La Salle teen arrested after TRIDENT investigation

 If you noticed a few police officers looking around in the neighborhood by O’Coner Avenue and Creve Coeur Street in La Salle, they found the man they wanted.

          18-year-oldMiguel Rosas of La Salle was arrested Thursday on a felony marijuana charge after an investigation by TRIDENT, the La Salle Police Department and U.S. Federal Postal Inspectors. 

          Police say Rosas had three pounds of marijuana when they caught him not far from Northwest School.  He was arrested for unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver and could also be charged with criminal trespass to a residence after he allegedly tried running from the cops.

          Rosas is being held in the La Salle County Jail.

La Salle man ticketed after crash on Route 71

A crash near the La Salle and Putnam County line Thursday allegedly happened after someone ran a stop sign.

Police say Gregory McAdams of La Salle was heading north on Meridan Road yesterday afternoon when he ran the stop sign and hit a semi on Route 71.

McAdams remained hospitalized in good condition Friday afternoon at St. Margaret’s in Spring Valley.  William Lonie of Earlville was driving the semi.  Local hospitals have no reports of him being there.

McAdams was given tickets for not slowing down to avoid a crash and disobeying at stop sign.

This story has been corrected since being originally published.

Registered Sex Offender In Ottawa Faces New Felony Charge

Doing time isn’t a big enough deterrent for some people.

While already on parole for a sexual abuse conviction, Cody Duchala of Ottawa faces a new sex charge.  Ottawa Police got a complaint of sexual abuse to a child last Saturday.  After interviews, Duchala was arrested for one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.  He was already a registered sexual predator.

Duchala was taken to the La Salle County Jail.  He’s being held on 500 thousand dollars bond.

Duchala’s next court date is October 10th.

Jobless Rates On The Upswing

Know anyone who went from unemployed to being employed recently?  Jobless rates are improving in the Illinois Valley.

La Salle County’s August unemployment rate was around 10.5%, down almost a full percentage point from July.  Bureau County’s newest jobless rate is over 8.5%, down a half of a percent.  Putnam County’s latest unemployment rate is 9%, down almost a full percent from the month before.

All the unemployment rates in the Illinois Valley are lower than they were last year.

Ladd Parents Alerted To Suspicious “Photographer”

If your child goes to Ladd Grade School what do you think about the letter sent home with students?

A note from Ladd Superintendent Michelle Zeko said that just before 12:30 yesterday afternoon, a person was seen taking pictures of the school playground during recess outside of a fence.  Witnesses were able to give police a description of not only the person taking pictures but what kind of car they were driving.

The superintendent says at no time were students in danger.