Somonauk News

Firefighters at several stations throughout the county don't want to change any light bulbs during the next five weeks.

Somonauk assistant baseball coach Tim Humes' battle with liver cancer ended on Friday morning.

First-graders at James R. Wood Elementary School in Somonauk just wrapped up a unit on insects.

As part of their American National Government studies, six Illinois Valley Community College students presented a Constitution Day "Death Penalty Debate" Wednesday in which they argued the pros and cons of the ultimate punishment controversy.

More La Salle County patrol cars out on the street, better technology for officers and perhaps charging some jail prisoners for their stay are part of the campaign platform for Rodney Hampton, the Somonauk police officer who is the Democratic candidate for La Salle County sheriff.

Feb. 25, 1983: Jeanine Nicarico 10, is kidnapped from her Naperville home. She was raped and beaten and found dead two days later near the Illinois Prairie Path.

Valley West Community Hospital recently visited the students at James R. Wood Elementary School in Somonauk to educate them on the importance of proper hand washing.

Brian Dugan was sentenced to death today for the 1983 murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico.

My heartfelt “thank you” to all in Somonauk Meadows, Woodgate and the outlying areas for your generous donations for the Sycamore Food Pantry on Oct.

Topic: The need for high schools hosting student-taught preschools. What happened? Streator soon will join two other local high schools in hosting a student-taught preschool.

Most local high schools fell short of standardized test scores under the state's interpretation of the federal No Child Left Behind legislation - some fell far short.

The LaMoille/Ohio Lady Lion co-op's 2009 campaign came to a close Thursday night in Somonauk as they fell 25-23, 25-21 to Indian Creek in 1A volleyball regional action.

Somonauk High School physical education teachers Curt Alsvig and Sara Gunderson completed two fitness certification courses through Aerobics and Fitness Association of America.

Although state test scores edged up slightly this year, local high schools were a little more touch-and-go. The Illinois State Board of Education made the yearly report cards public today, showing which schools were faltering and which were making progress on the students' test scores.

Anthony Bernico, 17, of Sandwich High School, washes dishes within the kitchen at the Best Western Timber Creek Inn & Suites in Sandwich on Tuesday October 20, 2009.

As they sat on her porch, Denise Poquette Benson recalls, her boyfriend was reading a newspaper article about the 1983 murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico of Naperville.

Originally published June 18, 1985. The body of a young girl, whom the FBI tentatively has identified as that of 7-year-old Melissa Ackerman of Somonauk, was found Monday night in a rural area near Route 34, about five miles east of Mendota.

The last time Opal Horton saw Melissa Ackerman, her best friend was pounding frantically on a window of the rusty blue car from which Horton herself had just escaped.

Police from several jurisdictions worked with civilian volunteers this morning to conduct a ground and air search in the Somonauk area for a kidnapped, 7-year-old Somonauk girl.

In the prosecution's eyes, Brian Dugan has had enough chances. In fact, those chances probably should have run out in the late 1970s before he ever got the chance to kill.