On Wednesday, Carus LLC in La Salle reported a material spill that occurred during the removal of a third-party vendor’s bin at its manufacturing plant. The company promptly addressed the incident and assured the public through a social media post that immediate action was taken to clean up the spill, emphasizing that there was no environmental impact. Lyndsay Bliss, the Vice President of Human Resources at Carus LLC, specified that the spill involved a non-hazardous dilute sodium permanganate byproduct from one of their manufacturing processes. Carus also notified the city of La Salle, although city officials noted on Wednesday that they did not respond as the spill was contained within Carus’ property.
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The City of Peru has successfully repaired the water main break located at 12th Street and Westclox Avenue. In response, a boil order has been mandated for residents and businesses situated south of Shooting Park Road and Walnut Street, extending to the east end of the city. Further information regarding the lifting of the boil order will be provided in a subsequent update. For those encountering rusty water, it is advised to allow your water to run until it becomes clear.
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The Streator City Council took a significant step forward on Wednesday in the efforts to repair the Kelly Street bridge. Approving a $130,000 agreement with Chamlin and Associates for bridge design work, the council paved the way for the next stages of the project. City Engineer Jeremy Palm informed the council that once the city completes all design and permitting work, La Salle County is set to provide the estimated $1 million construction cost through federal funds. Palm projected that, if everything goes according to schedule, bridge construction would commence in spring 2025. The bridge over Prairie Creek closed over five years ago due to erosion of the concrete supporting the steel piles on the south abutment, rendering them unable to consistently bear the weight. Presently, the bridge remains closed to vehicle traffic with barriers in place, allowing only pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
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Two Peru business owners received a trial date on Wednesday for allegedly selling marijuana out of their CBD wellness store illegally. Owners of Outer Limitz, 38-year-old Richard Policky, and 37-year-old Andrew Martinez, will appear for their bench trial on March 5, 2024. Trident agents obtained a search warrant for the business and arrested the pair following the search in October 2022. There were five pounds of weed and items to manufacture the drugs found on the premises, according to the agents. Policky faces one felony charge while Martinez faces two.
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The National Weather Services is offering a weather spotter training course at Illinois Valley Community College in February. This free course will teach participants about severe weather and safety measures to prepare for during storms. The first class will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. No pre-registration is required.
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A Sycamore man accused of reproducing videos of child sexual abuse pleaded not guilty. Sixty-nine-year-old Richard C. Milam appeared in court on Wednesday and asked Circuit Court Judge Marcy Buick for a jury trial and release from DeKalb County Jail while awaiting trial. Police filed charges against Milam on Nov. 17 after using a search warrant to investigate Milam’s home. A laptop with videos depicting child sexual abuse was allegedly found in Milam’s home by police during the search. Milam faces three felony counts of visual reproduction of child pornography depicting videos and images of child sexual abuse. If convicted, Milam faces two to seven years in prison. Buick ruled that Milam remains in jail until his next hearing on Jan. 3.
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Begin 2024 on a positive note by immersing yourself in the great outdoors and partaking in a nature hike. On New Year’s Day, the Dayton Bluffs Preserve invites you to join its fifth annual First Day Hike, an event in line with similar initiatives across the country aimed at helping individuals “start the year off on the right foot.” Originating in Massachusetts in 1992, the concept of First Day Hikes expanded nationwide in 2012, and Dayton Bluffs Preserve has been hosting this invigorating event since 2019, providing a wonderful opportunity to embrace nature and set a positive tone for the year ahead. More information can be found on the Ottawa Visitor Center website at pickusottawail.com
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The magic mailbox with a direct connection to the North Pole in Oglesby is now closed. This is the eighth year, Santa’s Head Elf of the Naughty and Nice Department selected Oglesby’s Senica Square to place the mailbox. Children who dropped their Christmas lists and letters to Santa in the mailbox received a personalized response from elves in the North Pole. Each letter was addressed to a child, confirmed they were on the nice list, and included information about their wish lists. The mailbox will reopen in November 2024.
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The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that lanes that have been closed for construction will reopen, where possible, for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to minimize travel disruption.
Non-emergency closures will be suspended from 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22nd, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, Dec. 25th, as well as from 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29th, to 11:59 p.m. Jan. 1st. A full list of lane closures that will remain in place during the holiday weekend is available at 1430wcmy.com and on our Facebook page.
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Peru Horizon House is close to reaching its $60,000 Tree of Hope campaign goal. Currently, the organization has raised a total of $54,650, according to Director of Development Carol Fresco. Horizon House lights a bulb on an evergreen tree in front of their building for every $50 donation. The annual fundraiser’s goal is to have every light lit on the tree by Christmas. Donations can be mailed or dropped off at Horizon House located at 2000 Plank Road in Peru. All proceeds go towards helping adults with disabilities.
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An Earlville home is deemed uninhabitable after an electrical fire Wednesday night. Firefighters arrived at the home on the 4200 block of E. 14th Rd. after 10:30 p.m. and contained the fire in 30 minutes. The fire began in one corner of the house and burned through the second floor before it was extinguished. There were no injuries.
