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Man pleads guilty to misdemeanor for starting Marshall Island fire
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Kenneth P. Verkruysse, 89, of Cordova, pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property for setting fire to Marshall Island, and was ordered to forfeit the flare gun he apparently used to start the blaze. He was also sentenced, by Judge F. Michael Meersman, to serve 18 months of court supervision and pay $500 in restitution, court records indicated. A felony count of arson was dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Mr. Verkruysse was charged in Rock Island County Circuit Court after using a flare gun Dec. 14 to set fire to prairie grass on the island, located on the Mississippi River near the south end of Cordova. The blaze was extinguished by area fire departments and no one was injured, but the fire caused at least $300 worth of damage, including nearly burning down a duck blind belonging to the island's owner. The prairie grass is home to a number of wildlife fowl, including upland game birds, pheasants and quail, said Sgt. Laura Petreikis, of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 
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Today is Saturday, May 25, the 145th day of 2013. There are 220 days left in the year.
1863 -- 150 years ago: The annual review of the fire department of this city took placeyesterday and made a fine showing with machines and hose carts in tip-top order.
1888 -- 125 years ago: Last night's prayer meeting at Central Presbyterian Church wascalled off due to water in the basement, residue of last week's flood.
1913 -- 100 years ago: The junior class of Rock Island High School will hold a riverexcursion on the steamer St. Paul next Tuesday.
1938 -- 75 years ago: The 75th Anniversary of the Rock Island Arsenal today finds thenation's largest ordinance manufacturing plant filling many important orders for the army.
1963 -- 50 years ago: Miss Patrice Daly, Rock Island, a senior at Rock Island HighSchool, won second place in the recent state public speaking contest held in Peoria underthe auspices of the Knights of Pythias.
1988 -- 25 years ago: Hampton's sesquicentennial committee and the Hampton HistoricalSociety have scheduled a full slate of activities, which will be held throughout the year, to celebrate the village's 150th birthday. The first celebration will be the Memorial Dayprogram at 10 a.m. May 30, at the Brettun and Black Store Museum on River Road. Therewill be a sesquicentennial display.
(More History)