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Wednesday, August 13, 2014
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ROCK FALLS | ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING UPDATE
First hearing for teen State’s attorney mum on charge being pursued BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521
STERLING – A teenage boy appeared in Whiteside County Court on Tuesday morning for what turned out to be 5-minute hearing related to the March 1 shooting death of his best friend, Matt Anderson.
The brown-haired Rock Falls teen, whom Sauk Valley Media is declining to identify at this time, was accompanied by his parents and his attorney, James Mertes. Judge Bill McNeal was hearing the case, but because of a new motion filed by Mertes seeking a change of judge, McNeal did not address charges against the teen,
BLACK HAWK REPAIR PLAN OK’D What’s the next step for the Ogle County icon? Turn to A3.
and the hearing ended. The boy’s next court hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25. Afterward, Assistant State’s Attorney Carol Linkowski declined to say what charge or charges have been filed because, she said, the teen is being tried as a juvenile. HEARING CONTINUED ON A4
Matt Anderson
HOME FOR VETERAN’S FAMILY TAKING SHAPE IN HARMON
PROPHETSTOWN FIRE
Victims to receive $2,350 Ruling: Restitution payments from boys must start in October BY CHRISTI WARREN cwarren@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5521
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com
ABOVE: Andrew Hayen, 27, of Sterling, works Monday morning to secure roof tresses. Hayen is a member of the crew from S & D Construction in Dixon that volunteered to help build a house on First Street in Harmon for Army veteran Michael Shoemaker and his family. Abiding Word Church in Sterling is funding the build for Shoemaker, who was injured in Afghanistan in 2012. RIGHT: S & D Construction owner Steve Aurand cuts a board to use in securing the roof tresses at the Harmon work site. Construction started last week, and the house currently has exterior walls, interior studs and roof tresses. BELOW: Aurand’s crew works on the house on First Street in Harmon.
STERLING – Two half-brothers who caused the fire that burned down much of downtown Prophetstown last summer were ordered Tuesday to pay $2,350 in restitution. The boys, now 13 and 17, will begin payments in October of $10 a month and $25 a month, respectively, Whiteside County Court Judge Bill McNeal ruled. Of the total, $1,100 will be paid to Dolores Francis, $1,000 to Kenneth and Mary Stegmiller, and $250 to Susan Nelson, all of whom lost property in the blaze. Also Tuesday, Shirley Ott, who lost her business, truck, and apartment in the fire on July 15, 2013, asked for $100,000 in restitution. She estimated that the true financial cost of her loss was about $2 million, although she said she never had anything appraised. When defense attorney Mark Holldorf asked Ott, now of Erie, how much she had paid for the building that housed her business and apartment, she said they cost $35,000 35 years ago, but prices inflate. McNeal decided to delay the matter of her restitution until her insurance company finishes with its payments; she already has received $116,000. The boys’ next court hearing is June 9, 2015.
More inside s 0HOTOS FROM 7HITESIDE County Fair Bull Ride, A2. s 3PONTANEOUS COMBUSTION CAUSED FIRE NEAR $IXON A3. s 0OLO COUNCIL MEMBER resigns, A3. s 36- REPORTER -ATT -ENCARINI BREAKS DOWN $IXON S TO DO LIST FOR IN HIS LATEST $ATELINE Dixon column, A4. s 7HEN DOES THE NEST EMPTY Find out when schools resume classes on A5.
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TODAY’S EDITION: 28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS VOL. 163 ISSUE 73
INDEX
BUSINESS ......... A12 COMICS ...............B4 CROSSWORD....B12
DEAR ABBY ......... A8 LIFESTYLE ........... A8 LOTTERY ............. A2
OBITUARIES ........ A4 OPINION .............. A6 SPORTS ...............B1
Today’s weather High 82. Low 57. More on A3.
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