Peru Chief Asks That All Vehicles Are Off City Streets

Want to help snowplow drivers get your street cleared?  Move your car off the street.

Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei says any vehicle parked on city streets after nine Monday morning could be ticketed and towed.

The parking restriction is in place in Peru until further notice.

Schools Calling Off Due To Wintry Blast

With several inches of snow on the ground and dangerous wind chills in the forecast, the list of school cancellations will likely pile up like the snow.

Midland and Putnam County Schools were among the first districts make the decision to be closed on Monday.   Peru, La Salle and Oglesby Elementary Schools along with Hall, L-P and Streator High Schools are among those closed Monday. Both Illinois Valley Community College campuses are also closed Monday.

Keep checking back to am1220wlpo.com for the latest school closures.

Winter Storm Causing Road Closures

With blowing and drifting snow and the number of accidents, the Illinois Department of Transportation is closing sections of state roads.

As of Sunday afternoon, Route 92 between Ohio and LaMoille is closed.  US-34 between Mendota and LaMoille is also closed.

For the latest road closures go to http://www.dot.il.gov/road/roadClosures.htm

Spring Valley man dies in shooting

A 23-year old Spring Valley man is dead after a shooting in his friend’s house involving alcohol and a gun.

Police chief Kevin Sangston said  Kyle Zinser’s body was found in the basement at 127 West Minnesota Saturday after Zinser had been shot several hours earlier.  The resident of the house,  20-year-old Angel Moreno is in Bureau County Jail on charges of involuntary manslaughter and concealment of a homicide.  Moreno was an acquaintance of  Zinser.

Police received a 911 call about 2:30pm from Moreno regarding a man shot in the leg and not breathing.  Sangston said the shotgun used in the crime was discovered at another residence. Moreno will be in court Monday. Zinser’s autopsy may be Tuesday.  Sangston believes the two had been drinking before the shooting.

Midwest bracing for record cold

 Forecasters say that even in areas where people are used to bundling up, the deep freeze that’s coming hasn’t been seen in as many as 20 years. The Midwest, New England and even the South are bracing for extreme cold and wind chills that have raised fears of frostbite and hypothermia. Wind chills might get to minus 70 in the coldest areas.

Peru woman taken to Peoria hospital

A 21-year old Peru woman is in a Peoria hospital after her car spun and struck a truck south of Peru Friday afternoon. LaSalle County sheriff’s office says a witness said the car of Josie Malone spun out on snow and ice covered Route 251, a half mile north of the Oglesby spur. In so doing, it struck the northbound pickup of Laverne Kreiser. Both drivers went to IVCH with Malone later taken to St. Francis Medical Center in Peru. There were no passengers in the car.