Pair accused of robbing an elderly woman indicted

An Ottawa break-in that had many people asking questions had a man and a woman indicted.  A grand jury Tuesday indicted Jimmy Members Jr. of Chicago and Brittany Dorsam of Streator for residential burglary.  Members also faces a home invasion charge.

Investigators say in August Members, Dorsam, and Richard Felton of Chicago broke into an elderly woman’s home and robbed her.

Felton was previously indicted for attempted murder in the shooting of a man on the Sandy Ford Bridge.

All three remain in the La Salle County Jail.

Smoke shop owner indicted

          It’s hard to ignore the words “hooka” and “rolling papers” when they are plastered across a storefront.  That store is the Peru Smoke Shop on Fourth Street in Peru.  The owner remains in jail after being indicted for a felony drug charge Tuesday.

Abdel Rahman of Tinley Park was arrested September 10 as police officers raided the smoke shop in Peru and another in Spring Valley.  He’s accused of selling synthetic marijuana, a drug that’s sometimes legal.  Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei calls it just as dangerous as heroin.

          Rahman’s bond was set at $1 million.

Dump truck stolen from a city garage

          While Hondas and Toyotas are popular makes for car thieves, you shouldn’t underestimate the appeal of the 2003 International dump truck.

          A big orange, like-new, 2003 dump truck was stolen from the City of Peru garage on Market Street.  Workers discovered it was missing early Monday morning.  They think it was stolen sometime after 7pm Sunday. 

          If you stumble upon the truck or have information about who took it, call the Peru Police Department or Illinois Valley Crimestoppers.

I-80 Rollover In Bureau County Leaves Woman In Critical Condition

Imagine driving along minding your own business on the interstate when you see a truck flying towards you.

State Police say Jean Simpson of Palatine was eastbound on Interstate 80 near Sheffield yesterday afternoon when she drove into the median and had her pickup go airborne.  The truck rolled before stopping on its top in the westbound lanes.

Simpson was pinned inside.  She was eventually freed and flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Simpson is in critical condition.

More State Troopers Patrolling Schools

You want your child safe in and around school and so do troopers with the state police.

Now through the rest of the month troopers in the Illinois Valley will are ramping up patrols around schools.  It’s an effort called “Drive Home, School Safety Zone”.

If you’re caught speeding or texting around a school you could be fined 60 to 120 dollars plus court fees.

Plans Underway To Turn Closed School Building Into Offices

A correction to a story you heard this morning on WLPO AM and FM.  The former St. Roch’s School building, not the church, is being converted into office space.

Owners of the building have asked to have the building rezoned from residential to commercial.  The building was originally St. Roch’s School but later became La Salle Catholic and Trinity Catholic Academy.  It hasn’t been used for classes in several years.

Alderman Mark Schneider says he has a lot of memories at the former St. Roch’s building and is happy it may be put back to use.

 

Deadly Dog Virus Rears Its Ugly Head

While it’s not considered an outbreak by any means, the potentially deadly “Canine parvovirus” has resurfaced in the Illinois Valley.

Progress Park Veterinary Hospital in Peru has reported a case of parvovirus.  Last October, Illinois Valley Animal Rescue stopped taking in stray dogs for a bit because of the virus scare.

The virus can cause heart or respiratory failure in dogs.  It’s not spread to humans.

Even if your dog spends of the time inside it’s not a bad idea to get them vaccinated.