Oglesby Turns In Flood Damage Dollar Figure

Oglesby’s newest park needs some repairs after the recent flooding.

Mayor Don Finley says the city is requesting $96,000 in flood disaster aid from the federal government.  $91,000 of that is soil damage and erosion in the lake area of McPhedran Park.  The rest of the funding request involves labor costs of city workers putting in overtime during the flood.

Finley says despite the damage, the ribbon cutting for McPhedran Park will go on as planned Saturday, May 18^th.

Peru police investigate accidential shooting

Guns aren’t toys.  A man from La Salle had to go to the hospital after police say he accidentally shot himself in the leg with a handgun.  It happened around 3:45am Saturday in Peru.

Police were called to the 1800 block of State Street for a commotion.  While they were there they say John Vulcani pulled up and picked someone up and was not even a block away when the gunshot was heard.  He had shot his leg.

Police say he drove to St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley.

It’s under investigation.

Fast Food Bomb Threats Land Princeton Man In Prison

A Princeton man is headed to prison for a couple bomb threats.

Kristopher Watson pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was given two years in prison.  He was arrested in January of 2012 for making bomb threats at the Princeton Burger King and McDonalds.  He phoned in the threats to other businesses in town.

With good behavior, Watson could be out of prison in a year or less.  He also has to pay over a thousand dollars restitution to the city of Princeton.

Brawl Leads To Injuries And Property Damage In Utica

Things got out of hand in Utica.

La Salle County deputies and state troopers were called to Grand Bear Lodge early Sunday morning for a large fight.  Nicholas Patitucci of North Riverside was picked up for three counts of battery.  Deputies say others may be charged since many other people ran away when police arrived.

Officers say two people injured in the fight were taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital.  Besides injuries, deputies say there was a large amount of damage done to the lodge property.

Investigators say alcohol was definitely a factor.

Governor Shoots Down Rate Hike Bill

CHICAGO (AP) – Gov. Pat Quinn has rejected a plan to increase electric rates by roughly $70 million, a proposal ComEd says would have helped get so-called Smart Grid technology back on track.

Quinn vetoed the plan Sunday saying the bill would undermine oversight and force automatic rate hikes. ComEd touted the bill as a way to clarify 2011 legislation allowing utilities to raise rates to fund a high-tech system. But executing it has been tricky.

The Illinois Commerce Commission and ComEd disagreed over implementation. ComEd filed a court appeal over technical matters. And ComEd faces a class-action lawsuit over installation delays.

ComEd officials say they’re disappointed and the veto threatens jobs.

One Last Week Of High Water

Flood warnings continue for the Illinois River at La Salle and Henry but the worst is definitely over.

In La Salle, the river is at 22 feet this morning.  It’s expected to finally fall back below the 20 foot flood stage by Saturday morning.

In Henry, the Illinois is at 25.5 feet.  It’s expected to fall below the 23 foot flood stage by Saturday morning.

Investigation Continues Into Lostant Fire

The investigation continues into a fire that’s displaced a family of five in Lostant.

A representative with the State Fire Marshal’s Office will be at the fire scene today trying to determine an official cause.  The home is in the 400 block of N. 15^th Road.  The Saturday afternoon fire could be seen from Interstate 39.

A Lostant EMT Karen Schmitt is accepting donations on behalf of Gage and Liz Kammer and their kids who are all under 10 years old.  They can use girl’s clothes sizes 8, 6, and 4 and men’s and women’s pants.

None of the family was home at the time of the fire.