Shooting victim accused of home invasion in Ottawa

In August you heard about a man that was shot in the face while on the Sandy Ford Bridge. That man has been arrested for allegedly breaking into a house in Ottawa with the man that’s accused of shooting him.

Jeremy Wade of Ottawa was arrested Friday for home invasion and residential burglary and was taken to the La Salle County Jail.  Ottawa Police Detectives believes Wade along with Jimmy Members, Richard Felton and Britney Dorsam went to a home on August 9, tied an elderly woman up and stole stuff.

Not even two weeks after the burglary, police say Felton shot Wade in the face.  Felton faces an attempted murder charge.

Opening of Peter Miller Community Technology Center celebrated at IVCC

          You don’t have to be a student to take a tour of the new Peter Miller Community Technology Center at Illinois Valley Community College.  A ribbon-cutting ceremony was Friday, officially opening the building for learning. 

          The building is named after both Peter Miller Jr. and his son Pete Miller.  The Miller Group Charitable Trust donated one million dollars to the technology center campaign.  That money goes to help buy the things to put into the center.  Cathy Miller told the crowd during the opening that Peter and Pete would have been first in line to tour the building.

          Miller Group Media includes WLPO AM and FM, 99.3 WAJK, 96.5 the Wolf, the NewsTribune and AgriNews. 

          Planning for the building began in 2009.  Ground was broken in 2011.

          If you can’t make it out to IVCC Friday, more tours are being offered Saturday during Homecoming.

South Carolina Man Blamed In Crash That Killed Pontiac Officer

If you’ve been following the story about a Pontiac police officer being killed in a traffic crash, a driver from South Carolina is being blamed for his death.

33-year old Jason Collins of West Columbia, South Carolina was charged Thursday with aggravated DUI.  He’s accused of crashing into 29-year old officer Casey Kohlmeier and his drug dog partner Draco.  Investigators say Kohlmeier was parked in a median on I-55 just north of Route 23 when he was hit by Collins who was driving a pickup truck.

After being released from a hospital, Collins was taken to the Livingston County Jail.

Push Continues To Get Out Health Insurance Information

Still holding out on shopping for new health insurance?  There’s a countywide effort to get you more informed about insurance options.

Saturday is being deemed a “Cover Your Community” day of action in Illinois where health officials ready to show you the ins and outs of the affordable care act.  In La Salle County, counselors can give you advice from 9 until 11 tomorrow at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Ottawa, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator and at Mendota Community Hospital.

If you want to look at insurance options, go to http://getcoveredillinois.gov/

Food Stamp Cuts Take Effect

CHICAGO (AP) – More than 2 million low-income Illinoisans who receive food stamps will soon see their benefits cut.

Beginning Friday, a temporary increase in food stamp dollars from the 2009 economic stimulus will expire. The change will affect more than 47 million Americans.

The Illinois Hunger Coalition says about 349,000 seniors and 886,000 children statewide will be affected. A single person on food stamps will see an $11 dollar cut while a family of four will get $36 dollars less a month.