Wound and Hyperbaric Center coming to IVCH

A new medical building on the Illinois Valley Community Hospital campus will offer hyperbaric wound care.  Hospital CEO Tommy Hobbs announced their plans Tuesday afternoon.

Hobbs says the center will be used mostly by elderly and diabetic patients with chronic wounds.  He says normally those patients have to drive at least an hour for treatment.

The new building is planned for the corner of Plum and 6th Streets north of the hospital.  It’s a modular building that will be put together on sight and then bricked.  They plan to have it open this summer.

Spring Valley Man Hit And Killed By Train

A man from Spring Valley is dead after being hit by a train.

The McClean County Coroner says 53-year old Anthony Bernardini was pronounced dead at the scene Friday night near Chenoa.   Investigators think he was walking to a relative’s house when he was hit by an Amtrak train.

The coroner’s office thinks alcohol could’ve played a role.  Investigators are awaiting toxicology results.

Winter Storm Warning Continues

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 12am Wednesday for the Illinois Valley.

According to the National Weather Service, snow will increase in intensity through Tuesday afternoon, falling at a rate of an inch or two per hour.  The snow will taper off early this evening.

Accumulations will be around 7 to 10 inches with some spots getting a foot.  Winds are expected to pick up which could cause blowing and drifting snow.

Snow Emergency Ordinances Take Effect

As the snow flies, remember parking tickets can also fly if you don’t abide by the rules.

The Mendota Police Department sent out a reminder that under city ordinance, it’s unlawful for you park on any city street within twelve hours of a two inch or more snowfall unless the snow has been removed.  You could get a 25 dollar ticket.

Also when shoveling snow, remember you can’t shovel or blow snow from your property into city streets or alleys.

Latest Road Conditions

If you don’t have to drive today, don’t, stay off the roads.

The Illinois Department of Transportation says Interstate 80 is 25 percent snow or ice covered west to the Quad Cities and east to Joliet.  Interstate 39 is worse off with the stretch between La Salle and Rockford reported as 100 percent snow or ice covered.  I-39 south towards Bloomington is listed as 25 percent snow or ice covered.

There have been several reports of cars driving off city and county roads as well.

Structure Fire South Of Mendota

Before the snow started flying, Mendota and Troy Grove Fire Departments were battling a structure fire.

The crews got a call around 10 Monday night about heavy fire coming from the rear of a building along Route 251 and North 40^th Road, between Mendota and Troy Grove.  The building was unoccupied.

The state fire marshal’s office has been called to investigate a cause.

Governor Deploys Hundreds Of Crews To Fight Snow

CHICAGO (AP) – Gov. Pat Quinn says he’s directed state transportation and emergency services officials to prepare for a “major snow-fighting effort.”

The governor made the statement ahead of a winter storm that’s forecast to bring up to 10 inches of snow to the northern parts of Illinois on Tuesday. Quinn says “safety comes first” and he urged motorists to avoid driving “unless absolutely necessary.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Tollways are prepared to deploy nearly 800 snow plows in northern Illinois. That’s their full fleets.