Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 2-3

3 SSWCHICAGO TRIBUNE METRO SECTION2 A 41-year-old man serving a 100-year sentence in state prison for the 2004 sexual assault of a Lincoln Park woman was convicted this week of another sex attack that occurred nine years ago, officials said Thursday afternoon. It took a jury 40 minutes Wednesday to find Mario Villa, who has been dubbed the Side guilty of two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault for the July 1999 attack on a 16-year-old girl, according to Tandra Simonton, a spokeswoman for the Cook County office. Villa entered the home in the 1300 block of North Dean Street in the Wicker Park neighborhood and sexually assaulted her at gunpoint, according to Simonton. Villa was convicted of three counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault and one count of home invasion and sentenced in March to 100 years in prison for the 2004 attack on a 23-year-old woman in the 2000 block of North Cleveland Avenue in Chicago. has four other sexual assault cases pending against scheduled to be sentenced July 30 before Circuit Judge Dennis Porter.

Prisoner convicted of 1999 sex attack COOK COUNTY Illinois anglers face new restrictions after state officials confirmed the presence of a potent virus in fish caught near Winthrop Harbor late last month. Samples of rock bass and round gobies pulled from Lake Michigan on June 25 were infected with viral hemorrhagic septicemia, an aquatic disease that has swept through the Great Lakesin the last three years. Fish that carry the virus can hemorrhage from their skin and gills and eventually bleed to death. The virus, also known as VHS, does not threaten human health but could be devastating to the $4 billion commercial and sport- fishing industry in the lakes. Scientists are concerned that the virus could spread even deeper into the United States if infected fish make it into the Chicago River system, which links the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River.

In attempt to slow the spread of the disease, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources imposed new rules this week that require anglers to clean out their boats when moving between bodies of water and to empty all bait buckets, live wells and bilges. Also, wild bait fishmust be used only in the waters where they were caught. Spread of fish virus brings tighter rules ILLINOIS A Chicago man drowned in a Michigan lake Wednesday after falling out of a canoe, Allegan County authorities said. Daniel C. Johnson, 31, was canoeing with friends in a weedy of Ox-Bow Lake, near Grand Rapids, when he fell into the water and was unable to climb back into the canoe, according to the Allegan County office.

Emergency marine personnel pulled Johnson out of the water, but they were unable to revive him, officials said. Authorities said the people he was with briefly looked for him before calling 911. Johnson had been participating in a summer camp at the Ox- Bow school of art, authorities said. Chicago man drowns after fall from canoe MICHIGAN State officials Thursday auctioned off the Collinsville Holiday Inn, part of a controversial loan deal from the 1980s that ultimately cost taxpayers millions. St.

Louis-based Lodging Hospitality Management, the highest of six bidders, bought the hotel for $5.3 million, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias said. The state, he said, has collected $5.1 million in profits and other revenue since taking over the hotel. Combined with the sale, the state should realize $10.4 million, he said. That still puts the state in a losing position, however. The sale brought to a close a quarter-century saga in which a $13.4 million state-backed loan to Downstate investors B.C.

Gitcho and Gary under former Gov. Jim mushroomed into a total debt of more than $32 million. State unloads hotel after losing millions COLLINSVILLE By David Mendell TRIBUNE REPORTER Suburban streets will be clogged Friday with candidates for Congress right down to county offices, all seeking support on one of the busiest campaign days. But while the saying goes that everyone loves a parade, for politicians it is more like a relationship. Former Gov.

George Ryan finally admitted hated parades after his political career began to ebb amid a corruption scandal. Current Gov. Rod Blagojevich historically has relished the chance to press the flesh, although he makes public appearances less frequently now that he faces his own political scandals. Which pols choose to march down Main Street on July 4, the most storied of patriotic holidays, reveals something about their popularity (or lack thereof), their resources, and, perhaps most of all, their desire to win. Some candidates will dash from town to town, courting voters at as many as nine parades.

In the hotly contested 10th Congressional District, Republican Rep. Mark Kirk and Democratic challenger Dan Seals are in a virtual arms race to see who can hit more parades along the North Shore and northwest suburbs. you add it up, 21 miles of Kirk said. good political will and probably see 10 percent of my district Seals said he expect much wrath from paradegoers. While he said he loves meeting potential constituents, he also admits the day is grueling.

great exercise, but be taking Seals said. are generally very nice. They might give you a round of applause. They might say, you get our troops out of that In the southwest suburban 11th Congressional District, Republican Martin Ozinga III and Democratic state Sen. Debbie Halvorson will march in Mokena and Beecher.

Some candidates revel in the parade atmosphere, while others would be more comfortable giving a policy speech to an editorial board. Blagojevich, for example, is known for his parade skills. In his 2002 campaign, Blagojevich would half-jokingly tell reporters that is where the men are separated from the as he switched from dress shoes to running sneakers. As the parade day wore on and his aides began to drag, Blagojevich would seem to gain energy from shaking countless hands, cradling babies and signing autographs. Even Ryan, who once said he never quite got people like to sit along a curb all day and watch fire- trucks go by and waited until already decided to step off the political stage before dumping on parades.

In Barack 2004 U.S. Senate contest, it was a St. Day Parade in which the Obama phenomenon first was visually apparent. A year earlier, Obama was struggling to gain traction and his contingent was dead last in the marching order. But just days from the 2004 primary election, Obama found himself leading the traditionally Irish parade route, marching just steps from the parade king, Mayor Richard Daley, as the crowd chanted Parading pols a July 4 tradition Routes often a part of road to elelction In Lake Bluff, patriotic pugs are popular with paradegoers.

