The Watseka Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the location for the business after hours on Wednesday, September 6th, 2023, from 5:00pm-7:00pm, hosted by the Watseka Masonic Lodge they are located at 2125 E. 1730 N. Road Watseka.

All Chamber members, their employees, and guests or any business or organization who would like to learn more about the Chamber or becoming a member are invited to come socialize and enjoy refreshments along with a 50/50 drawing.

The September Business of the Month will be selected, bring as many of your co-workers to greater your chances you must be present to be eligible.

On 08/28/2023 at approximately 5:44 AM the Newton County Dispatch Center received a 911 call regarding a vehicle crash involving a passenger car and moped on State Road 16 near County Road 300 East.

Police, fire and medical personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene.  Upon their arrival, deputies found a male subject unresponsive in the roadway.  Despite life-saving efforts, the male was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

Preliminary investigation shows that the male (63 year old, Rensselaer address) was driving a moped eastbound on State Road 16 when he was struck from behind by another eastbound vehicle.  The man was ejected from the moped and came to rest in the westbound lane.  The female driver of the other vehicle involved stated that she did not see the moped in front of her in the dark. A witness told officers on scene that the moped’s lights were very dim.  State Road 16 was closed temporarily while officers processed the scene.  All names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Assisting Agencies:  Newton County Communications, Newton County EMS, Brook Fire and the Newton County Coroner’s Office.

On Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at approximately 11:35 a.m., KAMEG Agents, assisted by the Bradley Police Department and Kankakee City Police Department, arrested 32-year-old Michael R. Bielecki of Bradley, IL, following a search warrant at his residence, 1217 E. Broadway St., Bradley. The search warrant execution resulted in the seizure of 2 handguns, 1 rifle and 1 shotgun, approximately 226.4 grams of suspected cocaine, approximately 400 grams of suspected cannabis, multiple rounds of various caliber ammunition and magazines, drug paraphernalia, United States Currency and two vehicles.  

Bielecki has been initially charged with the following: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (100-500 grams) and Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver (30-500 grams).  

On Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at approximately 6:06 a.m., KAMEG Agents, assisted by Illinois State Police SWAT, Illinois State Police Troop 5, the Kankakee City Police Department and the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 54-year-old Gary M. Mitchell, and 51-year-old Jane A. Clark, both of Kankakee, IL, following a search warrant at their residence, 1946 S. Sandbar Rd., Kankakee. The search warrant execution resulted in the seizure of ten firearms (handguns, shotguns and rifles), approximately 4,100 grams of suspected cannabis, 12 cannabis plants, approximately 6 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 1000+ rounds of various caliber ammunition, United States Currency, two vehicles, a motorcycle, a boat, two trailers and a skid steer. 

Mitchell, who is a convicted felon, has been initially charged with the following: Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon by Felon, Unlawful Use of a Weapon-No FOID, Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver, Unlawful Production of Cannabis Plants (5-20 plants), Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and No FOID.  

Clark has been initially charged with the following: Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon – No FOID, Unlawful Production of Cannabis Plants (5-20 plants), Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver, and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance.

KAMEG reminds the public to call KAMEG at (815) 933-1710 to report non-emergency information about drug dealing, illegal firearms and gang problems.  We recognize our partnership with the public is important for quality of life issues for our citizens and children.   

KAMEG is comprised of personnel from the Illinois State Police, Bradley Police Department, Bourbonnais Police ‎Department, ‎ Kankakee Police Department, Kankakee ‎County Sheriff’s ‎Office, and the Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s ‎Office.

On August 16th, 2023, Iroquois County Sheriff’s Police arrested Deitrick D. Baines, age 41, of Martintion. According to police reports, Baines was wanted on outstanding warrants from Kankakee and Vermilion Counties for driving while license revoked. Baines was aware of hls warrant and turned himself into the Iroquois County Jail where he posted the required bond and was released.

On August 18, Iroquois County Sheriffs Police arrested Ashley Kinney, 39, of Gilman, According to police reports, Deputies located Kinney in the 800 block of Hwy 24 West. Deputies knew Kinney to have an outstanding Iroquois County warrant for Failure to Appear on an original charge of driving while Registration is Suspended. Kinney was transported to the Iroquois County Jail where she later posted the required bond and was released.

On August 18, Iroquois County Sheriffs Police arrested Bobbie Perez, 36, of Watseka. According to police reports, Deputies were called to the area of2200 E. and Twp Rd 165 for the report of a female subject trespassing on private property. Deputies arrived on scene and made contact with Perez. Deputies knew Perez had been previously trespassed warned from the property. Deputies placed Perez into custody for Criminal Trespass to Real Property. Perez was transported to the Iroquois County Jail where she later posted the required bond and was released.

