TRIDENT investigation leads to five arrests in Princeton

Police officers with TRIDENT and the Princeton Police Department say they found heroin, drug paraphernalia and two marijuana plants after searching on home on Euclid Avenue Tuesday.

Five people living in the house were arrested including Michael Kasperski who police say had heroin and the marijuana plants.  Kasperski and Bryan Oliver were arrested for unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

Alyssa Stroud, Maxwell Burgess, and Keith Stroud were arrested for possession of heroin. They were taken to the Bureau County.

Mendota woman’s art to be shown in La Salle

Mendota meets Los Angeles at an art exhibit coming to downtown La Salle.  “Doing Strange Things in the Name of Art” features the work of Jenaphur Ackerman.  It opens at 7pm Friday at the White Trash Gallery.

Ackerman grew up in Mendota but spent 13 years living in L.A. Her exhibit includes paintings, photography, and found objects.

Learn more about Ackerman and the exhibit by listening to an interview available at WLPO AM and FM news page.

Streator woman arrested for heroin related charges

An investigation into heroin in Streator has a woman facing three felony charges.  Laurie Stiles was arrested Monday at her home on Powell Street for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver. 

Police say she had a small amount of heroin when she was arrested.  Stiles was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Princeton car dealership sold to Prescott Brothers of Mendota

A car dealership that was handed down through three generations in Princeton has a new owner.  Prescott Brothers of Mendota Tuesday became the official owner of the Browning Ford/Lincoln, Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram Dealerships.

The Browning dealership was opened by Glenn Browning and was later operated by his son Don and eventually his grandson Tim.

Sand Mine Hearing Restarting In Utica

Two nights of meetings covering nearly 11 hours isn’t enough to get an answer about a new sand mine proposed in Utica.

A hearing on Aramoni, LLC’s sand mine proposal continues at 6 inside Grand Bear Lodge.   The sand mine developer ran into heavy resistance from the crowd, trustees and planning commission members during the first tow nights of the hearing.  Utica trustee John Schweickert asked Aramoni developer Stephen Schuster if he’d consider annexing his 500 acres north of Love’s Travel Stop into La Salle if Utica turns down their sand mine request.  Schuster said it’s a possibility.

The village board needs to annex the proposed mine site into Utica and also approve special use permits and variances before blasting could start.

Dense Fog Advisory In Effect

Be careful driving, the fog is sticking around awhile.

A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect until 6 for the Illinois Valley.  Visibilities in some spots could be quarter mile or less.

After today the big weather story will be cold weather with a high only of 30 tomorrow.

Unions Threaten To Sue Over Pension Bill

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The fight over how to address Illinois’ pension shortfall is likely to move to the courts.

The Illinois Legislature approved a bill Tuesday to eliminate the state’s $100 billion unfunded pension liability by cutting benefits for workers and retirees. Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to sign it promptly.

Public employee unions say they’ll file a lawsuit if Quinn signs it. They say it violates a provision of the state constitution that prohibits cutting pension benefits.

Quinn says the bill is necessary for the state’s economic good. He says he thinks the court will “see it that way.”