Explosion Notice Issued For Tiskilwa Derailment Site

Nearly a year and a half after an ethanol train derailed in Tiskilwa, an explosion warning has been issued at the derailment site.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency says ethanol and methane in the derailment site groundwater could produce methane gas which could explode if ignited by digging or any underground work.  The EPA says the explosion hazard is in a 3-acre area along the tracks which is farm land and in the railroad’s right-of-way.

Multiple cars of an Iowa Interstate Railroad train derailed the morning of October 7^th.  Nearly 10 of the cars carrying ethanol caught fire.

Man killed after train hits ATV

A man is dead and two others lucky to be alive after an accident involving ATV’s and a train.  Investigators in Grundy County says three people were riding ATV’s near the train tracks southwest of Gardner Wednesday afternoon when one of the riders was hit from behind by an Amtrak train.

28 year old Brad Emanuelson of Essex was pronounced dead at the scene.  The crash is being investigated.

Drug and gun charges for man in Ottawa

          A handgun and marijuana is what police say they found on man they think was dealing.  

Officers with TRIDENT and the Ottawa Police Department arrested Joseph Nazimek at his home Monday.  Police say he had 30 grams of marijuana and a 9 millimeter pistol. 

He’s charged with possession of cannabis with intent to deliver and possession of a weapon by a felon.  Nazimek was being held in the La Salle County Jail with his bond set at $150,000.

Music considered for downtown La Salle

           Would you like some music while you shop in downtown La Salle?  City officials think it would be nice to have music playing along First Street and they’ve been talking to companies to set up an audio system.

          One of the companies is ZDi out of Normal.  They’re offering to create a wireless network that would use music from satellite radio.  Speakers would be on street poles from Wright to Hennepin Street. 

          Mayor Jeff Grove says the music is something city officials and volunteers with L-PAC and the MAPPING committees would like to have.

          The set up cost is about $50,000.  After that the city would have to pay for a radio subscription and possibly maintenance. 

          They think they could sell advertising to cover some of the cost.

Semi Catches Fire In Ottawa Walmart Parking Lot

Head to Walmart and you’re likely to see just about anything.  If you went to the store in Ottawa last night you may have seen a semi on fire.

Ottawa firefighters got a call just after 7:30 last night about a semi fully-engulfed in the Walmart parking lot.  They had the fire out in about an hour.  No one was hurt and the property damage estimate is 30 thousand dollars.

The cause of the semi fire is under investigation.  The truck belonged to MLP Transport in Westmont.

Stolen Car In Oglesby Turns Up On Fire

A car reported stolen in Oglesby was found set on fire.

Oglesby Police Chief Jim Knoblauch says a call came in Monday morning about a Chevy Malibu being stolen from the 800 block of North Columbia Avenue.  Knoblauch says La Salle County Sheriff’s deputies found the car burning around 10:30 Monday morning on Route 71 outside Oglesby.  No one was in or around the car.

Knoblauch says anyone with information should call the Oglesby Police Department.

Preliminary Snow Amounts

How much snow did you get?

According to the National Weather Service, five inches fell in Ottawa and LaMoille.  Around 4.5 inches fell in Oglesby and Streator with the snow amount closer to 4 inches in Princeton and Sheridan.  In Putnam County, a weather spotter in Hennepin measured 2.5 inches.

The heaviest snow was in Lake County around Waukegan where nearly a foot was measured.

Gay Marriage A Step Closer In Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – A House committee has endorsed allowing Illinois gay and lesbian couples to marry.

The House Executive Committee voted 6-5 last night to move a measure lifting the state’s ban on same-sex marriage to the floor. Advocates say the bill would help eliminate discrimination against children of homosexual couples. But opponents say this measure steps on people’s religious freedoms. They argue lawmakers don’t have the right to redefine marriage.

The bill received Senate approval on Valentine’s Day with Democratic support and a single Republican vote. A House OK would send the matter to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn. He says he’ll sign it.