12 minute read
Craft Show returns to AETA red barn
GLIMPSES OF THE PAST - FULTON
2012: Fulton Fire Depar tment celebrates 125th anniversar y
60 Years Oct. 31, 1962
Fulton’s $300,000 sewage disposal plant is now in operation. The feeder lines into the new plant were cut over the past week, diverting the flow of sewage from outlets into the Mississippi at 18th and 13th avenues into the new plant, located near 18th Avenue west of Fourth Street.
Jean Borgman submitted his resignation as a member of the Board of Education of the Garden Plain Community Consolidated School at the October meeting. His letter stated he was resigning because his working hours would not permit him to attend board m e e t i n g s . R o b e r t W i e b e n g a w a s appointed by board members to fill the unexpired term of Borgman.
50 Years Nov. 1, 1972
Steve Heun, Don Housenga, Carol Bielema and Bob Holesinger prepared the stage for the Thespian production of “The Eager Miss Beaver.”
T w o 4 0 - p a s s e n g e r b u s e s w e r e destroyed when flames roared through a large storage building at the Marvin Wiersema home two miles east of Morrison. Wiersema, who runs a charter bus service, is well known to the Fulton area. In addition to the buses, equipment was destroyed.
40 Years Nov. 3, 1982
Fulton residents will pay an average of $1.50 more a month for sewer service beginning Jan. 1 if the City Council adopts an ordinance at the December meeting providing for the increase. The proposed rate increase was offered by Alderman Lyle Barnhart, who has made an exhaustive study of the city’s financial status and visited half a dozen other cities to learn how they are managing water and sewer services.
Stanley Bielema of Fulton and Tom Kelly of Clinton, Iowa, announced the purchase of the Bielema Oil Company by the Kelly Oil Company, effective Oct. 1, 1982. The Bielema Oil Company name and offices in Fulton and Morrison will continue as in the past and the same employees will continue to serve.
30 Years Oct. 28, 1992
Lockhart & Law Insurance of Fulton has been honored by Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa’s Million Dollar Club for achievement in writing crop hail insurance in 1992. Lockhart & Law Insurance once again was recognized for attaining more than a million dollars in production and had their name inscribed on the company’s permanent Million Dollar Club plaque.
Mayor Kenneth VenHuizen signed a resolution that may help stop the state of Illinois from imposing mandates on l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t s w i t h o u t b e i ng funded. Voters have a chance to vote on the issue. VenHuizen is asking all Fulton citizens to support and vote for the resolution.
20 Years Oct. 30, 2002
The Fulton Steamers, boasting a 7-2 record, will begin the Illinois High School Association state championship playoffs this week. Their opponent will be Pearl City, a coop program with Eastland. They have a 6-3 record and an impressive offensive attack resulting in some high scores during the season.
Four seniors from Unity Christian –Jon Chacko, Brian Bosma, Sean Fullan and Alex Hoekstra – visited with Paula, a resident of The Alverno in Clinton. T h e y s e r e n a d e d h e r w i t h “ H a p p y Birthday” and “You are my Sunshine.” Paula was surprised and pleased with the songs and the carnations each boy gave her.
10 Years Oct. 31, 2012
The River Bend Senior Center now has a portable defibrillator thanks to donations from Jon and Vicki Lockhart and Joan Wiebenga. Karen Abbott, center coordinator, accepted the donations. Staff and senior center members have been trained on how to use the machine.
F u lt on F i r e P r o t e c t i o n D i s t r i ct T r u s t e e s D a l e S i k k e m a , D e l b e r t Housenga, Donald Loftus, Larry Houzenga and Bruce Christiansen, office manager Patti Nicholaysen and other members invited the community to join them in celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Fulton Fire Department.
PROPERTY TRANSFERS
Whiteside County Warranty deeds
Kim A. Johnson to Joshua P. Oberg, 3351 Sand Road, Erie, $190,500.
Marian Betty Smith, also Bette, to Jeanie Crowe, 702 Seventh Ave., Erie, $32,599.
Robert S. and Diana L. Vanriet to Larry A. Garlough and Lorene H. Richter, 511 E. High St., Unit A1, Morrison, $47,000.
Scott G. and R. Ranae Rickels to Joshua D. Huizenga, 1110 Eighth Ave., Fulton, $95,100.
