Pulse: Terrace trial grueling from the beginning
September 30, 2012 7:52PM
Actor Bill Murray is seen during a fundraiser for State Sen. Pat McGuire's campaign at the Joliet Country Club Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, at 1009 Spencer Rd. in Joliet. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: November 2, 2012 6:06AM
The Evergreen Terrace trial began last week in federal court and is expected to last weeks. But can it be as grueling as the pretrial depositions?
Former Joliet City Manager John Mezera was in a deposition for three days with Evergreen Terrace attorneys.
City Attorney Jeff Plyman, who also was questioned in deposition, said 40 or more city employees were brought in to depositions. It was typical for a single employee to be in deposition for a day, Plyman said, but Mezera was there the longest.
The city wants to condemn Evergreen Terrace and take it over.
Overheard
Will County Board member Kathleen Konicki, R-Homer Glen, attended every day of the Drew Peterson trial. And when it was over, she wrote a letter to Chief Judge Gerald Kinney complaining about comments she overheard Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow make in the hallway outside the courtroom.
They allegedly came after Ohio restaurateur Jeff Ruby was kicked out of the courtroom and arrested for mouthing an obscenity at the former Bolingbrook cop.
Konicki said she heard Glasgow say the following:
“I don’t like all the things they’re saying against Stacy Peterson, when she’s not here to defend herself, to explain what she meant. And I don’t care they (sic) say, I respect that restaurant guy from Ohio (Jeff Ruby) who came all the way out here. At least he stands up for what he believes in.”
Konicki said she was upset about the comments Glasgow made defending Ruby because Glasgow is an officer of the court. Glasgow spokesman Chuck Pelkie said Konicki’s “nonsensical” letter contains several factual errors, and he said Glasgow doesn’t remember making the comment.
Bipartisan Brent
Pulse was wondering if former Republican state Rep. Brent Hassert got any flak from his GOP friends for attending a golf outing fundraiser for state Sen. Pat McGuire, D-Joliet, a week ago that featured celebrity guest and McGuire friend Bill Murray. But Hassert said he had received only a few text messages of inquiry.
“In my new life, I’ve been very much of an independent,” Hassert said.
While Hassert said he’s always been friendly with local Democrats that he collaborated with in Springfield, it’s even more important now that he’s a lobbyist for Will County.
“In my new career, I’m a bi-partisan guy,” he said.
How do we say it?
Murray asked about variants when former state Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi was introducted as McGuire’s “fellow Joliettan.”
“Not Jolietian? Two ‘t’s,” Murray wanted to confirm.
Bob Okon, Jon Seidel, Cindy Wojdyla Cain and Brian Stanley contributed to Pulse.
