Child Drowns in Streator

A drowning in Streator has the Streator Police Department and La Salle County Coroner’s office investigating.  It happened Friday afternoon.  A young child was involved.  Investigators haven’t given out the name of the child and the circumstances surrounding the drowning.

Stabbing Remains Under Investigation In Peru

A warrant for attempted murder and aggravated battery has been issued for the man accused of stabbing a 15 year old girl in Peru.  Richard Vasquez of Peru remains hospitalized after hurting himself during the ordeal that began early Thursday morning and ended with four people injured and a car crash.

Vasquez is accused of stabbing a 15 year old girl in the home he had been staying at for a couple of weeks.  He’s also accused of hurting a woman in the house and a man in La Salle.

Police say after the stabbing, Vasquez drove a stolen car to La Salle, trashed it, and tried to steal another car but was confronted and ultimately jumped through a window.  He was arrested soon afterwards.

Vazquez and the girl were being hospitalized at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  He could be arrested by police in Peoria and held for La Salle County sheriff’s deputies.

Traffic near Marseilles slows traffic on I-80

Interstate 80 traffic was slow going due to an accident near the Marseilles exit.  The one-car crash happened shortly before 3:30pm Friday in the westbound lanes.

At least one person was taken to Ottawa Regional Hospital.  Police haven’t said yet what caused it or who was involved.

Flash mob planned for Big Time Rush concert

If you go to the “Big Time Rush” concert in Peru next month, you’ll get more than a musical performance.  Fans of all ages are brushing up their dance moves for the Illinois Valley’s biggest “flashmob” that will take place during the concert.

Anyone interested in taking part can attend the rehearsals on Tuesday, July 27, Tuesday, August 2  and Tuesday, August 9 at the Y in Peru.  Rehearsals will begin at 7pm.

The concert is part of Lou’s LaGrotto’s Concerts for a Cause series. It’s sponsored by 99.3 WAJK.  Proceeds from the concert will go to the Peru Pool Fund.  Learn more by visiting www.993wajk.com.

Local artists prepares for La Salle’s phantom art gallery

An empty store front on First Street in La Salle is being converted into a place for you view local art work.  The phantom art gallery will be in the front windows of the old Blakley’s building across the street from Stage 212.

Francie Skoflanc is with North Central Illinois Art Works and one of the committees working on beautifying the downtown.  She says they’ve been cleaning and painting the space to make it look professional for the grand opening next week.

Paper cover the windows until it’s ready to be unveiled Friday, July 29.  The public program is at 5:15pm.  She says the first display includes large pieces of work and that they hope to update the display every six weeks.

They’ve also received permission from the city to do a similar gallery in the windows of the public works building on 2^nd Street.

You can learn more about the art gallery by listening to the complete interview with Skoflanc at the AM 1220 WLPO news page.   You can learn more about North Central Illinois Art Works by visiting their website www.nciaw.org.

Cardinals Send L-P Grad Packing

The search is on for a new team for L-P grad Brett Zawacki.

The 22-year old right handed pitcher was released Thursday by the St. Louis Cardinals.   Zawacki was drafted in the 12^th round by St. Louis in 2007.  He suffered through injury problems with torn ACL in 2009 and then an infection from his knee surgery in 2010.

Zawacki made it to the Cardinal’s Double-A team in Springfield, Missouri before his release.

Ottawa Man Dies After Motorcycle Crash

A motorcycle crash has killed a man from Ottawa.

31 year old Micah Towne was pronounced dead Wednesday afternoon at St. Francis Medical Center.  Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll says he died because of multiple injuries from a crash.  Towne was able to have his organs donated.

He was fatally injured July 9^th when he hit an SUV head-on at Starved Rock State Park.  Towne wasn’t wearing a helmet.

Heat Not Going Away

The breath taking heat will be sticking around through the weekend.

The listening area is once again under an Excessive Heat Warning through today with highs in the low 90s and heat index values topping 105.  Saturday could even be a little warmer today while Sunday’s high temperature is in the low 90s.

Relief should finally come Monday with a high temperature in the low 80s.  There is a chance of thunderstorms over the next four days.