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Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Man charged In Bureau County Court Man allegedly failed to report an accident involving a death By Eric Engel eengel@bcrnews.com
PRINCETON — Family members of the deceased Jaquelin Martinez-Maldonado filled the Bureau County courtroom Tuesday, Jan. 19, for a preliminary hearing involving Jose L. Torres, 20, of Oglesby. Torres was charged with failure to report an accident involving death, a Class 1 felony, after allegedly striking Martinez-Maldonado, a 19-year-old Mendota native, with a
vehicle while at a party in Leepertown Township on Aug. 30, resulting in her death. Torres exited a Bureau County Sheriff’s vehicle and was escorted into the courthouse holding his orange jacket over his face Tuesday afternoon. He sat motionless until Judge C.J. Hollerich asked him to approach the bench. About 40 to 50 family members sat quietly on the left side of the pews, some of them wearing shirts in memory of Martinez-Maldonado.
According to a Bureau County Sheriff’s Office press release, Torres was arrested on Tuesday, Jan. 12, by the Oglesby Police Department and charged with concealing collateral, a Class 3 felony. He was being held in the LaSalle County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Allegations surfaced that Torres was the driver of the vehicle that struck Martinez-Maldonado and three other individuals in the early morning hours of Aug. 30, at a party outside of Bureau.
Torres presented himself to Hollerich without counsel Tuesday and acknowledged he understood what he was being charged with. A warrant was issued in the amount of $300,000. The possible penalty for a Class 1 felony is four to 15 years in prison if found guilty, a two-year mandatory supervised release period where he could be BCR photo/Eric Engel released back into the Jose L. Torres, 20, of Oglesby is led by officers into the Bureau community, and a maxi- County Courthouse Tuesday, Jan. 19. Torres has been mum fine of $25,000. charged with failure to report an accident resulting in death, a
Charged Page 3
Class 1 felony, in relation to an accident that took the life of a Mendota teenager last August.
Cleaning up after yourself
The thrill of victory
Hennepin Village Board discusses how to improve their community By Eric Engel eengel@bcrnews.com
PCR photo/Dave Cook
he PCHS gymnasium was a full house on Saturday, Jan. 23, as local competitors from the Special Olympics gathered T to test their skills. Winners from Saturday’s contests will advance to the state championship on March 12. See more photos on Page 2.
HENNEPIN — The Hennepin Village Board met Wednesday, Jan. 20, to discuss what to do with village property in disrepair and other issues pertinent to the safety of the town. Village President Kevin Coleman spoke about putting a threeto five-year plan together that would aim at fixing up the streets in Hennepin that need maintenance, as it would be much easier to approach the subject with a plan in place. He also talked about setting up a location where residents could bring their yard waste and sticks no longer than 3 feet. From Aug. 27 to Dec. 10 of 2015, almost 100 loads were picked up from neighborhood
yards, stressing the village manpower, so a trail camera would be placed at the location, so the village board could see who is dropping off their brush and enforce fines on any unsatisfactory activity. Property maintenance officer Josh Randall discussed putting speed signs in town that could indicate the volume and speed of traffic on different streets. The trustees moved ahead with the signs, which can be relocated on fixed posts around town and help reduce speeding. Also at the meeting: • The fireworks budget was approved at $15,400. • Trustee Andrew Brouwer said he’s searching for a new
Improve Page 3
The Top 10 percent
PC School Board recognizes state scholars GRANVILLE — The Putnam County School Board recognized its best and brightest during their monthly meeting on Jan. 19. The Illinois State Scholar Program acknowledges Illinois high school students for outstanding academic achievement. Putnam Vol. 148 No. 22 One Section - 20 Pages
© The Putnam County Record
County proudly announced that four PC students have ranked in the Top 10 percent of the state’s graduating high school seniors. Selection is based on ACT and/or SAT scores and individual class rank at the end of the junior year of high school. While the program doesn’t bestow a monetary award, this honor will be an esteemed addition to the applications, resumes and scholarships of Lauren Bauer, Olivia Lindstrom, Noah Quinones and Madison Zellmer. “On behalf of the board of education and all of us at
Putnam County School District No. 535, we congratulate these students and their parents. We know that the great support from the parents of these fine students has a huge impact on how they do at school,” said Superintendent Jay McCracken. McCracken presented the mid-year budget report which shows the district is on track financially, having spent 47 percent of the budget. The state, however, which is approaching it’s seventh month without an approved budget, still owes the district a total of $247,556 for the Early Child-
hood Education, Illinois School Lunch Program, transportation and special education funds. Tentative dates for graduation were announced. The junior high graduation is scheduled for May 19, and the high school graduation is scheduled for May 20. Changes are being made to the high school parking lot after an accident. Yield and speed limit signs will be installed; reflective tape will be added to a light post; and the parking spacPCR photo/Dave Cook es around that post will Madison Zellmer (left) and Olivia Lindstrom are Illinois removed to enhance visi- State Scholars at Putnam County High School. Absent bility in the area. from photo are Lauren Bauer and Noah Quinones.