Mendota Relay For Life Quickly Approaching

The third annual Upper Relay for Life of Upper Illinois Valley is just a week away.

The relay at Lake Mendota is coming off a year where it raised 155 thousand dollars in the fight against cancer, ten times the money raised during the inaugural relay.  According to the relay’s website, nearly 500 people are signed up for next Friday and Saturday’s relay with nearly 87 thousand dollars raised online.

The relay kickoff is next Friday at 6 with cleanup Saturday morning at 6.  In between there will be guest speakers, cancer survivor recognitions and luminaria ceremony.

A brush fire and a field fire had Mendota and Peru firefighters called out

An electrical problem could be to blame for a brush fire in Peru and a power outage affected people in Spring Valley and Peru.

Peru firefighters were called around 1pm Thursday for grass along the north side of Route 6 burning.  Firefighters believe it may have started after something shorted on the electrical pole.  Ameren crews were working to restore service.

Meanwhile, firefighters from Mendota were called to a field fire on Route 34 around 12:45pm Thursday.  There were concerns about two diesel tractors that were in the area.

Few problems at Peru fireworks

No beer, no problem for the alcohol-free zone set up for the Peru fireworks.  The city tried something new Tuesday night by creating an area without alcohol on Water Street.

Police Chief Doug Bernabei says everything went well.  He says about 8 or 10 people went into the zone with beer and complied after being told about the restriction.

Police had to handle a couple of skirmishes and there was one minor arrest.

Spring Valley joins other towns in posting burning ban

Whether it’s to clear out yard waste or to roast marshmallows in the backyard, many towns are saying no to burning.  The latest town to issue a burn ban is Spring Valley.

Peru, Oglesby, Dalzell, Granville, and Lostant also have banned burning because of the dry conditions.  Field and grass fires have been common.  In most cases, you’ll be ticketed for breaking the ban.

Ottawa Fireworks Cut Short

If you went to this year’s Ottawa fireworks display you may have told yourself, “wow, that was a real short show”.

The show was cut short after Central States Fireworks had a computer malfunction early in the display.  Members of Ottawa First, the non-profit who raises money for the display say the company has agreed to do a complete redo at a later date.

No date has been determined yet.

River Rescue Called To Starved Rock

The holiday didn’t come and go without a fall at Starved Rock State Park.

Just before three yesterday afternoon, Conservation Police, Utica firefighters and Ottawa River Rescue were called to the park for a fall.  River Rescue Captain Dave Long says there was an injury but wouldn’t give more details.

You’ll get more details as they become available.

 

Heat Wave Continues A Few More Days

Back to reality after the holiday means same old scorching temperatures.

An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for the listening area thru Friday night.  High’s today and tomorrow will be between 100 and 105 with it feeling more like over 110 degrees with the humidity.

High temperature is expected to fall into the mid-80s by Sunday.

Car Drives Into Bureau County Business

Another car drove into an area building.

Sheffield fire and ambulance crews were called out to the Royal Super Mart Applicance Showroom Tuesday morning after a woman crashed into the building.  The driver was fine but the building’s entire front window was shattered.

The woman apparently hit the gas instead of the brake.  She was going next door to the Western Bureau County Food Pantry.