State Reopens Leland Lake After Virus Scare

You can swim once again at Hi-Tide Campground in Leland.

The Illinois Department of Public Health has allowed the lake to reopen after finding no direct link between the lake and over a dozen swimmers getting a virus.  Seventeen people at a party late in July all reported getting sick and since they all swam in the lake, the state shut it down as a precaution.

The Centers for Disease Control later diagnosed 11 of the people with Adenovirus, a respiratory illness with symptoms like a common cold.

Woman accused of hitting another woman with a bottle

A bottle was allegedly the weapon of choice for woman in Spring Valley.  Police were called to the Heather Apartments in Spring Valley Saturday night after a woman was hit on the head with a bottle.

Sinead Jones was arrested for aggravated battery and was taken to the Bureau County Jail.

A 23 year old woman was treated and released from St. Margaret’s Hospital.

Semaj Jones of Oglesby was arrested for assault.  He was released after posting bond.

Lipton Building fire considered “suspicious”

The fire that left the old Lipton Tea building in Streator unstable is considered suspicious.  Streator Fire Chief Tom Risley stopped short of calling the fire arson during a press conference Monday morning.

Police Chief Jeff Anderson says the Lipton fire is similar to 16 other suspicious fires since May 2011.

Mayor Jimmy Landsford says someone will ‘make mistake’ and be caught.

The four-story Lipton building was gutted by fire early Sunday morning.  The building will likely be torn down.

One firefighter was injured during the fire and was treated at St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator.

Ottawa Woman Killed In Crash

An Ottawa woman was killed in an early morning crash.

The Grundy County Coroner’s Office says 26-year old Brittany Judy died Saturday morning on Route 6 near Seneca.  Investigators say that Judy was riding with her boyfriend when he tried passing another car and lost control.  The boyfriend hit two trees, bounced back on the road and their car was then hit by a semi.

Judy was pronounced dead at the scene.  She was wearing a seatbelt and had to be cut out of the car.  The boyfriend was taken to Morris Hospital.

The crash is still under investigation.

Oswego Man’s Murder Trial Begins Today

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) – Opening statements are scheduled to begin in the trial of an Oswego man accused of fatally shooting his wife and three children.

A jury of four women and eight men will decide the fate of Christopher Vaughn, who’s on trial in Will County.  The jury was picked last week and prosecutors and the defense will begin making their cases Monday.

Vaughn is accused in the June 14, 2007, killings of his wife, Kimberly, and their three children – 12-year-old Abigayle, 11-year-old Cassandra and 8-year-old Blake.

Prosecutors contend Vaughn was driving his family in their SUV when he pulled onto a frontage road and shot them near Channahon, about 40 miles southwest of Chicago.

Vaughn has pleaded not guilty and contends his wife killed the children and then herself.