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Man critically injured in attack Wis. authorities charge suspect in Christmas morning incident in Richmond businessman’s home By HANNAH PROKOP hprokop@shawmedia.com RICHMOND – More than $16,000 has been raised for a Richmond businessman who is in critical condition after being attacked Christmas morning. Twin Lakes Police Department Chief Adam Grosz confirmed that Thomas Eppers was the victim of the attack. Twin Lakes police responded about 3 a.m. Friday to Eppers’ residence in the 1100 block of Pebble Beach Court, Twin
Chicago officer in court over shooting
Lakes, Wisconsin, Grosz said. According to the report, officers on arrival found the 58-year-old man with severe injuries to his head. Evidence at the scene indicated an altercation occurred in the residence, Grosz said. Alexander Garcia, 25, was taken into custody over the incident and is being held at the Kenosha County Jail, Grosz said. He said Garcia was living in the residence and was an acquaintance of Eppers. Garcia was charged with
disorderly conduct and aggravated battery-intend bodily harm, according to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department. The incident still is under investigation, Grosz said. Eppers was Thomas initially taken Eppers to Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington and later taken by Flight for
Life to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, Grosz said. According to a GoFundMe page set up to pay for Eppers medical costs, Eppers was placed on life support after suffering “a brain hemorrhage, five shatter-like fractures, a broken jaw, broken ribs, a collapsed lung and multiple scalp wounds.” A message posted on the page by Alyssa Rittorno, Eppers’ niece, said his family includes his wife, Dawn Eppers, four children and three grand-
children. Further updates on Eppers’ can be found on his Caring Bridge page. A post Monday noted he was in critical condition. The most recent post Tuesday morning said he had developed pneumonia and was unresponsive to verbal commands. Leif Anderson, owner of Anderson’s Candy Shop in Richmond and Barrington, is friends with Eppers, who’s an owner of Dowe and Wagner Inc. heating and cooling ser-
vices. Anderson, who now lives in Spring Grove, said he grew up in Richmond with Eppers. “It’s hard to fathom that he would have an enemy in the world, he’s that nice of a guy,” Anderson said. He described Eppers as a “straight shooter” who will speak his mind, and is a gentle, loving soul who always is willing to help others. “If there ever was a guy that deserves helping, Tom is the guy,” Anderson said.
REPORT SHOWS FEWER MEN BEING SCREENED FOR PROSTATE CANCER, FEWER CASES REPORTED
Pleads not guilty to murder charges By CARLA K. JOHNSON The Associated Press CHICAGO – A white Chicago police officer charged with murder in the 2014 fatal shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald pleaded not guilty Tuesday. Jason Van Dyke is “hanging in there” and wants to tell his side of what happened so he’s not seen “as this cold-blooded killer,” defense attorney Dan Herbert said after the court hearing. Herbert added that they haven’t ruled out asking for a change of venue. The case is in Cook County Criminal Court in Chicago, where demonstrators have staged marches protesting the shooting and how it’s been handled. Van Dyke, 37, faces six counts of first-degree murder and one of official misconduct in the death of 17-year-old McDonald. The officer, wearing a dark suit and blue striped tie, appeared in court Tuesday as his lawyer entered the plea on his behalf. Judge Vincent Gaughan set the next hearing for Jan. 29. Cook County prosecutors were not available for comment after the arraignment. Public outcry has been furious since a dashcam video was released last month showing the veteran officer shooting McDonald 16 times. The teenager, armed with a knife, was veering away from officers when Van Dyke opened fire. The footage sparked days of street demonstrations, the forced resignation of Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy and a broad federal civil rights investigation of the police department’s practices and how allegations of officer misconduct are handled. Over the weekend, Chicago police killed two other people, a 55-year-old woman who was shot accidentally and a 19-year-old man police described as “combative” before he was shot. Both were black. Police have not released the race of the officer or officers involved and will not say how many officers fired their
See CHICAGO, page A8
Photos by Sarah Nader – snader@shawmedia.com
Prostate cancer survivor Pete Galayda poses for a portrait Dec. 22 outside his garage in Woodstock. Galayda has been cancer-free for almost five years.
Prostate cancer controversy County health providers recommend consulting with physician before getting tested By HANNAH PROKOP hprokop@shawmedia.com
Prostate cancer survivor Pete Galayda shows a graft of his prostate-specific antigen blood test results Dec. 22 at his home in Woodstock.
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WOODSTOCK – Seventy-fiveyear-old Pete Galayda has a medal on his mantel in his Woodstock home with the number 205 on it. About four years ago, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, went through proton therapy and became the 205th person to graduate from the Procure Center in Warrenville, now called the Northwestern Medicine Chicago Proton Center. Since then, he hasn’t had any signs of cancer. Galayda said he received a prostate-specific antigen blood test at his annual physical, which is how he discovered he had a problem with his prostate. Recommendations, however,
See CONTROVERSY, page A8
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You have to have very clear discussion with patients and make sure that they know very well what are the harms and benefits [of prostate cancer screening]. ... It’s a patient-by-patient thing. Dr. Minhaj Musa, a physician with Centegra Health System
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on when and whether men should be tested for prostate cancer, and whether screening prevents death from prostate cancer, are controversial. Recent studies from The Journal of the American Medical Association showed fewer men are being screened for prostate cancer, and fewer cases are being detected. This, according to the study, coincides with a 2012 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation to omit PSA screening from routine primary care for men. It is not yet clear if these decreases are associated with trends in mortality, the study stated. According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is
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