Over A Dozen Area Post Offices Could Close

Several area post offices are on the chopping block.

The United States Postal Service released a so-called post office study list where stamps and flat-rate packaging would be done at village stores instead of post offices.  On the potential closure list in La Salle County are post offices in Cedar Point, Dana, Leonore, Rutland, Troy Grove, Triumph, and Wedron.  Bureau County post offices on the chopping block are in Bureau, Arlington, Seatonville and Van Orin.  In Putnam County, Magnolia, Mark and Standard post offices could close.

A post office statement says mail customers “have made it clear they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business”.  Since postal officials say most people do their business online, they feel there’s less need to have 32 thousand post offices nationwide.

Police say man arrested for drugs after stalling in a construction zone

If you’re hauling drugs, better make sure you have enough gas.

John Brown of Calumet Park was arrested Sunday night on Interstate 80 east of Princeton for possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.  After Brown ran out of gas in a construction zone, a trooper came to assist him and says he smelled drugs.  A K-9 was brought in and allegedly found 150 grams of cannabis in the engine compartment of Brown’s car.

Brown was also ticketed for driving with a suspended license.  He was taken to the Bureau County Jail.

 

More money for building demolition including in La Salle appropriations

From salaries to the cost of stamps, money that the City of La Salle could spend between now and next May is included in the appropriations.  The city council Monday night approved a plan that has the city spending 4.46 million dollars more than they plan to make from taxes.         Traditionally, towns don’t spend all of the money that’s included.

Mayor Jeff Grove says they haven’t planned for any large capital projects but more money is included for building demolition.

A copy of the appropriations is available at city hall if you want to give it a closer look.

Probation For Lacon Teen Who Set Cat On Fire

A Lacon teen who admitted to burning a cat to death was given probation.

The 16-year old boy was given 30 months probation Monday in Marshall County Court after pleading guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals.  He will be on home confinement until the school year starts and have to undergo counseling.  The boy goes to Midland High School.

A family in Varna gave the boy a disoriented house cat in late February so that he could put it down with a bullet.  The boy instead admits to setting it on fire and leaving it to die.

Two other young teens from Lacon and 17-year old Derek Weide of Magnolia are awaiting trials for burning the cat.

Mendota Man Publishes Book

If writing a book is on your bucket list, you could learn a few things from man in Mendota.  Miles Truckenbrod recently self-published his first book, “Girl Shaped Shadows”.   The novel is about a man named Miles who’s writing a book.

Truckenbrod says after wanting to write a book for many years and was able to focus and write a rough draft in seven months. The writing was followed by a year of editing, which he did himself, something he says he won’t do again.  He says his trick to keeping his focus while writing is to start by writing the ending.  The book is just over 100 pages long.

Truckenbrod worked through Second City Books to get the book published and place for sale online.  In the end, he says it’s been a fantastic process.

“Girl Shaped Shadows” is on sale at Amazon dot com and in the coming weeks, Barnes and Noble dot com.

Ottawa Lawyer Wants To Be A Judge

The ballot is already filling up for the 2012 General Election.

Attorney Anita Kopko has announced she is running on the Democratic ticket in a Circuit Judge race for La Salle County.  County Board attorney Troy Holland is also running for the same spot as a Republican.

Kopko works for the law firm Pool, Leigh & Kopko in Ottawa.  She’s provided legal counsel for Marseilles and Ottawa City Councils in the past.  Kopko was just elected to the Ottawa High School Board in April.  She’ll have to give up that position if elected judge.

Judge James Lannon holds the seat that Kopko is trying to win.

Detassler Missing For A Week

A week since he went missing, police say they’re still searching for a migrant corn detassler.

36 year old Humberto Sanchez was last seen getting a drink of water last Tuesday morning while detassling corn south of Rock Falls.  Investigators aren’t sure if he just left the job or fell victim to the extreme heat.

Sanchez is among a large group of migrant workers detassling corn in Whiteside County who have been staying in Spring Valley.

If you have information about Sanchez, call the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department.

Two Teen Girls Killed While Detasseling

TAMPICO, Ill. (AP) – Two farm workers were killed in an electrocution accident while they were detasseling corn near Tampico.

The Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department says four crew members received an electrical shock when they came into contact with a farm irrigator Monday. Several others also felt the shock. Pronounced dead at CGH Medical Center in Sterling were Jade Garza and Hannah Kendall, both 14, of Sterling. Two others were seriously injured in the accident, one was airlifted to St. Anthony’s Hospital in Rockford. The other was being treated at CGH Medical Center.

Officials say six other workers were treated for non-life threatening injuries. About 72 people working for Monsanto Corp. were detasseling corn in a field when the accident occurred.