Monday’s Storm Roundup

The latest round of thunderstorms left behind plenty of damage across the area.

Storm reports started coming in around 4:30 with grain bins blown over in Amboy, power lines knocked down in Mendota and trees toppled in places like Sublette, Princeton, La Moille, Van Orin and Troy Grove.  On the interstates, a semi was blown over near Tonica on Interstate 39 at 5 o’clock with a semi overturned on Interstate 80 in Peru just minutes past 5.

In Sandwich, the weather service says a tree fell on top of a car but no one was hurt.  Towards the Quad Cities, a mile long, 50-yard wide tornado was reported in Atkinson just after 4 Monday afternoon.

Ottawa Planning Commission Moves Sand Terminal Ahead

While you were enjoying the Blackhawks, members of the Ottawa Planning Commission spent another couple hours talking about regulations for a barge terminal to ship sand.

The planning commission is recommending the Ottawa City Council approve a conditional use permit for Archer Daniels Midland to run a barge terminal along Route 71 to ship out sand from Mississippi Sand who wants to mine east of Starved Rock State Park.  Commission members did set up eight conditions for their recommendation including limiting the terminals operating hours to 7 from 7 on weekdays and 7 until noon on Saturdays.  No one from ADM was at last night’s meeting to comment on the limited hours or any other proposed regulation such as building a sound barrier of trees and repaving an entrance road.

Because of the drawn out process, the Ottawa City Council won’t officially vote on the recommendation until August.  Planning Commission Chairman Brent Barron joked what’s another three weeks, we’ve already drawn this thing out already.

The lengthy meetings about the sand terminal didn’t sit well with commissioner member Alan Howarter.  About an hour and a half into last night’s meeting, he said he was tired of sand talk and called for a vote.  When no one seconded his motion, Howarter left the meeting.

Marseilles Elementary sues barge company for flood damage

The classrooms in Marseilles Elementary School are down to the studs as the building is being rehabbed after record-setting flooding in April.

The damage is expensive and though the school has insurance the district announced Monday they are suing Ingram Barge Company for $6.4 million. 

Superintendent JoEllen Fuller says the school’s decision to sue came from the school board and their insurance company.

Fuller says they feel the company was responsible for the seven barges that broke free while the Illinois River rose on April 18 and damaged the Marseilles dam.  The damage to the dam, they say, contributed to the flooding. Several homeowners are also suing the barge company.

Marseilles Elementary is scheduled to reopen on August 19.  Learn more about the school’s decision by listening to an interview available at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

A woman was injured and a man arrested after a boating accident

          A crash at the Seneca boat ramp injures a woman and has a man arrested.

          Conservation Police were called out to the west ramp in Seneca Sunday night for a crash.  Investigators say Linda Salek of Warrenville was loading a pontoon boat onto a trailer when Joseph Martello of Lemont flew over the top of her pontoon boat and hit her in the head with his Sea-Doo. 

          Salek was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.  Martello was taken to the La Salle County Jail for driving a boat while intoxicated. 

Naked Man Arrested At Matthiessen State Park

There are a lot of sights to see at Matthiessen State Park.  One of them Saturday was a naked guy running around.

Conservation Police took a call around 4:30 Saturday afternoon about a man running around the park naked.  After about a 15 minute struggle, officers finally took Alexander Newman of Algonquin into custody and to Illinois Valley Community Hospital.  Sgt. Hank Frazier says Newman was hopped up on LSD. Charges are pending for aggravated battery, resisting arrest and being nude in the park.

Frazier says officers from his department, state police and La Salle County Sheriff’s Office all struggled to arrest Newman.  Officers came away with scratches and bruises in the struggle.

Brush Fire In Tonica

Tonica, Oglesby and Cedar Point battled a large brush pile fire yesterday afternoon.

A driver on I-39 call just before 4:30 Sunday afternoon about what looked like a structure fire.  Turns out it was a large brush pile on fire near a barn.

Crews along with the help of rain had the brush pile fire put out in a few minutes. 

Flash Flooding Possible Today

Thunderstorms today won’t necessarily be severe but could cause flooding problems.

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect for the entire listening area through this evening.  Storms could dump a couple inches of rain or more in some spots.  That amount of rain could flood small streams, creeks and even roads.

There’s at least a chance of thunderstorms everyday until the weekend.