Heat advisory issued for most of Illinois

Wednesday will be a great day for staying inside with the A/C running.  Almost anywhere you go will be included in a heat advisory issued by the National Weather Service.  The advisory will be in place Wednesday from 11am until 10pm.

Temperatures are predicted to top out above 100 degrees.

Illinois Valley Food Pantry needs donations

A box of cereal, canned vegetables, and produce from your garden would be appreciated at the Illinois Valley Food Pantry in La Salle.  Staff say supplies are running low and they need anything you could donate.

They’ll even take cash so they can buy food.

You can donate to the pantry by visiting them on Marquette Street Monday through Friday.

Jury selected for Drew Peterson murder trial

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) – A full jury has been selected for the murder trial of former suburban Chicago police officer Drew Peterson.

The last members of the panel were selected Tuesday afternoon. The 12 jurors and four alternates will get the next few days off and begin hearing testimony after opening statements next week.

Seven men and five women are on the jury. Nine jurors are white, three are African-Americans and one is Hispanic.

Those chosen to decide Peterson’s fate include a part-time poet, a U.S. letter carrier, a woman who likes to read the National Inquirer and a research technician whose favorite TV show is “Criminal Minds.”

Peterson has pleaded not guilty in the 2004 death of his former wife Kathleen Savio.

Man Released From Custody Involving Earlville Stabbing

A man who was being questioned about a stabbing in Earlville is out of custody and won’t be charged.

La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne says after talking to the man who was stabbed Saturday afternoon, Ramon Gonzalez of Sandwich, it looks like Gonzalez was the aggressor.  Towne says the other man involved was in his own trailer when he stabbed Gonzalez multiple times.

Gonzalez is being treated at Rockford Memorial Hospital.  Towne says he was alert when talking to investigators Monday.

Benefit Planned 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.

Sheridan Prison Will Take On More Inmates

The pending closure of the Dwight Correctional Center will impact the prison in Sheridan.

Under Governor Quinn’s plan, the thousand or so inmates at Dwight’s women’s prison will be transferred to Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln.  To help Lincoln with overcrowding, around 300 prisoners in Lincoln will be transferred up to Sheridan.

Despite lawmaker attempts to come up with money to keep Dwight Correctional Center open, the governor still plans to close it August 30^th.  Over 300 people work at the Dwight prison including many driving from La Salle County.

Bond Amount Set For Hate Crime Defendant

A La Salle man charged with a hate crime stepped in front of a judge.

Ronnie Martin was in court Monday and his bond set at 40 thousand dollars.  He was arrested Saturday night for aggravated battery and a hate crime.

La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne says Martin and another man shouted racial slurs at a black man at the 4-Star Campground in Marseilles before beating him up.  The victim was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa.

As of yesterday, Towne said Investigators were looking for a second man allegedly involved in the hate crime.

Goodwill Says No More TV’s

Have an old television you need to get rid of?  Don’t take it to Goodwill.

The company announced that starting August 1^st, they will no longer accept televisions as donations or for recycling.  Company officials say it’s because of a new state law that bans garbage companies from picking up TV’s.  Televisions now have to be disposed of by licensed recycling companies.

In making their policy change, Goodwill suggested taking your TV to either Clover Technologies or Cimco Recycling in Ottawa.

Ottawa Cops Looking To Shop With Needy Kids

Names are being taken for the annual “Shop with a Cop” program in Ottawa.

The Ottawa Police Benevolent and Protective Association is looking for needy children to take back to school shopping.  Parents, family members, friends, school officials can submit the name of a child to the Ottawa PD by Friday, August 10^th.  A time will then be set for the child to go school supply shopping with an officer.

In the past, Ottawa Police have looked for children in the Ottawa school district.