Judge killed when bicycle hit by truck
A current 8th District circuit court judge and former Schuyler County state’s attorney died after being hit by a truck while riding his bicycle.
Illinois State Police said Ramon Escapa, 42, of Rushville was hit from behind while bicycling near Frederick on June 19. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police identified the truck driver as Charlie Coffey, 73, of Rushville.
Coffey declined medical treatment. He is charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Bids over budget for WIU Center for Performing Arts
The Illinois Capitol Development Board opened bids for the project last month. They all came in over budget.
But WIU interim provost Billy Clow said Western wasn’t alone. He told WIU’s Board of Trustees every bid opened that day for projects across the state was over budget.
Clow said the capitol development board is now reviewing budgets. He’s waiting to hear what’s next.
Western has been hoping for decades to build a Center for Performing Arts. It’s been waiting for the state to come through with the funding. The projected price has gone up as the years have gone by.
West Burlington pool shooting suspect in custody
A suspect in a shooting at the West Burlington municipal pool on June 14 is now in custody.
Terence Gordon, 28, is charged with attempted murder, going armed with intent, and willful injury. He was arrested in Cedar Rapids.
The victim was shot in the face and neck and remains in stable condition.
Attempted murder charges in stabbing incident
Knox County State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin has filed attempted murder charges in the stabbing of a Galesburg woman.
Dakota Taylor, 28, was arrested for stabbing the woman in the face with scissors. He also reportedly was striking and kicking the woman during the incident.
A passerby intervened and threatened Taylor with a hammer until he dropped the scissors and law enforcement arrived on the scene.
Bond was set at $750,000.
Men drown in Knox County pond
Two men drowned while fishing in a rural Knox County pond.
Steven Dennison, 73, of Altona and Keith Dennison, 67 of Galva were pronounced dead on Saturday at a privately owned pond near Altona, according to the Knox County Sheriff’s Department.
The men were brothers.
The incident remains under investigation, but preliminary autopsy results do not indicate foul play.
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