response and robbery

Chicago police have arrested a 20-year-old man they say robbed several people who were responding to ads posted on Craigslist. In a news release, police said Andrew Jones of Chicago was arrested Friday and charged with aggravated battery and armed robbery. They said people responding to the ads would arrange to meet Jones at a specified location. When they arrived Jones would display a handgun and escort them to the back of the location. Police said he then took their property, car keys and vehicles. In one incident, a victim was shot. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the robberies involved people answering men-seeking-men ads and that they occurred on Nov. 5 and 12.

Flood damaged cars anyone?

Maybe you are helping East Coast residents after Super Storm Sandy, but, consider they might be send YOU…something you wouldn’t want. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White said flood damaged cars may end up on the lots of Illinois car dealers in the near future. White said such vehicles end up on trucks and are purchased by Midwest used car dealers. He suggests you use Car Fax or go to the Illinois Secretary of State’s website to learn what you can do to protect yourself.

Soldiers Angels fundraiser

Eating to feel good is okay…but, when it’s to help soldiers overseas…that’s even better. Patrica Scanlon is a community team leader for “Soldiers Angels”. The group wants to have a care package for each soldier serving in a war zone. Included will be a fleece blanket for the bitter cold, cards with a personal message and candy. Scanlon says you can help “Soldiers Angels” by attending a fundraiser 5 – 8pm Monday at Culver’s in Peru. During those three hours, Culver’s will donate a portion of their sales to the cause.

“Black out” caused bus accident

We know the cause of the LP bus accident. LaSalle County Deputy Max Ambler told AM 1220 WLPO news the bus driver, 62-year old Dominic Andreoni told them he “blacked out” while driving Eastbound on I-80 about 9:40am Saturday. Deputy Ambler said the bus left the road, struck a fence and tree before stopping almost seven hundred feet inside a field east of the Route 71 exit. Fourteen girls and the two coaches were on board. Three girls and the driver went to St. Elizabeth Hospital. Steve Wrobleski, LP Superintendent said the girls were released later. Andreoni was admitted for an irregular heartbeat. Deputy Ambler said Andreoni, a retired Peru police officer was ticketed for improper lane usage. The State of Illinois requires a test for the presence of alcohol. It came back negative. The LP girls were headed to the Morris Tourney, Their game was cancelled. Wrobleski praised the actions of Coaches Jason Miller and Gerald Studzinski in the wake of the accident.

claims of bad gas

BP says it has paid more than $12 million in claims arising from a multistate recall of incorrectly formulated gasoline that damaged some vehicles’ mechanical components in Indiana, Illinois and other states. A BP spokesman tells The Times of Munster, Indiana those claims were paid after the company processed about 14,000 recall claims.

charged with skull fracture

A Bloomington woman has been arrested on charges she fractured the skull of a 5-month-old girl she was babysitting. Thirty-five-year-old Sandy Herman was charged with aggravated battery. According to charging documents, the child was injured sometime between October 22nd and 24th. Herman is being held in jail on more than $30,000 bond.

Fill the Mayflower results

With your generosity and our sponsors, Miller Group radio stations filled the entire floor of a trailer Saturday with 34-hundred pounds of food for the Illinois Valley Food Pantry. For six hours, station staff, The Pouncing Panthers 4-Her’s and St. Bede students filled a trailer in front of Hy-Vee for our annual “Fill the Mayflower” event. Donna Hess said there’s work to do Monday with plenty of food to go thru. But, she wasn’t complaining. Sponsors included the Illinois Valley “Y”, Hy-Vee and Stevenson Transfer. Miller Group Media stations include AM 1220 WLPO, 99-3 WAJK and 96-5 The Wolf. Rod Thorson, Shap, Jaimie and Cowboy all made appearances during the event.

Bus accident update

We’re awaiting an accident report from the Sheriff’s office explaining why a bus carrying the LP Freshman girls basketball team and coaches left I-80 east of Ottawa Saturday morning. The News Tribune reported the accident occurred just east of the Route 71 exit around 9:45am. The Tribune also reported all on board were checked at the scene with three team members and the bus driver taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. The three players were later released, according to LP Superintendent Steve Wrobleski. The condition of the bus driver isn’t known and names have not been released. In a recorded phone announcement, Wrobleski commended the actions of the coaches involved. The game was cancelled.