Police were out in the 200 block of W Walnut Street with a suspicious person at 6:21 pm. Ronnie K. Turner, 40 of Watseka, was arrested for Theft and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Turner was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

 

Police were out in the 100 block of W Oak Street for a follow-up investigation at 6:07 pm. Ronnie K. Turner, 40 of Watseka, was arrested for Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting Arrest, and Controlled Substance in a Penal Institution. Turner was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

 

 

Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at E. Ash/N. 6th for expired registration at 2:40pm. Arrested was Bobbie J. Smith, 50 of Watseka, for driving on a suspended license and possession of a hypodermic needle. Smith was transported to ICSD Jail without incident.

 

Police were out in the 1500 block of E. Walnut with a possible wanted subject at 3:53pm. Arrested was Timothy Anderson, 36 of Watseka, on an active Iroquois Co. Warrant for failure to appear. Anderson was transported to ICSD Jail without further incident.

 

Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at the West bridge at 12:48am for expired registration. After a brief investigation, the driver, John Benoit 45 of Thawville, failed to comply with lawful orders to identify objects in his hands for officer safety and became aggressive with Police. Benoit was placed in custody and a pre-tow inventory of the vehicle was conducted recovering brass/metal knuckles, drug paraphernalia, and a con rolled substance. Benoit was charged with Resisting, Obstructing an Officer, Unlawful Use of weapon, Possession of Drug Equipment, and Possession of Methamphetamine under 5 Grams. Ben it was transported to ICSD Jail without further incident.

 

Police were out in the 800 block of E. Walnut with a Wanted person at 4:26pm. Arrested was

Randall R. Smith 45 of Watseka on an active Iroquois Co. Warrant. Smith was transported to ICSD Jail without incident.

 

Police were out in the 100 block of N. Madison for a Warrant Check at 11 pm. Arrested was Michael Malone 83 of Watseka, on an active Iroquois Co. Warrant for Driving While License Suspended. Malone was transported to ICSD Jail without incident.

 

On Wednesday, 12/18/2024 at approximately  4:00PM Newton County 9-1-1 Communication Center were notified of a car vs semi crash at the intersection on US 24 and CR 700 W. 

 

Preliminary investigation by Deputy Kaleb Sanders indicates that a northbound Chevrolet Pickup driven by an 86 year-old Kentland male (Edward Eason) disregarded a stop sign at the intersection. Upon entering the intersection he collided with a westbound semi-tractor and trailer driven by a 36 year-old Sharon, TN male (Eric Pace). 

 

Mr. Eason, driver of the pickup, was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. 

 

Mr. Pace, driver of the semi, was uninjured and refused medical treatment on scene.

 

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Newton County 911 Communications, Kentland Police Department, Newton County Prosecutor’s Office, Illinois State Police, Iroquois County Sheriff’s Office, Iroquois County Coroner, Sheldon Fire, Riverside EMS and Village Motors.

 New information has been released about an eastern Kentucky woman accused of human trafficking.

A Morgan County grand jury indicted Elena Sparenberg on charges of conspiracy to human trafficking, solicitation to murder and sexual abuse and distribution of obscene matter.

The West Liberty Police Department says they first found out about Sparenberg after getting an investigation referral from the Kentucky Department of Corrections Internal Affairs about conversations between an inmate and a visitor.

Police: Woman discussed satanic rituals, cannibalism with Ky. inmate

Sparenberg, a former youth counselor from Illinois, was identified as the visitor talking with a Harlan County man who had been in jail for murder and other charges since 2021.

While investigating, police searched Sparenberg’s home in Illinois and took electronic devices.

Police say Sparenberg and the inmate shared images, videos, electronic messages, letters and calls.

 

Their conversations referenced minors and adults regarding sexual abuse, rape, kidnapping, murder, mutilation, torture, satanic rituals, cannibalism, human trafficking, abuse of a corpse, collecting human remains for sexual purposes and more.

Police say the images they found showed minors from a sporting organization. Their coaches and parents were notified, along with others thought to be in danger as future victims.

Sparenberg was extradited from Illinois to Kentucky on a Morgan County warrant this week.

She is being held at the Rowan County Detention Center.

Kankakee Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group recovered eight firearms during a search of a Manteno man’s residence Thursday.

KAMEG agents arrested 29-year-old Kendall L. Dunn, of Manteno following an ongoing investigation and the execution of a search warrant at Dunn’s residence in Manteno, KAMEG said in a press release.

The warrant was executed at approximately 5:30 a.m. Thursday, the press release said.

KAMEG agents were assisted by Illinois State Police SWAT, Kankakee County Sheriff’s office and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau, the press release said.

They recovered four rifles, three handguns and a shotgun along with several hundred rounds of various caliber ammunition. One of the handguns was found to be reported stolen, the press release said.

 

Dunn has been initially charged with eight counts of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon, eight counts of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and child endangerment, the press release said.

Dunn is currently on parole with the Illinois Department of Corrections for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, the press release said.

According to Kankakee County court records, Dunn pleaded guilty in May to one charge of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He was sentenced to one year at 50% (day-for-day).

