Teen Accused Of Forging Several Checks In Mendota

A teen from Mendota is accused of using several phony checks.

Brennan Cassidy was arrested Friday on a La Salle County Warrant for felony forgery.  Investigators say he was arrested after an investigation into numerous reports of forged checks written in the Mendota area.

Cassidy was taken to the county jail on 30 thousand dollars bond.

UFO Enthusiasts Will Gather In Utica

As one famous sci-fi television show once said, “the truth is out there”.  People trying to find the truth about unidentified flying objects will descend on Starved Rock.

The statewide meeting of the Illinois chapter of MUFON, or Mutual UFO Network is next Saturday at Starved Rock Lodge.  Speakers will include a Hollywood producer, UFO historians and authors and an open forum for people to give their account of UFO sightings.

Chapter President Sam Maranto is among those who’ve seen a UFO.  He says his colleagues shouldn’t be confused with Trekkies or Star Wars geeks. He says they are investigators, not believers.

Congressman Wants To Hear Your Gas Price Gripes

Got a beef about gas prices?  Share them with your congressman in Ottawa.

Republican Adam Kinzinger is hosting a town hall meeting Monday night about gas prices.  The discussion will start at 7 inside Ottawa City Hall.

Before the Ottawa get together, Kinzinger will have a 1:40 tour of Transco Products in Streator followed by a three o’clock tour of Home Depot in Peru.

Home Prices Tick Up In The Valley

The going rate for homes in the listening area is pretty similar to what they were a year ago.

The average selling price of a home in La Salle County in March was over 97 thousand dollars, a one percent increase from 2011.  In Bureau County, the average price of a sold home was over 88 thousand dollars, a two percent increase from last year.  For Putnam County, the average selling price was 147 thousand dollars, a 200 percent increase from last year.

More homes have been sold this year in La Salle and Bureau County’s than last year but numbers are down in Putnam County.