Teenager Falls In Utica

A Utica teenager was hurting after falling yesterday from a bridge trestle.

After getting a call about a fall behind the Utica ball field, a sheriff’s deputy didn’t find anyone around.  He eventually tracked down the victim, Timothy Wheeler at a house.  Wheeler was taken to IVCH for severe face and jaw injuries. 

A teen with Wheeler, Joseph Locke of Peru was arrested for unlawful consumption of alcohol, obstructing police, and resisting arrest.  He was taken to the county jail.

City Dealing With Stray Cats

Have you ever felt like you’re being overrun with feral cats?  Mendota isn’t about to be conquered by stray cats, but nevertheless it’s an issue city officials are taking seriously.

The city council is considered a volunteer cat taxi service that would trap feral cats, have them neutered and micro chipped before returning them to where they were found.  It’s called Illinois Valley Cat Taxi.

City officials sound like they’re willing to try it out for half a year, with Mayor David Boelk suggesting they donate 500 dollars and then consider whether to continue.

Children die in mobile home fire near Henry

The cause of a mobile home fire Saturday that killed two kids is being listed as unknown.

Investigators say six year old Jasmine Chase and four year old Jade Chase died in the fire Saturday at Marshall Mobile Estates in rural Henry.  Their mother, Stephanie Chase, was taken to Perry Memorial Hospital for treatment of burns and other injuries.  Her condition isn’t available. 

Autopsies done yesterday on the Chase children showed they died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning.