AM1220 WLPO News

Standoff, fire and shooting

wlpo — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:57:10 +0000

A nearly 10-hour standoff with a southern Illinois truck driver who rammed into a trucking facility has ended after the man shot himself in the head. The 51-year-old from Alton has been taken to a St. Louis hospital for treatment. His condition wasn’t immediately available Saturday afternoon. Authorities say he rammed his truck into the Schneider National trucking facility in Edwardsville at about 2 a.m. Saturday. He’s a driver for Schneider. The crash ignited a fire that burned itself out. Police received a 911 call from the driver at the time of the crash saying he had no intention of being taken into custody alive. Police say he shot himself just before noon. Madison County state’s attorney Tom Gibbon says about 50 emergency responders were at the scene.

Wellness check becomes tussle

wlpo — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:54:49 +0000

A LaSalle police officer is sent to 1139 Crosat on a wellness check late Saturday night. He wasn’t expecting to be attacked. One occupant, 18-year old Richard Taylor of LaSalle was charged with aggravated battery to an officer, obstructing an officer, resisting an officer and unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor. Taylor was taken to the county jail to await a bond hearing. 18-year old Jessica Kaszynski, also at the scene, was arrested for unlawful consumption of alcohol and given a notice to appear

Bald Eagle Watch continues

wlpo — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:53:11 +0000

Visitors to Starved Rock and the Illinois Waterway Visitors Center are learning about eagles, raptors and the Valley’s history this weekend. Bald Eagle Watch is occuring jointly at the Lodge and across the river at the Visitors Center. Displays, Live raptor shows, Rich Escutia, Master Falconer are part of the program at the Lodge. Live raptor shows and displays can be found at the Waterway Visitor’s Center. Live shows are free but you must pick up a ticket in advance. Hours are both locations are 9 – 5 today.

Bridal Show today

wlpo — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:52:08 +0000

The 32nd Annual Illinois Valley Bridal show is today inside Mendota Civic Center. Starting at 11, you can visit with any of the 49 exhibitors. A style show will be held at 2. If you are a bride-to-be and have not registered, you can do so at the Civic Center. All registered brides are eligible to win $500 dollars to be spent at any of the show’s sponsors. The drawing is after the style show. Admission is free.

Teen wanted on a burglary charge arrested for attempted burglary

wlpo — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:47:54 +0000

You don’t have to successfully carry out a crime to be arrested. A teen from La Salle faces a charge of attempted burglary after police say he tried to steal stuff from a car on Fourth Street in La Salle.

Thomas Calderon was arrested Friday night at an apartment near the car in question. Police say he was hiding in a bathroom and was wanted on a La Salle County failure to appear warrant. Calderon was take to the La Salle County Jail.

Rezin wants to hear Governor Quinn’s plan for reducing the deficit

wlpo — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:38:35 +0000

A dismal credit rating and a backlog of bills are problems facing Illinois. Those issues and more will likely come up Tuesday during the State of the State speech by Democratic Governor Pat Quinn.

State Senator Sue Rezin will be listening. The republican says she wants to hear how Quinn plans to let the income tax increase expire as promised while correcting an estimated $800 million deficit.

She also wants him to explain how he’ll improve the state’s poor credit rating.

Several Bureau County fire departments receive FEMA grant

wlpo — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:52:28 +0000

Communication is important when responding to an emergency. Several fire departments in Bureau County will be able to buy new radio equipment thanks to a FEMA grant.

Princeton, Ohio, and Bureau Departments will split the $513,000 grant. They want to buy a repeater unit, new software and mobile laptop computer.

A case of chicken pox reported at LPHS

wlpo — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:29:09 +0000

Red, itchy bumps that seem to occur in the worst of places on your body are good sign you have chicken pox. There’s been case of chicken pox at LP High School.

Superintendent Steve Wrobleski says it’s just one case and not an outbreak. These days, students are vaccinated for it before they reach high school. Jenny Barrie of the LaSalle County Health Department says the vaccine manufacturer recommends a second dose.

Nobody injured during I-80 crash

wlpo — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:21:50 +0000

Friday morning you heard about an accident on Interstate 80 that was affecting traffic. Nobody was hurt. Police say Kevin Cooper of Milan was driving a semi west when he rear-ended another semi near Route 251.

Cooper’s truck when off the road. He was ticketed for not slowing down to avoid an accident.

Car tampered with in Streator

wlpo — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:20:33 +0000

You’ve left your car parked outside of your house for the past few days and when you go to drive it, your key doesn’t work in the lock. And then you notice scratch marks on the door and a back window down.

It happened to someone in Streator this week. They reported it to the police.

Area unemployment numbers show little improvement from 2010 to 2011

wlpo — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:13:24 +0000

If you’ve been hoping for an improvement in unemployment numbers, you have little to be satisfied with. The December 2011 unemployment rates for La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam Counties were only fractions of a point lower than they were during December 2010.

Bureau County’s December unemployment was 10.2%. In La Salle County it was 11.6% and in Putnam County unemployment was 10.6%.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the Ottawa-Streator area saw new jobs in Educational and health services and leisure-hospitality, but it wasn’t enough to off-set the losses in manufacturing and government.

“The Spitfire Grill” opens at Stage 212

wlpo — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:29:44 +0000

Making plans for the weekend? A musical drama opens Friday evening in downtown La Salle. “The Spitfire Grill” tells the story of a woman who takes a job at a small café in Wisconsin after being released from prison.

It’s being performed at Stage 212 and is directed by directed Ellen Marincic. Performances are this weekend and the following. Tickets are available at the Stage 212 box office.

All eyes on the bald eagles this weekend

wlpo — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:20:13 +0000

Snow is in the forecast which bodes well for the 15^th Annual Bald Eagle Watch Weekend.

The Illinois Waterway Visitor Center and the Starved Rock Lodge are both hosting eagle viewing events from 9am until 5pm Saturday and Sunday. Park Ranger Kevin Eubanks says they’ve been averaging around 12 bald eagles by the dam. The colder it gets, the more show up. He says one positive of the warmer weather is the eagles on the river have been more active flying around.

Besides bald eagle viewing, there will be indoor bird demonstrations, Native American dancing and children’s activities. Everything is free except for food being sold by non-profits.

Pet store leaving the Peru Mall

wlpo — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:12:48 +0000

A pet store at the Peru Mall that sparked a protest has closed. Furry Babies had closed their doors by Thursday.

The store came under fire late last year following an investigation by the Newstribune. In December, a group of animal lovers picketed the business from the outskirts of the mall property.

A call to the business wasn’t answered.

Reclamation work underway at old Deer Park Mine

wlpo — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:03:36 +0000

An area near the Vermilion River by Oglesby has come to be known as the red ash and for an obvious reason; it’s the material leftover from the Deer Park Mine that closed decades ago.

The “red ash” area is undergoing some changes as the Illinois Department of Natural Resources plans to back fill a steep slope north of Lehigh Park and remove the old mine tressle.

Jim Gregg is with the Mine Lands Reclamation Division. He says the red ash will be moved to even out the slope and covered with soil.

On the north side of the Vermilion, in Matthiessen Park, Gregg says four old mine openings will be blocked off will a rock-fill material. He estimates one of the openings leads to a 32-foot drop. They’ll also remove old mining foundations and structures.

The work is being done by Miller and Son Construction for $272,000. It’s scheduled to be completed by September.