Flooding Shouldn’t Be An Issue

When the snow melts, area rivers go up.  But the National Weather Service doesn’t think the Fox, Illinois or Vermilion Rivers will have bad floods.

The weather service has put out a spring flood outlook that goes through April.  They say there’s a 60 percent chance of minor flooding on the Illinois in La Salle but only a 5 percent chance of the Illinois having minor flooding in Ottawa.  They predict little to no chance of major flooding of the Illinois River in either La Salle or Ottawa.

The Vermilion near Leonore is given a 31 percent of minor flooding this spring while the Fox thru Dayton is given an 18 percent chance of minor flooding.  No chance is given for major flooding on the Fox or Vermilion.

The 30 day forecast does call for above average precipitation and below normal temperatures.

Former Teacher Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Charge

The Ottawa High School graduate charged with having a teacher-student relationship has pled not guilty.

Ashley Blumenshine of Lisle, originally from Marseilles pled not guilty Wednesday to one count of aggravated sex abuse.  She’s charged with having sex with a 16 year old boy earlier this month in a car behind a Kohl’s in Plainfield.  The boy is a student at Plainfield North where Blumenshine was teaching P.E.  She’s since resigned.

She’s currently out of custody after posting 75 hundred dollars bond.

Crash Sends Ottawa Woman To Hospital

A woman from Ottawa was hurt in a crash yesterday afternoon in Kendall County.

Jacqueline Schmitt was taken to Rush Copley Medical Center in Aurora after crashing into a guardrail and the car of William Hoolehan of Oswego.  Hoolehan was also taken to the hospital.

Deputies say Schmitt was on Route 25 in Oswego when she lost control of her car and hit the guardrail before hitting Hoolehan.  Schmitt was ticketed for improper lane usage.

State Senator visits Peru

Before she heads back to work in Springfield, your new State Senator has been taking time to meet the people and employers in the Illinois Valley.

Republican Sue Rezin visited Peru Thursday.  She says the spring session will include two big reforms- workers compensation and education.  Rezin says workers comp is a huge issue for employers.

She says education reform deserves everybody being at the table and having an honest discussion.

Rezin expects they’ll also be following what happens to a capital bill that was ruled unconstitutional by an appellate court.  She says money has already been borrowed for some of the projects included in the bill.  She says they could be forced to find alternative funding sources.

You can hear more during an interview with the Senator available at the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

Ex-gov’s wife released from hospital

CHICAGO (AP) – An attorney for imprisoned ex-Gov. George Ryan says Ryan’s wife has been released from hospital three weeks after she was admitted and that she’s now home.

Ryan’s lawyer, former Gov. James Thompson, tells The Associated Press Lura Lynn Ryan was released from the Kankakee hospital Thursday afternoon.

Thompson says her release doesn’t mean she’s no longer considered terminally ill with cancer or that her condition has dramatically improved. He says it only suggests “there’s nothing more they can do for her in the hospital.”

Thompson says he hasn’t heard from the Indiana prison where Ryan’s imprisoned about a request to release him on an extended furlough to be with his ailing wife.

Ryan was permitted to visit her for two hours shortly after she entered the hospital.

Snowy roads made driving dangerous

The afternoon snowfall left roads snow covered Thursday and it caused delays for people taking Interstate 80 eastbound in Bureau County.  A semi jackknifed near the I-180 interchange blocking traffic and forcing some to take Route 6 instead.

An accident on Route 23 between Ottawa and Grand Ridge closed the road for about 40 minutes.  A woman that was near the accidents says it looked like it involved a car and a pickup truck.  Possible three people were taken away by ambulances.

Unemployment numbers show improvement

Finding Christmas work this past season should have been easier than it was the year before, at least if you go by unemployment numbers.

La Salle County unemployment for December 2010 was 11.8%, down 2.6% from the same time in 2009.

Unemployment was also down in Bureau County, with a December 2010 rate of 10.6% and in Putnam County where it dropped to 10.8%.

Over the past 12 months, the Ottawa-Streator area has gained jobs in professional- business services and trade-transportation-utilities according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

They’re ‘having a wonderful time’ at Stage 212

Looking for laughter?  Stage 212’s current production takes a humorous look at three couples in different stages of their relationship.

“Having a Wonderful Time, Wish You Were Her” opens Friday night in downtown La Salle.

It’s described as a farce for adults.  It’s directed by Matthew Gerding.

Performances run this weekend and the next.  Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30pm.  Sunday matinees are at 2pm.  Tickets are $14 dollars each.

Another Area State Senator Calling It Quits

People in Earlville, Leland, Sandwich and Somonauk will soon have a new state senator.

State Sen. Brad Burzynski plans to retire from his 35th District seat, effective next month.  The 55-year-old Rochelle Republican gave no particular reason for his decision.  He says he wants to move on to other things in his life. He’s retiring as of Feb. 14.

Burzynski was first elected to the Illinois House in 1990, and he won the state Senate seat in 1992. His district covers five counties.  Burzynski has recommended that he be replaced by DeKalb County
Treasurer Christine Johnson.

Woman Crashes Into Tree Near Ottawa

Sometimes if you try and pass on a two-lane road, bad things can happen.

Peggy Martin of Marseilles was hurt after going off Canal Road between Ottawa and Marseilles while trying to pass another car.  Martin tells sheriffs deputies that the car she tried passing forced her off the road.  She ended up hitting a tree.

Martin was taken to Ottawa Regional Hospital.  The accident happened Monday night.

No one was ticketed.