PAGE 5 By Dennis Sullivan SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE State Sen. Debbie Halvorson(D- Crete) sought Thursday to capitalize on the hot-button issue of Silver Cross move out of Joliet by backing a plan to turn the building into a veterans medical center. Her Republican opponent, businessman Martin Ozinga III, dismissed push as a and offered a more cautious approach. The clash is the latest in what has already been a contentious cam- paign for the southwest suburban 11th Congressional District seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Jerry Weller.

The contest is being targeted nationally by Democrats, a point that was underscored by the presence of U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) at news conference. Hoyer, the second-highest ranking Democrat in the House, pledged his support on the veterans care issue. Earlier this week, a state panel approved Silver plans to move from its 294-bed facility on east side to a new hospital in New Lenox in a few years.

Vietnam veteran Jim Canup has led the arguably uphill battle to convert Silver Cross into a veterans hospital, con- tending that the more than 100,000 veterans living south of Hines VA Hospital near Maywood travel too far and wait too long once they get there for care. Speaking at a Joliet American Legion post, Halvorson said the Silver Cross location offers an economical alternative to building a new veterans hospital in the south suburbs. buildings can be used to create a larger facility with more rehabilitation services and in-patient she said. Halvorson also said she is writing a letter seeking the support of Tammy Duckworth, director of the state Department of Affairs. campaign sent Republi- can state Sen.

Gary Dahl of Granville to blast Halvorson as a on veterans issues. Dahl criticized Halvorson, part of Senate Democratic leadership until recently, for failing to block legislation that took veterans home funds for other state purposes. Gov. Rod Blagojevich routinely has swept special funds to balance his budget. Campaign spokesman Andy Sere said Ozinga would consider reusing Silver Cross as a veterans facility if a need can be proven and if Silver Cross supports the reuse.

Silver Cross told state officials this week that they would try to get a federally backed primary care center for the poor at the Joliet site when the hospital moves. Tribune photo by Zbigniew Bzdak Veteran John Tipton applauds Thursday as state Sen. Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) introduces U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) at a news conference in Joliet.

Halvorson is backing a plan to repackage Silver Cross Joliet site as a VA medical center after Silver Cross moves to New Lenox. Vet hospital eyed for Silver Cross site State lawmaker pushes for use of Joliet facility By Alicia Fabbre SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE Seven Will County men have been charged with murder and mob action in a gang fight that led to the fatal shooting of a Joliet father walking with his two boys in April, authorities said Thursday. None of the men is accused of firing the shot that killed Alfredo Lopez, 40, a bystander, but they have been charged under legal precedents that allow prosecutors to allege they were responsible because they were involved in the altercation, Will County Atty. James Glasgow said Thursday at a news conference. putting the gangs on Glasgow said.

a gang fight and someone dies, we will relentlessly pursue everyone on the streets and in the matter who pulled the Reyes Velazquez, 19, and Miguel Garcia, 18, both of Joliet, were each charged with one count of felony mob action, one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm and three counts of first-degree murder. The other Ornelas, 20, Jose Aguirre, 20, Sergio Garcia, 20, and Erik Perez, 20, all of Joliet, and Fabian Vargas, 19, of each charged with one count of felony mob action and one count of first-degree murder. Velazquez and Miguel Garcia are members of one gang while the others are in a rival gang, Glasgow said. All seven are being held in the Will County Jail in lieu of bail amounts ranging from $1 million to $5 million. Accused of firing the gunshot is Daniel Huizar, 18, of Joliet, who was arrested and indicted on first- degree murder charges a few days after the April 16 shooting.

He remains in Will County Jail awaiting trial. The shooting stemmed from an altercation near Cass and Collins Streets between Huizar and people who taunted him in the parking lot of a nearby sandwich shop where he worked, police have said. Witnesses told police Huizar came out of the restaurant at about 7 p.m. and fired several rounds at those who were outside taunting him, authorities said. Huizar missed, fatally striking Lopez, who was on the other side of the group, escorting his 11-and 8-year-old sons across a drugstore parking lot, authorities said.

sons fled into the drugstore. is a tragedy that we can never Glasgow said. ripple effects will be forever felt by the 7 held in alleged gang fight that left Joliet dad dead By Erika Slife TRIBUNE REPORTER The children of a missing Plainfield woman will be reunited with her family under an interim settlement agreement reached Thursday in Will County Court. been nearly eight months since anyone in Lisa family has seen her children, ages 11 and 13. The relationship between their father, Craig Stebic, and their family has been strained since police named him a of in her April 30, 2007, disappearance.

In November, parents, Lawrence and Judith Ruttenberg, and her grandparents, Milton and Charlotte Ruttenberg, filed a petition for visitation rights. But as the lawsuit headed toward trial, the legal battle threatened to turn nasty, with court documents filed by the Ruttenbergs alleging Craig Stebic had a history of abusive behavior and was an unfit parent. However, neither side was interested in airing accusations in court, their attorneys said. parties have reached an interim agreement to reconnect the kids with the said Timothy Daw, the attorney. everyone hopes that it will go well with the kids and family members.

all agreed to stand Initially, Craig Stebic had said his family could visit the children under his supervision, an offer the Ruttenbergs had shunned. They had sought a court-appointed counselor to meet with them and the children. Details of the settlement were not released Thursday, and Judge Robert Brumund had the settlement terms impounded for the and of the children. But the attorneys for both sides said they were satisfied with the arrangements. is never a good said Craig attorney, Dion Davi.

Stebic will let family visit children Interim deal satisfies attorneys for both sides Lisa Stebic has been missing since April 30, 2007. Police call her husband, Craig, a of Product: CTMETRO PubDate: 07-04-2008 Zone: SSW Edition: SS2 Page: METROP3-3 User: rhochgesang Time: Color:.