Tritium turns up in water sample at La Salle Generating Station

Tritium showed up in water samples near a water storage tank at the LaSalle Generating Station.  Exelon says the problem was found yesterday while employees were doing regular testing.

Dave Wozniak is the LaSalle Site Vice President.  He says they’ve found the source of the leak and are taking actions to make repairs.  He says it has no impact on public health or safety.

Exelon says employees took samples of water in a bermed area at the base of a water storage tank yesterday and found tritium.  The water is being moved from the tank to temporary storage containers so they can inspect the bottom of the tank and fix what needs to be fixed.

They think the leak is recent. They say additional water samples taken from wells in the area show less than detectable levels of tritium.

State and federal regulatory officials have been notified.

Police say more about woman in trunk investigation

Investigators are saying a little bit more about a 911 call about a woman being locked in the trunk of her car.

Investigators from the Putnam and La Salle County Sheriff’s Departments say it started near Mendota.  It ended Sunday evening on the Bottom Road in Putnam County, about two miles west of Route 89.

A 20 year old woman called the police at about 6:30pm Sunday.  She was found about 45 minutes later and was taken to St. Margaret’s Hospital.

Investigators say they’ve interviewed the woman and continue to collect evidence.

Man arrested, accused of trying to meet up with young teen

Felony charges for a man police say was trying to hook up with a 14 year old girl in La Salle County.  23 year old Brian Roubal of Plano was arrested Wednesday night in La Salle County.

Police say he arranged to meet a girl for other than legal reasons.  Police say when Roubal drove to an arranged meeting site, he was meet by police and arrested for unlawful solicitation to meet a child and traveling to meet a minor.  An investigation continues.

His bond was set at $50,000.

New Relay For Life In La Salle County

The relay for life in Streator isn’t the only American Cancer Society relay happening this year in La Salle County.

The first annual Upper Illinois Valley Relay for Life starts Saturday, July 10^th at Maple Leaf Park in Earlville.  Like the relay in Streator, open ceremonies start at six in the evening with survivor and caregiver laps.  At dusk there will be the luminaria ceremony.  Closing ceremonies are at six the next morning.

Jenna Hague with the American Cancer Society says people in northern La Salle County weren’t making the trip to Streator.  The goals for the first ever Upper Illinois Valley relay are to raise 20 thousand dollars and have at least 15 teams.

More information at http://www.relayforlifeupperillinoisvalley.com

State Minimum Wage Goes Up

Illinois has a new minimum wage starting today.

The minimum wage is now $8.25 an hour, up from eight dollars.  Then Governor Rod Blagojevich signed a law in 2006 that set up a series of increases including a quarter each year during the last three years.  There are no further increases planned.

Governor Pat Quinn says the minimum wage should be automatically adjusted to the cost of living like social security.  His election opponent, Republican Bill Brady wants the minimum wage to match the federal wage of $7.25 an hour.