On August 21, Iroquois County Sheriffs’ Police arrested Deitrick Baines, 4 l, of Martinton. According to police reports, Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Baines for Offenses Relating to Titles and Registration. Deputies knew Baines to have a

revoked Illinois driver’s license. Baines was taken into custody for Driving While License Revoked. Baines was taken to

the Iroquois County Jail where he later posted the required bond and was released.

A Milford man was killed in a single-vehicle accident Aug. 18 near Milford.

According to Iroquois County Sheriff’s Police reports, Tyler Fanning, 24, was killed in the accident at 1:11 a.m. Aug. 18 on 1050 N near 2540 E in rural Milford.

According to police reports, Fanning was driving a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and was eastbound on 1050 N near 2540 E when for unknown reasons the vehicle left the roadway.

The vehicle entered the south ditch and traveled for approximately 242 feet before striking a field entrance. Fanning’s vehicle became airborne and traveled approximately 41 feet before striking the ditch a second time causing the vehicle to roll. The vehicle came to rest on its side near a culvert. Fanning was extricated from the vehicle by Milford Fire and Milford EMS. Riverside EMS arrived on scene and pronounced Fanning deceased.

The accident remains under investigation by Iroquois County Sheriff’s Police.

– An Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) death investigation resulted in the arrest of 44-year-old Scott E. Peterson from Kankakee for First Degree Murder (Class M Felony).

On August 17, 2023, Watseka Police Department (WPD) requested ISP DCI Zone 5 to investigate a double homicide that occurred in the 300 block of West North Street. WPD responded to the area for a shot’s fired call and located two deceased victims in a residence. The victims are identified as 42-year-old Amanda Peterson and 38-year-old Joseph Robinson.  A 21-year-old male was also located with gunshot wounds and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. WPD took Peterson into custody immediately following the incident.

Peterson is being held in the Iroquois County Jail where he will be charged with First Degree Murder (2 counts each victim) and bond will be set.

No further information will be released at this time.

During the warrant sweep, the following individuals were arrested:

Ramiro Luna, age 21, of Kankakee, IL, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County Warrant for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance (Psilocybin).

Ernest Brookshaw, age 43, of Kankakee, IL, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County Warrant for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance. 

Randolph Douglas, age 29, of Kankakee, IL, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County Warrant for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

Mario Rivers, age 39, of Kankakee, IL, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County Warrant for three counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

Malik Staples, age 42, of Kankakee, IL, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County Warrant for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Upon arrest, Staples was found in possession of less than one gram of suspected heroin/fentanyl, resulting an in additional charge of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Bringing Controlled Substance into Penal Institution. 

Ronald Cox, age 61, of Kankakee, IL, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County Warrant for two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

Pierre Washington, age 30, of Kankakee, IL was arrested on a valid Kankakee County Warrant for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

Nelson Williams Sr., age 56, of Kankakee, IL, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County warrant for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

Michael W. Crawford, age 65, of Kankakee, IL, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County warrant for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

Shelana K. Woods, age 41, of Kankakee, IL, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County warrant for Disorderly Conduct and an Illinois Department of Corrections warrant.

Tubbie L. Gordon Jr, age 53, of Kankakee, IL, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County warrant for traffic offenses.

Henry L. Allen, age 43, of Kankakee, IL, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County warrant for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Upon his arrest, Allen was found in possession of approximately 27 grams of suspected cocaine, resulting in an additional charge of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver.

Dennis Brown, age 39, of Pembroke Township, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County warrants for Aggravated DUI, Aggravated Battery, Resisting, Endangering a Child and Criminal Damage to Property.

Sarah M. Ward, age 32, of Pembroke Township, was arrested on a valid Newton County, Indiana, warrant for Fugitive of Justice and Possession of a Syringe.

Elijah Marquez, age 26, of Kankakee, was arrested for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

Christopher Thompson, age 47, of Kankakee, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County warrant for 2 counts of Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

Derron Washington, age 48, of Kankakee, was arrested on a valid Kankakee County warrant for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance.

All subjects were transported to and detained at the Jerome Combs Detention Center (Kankakee County).

KAMEG reminds the public to call KAMEG at (815) 933-1710 to report non-emergency information about drug dealing and gang problems.  We recognize our partnership with the public is important for quality of life issues for our citizens and children.