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A 1950s train caboose was transported from Streator to Wenona on a makeshift railroad track on Wednesday. The caboose from the backyard of the former Streatorland Historical Society museum was taken to Chestnut St. in Wenona where it will remain on display. MJ Track Works Inc. created a makeshift railroad track to pull the caboose from
the yard which was then lifted onto a low-bed trailer. Tow truck operator, Jeff Senica, drove the caboose the 16 miles to downtown Wenona where it was lifted off the truck and placed on display. The city of Wenona hopes to create a historical park with multiple displays including the caboose.
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31-year-old Tiffany Waltz of Peru has been charged with driving on a suspended license and expired registration after a stop by Peru Police just after midnight Thursday at Main and Church Streets. Waltz was released with a court date.
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Two people have citations from Peru Police after an incident during the noon hour Sunday at the Peru Walmart. 57-year-old Darlene Scott of Peru is cited with disorderly conduct, and 27-year-old Elijah J. Scott of LaSalle is accused of retail theft.
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The Illinois Department of Public Health is urging the public to take precautions to protect the health of friends and family who are vulnerable to severe illness during the holidays. The recommendations come as the CDC is reporting that 48 Illinois counties are at an elevated level for COVID-19 hospital admissions. Holiday hosts are urged to enhance the safety of guests by providing proper indoor ventilation, encouraging good hand hygiene, and reminding guests to cover coughs and sneezes.
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Illinois’ unemployment rate is up. The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s jobless rate increased by point-one percent last month to four-point-seven percent. Non-farm payroll jobs increased by 68 hundred in November.
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Nearly 165 Stellantis employees are heading back to work at the Belvidere assembly plant. The workers who were laid off when the plant idled last February returned to full-time positions this week. The employees will support operations for Mopar, the Company’s parts and service division. Many of them are already processing parts for distribution to dealers at the warehouse located near the plant. The rest are completing training at the Chicago Parts Distribution Center in Naperville, then will transition to the Belvidere location next week.
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WEATHER:
Friday
Showers are likely, mainly between 11 am and noon, then rain after noon. High near 47. South-southeast winds around 5 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch possible.
Friday Night
Rain, mainly before 11 pm, then patchy drizzle with a slight chance of rain after midnight. Areas of fog. Low around 44. South-southeast winds around 5 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
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OBITUARIES:
None at this time.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Join us tonight at 6:30 for Marquette Crusaders Boys Basketball.
As your Crusaders take on the Yorkville Christian Mustangs at Bader Gym. Andrew Evola and David Bergeson are on the call.
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Boys basketball
Streator 35, Seneca 19: At the United Center in Chicago, the Bulldogs trailed the Fighting Irish 7-4 after one quarter and 12-10 at halftime but used a 17-0 third-quarter advantage to push to their eighth consecutive victory.
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Rock Falls 70, Mendota 54: Trojans lost a nonconference game in Rock Falls.
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Dixon 60, Princeton 43: Tigers lost a nonconference game in Dixon.
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Girls basketball
Metamora 57, Ottawa 48: At the Ottawa Lady Pirate Holiday Tournament, the Pirates (7-7) fell to the Redbirds in the Gold Bracket semifinals and will now play Morris in the third-place game at 6 p.m. on Friday.
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Pontiac 59, Streator 13: At the Ottawa Lady Pirate Holiday Tournament, the Bulldogs fell short against the Indians in the Bronze Bracket semifinals.
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Newark 44, Prairie Central 35: At the Ottawa Lady Pirate Holiday Tournament, the Norsemen defeated the Hawks in the Bronze Bracket semifinals and will now meet Prairie Central at noon on Friday in the 9th-place game.
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LPHS 58, Princeton 37: Cavaliers come out red-hot from the field, jumping out to a 34-20 halftime lead on the way to a runaway 58-37 victory over Princeton.
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Marquette Academy 62, Somonauk-Leland 21: At Somonauk, the Crusaders — behind 26 points and four blocks from Lilly Craig — topped the host Bobcats.
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Sandwich 34, Earlville 24: At Sandwich, the Red Raiders suffered the loss to the host Indians.
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Amboy 51, Bureay Valley 40: The Storm lost in a nonconference game in Amboy.
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Girls bowling
Ottawa 2,627, Streator 2,341: At Dettore’s Town Lanes, the Bulldogs held a 25-pin lead after the opening game, but the Pirates bounced back in the final two to grab the win.
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BOYS BOWLING
Mendota 3,404, Plano 2,362: Trojans to a victory at the Elks Lodge in Mendota.
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WRESTLING
At Mendota: The Trojans split a triangular at home, beating Streator 42-36 and losing to Ottawa 60-24.
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
Justin Fields and the Bears welcome Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals to Soldier Field in a matchup of two of the NFC’s worst teams on Sunday. The Bears come off a three-point loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 15 and are in last place of the NFC North at 5-and-9. Fields leads Chicago’s fifth-ranked rushing offense with 488 rushing yards this season. The third-year pro has passed for 1,976 yards, 14 touchdowns, and eight picks. The two franchises have split their last six meetings dating back to 2006.
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The Bulls left the San Antonio Spurs in the dust during the fourth quarter of a 114-95 win at United Center. The Bulls had a seven-point lead heading into the final frame before pulling away by outscoring San Antonio 37-25 the rest of the way. Coby White led Chicago with 22 points, while DeMar DeRozan finished with 21. The Bulls are on a three-game winning streak. Chicago is in 11th place in the Eastern Conference at 13-and-17. The Bulls host the Cavs tomorrow night.
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The Blackhawks look to get a winning streak going when they host the