Weekend Rain Not Stopping Drought

Even with some rain this past weekend, it’ll take a lot more to end the drought.

According to the National Weather Service, the entire listening area is experiencing moderate drought conditions.  However places like Livingston and McLean Counties are considered to be experiencing severe drought conditions so it’s creeping farther north.

Just to reach near normal precipitation for this time of year, the listening area needs 9 to 12 inches of rain.  Unfortunately the two-week outlook calls for below normal precipitation.

Alcohol Blamed For Fall At Starved Rock

Drinking and hiking with your friends sounds like a good time until someone falls 40 feet into a canyon.  A man had to be flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria after falling into French Canyon Sunday at Starved Rock State Park.

Andrew Dusek was in good condition this afternoon.  Another man also fell but wasn’t hurt.  Several people were arrested for underage drinking and going off the marked trails.

Rash Of Car Burglaries In Spring Valley

If you live on the east side of Spring Valley, may want to see if your car was broken into.

Officers are looking into over 30 reports of cars being burglarized Sunday morning.  The burglaries were in Webster Park, on West 2^nd Place, and at West 3^rd and 4^th Streets.  Investigators say in every case but one the car was left unlocked.  Cash was the primary thing stolen from cars.

If you have information about the Spring Valley car burglaries, call the police department or Illinois Valley Crimestoppers.

Army Vet Killed In Crash Near Newark

An Army veteran is dead after a crash near Newark.

The Grundy County Coroner says 25-year old Ryan Horne of Yorkville was at the intersection of Newark and Lisbon Road last night when for whatever reason he left the road and was thrown from his car.  He was taken to Morris Community Hospital and died minutes later.

The coroner says there were witnesses to the crash and more details could come later during the investigation.  No one else was injured.

Horne was staying with his mom in Yorkville after returning home from a tour of duty in the Army.

Mendota Relay For Life Raises Thousands Of Dollars

Nice weather and strong participation helped the Relay for Life of Upper Illinois Valley turn out successfully.  Mitch Landgraft with the Relay says they raised $150,000, about $10,000 more than their goal.  He says it was just awesome.

The Relay was Saturday night at Lake Mendota.  At the busiest time of the night an estimated 1,100 people were there.  It was the third time for the event.  He says they’ll begin planning the fourth one soon.