IDOT shares the comments that received about Rt 89 bridge

You see a lot of cars taking the Route 89 bridge in Spring Valley, you’ll also find a lot of trucks hauling goods for local businesses.  Fears of what will happen when a new bridge is built have a lot of people asking IDOT to keep the crossing open.

Nearly 127 people were at an IDOT informational meeting regarding the Route 89 bridge in April. Even more people filled out comment cards saying they don’t want the bridge to be closed out of concern it would hurt local businesses.

IDOT says many others were worried about emergency services when and if the crossing is closed.  Most people say they want the old bridge to remain open while a new one is built.

IDOT says they’re working on environmental surveys and engineering studies.  They plan to have a follow up informational meeting this fall.

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is Saturday

You know that Thanksgiving and Christmas put a big demand on local food pantries.  Summer vacation also increases demand.

That’s why the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is important for the Illinois Valley Food Pantry.  Letter carries will be collecting food donations while they deliver mail Saturday.

Donna Hess is the executive director of the pantry.   She says they’re low on food and hope what’s collected Saturday will last them through half of the summer.

If you receive mail you can donate food.  Put your canned or boxed foods in grocery bags and leave them out at your mailbox to be picked up.  You could also leave items at your post office.

The food will be distributed to the food pantry that serves your community. Canned vegetables and fruits and pasta products are good items to give.

Spring Valley teen accused of having a controlled substance at school

Having pills that belong to somebody else could leave you with drug charges.  A student at Hall High School was arrested Thursday for possession of a controlled substance after school administrators called the police.

A 16 year old boy is accused of having a prescription medication that wasn’t his.  He was taken to the detention home in La Salle County.

Two Convicted La Salle County Murderers At Same Prison

A two-time convicted murderer from Streator has reported to prison.

45-year old James Alvarado began his 45 year prison sentence Tuesday at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill.  He was found guilty of shooting and killing his wife Angela last month during a retrial.  During a fight in 2006, Alvarado says he found out his wife was cheating on him.  He began shaking and blacked out and when he woke up, his wife had been shot.  The jury didn’t buy the story.

Joining Alvarado at Stateville is Seneca’s Keith Mackowiak.  He showed up there last month after being sentenced to life for murdering Al and Catherine Twardowski in 2007.

Volunteers Needed To Beautify Marseilles War Memorial

If you haven’t visited the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial along Marseilles riverfront, you’re missing out.  Here’s your chance to see the wall and also do some volunteer work.

Volunteers are needed to move dirt and level grass and flower bed areas after sidewalk replacement and drainage installation tore up the landscaping around the wall.  You’re asked to meet at the wall tomorrow at 1.

Prior to the landscaping work, there’s a meeting at noon tomorrow in Marseilles to gather volunteers for next month’s Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Run.  This meeting starts at noon inside the American Legion Hall.

Illinois River Falling

The Illinois River should fall back below flood stage in a matter of hours.

A Flood Warning remains in effect for the Illinois in La Salle.  However the river is just a foot above flood stage right now and is expected to fall back below flood stage this evening.

After heavy weekend rain, the Illinois River in La Salle peaked at three feet above flood stage Wednesday afternoon.

Bishop Jenky Not Taking Back Hitler Comparison

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) – An online religious community has joined calls for Bishop Daniel Jenky to apologize for comparing
President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler. But the bishop isn’t budging.

More than 23,000 signatures gathered online at the Faithful America website call on Bishop Jenky to apologize. They were delivered Wednesday to the Diocese of Peoria.

Jenky last month said during a service that Obama’s health care policies are like Hitler and Joseph Stalin in trying “to force Christians to huddle and hide only within the confines of their churches.” The diocese says in a statement that Jenky has received support locally and from around the country. The statement says Jenky was defending religious freedom and his statement had been distorted and misunderstood.