Streator Man Accused Of Food Stamps Fraud

Times are tough, so tough that one man from the area apparently lied to get food stamps.

Scott Grady of Streator was indicted this week for state benefits fraud.  Prosecutors say he didn’t report employment income and unemployment insurance benefits received by family members on his food stamp application.  Grady is accused of using over 300 dollars worth of illegal food stamps from September 2008 thru July 2009.

He’s due in La Salle County Court next Thursday.

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Area Farmer Injured In Tractor Accident

An elderly man from McNabb is hurting after a farming accident.

McNabb emergency responders were called out to a farm just before two o’clock Wednesday afternoon for a man who said he ran himself over with a tractor.  He was taken to the McNabb Fire Station for a lifeflight transfer to an area hospital.

A Putnam County dispatcher says he suffered leg and pelvic injuries.

Blago To Speak

CHICAGO (AP) – Rod Blagojevich is taking his case to the media a week before it goes to court.

A public relations firm representing the ousted Illinois governor says he’ll make a three-minute statement outside his
Chicago home this evening. It says he’ll address his corruption case but offers no details.

Blagojevich’s retrial is scheduled to start in one week.  He faces  20 charges, including that he sought to sell or trade President Barack  Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat.

Mendota Man Charged With Ramming Squad Cars

A man accused of ramming two different Mendota squad cars is out on bond.

Jesus Orozco of Mendota was indicted Tuesday for aggravated battery and two counts of criminal damage to state supported property.  Mendota Police got a call last Monday night for a battery and criminal damage to property complaint.  When Orozco saw police coming after him, he allegedly swerved his car into the driver’s side of a Mendota squad car.  Orozco then drove away while the officer who was hit was taken to Mendota Community Hospital where he was treated and released.

Investigators say Orozco then drove into oncoming traffic on Burlington Street and hit another squad car head-on.  That officer wasn’t hurt.

Orozco is out of jail after posting 75 hundred dollars bond.

Suspected cocaine dealer arrested in La Salle

A couple of alleged cocaine deals in La Salle led to a home being searched and a man arrested.

Investigators with TRIDENT say Wesley Thompson of La Salle twice sold cocaine to people working the investigators Tuesday on the southeast side of town.

His home in the 300 block of Sterling Street was search and he was arrested for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Thompson was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Steel band to perform at LPHS

Something a little different is coming to LP High School.  The Northern Illinois University World Steelband will perform at 7pm Wednesday in the auditorium.  Admission is five dollars.

Job fair planned for IVCC

With unemployment rates in double figures, IVCC’s 20^th annual Job Fair should be a popular destination.

Over 50 employers, including La Salle County Broadcasting, will have a booth at the job fair.  John Spencer from will broadcast live from the fair starting at 11am on 99.3  WAJK.

Local Kiwanis Clubs are again partnering with the college to provide on-the-spot prep session opportunities for job seekers.  Dress professionally.

The fair is Thursday from 11 until 4 inside the IVCC gym.

Crews respond to barn fire near Utica

A vacant barn is toast after a blaze early Wednesday morning east of Utica.  The walls and roof of the barn had collapsed by the time Utica fire fighters arrived around 5am.

Assistant Fire Chief Gary Gbur says nothing was being stored in the barn and they weren’t sure yet who owns it.  The Naplate Fire Department provided assistance.  It was put out in about 30 minutes.

Gbur says they don’t have a cause yet and that the State Fire Marshall’s Office has been called.

Education rally talks about parental involvement

Getting families more involved with education is sometimes easier said than done.  Teachers, school board members, and others involved with education talked about ideas to engage parents during a program Tuesday hosted by the North Central Betterment Coalition and the Illinois P20 Council.

Jay McCracken is the superintendent of Putnam County Schools and had previously worked for La Salle Elementary Schools.  He talked about workshops they held that attracted many families such as a school picnic night, a soup dinner and movie night.

One area teacher wondered how to hold an event that attracts more than just the already involved parents.  Panel members suggested surveying parents to find out their needs.  McCracken added serving food and providing childcare helps too.

Other speakers included Kim Miller with the Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership and Debra Strauss with the Illinois Parent Teacher Association.