Towne seeking another term as La Salle County State’s Attorney

Do you think Brian Towne is doing a good job as La Salle County’s State’s Attorney?  You’ll have a chance to let him know.  Towne says he’s running for another term as a democrat.

Towne became the lead prosecutor after previous states attorney Joe Hettel was made a judge in 2006.   He says the biggest contributing factor to crime in La Salle County is drugs.

He’s unopposed in the spring primary and so far, in next fall’s General Election.

Caterpillar plans improvements in East Peoria

EAST PEORIA, Ill. (AP) – Caterpillar Inc. officials say one of the company’s East Peoria manufacturing plants is undergoing $200 million in improvements.

The Journal Star reports the plants is one of the oldest of Caterpillar’s facilities in East Peoria. The company says the effort will improve production of tractors. The plant makes undercarriages. Work should be done in three to four years. Caterpillar made the announcement Friday.

Improvements will include installing new high-tech manufacturing equipment and renovating the building. It has been in use since 1929. About 200 employees work at the facility.

Caterpillar group president Stu Levenick says some changes have already happened at the plant. He calls it “bright and cutting-edge.”

Garage Burns Down On West End Of Ottawa

A garage and pickup truck burned during a fire in Ottawa.

Firefighters were called to a fully engulfed two-car garage being on fire just after eight last night.  They had the fire in the 1400 block of West Jefferson Street under control in 20 minutes.

The garage and a dodge pickup were lost in the fire.  They both belong to Aric Gerald.  His home and a neighbor’s house also sustained melted siding and broken windows.  No one was injured.

The state fire marshal’s office is helping to find a cause of the fire.

House Catches Fire In Spring Valley

A husband and wife are looking for a new place to stay after their home caught fire.

Spring Valley firefighters responded to a fire just before midnight Thursday at 212 West Devlin Street.  They arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the attic of the one-story home.  Chief Todd Bogatitus says they were able to contain the fire to the attic but there’s extensive water, fire and smoke damage throughout the home making it unlivable.

The cause of the fire is under investigation but it’s not considered suspicious.  Firefighters were on scene for about two hours.

Fatal Crash Involved Streator Driver

A woman from Livingston County was killed in a crash and a man from Streator is blamed for it.

Daryll Stutzman of Streator was arrested late Sunday night for DUI and failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.  He was driving a Jeep Wrangler on Route 116 near Pontiac when his passenger, 31 year old Lisa Loyer of Graymont fell out as Stutzman was making a turn.  Police say Stutzman’s Jeep doesn’t have doors.

Loyer was flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria where she died Monday morning.  Stutzman was taken to the Livingston County Jail where he posted bond.  He could face more severe charges since Loyer died.

Job Scene Worsening In Illinois

Illinois’ unemployment rate shot up almost half a percentage point in August to 9.9 percent. And state officials are blaming the continuing struggles of the national economy and weak consumer confidence.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security said Thursday that Illinois’ unemployment rate surged from 9.5 percent in July. The number of unemployed people in Illinois actively looking for work increased in August by 25,400 to 653,000. That’s an increase of 4 percent.

The national unemployment rate stayed at 9.1 percent.

Upcoming Flu Shot Clinics In La Salle County

If you’re feeling the sniffles coming on, a flu shot wouldn’t be a bad idea.

The La Salle County Health Department has some flu shot clinics coming up in the next few months.  The next clinic is Thursday from 1 until 5 at the health department office in Ottawa.  There’s three clinics scheduled in late October for the health department office, Rutland Township Hall in Marseilles and Wildwood Communities in Sandwich.

Adult flu shots thru the county cost 25 dollars.  Children flu shots are 10 dollars.