He was arrested in January and received credit for each day he was in jail, the court records said.

Dunn began his parole July 30, Illinois Department of Corrections records said.

—Iroquois Federal recently announced that the Board of Directors of Iroquois Federal unanimously elected Walter “Chip” Hasselbring, III Chairman of the Board. Mr. Hasselbring succeeds Gary Martin, who reached the age limit established by the Board of Directors in the company bylaws, and retired from his position as Chairman of the Board on November 25, 2024, immediately prior to the Company’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Gary Martin joined the Board in 1985 and was elected Chairman on 1/19/2000. “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Gary for his many contributions and dedication to the Company and Association as Chairman. The Company and the Association have benefited tremendously from his expertise, leadership and integrity,” said Mr. Hasselbring. “I look forward to continuing to work with our highly skilled and dedicated board and management to execute on our strategic priorities.” In accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and to provide effective oversight and independence of the Board, the Board appointed Joseph A. Cowan as Lead Independent Director. Mr. Cowan has served as an independent director of the Company and the Association since 2000. In conjunction with these changes, Mr. Hasselbring resigned from his position as President of Iroquois Federal, and the Board of Directors appointed Thomas J. Chamberlain as President of Iroquois Federal. Mr. Chamberlain was formerly Senior Executive Vice President- Chief Lending Officer. Mr. Hasselbring will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer, overseeing the strategic initiatives of the company, while Mr. Chamberlain will oversee the day-to-day operations and will report to the CEO. Mr. Chamberlain joined the Iroquois Federal team in 2004 to manage the Danville office and oversee growth in commercial lending. He was promoted to Chief Lending Officer in 2010 and managed the lending activities of Iroquois Federal. Following Mr. Chamberlain’s promotion to President, TJ Morris was named Executive Vice President – Chief Lending Officer & Danville Community President. TJ joined Iroquois Federal in 2010 as Vice President- Danville Manager. He later was promoted to Executive Vice PresidentDanville Community President in 2014. Mr. Hasselbring stated, “I want to congratulate Joe, Tom, and TJ on their respective new roles as Lead Independent Director, President, and Chief Lending Officer. Their experience on the Board and with various senior management positions at the Association, respectively, and their knowledge of the communities we serve, make them ideal to serve in these roles.” Iroquois Federal was established in 1883, has more than $893 million in assets and is headquartered in Watseka, Illinois. Iroquois Federal operates 7 full-service offices located in Watseka, Danville, Clifton, Hoopeston, Savoy, Bourbonnais, and Champaign, and a loan production office in Osage Beach, Missouri. In addition to banking services, Iroquois Federal offers a full line of insurance products through IF Insurance and wealth management services through Iroquois Financial. 

On 12/3/2024 at 12:30PM Newton County 9-1-1 Communication Center were notified of a train vs semi vs car crash at the intersection of US 41 and US 24 in Kentland.

 

Preliminary investigation by Corporal Wes Cook indicates that a northbound semi operated by a 36yr old Addison, IL male stopped at the light then proceeded into the intersection. At that time a westbound train then struck the semi and pushed it into a passenger car (operated by a 17yr old female from Chicago) that was in the turn lane waiting to turn. During the crash the semi and passenger car were pulled approximately 60 feet from the intersection.

 

The female driver of the passenger vehicle was flown from the scene to Indianapolis. While the driver of the semi was transported to IMH in Watseka.

 

The roadway remained closed for approximately 7 hours for clean-up of the crash scene.

 

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the investigation by the Newton County 911 Communications, Newton County EMS, Newton County EMA, Kentland Fire, Benton County EMS, Benton County Sheriff’s Department, Kentland Police Department, Newton County Prosecutor’s Office, Indiana State Police, and Village Motors

A Dallas, Texas, man was recently arrested by Iroquois County Sheriff’s Police on charges of criminal sexual abuse and traveling to meet a minor.

According to an Iroquois County Sheriff’s Department news release, 18-year-old Jackson S. Hernandez-Guevara was arrested Nov. 28 at the Watseka Super 8 following an investigation conducted by sheriff’s investigators into the whereabouts of a missing Martinton juvenile.

The previous evening (Nov. 27), the sheriff’s office received a 911 call from a woman reporting that her juvenile daughter was missing, the release said.

 

Deputies learned that the juvenile was last seen by a neighbor getting into a white sedan possibly having Texas license plates, the release said.

On Nov. 28, deputies located a vehicle matching the description in the parking lot of the Watseka Super 8, the release said.

As deputies were trying to make contact with the driver of the vehicle in question inside the motel, Hernandez-Guevara jumped from the second-story window in an attempt to flee the motel, the release said.

He was immediately detained without further incident.

Hernandez-Guevara was transported to Iroquois Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries sustained when jumping from the window.

Back inside the motel, the missing juvenile was also located. She was transported from the scene to Riverside Medical Center for evaluation, the release said.

Following his release from IMH, Hernandez-Guevara was booked into the Iroquois County Jail after it was learned that he allegedly traveled to Illinois from Texas to meet the minor for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct, the release said.

Hernandez-Guevara remains in custody at the Iroquois County Jail awaiting a court appearance.