Street crews picking up branches in Spring Valley

Cleanup continues in Spring Valley after a strong storm packing destructive winds blew through Wednesday evening.

City street crews will be stopping by picking up branches brought down during the storm during the coming days.

You should have your cut branches on the berm or next to the alley with the cut side toward the street.  Branches and limbs should be no more than four inches in diameter.

Lightning Strike Sends Fire Chief To Hospital

Wenona’s Fire Chief is recovering after being hit by lightning.

When responding to a semi blown over on Interstate 39 last evening, chief Danny Sullivan had an electrical current go through his handheld radio.  He was taken to St. Francis Medical Center immediately for tests.

Sullivan was due to be released from the hospital today.

New Details Into Streator Bank Robbery

The fake beard used by the First National Bank robber in Streator has been found.

With the help of a police canine, Streator investigators say they found the fake beard worn by the suspect.  They think he was also wearing a collar-length brown wig when demanding money from a bank teller.  Investigators say he implied he had a weapon during the robbery but didn’t show one.

Police are asking for information from anyone who may have seen the suspect in the area of the 100 block of North Vermilion or the Ace Hardware Parking lot.  Investigators think the robber may have changed clothes and got into a car in this area after robbing the bank.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Streator Police Department.

Storms Knock Over Tower and Trucks

The storms that blew through last night did a little of everything.

Besides several trees and large limbs being knocked down across the area plus some power lines, the storms also toppled a cell phone tower just east of Princeton.  In Ladd, winds blew over a corn crib.  Interstate 39 proved tricky for semi drivers with at least two semis blown over, one by Wenona and the other near Paw Paw.

The highest wind gust reported in the area came just before six o’clock just outside Ladd.  A trained spotter reported an 85 mile per hour gust.  Winds of 70 miles per hour were reported in Oglesby with a 66 mile per hour gust in Streator.