Seth Richardson grew up in Monmouth with his family and close friends talking about politics. These small-town roots and family ties helped lead him to a job in journalism, covering the political beat for the Reno Gazette-Journal. "I’m really proud to have come from Monmouth," Richardson said. "It gives you a unique perspective. I brag about it all the time. "Politics has always interested me. My parents have always talked [...]
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Monmouth native enjoys reporting on politics in Nevada
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Sons, father arrested in connection with Henderson County thefts
OQUAWKA — Two Lomax men have been arrested in connection with area thefts and a third was charged with obstructing justice.The Henderson County Sheriff's Office said Dalton B. Smith, 24; Preston M. Smith, 20; and Dennis J. Smith, 64, were all recently arrested on charges.Dalton was arrested Wednesday in Lomax by the U.S. Marshals Service on a Henderson County arrest warrant for theft, and also has been charged with possession of meth, possession of drug paraphernalia and [...]
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Galesburg man arrested on Warren County fraud charges
MONMOUTH — A Galesburg man is in the Warren County jail awaiting a court hearing Tuesday.Christopher D. Nickas, 36, Ella Street, was arrested by Galesburg authorities over the weekend on a Warren County failure to appear warrant.That was for not showing up for a Dec. 8 preliminary hearing on a felony count of home repair fraud. Warren County State's Attorney Andrew Doyle said the charge was for allegedly entering into a $600 contract with a woman to do sidewalk and home [...]
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Two arrested in 'big' meth bust after traffic stop
MONMOUTH — Two people have been charged in one of the biggest Warren County meth cases in recent years.Tyler Allbright, 25, Monmouth, and Rebecca Bridges, 29, Alexis, were charged with Class X felony production of meth and made appearances Thursday morning in Warren County Circuit Court.Both are charged with Class X felony participation in meth production more than 900 grams and Class X felony possession of meth more than 900 grams. Warren County State's Attorney Andrew Doyle [...]
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Vaupel, Baber appointed to bench
GALESBURG — Anthony Vaupel has taken the bench again in Knox County.Vaupel and James Baber were appointed as associate judges in the Ninth Judicial Circuit earlier this week. Vaupel of Galesburg had served as a circuit judge for more than a year, but that expired after the November election wins of now Circuit Judges Raymond Cavanaugh and Heidi Benson.Both of [...]
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Warren County CASA volunteers trained, assigned for 2017
MONMOUTH — Court Appointed Special Advocates has officially begun to operate in Warren County. Jeff Durbin has been hired as Warren County court liaison and volunteer organizer.Audie Durand, Pat Patnode, Susan VanArsdale and Tia Walters are the newest members of the CASA volunteer work force. They completed a training course in December and were sworn-in by Judge Jim Standard. Each volunteer has been assigned a case for 2017.The CASA volunteer's job is to build a relationship [...]
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West Central teacher arrested for solicitation of a child
MONMOUTH — A West Central teacher was arrested on charges of indecent solicitation of child earlier this week.Andrew J. Eeten, 30, North 3rd 2NW, was arrested by Monmouth police officers Wednesday at his home on two felony counts of indecent solicitation of a child. His bail was set at $20,000, and he posted the $2,000 bond at the Warren County jail "immediately" after being booked, according to a news release from the Warren County State's Attorney's office.Eeten is a Spanish [...]
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Trio arrested on drug charges
OQUAWKA — Two search warrants in Henderson County led to the seizure of more than 60 grams of crystal meth and a kilogram of cocaine from homes late last week.The following individuals were arrested: Brianna B. Sullivan, 32, Oquawka; Donny J. Blakley, 40, Oquawka; and Austin T. Adolph, 31, Gladstone.Henderson County State's Attorney Colby Hathaway said Adolph is charged with Class X felony possession with the intent to deliver cocaine 900 grams or more, Class X felony [...]
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Biggsville man arrested for sex with teen
OQUAWKA — A Biggsville man is in the Henderson County jail on a sexual assault charge.Zachary Harms, 26, was arrested on one felony count of criminal sexual assault Wednesday morning by the Henderson County Sheriff's Department.Harms is alleged to have had sexual contact with a 16-year-old female, a news release from Henderson County said.Henderson County State's Attorney Colby Hathaway said bail for Harms was set Wednesday at $100,000, $10,000 needed to get out of jail. [...]
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Judge denies lower bail
GALESBURG — A Knox County judge denied a request for bail reduction so a Galesburg man could seek drug treatment this week.Daryl H. Vandenbloomer Jr., 43, East Main Street and formerly of Abingdon, sought lower bail so he could seek treatment at White Oaks in Peoria.Circuit Judge Scott Shipplett denied the motion, citing the Class X felony meth charges Vandenbloomer faces in Knox and Warren counties, which carry mandatory consecutive sentences because he was out on bond from [...]
