Belvidere Daily Republican New Features

Hometown Christmas Schedule Dec. 6-7

Dec. 4, 2013

FRIDAY, DEC. 6

Belvidere’s Hometown Christmas, 6-9 p.m., downtown Belvidere

6 p.m. – Belvidere Central and South Middle Schools sing carols

6:15 p.m. – Lighting of the Community Christmas Tree by Mayor Chamberlain at Boone County Historical Museum.

6:30 p.m. – Washington Academy Choir to sing at S. State St. and Logan Ave.

Santa Claus and Children’s Fun Fair with games and prizes at Apollo Activity Center.

Live nativity and complimentary refreshments at Dairy-Ripple.

Salvation Army carolers throughout downtown.

Complimentary horse drawn wagon rides.

522 S. State St. – Belvidere High School Jazz Band “Garbage Can Band”

Fire Station hosts children’s craft project, hot chocolate.

Check for winning Hometown Christmas Button numbers at PNC Bank, popcorn, “Christmas Story” performed by Belvidere Dance Club.

Community Building Complex activities:

Vote for your favorite Christmas tree at the Community Building. Area businesses and organizations decorate trees for voting. Trees and gifts are then given to needy families of the community.

6 p.m. – Belvidere High School Choraliers

6:40 p.m. – Zion Lutheran Church Choir

7:20 p.m. – Belvidere North High School Choir

8:10 p.m. – Rockford French Horn Club

Business Vendors, Arts and Crafts Marketplace on lower level.

Boone County Historical Museum grand re-opening to the public following the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, approximately 6 p.m.

“Thank a Vet for Christmas USO Christmas Party,” 6-9 p.m., 521 S. State St., Belvidere. Live band with 20, 30s, 40s music, complimentary refreshments.

Holiday Lights Display 2013, Belvidere Park, Lincoln Ave. Drive or walk through the holiday lights displayed by local businesses and organizations. See more information at http://www.belviderepark.org or phone 815-547-9557.

SATURDAY, DEC. 7

Hometown Christmas Parade with Santa, through downtown Belvidere. Starts 10 a.m. at Madison and State Streets and proceeds to Community Building, 111 W. 1st St. for the Children’s Christmas Party and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Vote for your favorite Christmas tree at the Community Building. Area businesses and organizations decorate trees for voting. Trees and gifts are then given to needy families of the community.

Hometown Christmas Craft Show and Holiday Sale hosted by Big Thunder Grange, 9a.m.-4 p.m., Grange Hall at Boone County Fairgrounds. For vendor or craft information, call Sharyn 815-765-1145 or email bcfqueenpageant@msn.com. Proceeds used for Big Thunder Grange community service projects.

Boone County Conservation District free Holiday Walk, 6-8 p.m. See how Christmas was celebrated in the past: luminary lit pathway, authentic log cabins, popcorn popped over open fire. Held at Roger Gustafson Nature Center Festival Grounds, 603 Appleton Road, Belvidere.

http://www.stjohnsuccbelvidere.org. Telephone: 815-222-8790

“A Christmas Music Celebration,” free program at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 401 N. Main St., Belvidere, 2 p.m. Refreshments follow program.

Holiday Lights Display 2013, Belvidere Park, Lincoln Ave. Drive or walk through the holiday lights displayed by local businesses and organizations. See more information at http://www.belviderepark.org or phone 815-547-9557.

Suspect turns himself in to BPD

Dec. 4, 2013

By Troy A. Bruzewski

Editor

BELVIDERE – The fourth suspect wanted in connection to a gang-related homicide Saturday, turned himself in to Belvidere Police and faces a first-degree murder charge.

Anthony M. Perez, 19, of Belvidere, is being held on $10,000,000 bond after allegedly being involved with a gang-related shooting, which occurred around 12:25 a.m., Saturday, at the 2100 block of Lakeshore Drive.

BPD responded to the call and found an 18-year-old victim, later identified as Giovanni Galicia of Belvidere, deceased from a gunshot wound and inside a vehicle. He was shot multiple times and police issued a description of a potential getaway vehicle.

Shortly after, Boone County Sheriff’s officers attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle matching the issued description. The vehicle failed to stop and a chase ensued into Winnebago County, where four suspects fled the vehicle and allegedly attempted to elude officers. Three individuals were taken into custody, near Spring Creek and Perryville roads in Rockford. A fourth suspect – believed to be Perez – escaped.

Ricardo Figueroa, 22, of Belvidere and Cheyanne Patton, 20, of Belvidere, were detained. The third suspect was taken to a Rockford hospital where he was listed in stable condition, for injuries not released by police. Figueroa is charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a street gang member and was held on $200,000 bond. Patton was detained on unrelated warrants from Kane and DeKalb counties.

BPD said the investigation is ongoing and has not ruled-out the possibility of additional suspects being sought.

Read the recent News Features of the Belvidere Republican by clicking on the following:  rvpnews | Belvidere Daily Republican

Boone chairman changes committee appointments - Blogs - Rockford Register Star

By Jennifer Wheeler

Some Boone County Board members said they were caught off guard by their committee reassignments.
Officials learned their new committee appointments through an email sent by Chairman Bob Walberg on Thanksgiving Day. He said he typically sends emails out on Fridays but because of other commitments, he delivered the message a day early.
The chairmen of the finance, roads and capital improvements, administrative and legislative, and city-county coordinating committees changed through the appointments, effective Dec. 1.
Walberg said the reassignments were needed because of scheduling conflicts. He added that it helps to have fresh blood on committees and allow newer board members the chance to lead a committee.
County Board members called me, though, saying that they did not know the changes were happening until they received the email

Click on the following to read more and see the assignments:  Boone chairman changes committee appointments - Blogs - Rockford Register Star

Boone County’s delayed wind talks cost stakeholders time, money - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL

By Jennifer Wheeler

….Marshall Newhouse, who previously chaired the county’s Planning, Zoning and Building Committee, said his family has spent 30 to 50 hours a week gathering input from residents. Since July, they have worked with other families to collect more than 1,300 signatures from Boone County residents and property owners who disapprove of Mainstream’s plan and favor larger setback distances.

Since Mainstream began the project in August 2009, the company has spent more than $1 million educating the public on wind energy and land acquisition, Vince Green, development project manager said. He said the level of incivility in Boone County is making it difficult though.

Residents say they have been followed home after meetings. Others refuse to attend in fear of harassment that will come from voicing their opinion…..

Now that the public comment portion of the hearing finished Nov. 26, the ZBA will discuss the zoning text amendment amongst themselves before taking recommendations to the County Board as early as January.
Read more: http://www.rrstar.com/article/20131204/NEWS/131209825?tag=2#ixzz2mXCtcFNC