Food Pantry Needs Donation For Easter

While you stock up on eggs and candy for your Easter celebration, the Illinois Valley Food Pantry is preparing for the Easter distribution.  They’re expecting to serve 600 families this holiday.

Donna Hess is the Executive Director of the pantry.  She says they’re getting afraid they my not have enough food. Hess says the Easter distribution is smaller than the Christmas and Thanksgiving distributions.

Hess says a food drive by the Knights of Columbus helped them out last month and a large food drive by the letter carriers will set them up for the summer but they’ll always take donations, especially since food prices are increasing.

Easter distribution will be Saturday, April 16 from 10am until 2pm at the pantry in downtown La Salle.

You can learn more about the pantry’s effort by listening to an interview with Hess available at the AM 1220 WLPO news page

Investigation Continues Into Death of Baby In La Salle

Services have been scheduled for a three month old baby that died after a 9-1-1 call in La Salle.

Alexandria Pratt, daughter of Tiffany Pratt and Richard Stachowiak of La Salle was pronounced dead at Illinois Valley Community Hospital early Wednesday morning.

A La Salle Police officer and La Salle Ambulance personnel were called to a home after receiving a 9-1-1 call from a woman requesting an ambulance for a baby that was not breathing.

Police says the father and a police officer tried C-P-R on the child.  Police say there were no signs of injury or trauma.  An autopsy was performed yesterday.  The La Salle County Coroner’s office says they’re waiting on toxicology results.

The La Salle Police Department and D-C-F-S are also investigating.

You can hear more about services for Pratt during AM 1220 WLPO’s In Memoriam.

ComEd Poles Catch Fire In Bureau County

Fire departments in the Illinois Valley responded to a couple more fires on Thursday.

Just after 3:30, Walnut fire crews were called to ComEd power poles catching fire on Star Road just north of Walnut.  Crews had the fire under control in about a half hour.

Then just after four o’clock, Mendota and Troy Grove fire departments were called out to a controlled burn that got out of control near Meriden.  The fire was out in under an hour.

Cocaine Bust In Mendota

Area drug officials think they’ve busted a cocaine dealer in Mendota.

TRIDENT members and Mendota Police searched the home of Matthew Arrendondo yesterday after getting information that he was dealing drugs from his home.  Investigators allegedly found cocaine in his home.

Arrendondo was taken to the county jail on the charge of unlawful possession of controlled substance with the intent to deliver.

Truck overturned I-39 ramp near Troy Grove

A spill caused by a truck that overturned Thursday morning outside of Troy Grove has been cleared.

It happened before 8am on the on ramp to southbound Interstate 39 from Route 52.  Police haven’t said how the accident happened or what was spilled.

Over 60 WWII veterans reserve seats for “Pillars of Honor”

The original scale model of the World War Two monument in Washington D-C is coming to the La Salle VFW this weekend. The exhibit is called “Pillars of Honor”.

Elton Murphy, the Commander of the VFW Post 4668, says over 60 World War Two veterans have reserved seats for programs Saturday and Sunday, though everyone is invited.

Murphy says people will be coming from the Veteran’s Home in La Salle and a couple of other nursing homes.

The programs are at 2pm Saturday and Sunday.

Last day for early voting

Thursday is the last day to cast an early vote in Illinois.

The early voting location in La Salle County is the basement of the Etna Road Governmental Complex.  You don’t have to give a reason why you’re choosing to vote early instead of waiting for Tuesday’s Election Day.

Thursday is also the last day county clerk offices will accept absentee ballot applications by mail.