Dangerous Heat In The Area

The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory for Bureau and Putnam counties until 7 o’clock tonight.

Temperatures warming into the lower 90s combined with very high humidity puts heat index temperatures at 100 or higher.

Cool Retreats Set Up In Putnam County

In response to the oppresive heat, “Cooling Centers” have been set up in Putnam County.

You can seek a break from the heat at the Methodist Church in Hennepin or at the McNabb Fire Station.

Record Set At Relay For Life

Even with all that Mother Nature threw at them, people who took part in this year’s Relay For Life of La Salle County shattered a record.

Organizers say they raised over 273 thousand dollars with this year’s relay, breaking the previous record set last year of 271 thousand dollars. The fundraising goal for this year was 250 thousand dollars.

Over 800 people are signed up to raise money for the 13th annual Relay for Life of La Salle County. Just hours before the relay started, organizers made the call to move it from Streator City Park to St. Anthony’s Church in Streator.

Still no trial for accused killer

Nearly two years after being arrested for double-murder, Keith Mackowiak of Seneca is still awaiting trial.
At a court appearance Friday, his attorney received permission delay things further because they’re still waiting for a mental examination of Mackowiak. Other doctors have already been used to study Mackowiak but either the prosecution or defense has balked at the reports.
The latest delay means it’ll be past the two-year anniversary of Mackowiak being arrested for killing Al and Catherine Twardowski before he stands trial. He faces the death penalty for allegedly breaking into the Twardowski home on July 11th of 2007 and beating the elderly couple to death.

Lane closures for I-39 bridge

Here’s a saying you probably didn’t want to hear ever again, lane closures on the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge over the Illinois River.
Traffic going both directions will be down to one lane at times this week so crews can inspect cables supporting the bridge deck. I-Dot wants to see how the cables are holding up since two years of construction work was finished last year.