Road Linking Ottawa And Marseilles Reopens After Flood Repairs

A road taking you from Ottawa to Marseilles reopened after flood damage had it closed since mid-April.

Canal Road was reopened Thursday after the April flood caused a 100 foot hole in the pavement.  Crews also had to make a new channel for the creek under the I & M Canal near the road.  County Engineer Larry Kinzer says the canal trail also reopened.

The county received $1.5 million in federal money to fix the road.

Sand Mine Moratorium Continues In La Salle County

The moratorium on sand mines in rural La Salle County has been extended indefinitely.

The county board unanimously extended the moratorium until the county comprehensive plan is updated.  Environmental Services and Land Use Director Mike Harsted says the plan won’t be ready until early 2014.  Harsted says the delay shouldn’t be a big deal since he hasn’t gotten a sand mine application since the controversial one by Starved Rock State Park.

County Board member Randy Freeman wondered if the moratorium is driving sand developers to annex into cities.  Harsted says developers may be turning to cities because of less strict requirements.

Attorneys for La Salle County Sheriff’s Department offer their side of the story

You don’t have to be from La Salle County to have heard about the woman suing the sheriff and four sheriff’s department workers for being stripped naked and left in a padded cell.  The story received national after Dana Holmes of Coal City filed a suit in Federal Court in Chicago September 30.

Lawyers for the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office are offering another side to the story.  A statement from The Sotos Law Firm Thursday says that Holmes wasn’t strip-searched but rather placed in the padded cell and stripped of her clothing and given a tear-proof safe suit for her safety.

They say Holmes was put into the padded cell after twice kicking at a woman officer.  They also say she wasn’t thrown to the ground.

They also say they haven’t received complaints from other women that were processed at the jail, contrary to what Holmes’ attorney, Terry Ekl says.

The allegations from Holmes, they say, have lead to sheriff’s officers receiving death threats.

Utica car show to raise money for a new ambulance

          While the Burgoo is cooking, you can see the classic cars during a car show in downtown Utica.  It’s a fundraiser for the Utica Fire Protection District.  They’re raising money to buy a new ambulance.

          Ben Brown is a firefighter.  He says they are $20,000 away from being able to buy the $178,000 machine.  Brown says it will be state-of-the-art and include airbags for people riding in the back.  The new ambulance will replace one from 1996.

          The car show is from 3-9pm Saturday.  If you have a car to enter, registration is from 3-6pm.  There will also be live music.

          You can also buy tickets for the ATV and cash raffles.

Man treated for stab wound after a fight in La Salle

One man is recovering from a stab wound while another faces a felony aggravated battery charge after a fight in La Salle.  It happened around midnight Thursday morning at Third and Creve Coeur Streets.

A 24-year-man from Peru was treated at Illinois Valley Community Hospital for a large cut on his shoulder.

Mitchell Hanson of La Salle was arrested for aggravated battery and disorderly conduct.  Nicholas Puyear of Spring Valley was arrested for obstructing police and disorderly conduct.  Cody Emmett of La Salle was arrested for disorderly conduct and was also wanted on a Putnam County warrant for battery.

Police say a group of men were allegedly showing gang signs and throwing things into the road when a car stopped and the fight began.  The man injured was one of the men in the car.

Puyear was sent home with on I-bond while Emmett was taken to the Putnam County Jail and Hanson was taken to the La Salle County Jail. The man from Peru was treated and released from IVCH.

Hall Homecoming Parade Arrives

It’s time to show your school pride Hall Red Devil fans!

Hall’s homecoming parade gets going at 5 Thursday evening at the high school in Spring Valley. The parade goes east on St. Paul Street thru downtown before heading north on Greenwood Street. The route then heads west on Erie and then back to the high school. After the parade, there is a pep rally at the high school.

Hall hosts St. Bede Friday night in football. You can hear the game on 99.3 WAJK.

Marseilles Unites Against Bullying

Getting 600 students to stand together for a picture is a challenge. Students at Marseilles Elementary pulled it off while taking a stand against bullying.

The school and much of Marseilles went orange yesterday as part of National Unity Day. The day began in the morning with Mayor Patti Smith cutting an orange ribbon and issuing an anti-bullying proclamation.

The day ended with Marseilles Elementary students posing for a picture for a picture while spelling out the message “stop bullying”. An aerial picture taken by Skydive Chicago is on the WLPO Facebook page.