State Briefs 3/7/08
Rockford airport officials say third Chicago airport wouldn't hurt business ROCKFORD - State officials are talking again about building an airport in Chicago's south suburbs, but Rockford airport officials say it won't have an impact on growth at Chicago Rockford International Airport.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration submitted an updated layout plan Friday for the proposed "third major airport" for Chicago to the Federal Aviation Administration. The site is in Peotone in Will County.
"There is a broad consensus in favor of building a third major airport to serve the transportation needs of the area, and now we have a layout plan that we can move forward with," Blagojevich said in a press release.
Mike Dunn, chairman of the Greater Rockford Airport Authority, said he still doubts that the Peotone airport will be built, but even if it is, it won't hurt Rockford's growth because the two airports would serve different markets.
While Peotone discussions have dragged on in recent years, the Rockford airport has pulled in millions of dollars from the FAA.
The Illinois Department of Transportation is asking the FAA to perform an Airspace Feasibility Study to determine how the runway layout at the Peotone site would affect the nation's overall air traffic system. While the layout is under review, IDOT will prepare an environmental-impact statement and continue land acquisition for the new airport.
To date, IDOT has acquired 1,940 acres and 69 parcels of land of the 133 that are needed.
IDOT's submission to the FAA can be viewed at www.dot.il.gov/aero. Additional project information is available at the official project Web site, southsuburbanairport.com. Rockford Register Star
Poet Laureate to speak at Carl Sandburg commencement
GALESBURG, Ill. - Illinois Poet Laureate Kevin Stein will speak at this year's commencement at Carl Sandburg College - which was named after one of his predecessors.
The college's namesake, Galesburg native Carl Sandburg, was Illinois Poet Laureate from 1962 to 1967. Stein will continue a tradition of literary commencement speakers at the college. Past speakers at Carl Sandburg College have included Carl Sandburg's daughter Helga Sandburg, who is also a poet, in 2006, and Knox College English professor and poet Robin Metz last year.
In addition to being the fourth Illinois Poet Laureate, Stein is the author of several poetry collections, two poetry anthologies, two scholarly books as well as many poems and essays. He is a professor and director of the creative writing program at Bradley University in Peoria, where he has received the Samuel Rothberg Award for Professional Excellence.
Galesburg Register-Mail
Parents plead not guilty in baby son's death
PEORIA - A Peoria couple who allegedly starved their 5-month-old child to death last month pleaded not guilty Thursday during a very brief hearing.
Tracy Hermann, 21, and James Sargent, 23, appeared individually before Chief Peoria County Circuit Judge Stuart Borden. They didn't say much, nodding to acknowledge the judge. Hermann folded up the indictment after she was handed a copy by her attorney.
Borden appointed the Public Defender's office to represent the pair.
The couple are accused of forcing the infant, Benjamin Sargent, to go without food or water for eight days while leaving him in a car seat. The baby was left in a snowsuit for the entire time.
A May 12 trial date was set.
Peoria County State's Attorney Kevin Lyons has not decided whether he will seek the death penalty. State law allows a capital charge if the accused is older than 17 and the victim is younger than 12.
The couple faces 20 to 100 years in prison if convicted because prosecutors allege their actions were "brutal and heinous . . . indicative of wanton cruelty,"
Journal Star, Peoria
Diocese denies forcing identification of plaintiff
PEORIA - Catholic Diocese of Peoria officials said they took no part in a priest's effort to force a plaintiff in a sexual misconduct lawsuit to identify himself.
Representatives of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests castigated Monsignor Norman Goodman Wednesay for requesting that Richard Jones, who claims Goodman abused him, be identified in court records.
SNAP also said the Diocese of Peoria should have compelled Goodman not to take such an action.
In a fax sent to the Journal Star on Thursday, diocesan chancellor and attorney Patricia Gibson said the diocese has no authority over Goodman in the matter.
"The Diocese of Peoria did not take part in any way in the court motion asking that one of Goodman's accusers disclose his identity in the court records," Gibson said in the statement. "Norman Goodman, through his own legal counsel and acting solely on his own behalf, requested such action."
Gibson also pointed out that Bishop Daniel Jenky has "removed Norman Goodman from any public ministry."
"Norman Goodman is a removed priest and is no longer under the authority or jurisdiction of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria," Gibson said. "Goodman made such requests on his own accord and through his own legal counsel. Bishop Jenky has no ability to instruct Goodman on his own personal defense in regard to these matters."
Journal Star, Peoria
Soldier among 'Most Wanted'
OTTAWA - The "America's Most Wanted" television show will air a segment Saturday on accused child rapist Justin R. Sparlin.
Ottawa police said Sparlin has been on the run since Feb. 7, when he was charged him with predatory criminal sexual assault of a child under the age of 13.
Sparlin, 28, was on leave as an Army specialist when the alleged assault occurred.
Police said they froze his bank account after an Ottawa woman reported the crime.
"We believe he had a large amount of money to use for traveling expenses," said Ottawa Detective Sgt. Dave Gualandri. "He traveled from the Chicago O'Hare airport to Frankfurt, Germany, and from there he traveled to Rome, Italy."
Police now believe Sparlin is in Greece.
Gualandri said Sparlin called him Saturday to discuss the case. He said he would e-mail police an explanation of "the whole story," but the department hasn't received any such communication yet.
Sparlin also contacted a family member a few weeks ago through an online instant messaging service, and the family member notified police, Gualandri said.
"We made arrangements for detectives to pose as the family member with the purpose of identifying his location," said Gualandri. "He responded, but his exact location wasn't revealed."
Sparlin served two tours in Iraq as an infantryman. Ottawa police have been working with the FBI and Army officials at his base at Fort Hood, Texas, in the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Detective Division at (815) 433-2131.
Journal Star, Peoria
Burglars mocked after making off with $35
MARION -- A Tuesday night burglary at Hot Heads salon in Marion netted little in cash and more in humor from salon owner LaShelle Williams.
By Wednesday morning, passers-by read the break-in details on the business sign: "They took $35 and a broken cash register. Wow wee!"
"If they get caught, they'll go to jail for vandalism, breaking and entering for $35," Williams said.
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A broken window on the main entrance - likely smashed by either of two bricks laying near the entry - tipped off Williams something was awry this morning. She also was amused the invaders hadn't tried to use a shovel leaning beside the salon as the break-in tool.
Inside, a trail of strewn receipts, a couple of unplugged extension cords and the missing cash register were the extent of the damage.
Marion Daily Republican