Strong winds cause property damage throughout Spring Valley

Everyone’s tired of rain but the homeowners in Spring Valley who have plywood and tarps on their roofs are serious.  A strong thunderstorm that swept into town shortly before 6pm Wednesday left a path of destruction.

Huge trees and tree limbs were brought down onto homes, power lines and roads.

Jesse Dergance lives on Ladd Lane, a wooded area that was buzzing with the noise of chainsaws after the storm had passed.  She was at Target when the storm hit and learned about the damage from her husband.   A tree had come down on their house and into their living room.  They had plans to stay with family.

Many homes on the west and south side of town had similar damage or many trees down.  Utility crews were busy restoring power.  By about nine last night, most customers had their power back on.

Brian Pierce with the National Weather Service in Quad Cities says they’ believe the damage was caused by straight-line thunderstorm winds.  He estimated wind speeds to be anywhere from 60 miles per hour to 80-85 miles per hour.

http://ping.fm/p/h4Ty5 – (No subject header)

http://ping.fm/p/c1965 – toppled tree on a house in Spring Valley

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Storms litter Spring Valley with trees

Strong thunder storms Wednesday evening took down trees and power lines across Bureau and La Salle Counties.  An area hard hit is the west side of Spring Valley.  Numerous trees were blocking Ladd Lane.  Some trees had damaged homes, many had taken down power lines.

Following the storm, nearly 200 electric customers were without service in Spring Valley.

Bureau County ESDA director Kris Donarski says they’ve had no confirmed funnel clouds in Bureau County.  She says a cell tower was taken down east of Princeton and there were power lines down across the county.

In Peru, the tornado siren was sounded.  Peru ESDA Director Jim Anderson says they decided to run the sirens after getting a call from the sheriff’s department about reports of a funnel cloud near Spring Valley.

The storm also caused flash flooding on the bottom road between La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam Counties.

New Mayor Coming In Oglesby

An interim mayor could be appointed next week in Oglesby.

A special meeting of the Oglesby City Council will happen Monday at 6 in the city hall.  As part of the meeting agenda there is appointments listed which could include picking someone to fill the vacancy of mayor.  City Attorney Vince Brolley had said the council has 30 days to pick someone to fill out the remaining term of Tony Torres.

Torres resigned as mayor at the very start of this past Monday night’s city council meeting citing health and other personal reasons.

Tea Party Bringing Brady To Town

Republican candidate for governor Bill Brady is coming to Oglesby next month.

At last night’s Bureau-La Salle Tea Party meeting it was made public that Brady is the featured speaker at the tea party’s July meeting.  He’ll be at IVCC on July 13^th.

Because they anticipate a number of questions for Brady, tea party organizers are asking that the questions be emailed in advance of the 13^th.  The email address is: ilbltp@gmail.com.

Bank robbed in Streator

A bank robbery in Streator has police looking for man they say was wearing a fake beard.

It happened just before 10am Wednesday morning at Streator National Bank on Main Street in Streator.

Police were looking for a white man about six foot tall and 180 pounds.  He was wearing a John Deer cap and tan shirt and jacket.  He was last seen leaving the area on foot.

A weapon was implied, but not shown.  You’ll hear more as it’s made available.

“A Night Without a Home” rescheduled

An event in Ottawa intended to raise awareness about homelessness has been rescheduled due to rainy weather.

“A Night Without a Home” had been planned for Wednesday night in Washington Square in Ottawa, but has been pushed back a night to Thursday.

It’s being organized by “A Servant’s Heart” and several churches.   People will be spending the night in the park.  They can use a sleeping bag but not a tent, cell phone, money or jewelry.

Cowboy from 96.5 the Wolf will be broadcasting live from “A Night Without A Home” starting at 5:30pm Thursday.

Veteran’s parade organizer dies unexpectedly

A man who helped organize Veteran’s parades in Utica is being remembered as an excellent worker for the village.

Terry Weiden of Utica, formerly of Oglesby, died unexpectedly Tuesday while working on a water meter in a crawlspace.  He had been working part-time for the village.

Utica Mayor Fred Esmond says they’re all shocked.  Esmond says Weiden worked hard on putting together the annual Veteran’s Day Parade and was just an excellent worker.

No word yet on Weiden’s cause of death.  He was 55 years old.

Services and visitation have been tentatively scheduled.  You can hear more during AM 1220 WLPO’s In Memorium.