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Galesburg men plead guilty, sentenced to drug court
GALESBURG — Two Galesburg men entered Knox County Drug Court Thursday.Jeffrey A. Jones, 26, South West Street, pleaded guilty to felony possession of meth between 15 and 100 grams. That charge was amended down from Class X felony possession between 100 and 400 grams.That charge stemmed from an October arrest of Jones by Galesburg authorities after they discovered he was [...]
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Galesburg man indicted on federal drug charges
ROCK ISLAND — A federal indictment against a Galesburg man was unsealed Thursday in two local meth cases.Daryl H. Vandenbloomer Jr., 43, East Main Street and formerly of Abingdon, was arrested April 20 on three federal meth charges.According to online federal court records, Vandenbloomer was indicted by a federal grand jury in Rock Island last week on three charges related to meth cases in Warren and Knox counties late last year.Those charges are conspiracy to distribute [...]
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Kirkwood truck driver charged with sexual assault
MONMOUTH — A Kirkwood man was recently charged with four counts of Class X felony aggravated criminal sexual assault.Ronald E. Mullen, 52, East Apple Street in Kirkwood, was charged May 15. The charges specify that the male victim in the case is a "severely or profoundly intellectually disabled person."The charges, if convicted, carry a prison sentence of between six and 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.Mullen posted $10,000 bond May 17 and is [...]
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Alexis woman seeks drug treatment
MONMOUTH — An Alexis woman was recently sent to a drug treatment facility while her cases head to a possible September trial.Rebecca J. Bridges, 29, of South Alexander Street in Alexis, picked up a new case in May on charges of felony financial exploitation of an elderly person, three counts of felony forgery and felony theft.The financial exploitation charge was for allegedly cashing checks of another in excess of $7,000; the three counts of forgery are all related to checks; [...]
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2 local men charged with criminal drug conspiracy
MONMOUTH — Two local men made court appearances this week on cocaine delivery charges.John M. Waugh, 29, Lake Warren Drive in Monmouth and also of West South Street in Galesburg, and Corey A. Bellinger, 29, Lake Warren Drive but also of 135th Street in Joy, were in Warren County Circuit Court Tuesday morning for their first appearances on cocaine charges.The two are charged with varying delivery of cocaine offenses, but the most serious is one count of Class X felony criminal [...]
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Monmouth man arrested in stabbing
MONMOUTH — The victim of a stabbing early Wednesday on the 400 block on North I Street was flown to Peoria for surgery. The alleged perpetrator was taken into police custody.Police responded to the 400 block of North I Street about 1 a.m. Wednesday after the victim, whose name is not being released at this time, managed to escape the residence and alert a neighbor, who called police.Police Chief Joe Switzer said the altercation occurred during a dispute over a female, but did [...]
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Police name victim in Monmouth stabbing
MONMOUTH — Monmouth police have identified the victim of a stabbing that occurred early Wednesday morning as Braxton Reese, 36, Monmouth.The stabbing happened about 1 a.m. Wednesday in the 400 block of North I Street. Reece was flown to Peoria for surgery after a neighbor called the police. Boubacar Mangane, 34, was arrested at the scene for aggravated battery.This is an ongoing investigation.
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Bail reduced for Monmouth man charged with attempted murder
MONMOUTH — A preliminary hearing was set Tuesday morning for a Monmouth man charged with attempted murder in a stabbing last week.Boubacar Mangane, 34, Monmouth, is charged with Class X felony attempted murder and felony aggravated battery for stabbing Braxton Reese, 36, also of Monmouth.A Class X felony, if convicted, carries a sentence of between six years and 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.Reese's injuries at the time of the incident, which [...]
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Police distribute sketch of Roseville robbery suspect
MONMOUTH — A sketch of the suspect involved in the armed robbery of Citizens National Bank on Monday in Roseville was produced by an Illinois State Police sketch artist based on witness information.The suspect is described as a white male, approximately 35 to 45 years old, 5-feet-3-inches to 5-feet-8-inches tall with sandy/blond hair and a sandy/blond mustache and/or facial hair.At the time of the robbery, the suspect was further described as wearing a tri-colored coat [...]
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Hockenberry pleads guilty to deceptive practice
ALEDO — A local businessman took a plea deal in Mercer County Court Tuesday morning.Mark E. Hockenberry, 44, Seaton, pleaded guilty to one count of felony deceptive practice involving fraudulent checks during a pretrial hearing in Aledo on Tuesday morning. Hockenberry, the owner of HTO, a business in Monmouth involving the extraction of oil from hedge balls, will be on non-reporting probation [...]
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