State Briefs: 11/24/07
Ivory Coast family introduced to Thanksgiving
SPRINGFIELD - Florence Nogues' eyes widened with surprise when she saw the 20-pound
turkey Deborah and John Koua had prepared for their Thanksgiving dinner.
"My wife has never seen a turkey so big," explained Philip Nogues following the meal
at the Kouas' Enos Park home.
The Nogueses and their four children - Diana, 22, Fernand, 16, Gael, 10, and Ariel,
6 - recently immigrated to the United States from their home in Ivory Coast, West
Africa.
Ivorians typically don't eat much turkey, and when they do, it's in small portions.
"It's very rare to see the whole turkey. So, when it came out of the oven, I called
them in to show (them) what it looked like before we started carving," said John
Koua, an Ivory Coast native who has lived in Springfield for 21 years.
The Kouas, who have four children themselves, treated the Nogues family to a
traditional Thanksgiving feast to mark the family's first American holiday.
Philip Nogues said he is thankful for such generosity. Without it, his family
wouldn't be able to make the transition.
The Nogueses, who entered a visa lottery to come to the United States, arrived Oct.
12. They are still awaiting Social Security numbers, green cards and all the other
necessary paperwork to be able to live and work stateside. Without them, no one in
the family can apply for jobs, receive health insurance or get a driver's license.
Philip Nogues, who is nearly fluent in English, said greater educational
opportunities for his children are what led his family to America.
Rollover accident kills Roodhouse man
WHITE HALL - A Roodhouse man was killed Thursday morning during a single-vehicle
rollover accident on Illinois 267 about 1 1/2 miles north of White Hall.
Jeffrey Crum, 47, was pronounced dead at 7:55 a.m. at Boyd Memorial Hospital in
Carrollton.
Illinois State Police said Crum was driving a 2002 Dodge Ram pickup pulling a
trailer south when he veered off the road and hit a concrete culvert.
The truck then went airborne for nearly 90 feet and rolled several times.
An autopsy will take place in Springfield.
Peoria woman on bond faces new charges
PEORIA - A Peoria County judge ordered a Peoria woman held on $1 million
bond on Wednesday after she was allegedly caught with a large amount of
cocaine at her house this week.
Assistant State's Attorney Steve Pattelli sought the high bond, normally
reserved for murder cases, because Michelle R. Ernst was already on bond
for two felony cases, one from Springfield and one from Peoria.
In both cases, she posted a combined $8,000 in cash. But given the
possible sentence in the new case - six to 30 years in prison - Pattelli
argued that a high bond was needed.
On Tuesday, police raided her house, 1539 S. Faraday Ave., and found 140
grams of powder cocaine and $3,700 cash. Pattelli said that amount of
cocaine was worth about $14,000.
Ernst will next appear in court on Dec. 20 for a preliminary hearing,
though it is likely a grand jury will hear the case before then.
Glasford man killed in single-car crash
GLASFORD - An early morning Thanksgiving Day crash claimed the life of a
29-year-old Glasford man.
Michael R. Haynes, 10412 S. Light body Road, was driving south on South
Trivoli Road when he apparently missed a curve in the 6600 block,
causing his Ford Explorer to roll over, Peoria County Coroner Johnna
Ingersoll said. The crash was reported about 2:15 a.m.
Haynes was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt,
the coroner said.
An autopsy is scheduled for today.