I-80 Construction Starting Next Week

Here’s a sure sign that spring is approaching.  Road construction is starting up again on Interstate 80.

Weather permitting, crews with D Construction of Coal City will start working Monday on I-80 from the I-180 exit to Spring Valley.  The project includes replacing six bridges and resurfacing the stretch of I-80.  The work is expected to be done this fall.

During construction, an alternate route will be posted using Routes 6 and 89 and Interstate 180.

Teenage Sex Offender Bill Shot Down

A bill that would cut a break to young convicted sex offenders has failed in the Illinois House.

70^th District State Representative Bob Pritchard of Hinckley introduced a bill that would allow 18 year olds convicted of having consensual sexual contact with a minor who is at least 15 years old not to have to register as a sex offender.   The bill was voted down Thursday by the House 73 to 36.

State Representatives Frank Mautino of Spring Valley and Pam Roth of Morris both voted against the sex offender change.  The proposal was being called the “Romeo and Juliet bill”.

Child Abuse Arrest In Ottawa

A man already at the La Salle County Jail now is accused of hurting a child.

Ottawa Police got a call last Friday about possible physical abuse of a child.  With the help of the DCFS, investigators interviewed a child who had bruising on the face, head and neck.  After the interview, Jeffrey Smith of Ottawa was charged with aggravated battery of a child, a class 3 felony.

Smith was already in jail on an unrelated charge.

IVCH to launch new after-hours medical clinic

A medical clinic for people who get sick after-hours aims to be an alternative to an emergency room visit.  IVCH CareNow is coming to the Miller Building next to the Illinois Valley YMCA in Peru.  It’ll be open seven-day-a-week and take walk-in patients.

It’s similar to their FastCare clinic at the Peru Wal-Mart but will be staffed by physicians and mid-level providers.  They’ll be able to treat patients for flu, infections, sprains, and simple fractures.  A digital x-ray and some laboratory services will be on site.

It’ll be open from 4-9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tommy Hobbs is IVCH’s chief executive officer.  He says CareNow will be a less expensive alternative to going to a hospital emergency room.

It’s scheduled to open March 14.

Ottawa man pulled from burning car

A man had to be pulled from his burning car after a crash in Ottawa.  It happened shortly before 10:30pm Thursday on Route 71 near Route 6.

Police say Glenn Mumper of Ottawa went off the road and crashed into an embankment.  He was taken to Ottawa Regional Hospital.  His condition is unavailable.

An investigation continues.

Four-part lecture series to begin at Hegeler Carus Mansion

A lecture series at the Hegeler Carus Mansion in La Salle examines the Hegeler Carus family’s history and impact on culture and manufacturing.

“The Life and Times of the Hegeler Carus Mansion” is a four-part series.  The program begins Saturday with a lecture focused on the family’s history.  It continues the following three Saturdays in March.

Aside from becoming more familiar with local history, the series will make you eligible to be a volunteer at the mansion.

All lectures run from 10am until noon.  The full four week course is $25 per person or $7 for each lecture.

La Salle ambulance service has a slow start, but is getting along well

With a handful of calls under their belt, the La Salle Fire Department‘s new ambulance service is getting along well.  That’s according to Fire Chief Andy Bacidore.

The La Salle service began responding to calls Tuesday morning, taking over for the Peru Volunteer Ambulance Service.

Bacidore says the paramedics are becoming familiar with the local EMS system and hospital routines.

The service includes two ambulances and six paramedics. The city decided last fall to part ways with the Peru Volunteer Ambulance Service.

You can learn more about the service by listening to an interview available at the news page.