New board member for Carl Sandburg College
A long-time educator has joined the Carl Sandburg College Board of Trustees.
Jeff Whitsitt was sworn in during the board’s December meeting. He replaces Bruce Lauerman, who stepped down in November after more than three decades on the board.
Whitsitt is superintendent of United School District 304 in rural Monmouth, though he will retire at the end of the school year. He has held that position since the district was formed by consolidation in 2004.
On the Sandburg board, Whitsitt will fill the remainder of Lauerman’s term, which expires in 2027.
SCC basketball player accused of firing gunshots
A member of the Southeastern Community College women’s basketball team is accused of firing gunshots in Fort Madison early Sunday morning.
Police took Angel Maes into custody that night after executing a search warrant at the Blackhawk Tower residence hall in West Burlington.
Officers said they recovered ammunition and spent cartridges from Maes’ room and car.
They did not find a firearm.
No one was injured in the shooting.
The school has placed Maes on temporary academic suspension.
Trial set in Galesburg stabbing
A trial date has been set for a Galesburg man charged with attempted murder.
Jeremiah Bradfield, 38m is accused of stabbing a man multiple times at a video gaming lounge and tobacco store on North Henderson Street in September.
The trial is set to begin Jan. 22.
Lovato pretrial continued again
Dylan Lovato, 24, has yet to go to trial in a McDonough County murder case from nearly two years ago. But a judge is pushing to move the case along.
Lovato appeared in court via Zoom on Tuesday, Jan. 9 for a pretrial hearing – the 13th pretrial hearing in the case – and defense attorney Andrew Stuckart asked for another continuance.
Judge Heidi Benson granted it, but she also directed Stuckart to work with prosecutors on what needs to be done to bring the case to trial this spring.
Lovato is accused in the March, 2022 shooting death of Ivan Almanza.
He has pleaded not guilty.
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