Peru Alderman Dies

Peru has lost one of its fourth ward aldermen.  Ron Wren died Friday morning after a brief hospitalization at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  He was taken there after collapsing minutes after the end of Wednesday night’s council meeting.

Dave Potthoff joined Wren in representing the fourth ward.  He says Wren will be remembered.

Wren was chairman of the Electric Committee and Buildings and Grounds Committee.  He was re-elected after running unopposed in 2009.

Cocaine Bust Near Utica

A man from Mexico could be headed back home after getting arrested near Utica.

State Police pulled over Enrique Rangel-Rodriguez Thursday morning for speeding and following too closely.  He was headed eastbound on Interstate 80 and was stopped just west of Utica.

Troopers searched the trunk of Rangel-Rodriguez’s car and allegedly found five packages of cocaine, weighing a total of 12 pounds.  He was arrested for drug trafficking and was also wanted on a federal warrant for probation violation.

Rangel-Rodriguez was taken to the county jail.

Multiple Injuries In Route 23 Crash

Five people were hurt in a crash yesterday afternoon north of Grand Ridge.

Deputies say Mary Whitelaca of California was northbound on Route 23 when she lost control because of the snow.  She crossed into the southbound lane and hit Anthony Ceja of Grand Ridge.

Whitelaca and her passengers, Melanie Long and Heaven Hernandez of Streator were taken to St. Mary’s Hospital.  Ceja and his passenger Laci Ceja of Grand Ridge were taken to Ottawa Regional Hospital.

Whitelaca was ticketed for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.