State Police Find Pot In A Wedding Gift

What’s the wildest wedding gift you’ve ever received?  State Police in La Salle say they found nearly 12 pounds of marijuana stashed in a wedding present.

Jessica Tomakin and Gary Ciciriello of California were pulled over by a trooper Thursday for allegedly speeding going east on I-80 just before the Utica exit.  A canine smelled the car and picked up what he thought was a marijuana smell in the trunk.  The trooper says a box wrapped as a wedding present was in the trunk and had almost 12 pounds of pot inside of it.

The California pair was taken to the county jail.

Heroin Arrest In La Salle

A man from La Salle is accused of violating his parole in a big way.

La Salle Police and a state parole agent Wednesday went out to the Bucklin Street home of Adam Bennett as part of a parole check.  Bennett allegedly had several jewelers’ bags of heroin and a hypodermic syringe of heroin.  He was arrested for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Bennett was taken to the county jail.

Fundraising Heats Up In Congressional Race

Congressional candidate Adam Kinzinger is declaring a fundraising win over incumbent Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson.

Kinzinger’s campaign reports they raised over 325 thousand dollars in the last three months.  That’s compared to Halvorson’s camp reporting 302 thousand dollars.

While Kinzinger appears to have won the battle Halvorson may be winning the fundraising war.  Halvorson reports having 1.4 million dollars cash-on-hand compared to Kinzinger’s 480 thousand dollars.  This money is used for things like radio and television ads.

Trial Date Set For Large Tax Dispute

A multi-million dollar sales tax dispute in Putnam County will go to trial November 1^st.

A circuit judge set the date yesterday.  The issue is whether Hartney Fuel Oil’s sales during an audited 30-month period were happening in Mark or thru the company’s headquarters in Forest View in Cook County.  Hartney and Mark representatives say the sales happened in Mark and they should reap the benefits.  The Illinois Department of Revenue, city of Forest View, Cook County and Chicago Transit Authority officials all say the sales receipts should stay in Cook County.

Over 24 million dollars in revenues are in question.

Hospital Handles Heat Related Illnesses

With the extreme heat this week, hopefully you took the usual precautions to avoid health issues.

Gene Vogelsang with Illinois Valley Community Hospital says they had two people brought into the emergency room the past couple days because of the heat.  On Wednesday, a teenager out running came to the hospital for heat exhaustion.  The teen was given fluids and sent home.

Yesterday, a man working outside came to IVCH complaining of dizziness.  He was also treated and released.

Area Family Plays Family Feud

It’s time to play the feud for a family in Marseilles.

After impressing at an audition in Schaumburg, the Lambert family will be on the Family Feud game show.  Sisters Elena Lambert, Stacy Rice and Jayme Miller will be joined by their mom Alana and brother Jeff for a taping of the show Sunday in Florida.  The actual episode will air sometime this fall.

The Lambert’s agreed not to disclose the results before the show airs.

Beef And Ag Days Returns

Don’t feel like cooking this weekend?  No problem.  There will be plenty of food in Princeton during the 31^st Annual Beef and Ag Days happening today and tomorrow.

Food stands open at 5 today Soldiers & Sailors Park.   The Decatur Park Singers will put on a free show at 7 on the Courthouse lawn.

Tomorrow, the scene shifts to the Bureau County Fairgrounds with a tractor display, more food, live music, beer garden, bean bag tournament and ice cream eating contest.

Shap from 99.3 WAJK will have reports from the Beef and Ag Days tomorrow starting at 11.

4-H Fair Rolls Along

Plenty of ribbons will be handed out today at the La Salle County 4-H Fair in Ottawa.

Judging starts this morning at 8 with swine and dairy competitions.  The horse show kicks off at 8:30 followed by poultry judging at 9 and the sheep show at 10.  Today’s fair schedule concludes at 7 with the start of the tractor pull.

The 4-H Fair continues through Sunday.