David C. and Jessica L. Teal to Robert D. Halverson, 710 17th Ave., Fulton, $43,000.
Jimmy Hoffman, also James, to Living Moments LLC, 602 E. Ninth St. Sterling, $100,000.
Jeffrey L. and Jill L. Nyenhuis to Jordan D. and Kimberly V. Teats Garrison, 613 12th St., Erie, $52,000.
A Fine Solutions to Darrin L. and Leslie L. Miller, 25460 Deer Run, Sterling (formerly House’s Truck & Auto Repair), $600,000.
Ralph D. Neiderhiser Trust, John T. Empen, trustee, to James M. and Stacey L. Collachia, 408 21st Ave., Fulton, $75,000.
Harold L. and Laura Thielman, Michelle I. Leedham, Tanya J. Dziubla and Rachel R. Gareski to Rhonda L. Houzenga, 15609 Penrose Road, Morrison, $70,000.
Daniel McKenzie to Evan T. Young, 20832 White Oaks Road, Morrison, $194,450.
Quit claim deeds
Steven W. Woods to Steven W. Woods and Mildred Woods, 1312 Seventh Ave., Fulton, $0.
Trustees deeds
Matthew K. Cord Trust to Ashton Hutton, one parcel on Harvey Road, Albany, $500.
Executors deeds
Brenda Stuart Estate to Mark Swift, 15380 Waller Road, Fulton, $105,000.
Deeds
Donna M. Radake, Whiteside County clerk to Trust No. 2215428010, Whiteside County, trustee, 300 N. Washington St., Tampico, $0.
Source: Whiteside County Recorder’s Office
GENESEO
Country Thy me Craft Show Nov. 12-13
By SARAH FORD For Shaw Media
The 32nd annual Country Thyme Craft Show will be back at the Antique Engine & Tractor Association red barn in rural Geneseo from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13.
Support local artists by purchasing handcrafted items and gifts, especially for the holiday season.
Organizer June Cole said a variety of handmade items will be for sale such as greeting cards, wreaths, florals, fabric items, woodworking art, crocheted items, ceramics, soaps, cupcakes, spice blends, dog treats, sterling silver jewelry and more. “Come do some early shopping for Christmas and have a good time,” she said.
The free show will feature 26 local crafters from Hillsdale, Port Byron, Erie, Geneseo and the Quad Cities, all set up with their wares in the red barn. Tickets for Moore Memorial Library’s annual Christmas Basket raffle will be on sale at $1 each or 6 for $5. Food also will be available for purchase.
T h e A E T A s h o w g r o u n d s a re located at 13451 Highway 92, Geneseo, with signs posted along the way and plenty of free parking.
Sarah Ford for Shaw Media June Cole of Hillsdale gets ready for the annual Country Thyme Craft Show, set for Nov. 12-13 at the AETA red barn.
CRIME AND COURTS
Morrison man gets almost 22 years in 2019 double shooting
By KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@shawmedia.com
On the eve of his trial for attempted murder, a Morrison man who shot two people in 2019 pleaded guilty Friday to a lesser charge and was sentenced to 21 years, 9 months in prison.
Jeramie M. House, 27, was sentenced on each of two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, which will be served concurrently. He must serve 85% of the sentence – more than 18 years – before being eligible for parole.
After that term is up, he must serve three more years on an Oct. 19 charge of aggravated battery of a peace officer for punching a jail worker in the head, Circuit Court Judge Trish Senneff ruled.
Two counts of attempted murder, two of aggravated battery with a firearm, two of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of possession of a gun while his F O I D c a r d w a s revoked, as well as two more counts of aggravated battery of a peace officer –o n e f ro m O c t . 1 9 and one from a 2020 case – were dismissed as part of his plea agreement.
House also was given credit for the three years he’s served in Whiteside County jail since his arrest on Oct. 23, 2019.
His trial was set to begin Monday in Whiteside County court.
On Oct 22, 2019, House was in the back seat of a car that pulled up to the curb at 507 W. Main St. shortly before 8:30 p.m.
According to investigators, frontseat passenger Jodie M. Knight called an 18-year-old man to let him know she was there.
The man came out of the house and w a l k e d t o w a r d t h e c a r . A s h e approached, House shot him in the head, abdomen and leg, critically injuring him.
A then-24-year-old woman who was behind him was struck twice in the leg.
The 18-year-old told police that he and Knight had agreed to hang out that night.
