Gas leak found and repaired in Peru

Strong winds are being blamed for a broken gas line on top of a shopping center in Peru.  Somebody smelled gas Wednesday afternoon in the area of MC Sports and Goodwill.  Firefighters went on the roof and found a gas line for a heater had broken.

Rick Abbott with the Peru Fire Department says the wind probably caught it and broke it.  Crews with Ameren were able to repair it.

Earlier in day, firefighters were at Pizza Hut for cigarette butts that caused the mulch to begin smoldering.

Ladd man accused of criminal sexual abuse

An investigation that started in January has a man from Ladd accused of being sexual with a teenager.

44 year old Darren Crow was arrested Tuesday by Bureau County Sheriff’s Deputies for Criminal Sexual Abuse.  Police believe he had sexual contact with a 15 year old. He’s out of jail after posting bond.

IDOT planning to closed an area of I-80 WB

You are used to seeing construction work on a stretch of Interstate 80 in Bureau County.  Westbound traffic will be detoured to Route 6 starting Thursday evening.

IDOT says westbound I-80 will be closed from the I-180 interchange to the Princeton exit from 7pm Thursday through 7am Friday.  During that time you’ll be detoured on to Route 6.

IDOT says they need to close the road so they can fix traffic control devices in the work zone.

La Salle residents need to call before setting out lawn waste

The hum of lawn mowers can be heard across the Illinois Valley.  While the grass is green and many flowers are blooming, your yard could still have a lot of leaves and dead vegetation from last year.

Lawn waste bag pickup begins Monday in La Salle.  To have yard waste picked up you’ll need to have it in a paper lawn waste bag with a$2 pink city sticker.  You’ll also have to call Illinois Valley Waste Services in Princeton to have your house added to their pickup route.

Lawn bags will only be picked up on Mondays.

Major Employer In Mendota Closing

It looks like the area is being dealt another blow with a major business closing.

Sources have told AM 1220 WLPO that employees were called into a meeting today to say the magazine and newsletter printing company is closing.  The NewsTribune is reporting the company plans to close in late May.

Messages left at the headquarters in Chicago and the plant in Mendota have not been returned.

Closed School Coming Down In La Salle

An old school building that’s been an eyesore on the north end of La Salle for years will be torn down by October.

The city of La Salle has received a grant to pay for demolition of Matthiessen School.

Asbestos has already been removed.

Federal Porn Charges For Ottawa Man

Federal child porn charges are what a man from Ottawa is facing.

55-year old Jay Widemann was indicted in federal court in Chicago on two felony counts of receipt and possession of child pornography.  He’s since posted bond and has a May court date.

Ottawa Detective Kyle Booras says his department along with the FBI began investigating distribution of child porn in Ottawa back in January of 2009.  Booras says it started after Dutch National Police mentioned a website based in their country.

As part of his bond, Widemann has a curfew, under house arrest and an ankle monitor.

Three Car Crash With Injuries In Spring Valley

Three people went to the hospital after a fender bender in Spring Valley.

Cynthia Burch of Spring Valley told police she was coming down West Dakota Street yesterday morning when she thought cars in front of her were moving.  They weren’t and she ended up rear-ending Penny Decker of Peru who then was pushed into the back of the car driven by Douglas Johnson of Spring Valley.

Burch and her passenger Johanna Perez of Spring Valley were taken to St. Margaret’s Hospital.  Mary Balma of Dalzell was riding with Decker.  She was taken to IVCH.

Burch was ticketed for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.