stairway and my house was gone.”
Severe thunderstorms that brought lighting, heavy rain and reports of funnel clouds to McHenry County early Sunday later gave way to downed electrical lines, trees and sporadic power outages. The cleanup effort kept area police, fire and public works departments busy all day, as officials responded to reports of downed trees and power lines strewed across roadways. The powerful storms warped bleachers at McCracken Field in McHenry and knocked out power to the Crystal Lake Walmart and surrounding shops along Route 31, near Rakow Road. Woodstock closed Lake Avenue, Laurel Avenue, Sharon Drive and Country Club Road for multiple hours because of debris. “It’s more utility damage,” said Woodstock Fire Captain Brendan Parker. “We haven’t
“It’s more utility damage. We haven’t gotten any reports of structures damaged. ... It’s the wind taking down the trees, which ended up taking down the power lines.” Brendan Parker Woodstock Fire Captain
See WEATHER, page A6
An elderly man and his sister were killed when a tornado hit their home in the rural southern Illinois community of New Minden, said coroner Mark Styninger. A third person died in Washington, while three others perished in Massac County in the far southern part of the state, said Patti Thompson of Photo by Paula Dudley
See STORM, page A6
Heavy winds produced by Sunday’s severe thunderstorms damaged bleachers at McCracken Field in McHenry.
Jury selection begins for Huntley man accused of 2012 murder Signorile charged with first-degree murder in death of live-in girlfriend By CHELSEA McDOUGALL cmcdougall@shawmedia.com WOODSTOCK – Jury selection will begin Monday for a Huntley man charged in the beating death of his live-in
girlfriend. Robert Signorile, 44, was charged March 26, 2012, with first-degree murder for the death of 52-year-old Michelle C. Mathieu. He is accused of striking her repeatedly,
knowing that such acts created a strong probability of death or bodily harm. Authorities were called to the couple’s home in Sun City Huntley where Mathieu was found in the master bedroom unconscious and face down in vomit. She was taken to Sherman Hospital in Elgin where she died six days later.
LOOKING FORWARD
Robert Signorile, 44, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Michelle C. Mathieu.
Mathieu had fractured ribs and spine, a blown pupil and significant head trauma,
LEE RHODES TO SPEAK AT OPERA HOUSE
FRIDAY: In theaters, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” starring Jennifer Lawrence. Lionsgate
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could have played a role in injuries similar to the ones she sustained. Court records show that Signorile was charged seven months before Mathieu’s death with domestic battery. In that incident he’s said to have punched her repeatedly and dragged her by her hair.
See MURDER TRIAL, page A4
THURSDAY The Creative Living Series with Lee Rhodes will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St., Woodstock. Rhodes will tell her story of fighting cancer and discovering peace. Tickets are $24. For tickets and information, call 815-338-5300 or visit www.woodstockoperahouse.com.
Jennifer Lawrence
Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally said in court documents. Signorile has said that Mathieu was prone to seizures that caused her to lose consciousness and fall. In court documents his attorneys, public defenders Rick Behof and Angelo Mourelatos have said Mathieu had a history of alcohol abuse that
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