Another woman, Courtney Queckborner, was driving the car, investigators said.
Both women cooperated by going to police, reporting what had happened, and leading investigators to the gun that was used, while also telling them House had fled to his parents’ home in rural Morrison. He was arrested there without incident.
Still, Knight, 21, a Chadwick native now of Clinton, Iowa, and, Queckborner, 22, of Milledgeville, are by law considered to be “legally accountable” f o r H o u s e ’ s a c t i o ns . T h e y w e r e charged Oct. 7 with the same charges as he was, minus the FOID violation.
Each faces six to 30 years in prison, with a possible 20-year enhancement, for attempted murder, and if convicted of any of the charges, must serve 85% of the sentence.
Each is free on a $100,000 recognizance bond. Queckborner has a prel i mi n a r y h e a r i ng o n N o v . 1 4 a n d Knight on Nov. 21.
State’s Attorney Terry Costello was the prosecutor. House was represented by Sterling criminal defense attorneys James Mertes and Cristina Buskohl.
Jeramie M. House
Morrison man shot by Illinois State Police taken off life support, dies
By KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@shawmedia.com
MORRISON – The 48-year-old gunman shot early Oct. 21 by Illinois State Police is dead.
Aaron M. Linke was declared brain dead Oct. 22 and remained on life support until Oct. 25, the ISP said in a news release.
Linke, who has a history of felony weapons and drug charges in Whiteside County dating 20 years, was shot early Oct. 21 as the Blackhawk Area Task Force was serving a search warrant at his home in the 600 block of North Cherry Street, according to the ISP and court records.
The coroner’s office would not confirm a time and date of death, referring further questions to the ISP.
According to the ISP, Linke was accused of dealing meth and possession of contraband in a penal institute. The details of the case have not been made public.
Linke was free on bond in three pending Whiteside County cases.
On Sept. 29, 2017, he was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a weapon by a felon and possession of meth.
On March 13, 2019, he was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and violating his bond.
On April 29, 2019, he was charged with six counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a controlled substance and possession of meth.
He was set for a status hearing in all three cases Nov. 30.
Linke was arrested March 12, 2019, and was in Whiteside County jail until Feb. 25, 2021, when his bail was reduced from $250,000 to $150,000. He posted $15,000 and was released with a GPS monitor, jail records show.
According to an ISP news release:
As they entered his home Friday, officers heard gunfire and encountered an armed Linke. An unnamed ISP officer shot him, and a further search of the home turned up a woman with a gunshot wound.
Both were taken to an unnamed hospital or hospitals for treatment.
The unnamed officer “is a fouryear, highly trained SWAT member,” and officers serving the warrant were wearing cameras, the release said.
The Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation is investigating.
“This investigation is open and ongoing. Upon completion of the investigation, all evidence and facts will be submitted for review to the Whiteside County State’s Attorney’s Office,” the ISP said Oct. 24.
“To fulfill our commitment to integr i t y a n d t r a n s pa r e n c y , a d d i t i o n al information, including the video, will be made public, when possible, with the advice and concurrence of the state’s attorney.
“No additional information is available at this time,” the release said.
On May 7, 2004, Linke was sentenced in Whiteside County to eight years for dealing cocaine in 2002. Two other counts were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
In February 2009, when he gave police a Peoria address, a Whiteside County jury found him not guilty of a g g r a v a t e d b a t t e r y o f a p r e g n a n t woman and battery causing great bodily harm.
Your Vote is Your Voice VOTE NOVEMBER 8TH
Representative - 17th Congressional District: Eric Sorenson
Sheriff: John F. Booker
County Board - District 1:
Joan Padilla
James C. Duffy Fidencio Hooper-
Campos
Alex Regalado Thomas L. Ausman Christine Romesburg Ernest Smith Owen Hanell Sean M. Bond
County Board - District 2:
Glenn C. Truesdell Katherine A. Nelson
Karen Nelson
Shawn Dowd Paul J. Cunniff George P. Kelly Cody Dornes
County Board - District 3:
Sue Britt Daniel L. Bitler
PUBLIC SAFETY TAX PROPOSITION: To pay for public safety purposes, shall Whiteside County be authorized to impose an increase on its share of local sales taxes by 1%? (This would mean that a consumer would pay an additional $1 in sales tax for every $100 of tangible personal property bought at retail.)
