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.

La Salle officials approve mining operation

The green light has been given to a father and son company with plans to mine sand in La Salle.  The zoning change and special use permit needed by Dan and Josh Voss of Quality Sand Products was approved by the La Salle City Council Tuesday night. 

During a planning commission hearing last month no one spoke out against the plans.  The mine and wet processing plant will be on about 80 acres west of Hickory Hallows Campground and east of the Pecumsaugan (Peckum-saugan) Creek and north of Interstate 80.  The land was already zoned for industrial use and.

The company has agreed to upgrade the frontage road to concrete, pay for the extension of water and sewer to their land, and turn the mine into a recreational lake when it’s no longer is use.

Dan Voss says they could be mining there for 25 to 30 years.  He thinks it will create 16-18 new jobs. 

The mine doesn’t require an Illinois Department of Natural Resource permit.

Committee supporting Hall referendum to hold an open house

Replacing Hall High School’s building will cost $32 million.  Before the school board can borrow the money, voters will have to pass a referendum in April.

A group trying to get support for the referendum is Citizens for a New Hall High School.  Hildi Grivetti is a member and is the parent of a Hall student.  She realizes they’ll get opposition from people who don’t have children at the high school.

A new building is expected to add a couple hundred dollars onto property tax bills.

You can learn more about the new building plans and tour the building they want to demolish during an open house Wednesday.  It’ll begin at 6pm in the auditorium.

Snow leading to minor accidents across the Illinois Valley

Careful during your drive tonight.  The snow is expected to continue falling overnight and at times be mixed with drizzle.  Police officers were busy Tuesday with accidents.          Illinois State Police Trooper Craig Graham says a lot of the crashes were cars and semis sliding off of the roads because they were going too fast.

Roads are passable but might be patchy with snow.  Slow down and give yourself extra time.

Attempted Child Abduction Claim In Mendota Was Unfounded

An alleged child abduction attempt in Mendota was unfounded.

After looking around for a suspect for over an hour, the search was called off just before 9:30 because the claim was unfounded.  A girl had told Mendota Police a black man approached her with a knife as she was walking to school this morning.

Local Red Cross Plans Annual Fundraiser

You may not be prepared to lose your home to a fire or tornado but the Red Cross is.  Volunteers with the Illinois Valley Chapter of the Red Cross are ready to set up shelters and comfort families hit with house fires.  Help them stay prepared by snacking on hors d’oeuvers and desserts at the annual Have a Heart Dance and Auction.

The dance is a fundraiser for the Illinois Valley Chapter which serves La Salle and Putnam Counties.  Tickets are still available for the dance Saturday night at Senica’s Oak Ridge. They’re $50 a person or $100 a couple.  Doors open at 5pm.  Music is by Steve Sharp and Wake the Sheep from 8-11pm.

There’s also a live auction and finger food by the Joliet Jr. College School of Culinary Arts.

Learn more about the dance and Illinois Valley Chapter by listening to an interview at the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

Concealed Carry Talks Continue

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – More than two dozen amendments involving the issue of carrying concealed weapons in Illinois could be debated on the House floor beginning today.

House Speaker Michael Madigan has set up a process to allow legislators to submit amendments covering different topics involving the issue. Lawmakers filed 27 amendments- including whether a law would require the state to issue concealed-carry permits to qualified applicants.

A federal court dismissed the Illinois ban in December and ordered a law be approved by early June.