Mary Schenk

Urbana

Breaking News Reporter at The News-Gazette (Champaign, IL)

None at WDWS-AM (Champaign, IL)

Breaking news reporter for Champaign, Illinois, News-Gazette

Articles

A Life Remembered | Retired St. Mary's pastor recalled as social-justice advocate with many talents

Jan 14, 2024 | news-gazette.com | Mary Schenk

CHAMPAIGN — She only knew him about a year, but it didn’t take long for Father Tom Royer’s caregiver to see what others had always admired about him. “He genuinely saw me for who I really am. I don’t feel like I’ve been seen in years,” said Julie Brouillette of Savoy. “The more I got to know him as a person, the more that I saw the life he lived was genuine. He had a dedication to humanity,” she said, summing up nicely the thoughts of many of Father Royer’s friends.
Probation for man who robbed another of his wallet

Oct 31, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Mary Schenk

URBANA — A Champaign man who robbed a man in Campustown of his wallet about a month ago has been sentenced to three years of probation. Zachary Overman, 30, who has no permanent address, was also ordered to get a substance-abuse evaluation. Overman pleaded guilty before Judge Randy Rosenbaum to robbery, admitting that on Oct. 6, he took the wallet of a 24-year-old man after hitting him in the head in the 500 block of East Green Street in Champaign.
Guilty pleas in two gun cases send man to prison for 14 years

Oct 31, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Mary Schenk

URBANA — An Urbana man who admitted having a machine gun and a pistol on two different dates about a year ago has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. Tarell Pettis, 25, who had no known permanent address when he was arrested, pleaded guilty Monday before Judge Randy Rosenbaum to two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon for a sentence of seven years in prison on each, to be served consecutively. He faced a maximum of 44 years for both. Pettis admitted that on Oct.
Urbana man gets probation for cocaine found in vehicle

Oct 31, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Mary Schenk

URBANA — An Urbana man who admitted he had cocaine in his vehicle in June has been sentenced to two years of probation. Michael E. Finley, 33, whose last known address was in the 1600 block of Ivanhoe Way, pleaded guilty Monday before Judge Randy Rosenbaum to possession of less than 15 grams of the drug. In return, a more serious charge alleging that he intended to sell the cocaine was dismissed by Assistant State’s Attorney Dan Taylor.
Swastika found on tree in south Champaign park

Oct 31, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Mary Schenk

CHAMPAIGN — Champaign police are asking for help in learning who put a swastika on a tree in Mattis Park early Tuesday. A passerby saw the hate symbol on a tree in the park in the 600 block of Devonshire Drive around 7 a.m. and notified police. Lt. Brian Maloney said officers checked the area for any evidence that might help identify the person or people who put it there, then took it off the tree. If you have information about this incident, call Champaign police at 217-351-4545.
Two arrested in Urbana with cache of drugs, gun in vehicle

Oct 31, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Mary Schenk

URBANA — Two people from Rantoul remain in the county jail following their arrest early Monday in Urbana for having drugs and a gun in a car. A release from Urbana police Lt. Mike Cervantes said officers saw Danielle Hoffman, 19, commit an alleged traffic violation at the intersection of University Avenue and Orchard Street in Urbana about 12:10 a.m.A University of Illinois police dog trained in drug detection did an “open-air sniff” and alerted officers to the presence of drugs in the vehicle.
Two arrested in Urbana with cache of drugs, gun in vehicle

Oct 30, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Mary Schenk

URBANA — Two people from Rantoul remain in the county jail following their arrest early Monday in Urbana for having drugs and a gun in a car. A release from Urbana police Lt. Mike Cervantes said officers saw Danielle Hoffman, 19, commit an alleged traffic violation at the intersection of University Avenue and Orchard Street in Urbana about 12:10 a.m.A University of Illinois police dog trained in drug detection did an “open-air sniff” and alerted officers to the presence of drugs in the vehicle.
Probation for man who robbed another of his wallet

Oct 30, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Mary Schenk

URBANA — A Champaign man who robbed a man in Campustown of his wallet about a month ago has been sentenced to three years of probation. Zachary Overman, 30, who has no permanent address, was also ordered to get a substance abuse evaluation. Overman pleaded guilty before Judge Randy Rosenbaum to robbery, admitting that on Oct. 6, he took the wallet of a 24-year-old man after hitting him in the head in the 500 block of East Green Street in Champaign.
Urbana shooting leaves 17-year-old hurt, vehicle, house hit

Oct 30, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Mary Schenk

URBANA — Urbana police are investigating a shooting Friday night that left a young man injured. Lt. Mike Cervantes said police were called about 9:15 p.m. to the area of Florida Avenue and Curtiss Drive, where multiple shots had been fired at a vehicle, hitting it several times. A 17-year-old male was also hit by gunfire as he stood outside the car. Police noted that he had wounds to his jaw and wrist. He was taken by ambulance to Carle Foundation Hospital.
Champaign man sentenced to 15 years in two cases involving guns

Oct 30, 2023 | news-gazette.com | Mary Schenk

URBANA — A Champaign man who was seriously wounded after he shot into a crowd at a pop-up party in Champaign almost a year ago has been sentenced to prison. Martines Gill, 37, for whom no local address was listed in his most recent case, pleaded guilty Monday to aggravated discharge of a firearm in a Nov. 25, 2022, case as well as a separate charge of armed violence for having a gun and drugs at the same time on Feb. 15, 2022.