Early Voting Begins

Going to be out of the area on Election Day?  Early voting starts Monday in Illinois.

To cast an early vote you just need to show a picture ID.  Early voting in La Salle County is at the county clerk’s office.  Early voting in Bureau County is at the county clerk’s office and Spring Valley City Hall.  In Putnam County you can cast an early vote in the county clerk’s office.

The last day for early voting is November 3^rd.  The last day to mail in absentee ballots is November 1^st.  The General Election is November 6^th.

La Salle Being Honored For Energy Use

There will be a new plaque to hang up inside La Salle City Hall.

Ameren officials plan to hand La Salle Mayor Jeff Grove a “Most Progressive City” award this morning.  The award is to recognize “significant” energy efficiency efforts made by La Salle businesses.

Businesses in La Salle have taken advantage of Ameren’s ActOnEnergy program that provides cash incentives to install more energy efficient equipment.

Weapon Charges For Alleged Sheridan Gang Member

You’re never too old to be in a street gang.  Charges were elevated for a 61 year old Sheridan man since he’s accused of being a street gang member.

Paul Diebold was stopped Sunday morning near Somonauk and arrested for DUI.  He was also picked up for unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon by a street gang member.

Diebold was taken to the DeKalb County Jail.

Utica Firemen at Starved Rock

Utica Firemen were called to Starved Rock around 2:40pm. No other details are available.

police threatened by nude armed woman

Authorities say two off-duty Florida law-enforcement officers have fatally shot an armed, naked woman who confronted them at a social gathering. The shooting occurred sometime Saturday in Hernando County. The county sheriff’s office said in a news release that the men were approached by an “armed, naked and irrational female.” The news release does not identify the weapon, but it says “one or both of the law enforcement officers fired their weapons, striking the female.” She died at the scene. Both officers have been placed on administrative leave as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigates. Authorities have identified the officers as Hernando County sheriff’s Detective Rocky Howard and Tampa police officer William Mechler, who have served six and four years, respectively. Tampa police say Mechler was “off duty and acting in the capacity of a private citizen.”

Shooting near Milwaukee mall

Deputies are searching for a shooter after multiple people were wounded when someone opened fire at a spa near a suburban Milwaukee shopping mall. Brookfield police told WTMJ-AM the shooting happened about 11 a.m. Sunday at a spa across the street from the Brookfield Square Mall. The mall and a county club adjacent to the spa were locked down, local media reported. Milwaukee FBI spokesman Leonard Peace said its SWAT team, hostage negotiators and others were helping with the response. But he declined to say how many FBI personnel were involved in all or provide details on what had happened.  Robert Schmidt, spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said it had 10 agents participating. A spokeswoman for Froedtert Memorial Hospital, said four shooting victims were taken there, and three more were expected.

Dr. Farley fondly remembered

Obstetrician / Gynecologist Dr. William J. Farley being remembered fondly by patients and medical professionals. Farley passed away at the age of 91 Thursday in his home. His career spanned 57 years and 15-thousand babies as he worked between Peru Medical Center and IVCH – known then as Peoples’ Hospital. Dr. Mark Fernandez has a family practice in an adjoining building to IVCH and remembers Farley when the two worked late in the night delivering babies. Fernandez said “it’s the end of an era. He basically gave me and others our practices”.

Rt 251 overpass accident

The names of those involved in a two car collision late Sunday morning on the Route 251 / I-80  overpass in Peru are not yet available.  Peru police told AM 1220 WLPO news a motorcycle was involved in the collision about 10:45am. From all indications, there were no serious injuries as traffic was moving again in less than an hour.

More on boy with gun in school

Formal charges have been filed against the father of a 14-year-old boy accused of firing shots into the ceiling of his central Illinois high school. Rodney Kinder is accused of illegally providing his son with two guns, including one used in the September 7th shooting at the school in Normal. The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports that Kinder was charged this week with two felony counts of unlawful delivery of a firearm. Prosecutors say he gave his son a .22-caliber Ruger pistol and a .22-caliber rifle though the boy did not have a valid firearm owner’s identification card. Phones listed for Kinder were disconnected and he could not be reached for comment. The teen has pleaded not guilty to felony charges. No one was injured in the shooting.

 

Caterpillar will stay

Caterpillar’s CEO has again criticized Illinois’ political leaders and what he calls the state’s uncompetitive business environment. But Doug Oberhelman says the heavy equipment maker will keep its headquarters in Peoria. Last year, Oberhelman pressed Democratic Governor Pat Quinn to improve the state’s economy and noted that the company had out-of-state suitors. Though he said later he was not threatening to leave Illinois, the remarks set off alarms. On Thursday evening, Oberhelman told the Economic Club of Chicago that the company is staying in Peoria.