Mendota warming center

mendota police and fire departments indicated thursday night that several residents in the city and the surrounding area have no electricity.  the release stated power may not be fully restored until noon christmas day.  mendota civic center will be open as a warming center while electricity is restored. authorities ask that you check on your neighbors and pass the word along regarding the civic center.  if transportation is needed, call 539-9331.  you’re asked to avoid calling 9-1-1 unless you have an actual emergency.

Alleged Cockfighters Visit Court

Ten men charged in an alleged Earlville cockfighting ring were in La Salle County Court today.

Rudolfo Villaneuva of Earlville allegedly owns the barn off I-39 that was raided by 50 police officers this past Saturday.  He and nine others are charged with the class 4 felony of animal fighting for entertainment.  Investigators think the group had been betting on cockfights for up to five years, possibly using some of the gambling money for drugs and gun trading.

All ten had initial court appearances today and were given public defenders.  All of the men needed interpreters.

The whole group has posted bond and are currently out of jail.

Winning Lotto Ticket Sold In Streator

Someone’s Christmas just got a lot merrier.

A manager at B & R Grocery in Streator is confirming they sold a winning Little Lotto ticket this Tuesday for 112 thousand dollars.

No one has claimed the ticket yet.

Scattered Outages In The Area

Power outages have canceled Christmas services for a couple of churches.

The Zion Lutheran Church in LaMoille won’t be able to have their 10pm Christmas Eve service.

Emanuel Lutheran Church in Compton has canceled its candlelight service and Christmas service.  The Christmas Eve pageant has been rescheduled for Sunday.

Winter weather is being blamed for the outages that have lasted all day Thursday near Mendota and LaMoille.  They’re mostly served by ComEd. 

Some homes were without power in Streator, an area served by Ameren.

Power was briefly out to about 100 customers in Granville this morning while crews were performing underground work.

Injured Tiskilwa Soldier Home For Holidays

Christmas has come early for a family in Bureau County.

Drew McComber of Tiskilwa is home for the holidays after being seriously hurt while serving in Afghanistan.  McComber was hurt when one of the soldiers he was walking with stepped on a landmine.  Three soldiers were killed.  McComber was airlifted to a hospital in Germany.  He’s now being treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.

He’s undergoing rehabilitation.

Flood Watch Continues For Area

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for the listening area through late tonight.

Rain’s expected to become heavy today with two to three inches possible in some spots.  Add these amounts to melting snow, and some rivers could flood.

Two Hurt In Crash Near Grand Ridge

Officials say Christine Dorsam of Streator was driving southbound on Route 23 near Grand Ridge yesterday morning when she slid out of control.  Dorsam spun and clipped Kimberly Landres of Sheridan who was driving behind Dorsam.  Dorsam spun again, hitting Wanita Cassini of Streator who was also behind her.  Dorsam finally stopped after colliding with a northbound car of Ottawa’s Sarah Bybee.

Dorsam was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator and Bybee was driven to Ottawa Regional Hospital.  Dorsam was ticketed for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Two indicted for home invasion, unlawful restraint

A couple of women from La Salle remain in jail two and a half weeks after being arrested for home invasion.

19 year old Britney and 30 year old Brandy Sadnick were indicted Tuesday for felony home invasion and unlawful restraint.   Both were arrested after police were called to a home in the 1000 block of 11^th Street in La Salle.

Britney’s bond has been set at $50,000.  Brandy’s bond is at $75,000.

La Salle and Putnam County unemployment tops 13 percent

The new year brings hope of a new job for many in La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam Counties.  In November, unemployment remained high.

La Salle County’s rate was 13.6%, Bureau County’s rate was 12%, and Putnam County’s rate was 13.4%.   The figure for the Ottawa-Streator area was 13.2%.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the largest job losses were in manufacturing and transportation-warehousing utilities.

Interstates clear but other roads may be icy

While it wasn’t really doing anything Wednesday morning, some country roads may be slick.

IDOT says the main highways like I-80 and I-39 are clear but secondary roads in La Salle, Bureau, Grundy and Dekalb Counties will likely have something on them.   Slow down.