Cavalier Grad Latches On With New Team

It didn’t take long for L-P graduate Brett Zawacki to find another minor league baseball team.

After being released last week by the St. Louis Cardinals, the right-handed pitcher has been signed by the Florida Marlins.  He will report to Florida’s Single-A team in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Zawacki was drafted by St. Louis in 2007.  He was 3 and 2 this year for the Cardinals Double-A team in Springfield, Missouri before being released.

Local Congressman “Meets the Press”

Less than a week after talking tourism in La Salle, Congressman Adam Kinzinger was making his first ever appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press”.

The republican’s Sunday appearance got off to an odd start with host David Gregory calling him Rep. Andrew Kinzinger.  Kinzinger’s first answer was whether the current status quo is how Washington should operate and he answered no.  Kinzinger says Washington is broken and it’s become personal yet he went on to say voters would be impressed with discussions the parties have and that they get belong behind the scenes.

The congressman was then asked if he thought compromise was failing and he said no.  Kinzinger says he is ready to raise the debt ceiling but it comes with a spending trajectory plan also in place.

Kinzinger also expressed disappointment that the space program has ended because of the huge debt.

 

Ottawa Mansion Hit By Lightning

Lightning damaged the Reddick Mansion in Ottawa.

Firefighters went to the mansion just before 8 o’clock Sunday morning after a lightning strike set off a fire alarm.  Several bricks came crashing down off the mansion’s chimney, damaging a window, lawn furniture and an air conditioner.

The strike also knocked down power lines.  Ameren reported over 80 customers at one point Sunday morning were without power in Ottawa.

Much Needed Rain For Area

Sunday morning’s storms have brought some much needed rain for the Illinois Valley.

Storm spotters in both La Salle and Oglesby reported an inch of rain between 7 and 8 this morning.  The AM 1220 WLPO Studios has over 1.2 inches of rain since midnight.

A weather service spotter in Marseilles also reported a wind gust at 60 miles per hour.

Storms Roll Into Area

Sunday morning came in with a bang across the Illinois Valley.

A line of storms rolled through the area around seven o’clock, leaving behind tree branches and power lines strewn about area yards and roads.  There have also been reports of chimneys being hit by lightning.

A few fire calls have also come in with a grass fire at the I &M Canal in Ottawa and a fire alarm set off at the Reddick Mansion in Ottawa.