By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News
Here are the Top Ten news stories from Livingston County in 2015.
The search for 80-year-old Louis Lowery continues, after he was reported missing the morning of December 18. Several agencies from across the state, as well as concerned citizens have conducted air, ground and water searches looking to find Lowery.
Heather Lamie was sentenced to natural life in prison in February. She was convicted of first degree murder in the death of her foster daughter, Kianna Rudesill, last October. Livingston County State’s Attorney Seth Uphoff weighed in on the sentencing.
“It was a just a really tragic case all the way around. There was no good aspect of this case, other than, I believe, the right outcome was reached,” said Uphoff.
David C. Stayton of Streator was charged with the murder of Samuel E. Murphy of rural Long Point in August. This incident began as a domestic situation and escalated into a hostage situation before police were able to get into the house and arrest Stayton.
In November, the small community of Cornell was shaken by the news of the deaths of Wesley E. Thorson and Dawn A. Thorson, in what is being investigated as a murder-suicide.
After months of Zoning Board of Appeals hearings, the county board denied Invenergy’s special use permit for the Pleasant Ridge Wind Farm in July. The vote happened twice, with the first one being a tie and Chairman Marty Fannin admitted to making a mistake on that vote.
“I’ve got to come clean. At least six times, I tried to explain to everybody so they understood what their vote meant when they voted, and last night, I voted no, when I really intended to vote yes,” Fannin said.
During the next meeting, the 24-member board voted again and with a tally of 13-9, the permit was denied.
It was announced earlier in the year that the Basketball Museum of Illinois would make its home in Pontiac’s Vermillion Plaza. In more sports news, September brought with it the news of the Midwest Professional Basketball Association bringing a team to Pontiac. The Pontiac 66ers first season begins in January with an eight game schedule.
More businesses have been added across the county, as well. The groundbreaking for the new Hampton Inn in November joined the long list of businesses that already made their home in the county this year or who are planning on coming in the future.
The Eagle Theatre in downtown Pontiac got a facelift, opening as the Eagle Performing Arts and Conference Center in November. The stage will see the likes of comedians, musicians and Vermillion Players performances and will be a new meeting and conference location for those needing one. Pontiac Mayor Bob Russell has said he hopes to see the building in use every day.
“We’re having a little trouble with some of the scheduling, so we’re going to be really tight on some of that. We believe it will be rented a lot and that’s how it pays for itself,” Russell said.
A film documenting the life of a Pontiac man won an Emmy in November. “The Greatest Honor,” which was about Pontiac’s John Amm and primarily filmed in Pontiac, brought home a second Emmy for director Kane Farabaugh.
