Eight People Accused Of Damaging Streator Park

Eight people in Streator are accused of tearing up a disc golf course in Streator.

After a two-month investigation, Streator Police arrested Troy Rodrick, Edward Webster, Jordan Donnelly, four teenage boys and a teenage girl for criminal damage to property.  The group is accused of driving off the road and onto the disc golf course at Marilla Park, leaving behind ruts in the grass.

All eight were released with court dates.

Canal boat opens for the season Wednesday

The mules and the goat are returning to their home at Lock 14 in La Salle.  Rides on the canal boat resume Wednesday.  Homecoming Weekend for the mules, Larry and Moe and the goat, Curly is Saturday and Sunday.

The opening of the canal boat and the homecoming weekend was delayed by flooding.  The Lock 16 Visitors Center and Café is open all year while boat rides are usually only during spring and summer months.

Students not injured during bus accident

A rough ride to school for three students in Putnam County.  A bus for students with special needs got into a crash with a car Monday morning south of Granville.

Putnam County Schools Superintendent Jay McCracken says the three students, the monitor and the bus driver were taken to St. Margaret’s Hospital.  All were released.  The bus was owned by Illinois Central.

You’ll hear more when information about the person driving the car becomes available.

Attempted Purse Snatching At Spring Valley Supermarket

Most crimes at a supermarket happen inside the store not outside of it.

Demetrius Denson of Spring Valley was arrested Saturday for attempted robbery.  He’s accused of trying to snatch a women’s purse last Tuesday outside the Spring Valley Supermarket.  Denson allegedly grabbed the women’s purse while she was putting groceries in her car.  However the woman pulled the purse and Denson allegedly ran.

He was taken to the Bureau County Jail.

Work At Marseilles Dam Continues

Work continues at the Marseilles dam on the remaining barges that are adrift.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brought in a second crane Saturday to unload cargo from one of the sunken barges.  Yesterday was spent removing that sunken barge.

Col. Mark Deschenes says “although the probability is very slim, there’s a slight chance there could be significant damage to the dam that we haven’t been able to determine yet”.

A so called “safety zone” is in effect between the Marseilles Lock and Seneca where no boat traffic is allowed.  No recreational vessels are allowed right now between Lacon and Joliet.

No School Still For Marseilles Elementary Students

A decision on where displaced Marseilles Elementary students go to school the rest of the year could come tonight.

The Marseilles Elementary Board is supposed to meet tonight at the Laborer’s Hall to decide where to send students.  During a special meeting last week, the board talked about sending K thru 3^rd grade to the Church of the Nazarene, 4^th and 5^th graders to either the Laborer’s Hall or Lions Club Community Hall and 6^th thru 8^th grade to the old Seneca High School.

Wherever classes are, the board wants Marseilles Elementary students back this Wednesday.  They’ve already missed over a week’s worth of school days.

Illinois River Still High In La Salle And Henry

Flood warnings continue for the Illinois River at La Salle and Henry.

In La Salle, the river’s latest stage is 26.9 feet, still above the 20 foot flood stage.  The river is expected to fall another foot by tomorrow morning but won’t get back below flood stage until sometime next week.

In Henry, the Illinois is at 29.9 feet, above the 23 foot flood stage.  The Illinois in Henry should fall about a half foot by tomorrow but won’t fall back below flood stage until next week.

Morris Man Leads Police On High Speed Chase Near Marseilles

A high speed chase started in La Salle County and ended in Grundy County.

According to deputies, they first tried pulling over Sean Smith of Morris this morning after he hit a mailbox on Route 6 east of Marseilles.  He sped up and led officers on a chase into Grundy County topping speeds of 100 miles per hour.

Smith stopped after crashing into a pole north of Interstate 80 on Seneca Road.  He then allegedly tried running on foot but was tracked down by Grundy County deputies.

Smith is facing La Salle County charges of aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude police, reckless driving, obstructing police and DUI.  In Grundy County he faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident.

Smith was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Governor Says Cities Should Decide Conceal-Carry Law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Gov. Pat Quinn is holding fast to his position that legislation calling for the carrying of concealed weapons should allow city governments to decide their own standards.

But the governor’s preference goes against lawmakers, who have given such ideas a chilly reception. The General Assembly has until June 9 to end Illinois’ last-in-the-nation ban on concealed carry because of a federal appeals court ruling.

Quinn wants larger cities such as Chicago to be able to set up their own standards for gun-toting citizens. Gun-rights advocates say that would create a confusing “patchwork” of laws and put gun owners in jeopardy.

A plan in the Senate would give Chicago-area police the ability to deny gun permits. Gun owners and Republicans are cool to the idea.