Ottawa pharmacy robbed, police look for red pickup truck

A pharmacy on the south side of Ottawa was a target for a man with a knife.  Police are looking for a man that held up the Health Mart Pharmacy on First Avenue minutes before 4:30pm Friday.

The man is described as white and skinny.  Police think he was wearing a baseball cap, American Eagle sweatshirt and jeans.  They believe he left in a red GMC or Ford pickup truck.

If you have any information, call the Ottawa Police Department.

Storm knocks down tree branches and affects some power lines

If you were hoping for rain, you probably got a little of that.  A storm that moved through La Salle County Friday afternoon brought lightening and wind that’s left some power poles damaged, tree limbs down and some areas without power.

Firefighters in Oglesby were called to a house a Portland Avenue that was possible hit by lightening.

More storms are possible Friday night and Saturday.

Men’s Club receives permission to dam lake, saving boat races

There will be boat races at Lake DePue this summer.  The DePue Men’s Club received permission from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources today to dam Lake DePue in order to raise the water level to a height suitable for racing.

Eric Bryant with the DePue Men’s Club was under pressure from the racing organization A.P.B.A. to raise the lake water level by about two feet or loose the championship races.

Bryant says Starline Construction of Ladd will build a sandbag dam at the mouth of the lake and water from the Illinois River will be pumped in.  The dam will be removed after the races.

The races are scheduled for July 27 through the 29.  There will also be food and music.

Fundraiser For Marseilles Girl Hit By Car

A Marseilles girl hit by a car three weeks ago is still in critical condition.

12-year old Jennifer Dennis is being treated at Loyola University Health Systems in Chicago.  She was found unresponsive the night of June 21^st after being hit north of Marseilles on County Highway 15.  Police haven’t released the name of the driver.

To help the girl’s family, a benefit car wash and cookout is happening tomorrow from 10:30 until 3 at the Twin Oaks Savings Bank parking lot.  There will be food and drinks plus kids games.

Kid Rock Concert Day Arrives

If you’re wondering what the crowd is at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport, it’s fans of Kid Rock, the musician who is headlining Friday tonight’s Lou’s LaGrotto’s Concerts of Cause.

You can still buy a ticket at the gate for 65 dollars.

The music begins at 7:30pm with opening act Dirty Guv’nahs.  Kid Rock is expected to take the stage between 9 and 9:30pm.

Proceeds are going to buy computers for Trinity Catholic Academy in La Salle.

Illinois Town Limits Number Of Pets Because Of Smell

KINCAID, Ill. (AP) – People say something just plain smells in Kincaid, and they hope a new ordinance might put an end to it.

Leaders in the small central Illinois village near Springfield passed an ordinance Monday capping cats and dog ownership to three per household. But pet owners who have four or more animals at home don’t have to find any of them new homes.

Mayor Tony Pezze says dogs and cats already in town are OK. Owners will just have to limit themselves to three after their current pets die.

Healthy Eating Celeb Helps Feed Ottawa Inmates

Seattle Sutton of all people is helping keep La Salle County Jail inmates fed.

A large refrigerator went down recently at the jail leaving the county to frantically find a place for jail food.  County board member Jim Olson says Seattle Sutton donated a refrigerator truck at no cost to store the food.  Olson praised Sutton for “coming to the rescue”.

He says a new refrigeration unit is a few weeks away.

Civil Unions Slowing Down In La Salle County

After a fast start, Civil Union marriages slowed down in La Salle County.

County Clerk JoAnne Caretto says she handed out 7 Civil Union licenses from December thru last month.  That’s compared to 22 licenses handed out from when Civil Unions became legal last June thru November.

Civil Union licenses and fees have brought in 520 dollars revenue.