Brief news from around the area
Galesburg man sentenced in assault case
GALESBURG — After two years of litigation, a Galesburg man accused of sexual assault of a minor pleaded guilty to the charge Wednesday morning.
According to court documents, Robert L. Walker, 31, was sentenced to 18 years in the Department of Corrections. He had been charged with home invasion and predatory criminal sexual assault of a minor in connection with the Jan. 1, 2013, assault of a girl who was under the age of 13 at the time.
The incident occurred in a McKnight Street residence in the early morning of New Year's Day, police reports state. The victim told officers she had been asleep on the couch in the downstairs area of the house when she was awoken by a male who had climbed on top of her and began choking her before engaging in various sex acts.
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Galesburg woman accused of fraud
GALESBURG — A Galesburg woman accused of writing a series of bad checks last month appeared Wednesday in Knox County Circuit Court with her attorney.
Lindsey K. Goudy, 27, stands accused of six counts of deceptive practice, a felony worth up to three years in prison, in connection with a fraudulent checks written to Hy-Vee, 2030 E. Main St. According to court documents and police reports, Goudy had written at least 20 bad checks in December 2014 for small items at the grocery store and received cash back in sums of $40.
Early estimates put the total amount of the bad checks, many of which were written at the 1975 National Blvd. location and the Hy-Vee gas station, at over $2,300. The six checks Goudy is charged with writing total just over $300.
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East Peoria clinic offers puppy kindergarten
EAST PEORIA — Kindergarten isn’t just for 5-year-olds anymore. Lakeview Veterinary Clinic, 1122 N. Main St., offers puppy kindergarten classes to help with socialization and aggression prevention.
Veterinarian Raymond Ramirez said the clinic began offering puppy kindergarten six years ago after Sherie Brewster, a staff member from the clinic, attended a veterinary conference in Chicago. Ramirez said the best time to teach puppies is before 12 weeks of age.
Puppy kindergarten is a one-hour class every other week at the veterinary clinic. The first two classes are free for clients, and after that, classes are $20 each. Non-clients can also register for $20 per class. Those bringing their puppies to the class must have proof of appropriate vaccinations, a health exam, a monthly flea preventative and the pet owner must have had the puppy for a minimum of 10 days.
Check pekintimes.com for more on this story.
SPORTS
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IHSA’s vote for district football rejected
MACOMB — The Illinois High School Association’s vote for district football, which would have done away with football conferences in favor of a regional district system that groups schools by size and location, was rejected by member schools with a vote of 395-212 earlier this week.
The proposed changes, which would have affected the Monmouth-Roseville football program, would have been for the 2016 football season.
Currently, the M-R football program is part of the West Central Conference. Other football programs in that conference include Macomb, Illini West, Quincy Notre Dame and West Hancock.
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