Suicidal shooting spree

Authorities say a Pennsylvania man has shot and killed his 2-year-old son and wounded his estranged wife during a custody exchange before killing himself. Police said Kenneth Ayers also shot at his mother during the altercation yesterday at her home about 20 miles southwest of State College, Pa. The district attorney says Ayers was subject to a protection from abuse order filed by his wife but was permitted visits with his son.

The “Law” driving drunk?

A former suburban Chicago police chief arrested twice for drunken driving is still receiving a salary under a severance agreement.
 
     Former Robbins Police Chief Johnny Holmes was arrested in December.  Police say Holmes made an improper turn in Midlothian and failed at first to stop when officers turned on emergency lights and siren.
 
     Authorities say Holmes had a blood alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit. He resigned in January.  After a 2010 DUI arrest – also in Midlothian – Holmes was suspended with pay and received a warning from Robbins village officials.
 
     The Chicago Sun-Times reports Holmes will get paid through April 19. He’s paid nearly $2,000 every two weeks.
 
     He didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.
 
     Village officials say Holmes doesn’t have a retirement plan.

Last Winter storm?

Weather officials say a late winter storm could dump up to 9 inches of snow in wide swaths of central Illinois and southern parts of the state.  The National Weather service says the snow will continue through Sunday evening. Meteorologists say there’s the potential for 6 to 9 inches. Winds could gust up to 30 mph.  Weather officials are reminding the public to take precautions with travel in the wintry weather.  
     Springfield officials have declared a snow emergency. That means that parking, standing or leaving vehicles on any designated snow emergency streets is prohibited.  
     A day earlier the storm heading from Kansas and Missouri downed power lines and affect traffic. Weather officials say parts of Colorado and northwest Kansas saw 10 to 15 inches of snow Saturday.

World TB Day

World TB day is today – Sunday, according to the LaSalle County Health Department. Robert Koch discovered the Tuberculosis germ in Germany in 1882. Today, an estimated 15 million in the U.S. have a latent form of it and TEN PERCENT of THEM will likely develop tuberculosis in their lifetime, according to the Health Department’s Jenny Barrie . Symptoms include feeling ill or weak, weight loss, fever and night sweats. TB can affect anyone. Find out more on the county’s health department website or call. A third of the world’s population suffers from TB.

 

winter’s last bow

It may be spring, but that’s not stopping a wintry storm barreling toward Illinois that could dump as much a 9 inches of snow on central portions of the state today. Snow was forecast to begin falling around midnight Saturday and continue through tonight. A band of heavy snow could leave behind 6 to 9 inches in central areas from Taylorville to Danville. Some areas north of Peoria could get 4 to 6 inches.

road work – it’s coming

You won’t find a lot of road work on Routes 6 or 178 this construction season. But one construction project has entered its second year. Interstate 80 from I-180 to Princeton is down to one lane while work continues to replace the bridges over Route 34 and a set of railroad tracks.  Joe Spika, a construction field engineer with IDOT says traffic is being carried in the westbound lanes. He thinks the work will be mostly completed by Labor Day. Late this summer you’ll see crews working on the shoulders of I-39.

barn fire

A converted corn crib is reduced to four walls after a fire around Noon yesterday about a half mile from the Lee County line. Mendota fireman Brian Fisher says they arrived at 4729 East 6^th Road slightly after Noon. Fisher said the contents – mostly appliances and kitchen items were destroyed along the ceiling and a deck. The crib is a 25-thousand dollar loss. No problems fighting the blaze, according to Fisher who sent their men back in about 90 minutes. Fisher said Troy Grove, Earlville and Paw Paw sent equipment and men.

“Boob-a-Palozza” recap

There was more room inside than in the parking lot of Celebrations 150 last night. An indication of the response to “Boob-a-Palozza”. Music from five bands, food and raffles drew in a packed house at Celebrations 150 for last night’s event. The event is the brainchild of Betty Pape Glynn. It raises money to help the families of cancer victims. One of the workers told AM 1220 WLPO news, it keeps getting larger each year. He wondered where they would have it next time. Glynn on her Facebook page said it was the best “Boob-a-Palozza” ever and thanked everyone for coming. The amount raised likely won’t be known for a couple of days.