Report of an explosion sends firefighters to Peru company

A cylinder apparently exploded sending two people from a Peru packaging company to an area hospital.  Fire fighters were called to Pretium Packaging on the city’s northwest side, south of Interstate 80 at about 3:45pm Thursday.

Firefighters were back at the station by 4:30pm.  No word yet on the condition of the people that were injured.

Drug arrest lands La Salle man in jail

Xanax is a popular drug but it’s illegal to have if you don’t have prescription.  A man from La Salle was arrested Wednesday on warrant for possession of a controlled substance.

Police say Gary McClain had some of the drug when he was stopped by police over the summer.  McClain was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Illinois Sept. jobless rate falls below 10%

CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois’ unemployment rate has fallen below 10% for the first time since April 2009.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security on Thursday said the state’s September jobless rate was 9.9%.

That’s down from 10.1% in August and marks the sixth consecutive month that the rate has fallen.

Unemployment peaked at 11.5% in March of this year, when almost 765,000 workers were unemployed.

There were almost 660,000 without work in September, although Illinois gained more than 8,600 jobs.

IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell says the trend “shows Illinois is moving forward.” Nationally, the unemployment rate for September was 9.6%, unchanged from August.

Mendota Man Killed In Crash With Combine

State Police say 58 year old James Hampton was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash at the intersection of East 8^th Road and North 33^rd Road just north of I-80.

Investigators say Hampton was southbound on East 8^th Road when Dennis McConnville of Peru pulled out in front of him.  McConnville was ticketed for failing to yield at a stop intersection.  He was taken to an area hospital where he was treated and released.

Hampton was driving a pickup truck while McConnville was in a combine.  The crash happened Wednesday morning at 11:30.

Cemeteries On Display

A funeral re-enactment and visits from people of La Salle County’s past are some of the things planned for this weekend in La Salle, Streator and Ottawa.

“Stories in Stone” is a program spanning three communities that gives you a local history lesson using re-enactors and cemetery tours.  Tours of Ottawa Avenue Cemetery, Riverview Cemetery in Streator, and Oakwood Cemetery in La Salle run from noon until three Saturday and Sunday featuring appearances by some of the cemeteries more popular occupants.

“The Mourning After”, a re-enactment of Eliza Reddick’s funeral will take place at the Reddick Mansion in Ottawa Saturday 3-5pm.

You can have a sweet while getting to know some of the people from Oakwood Cemetery in La Salle during “Just Deserts” at the Hegeler Carus Mansion.  That runs from 5-7pm Saturday.

Time To Get Flu Shot

In preparation of the flu season, the La Salle County Health Department has started a series of flu shot clinics.

A clinic is happening this afternoon from two until six at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Ottawa.  Tomorrow afternoon, a clinic in partnership with Illinois Valley Community Hospital is going on from one until five at the Peru Mall.

Clinics continue next week in Mendota, Sandwich and Seneca.

Flu vaccines cost 25 dollars.  You can also get a pneumonia vaccine for 50 dollars.  The health department is urging everyone 6 months and older be vaccinated this year against the flu.