Non-Profit Picks Streator K-9 For New Bulletproof Vest

Just like their human companions, police dogs need protection from bad guys.

Non-profit group “Vested Interest In K-9s” out of Massachusetts is donating a bullet and stab protective vest for Fips, the Streator Police Department K-9.  Fips is one of only 12 K-9s getting a donated vest thru this particular group.

The vests normally cost 950 dollars.  They come with a five-year warranty.

Spring Valley PD using grant money to purchases tasers

Get out of control and you might find yourself at the business end of taser.  The devices have become common for police officers and soon officers with the Spring Valley Police Department will have them.

Police Chief Kevin Sangston says he plans to use a $3,800 equipment grant to buy four of them. 

And if you own a business in Spring Valley and would rather people not bring their concealed weapons inside, the police department has extra “no guns allowed” stickers available.

Purdue University says 1 dead in campus shooting

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) – Officials at Purdue University in Indiana say one person was killed in a shooting at a campus classroom building.

Purdue Provost Tim Sands says he didn’t immediately know the identity of the person killed or the person’s connection to the university.

Campus police chief John Cox says the suspect is in custody after surrendering outside the Electrical Engineering Building following the shooting about noon Tuesday.

Cox says the person appeared to have targeted the victim.

 

Crash In Marseilles Kills Ottawa Woman

Wintry weather is blamed on a crash that killed an Ottawa woman.

24-year-old Sarah Duerr was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash late Saturday morning in Marseilles.  Duerr crashed with a semi going up the Rutland Street hill.  A passenger of Duerr and the semi driver were both treated and released at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

No one was ticketed.

Ottawa PADS Shelter Expands To Better Serve Families

When a family has to turn to a shelter for a roof above their heads, the last thing they need is to be separated in that shelter.

An open house is this Sunday to show off an expansion at the Illinois Valley PADS shelter in Ottawa.  Three new bedrooms with three sets of bunks and a crib in each room are part of the expansion along with a designated kid’s playroom.

PADS Executive Director Carol Alcorn says the expansion means 20 additional beds bringing the total to 50 in the Ottawa shelter.  The expansion started in October and cost around 55 thousand dollars.  Alcorn says a lot of donations of both money and labor made the expansion happen.

The open house for the expansion is Sunday starting at 1.  PADS in Ottawa is at 1120 Canal Street.

Music Department In Streator Has Cloudy Future

The future of Streator Elementary School’s band program could be in jeopardy.

The elementary school board meets at 4:15 inside the district building and they’re expected to address the future of the band program at Northlawn Jr. High.

Members of the Streator High School Band are urging supporters of the band program to show up at today’s meeting and speak out during public comment.

Woman injured after crash with a snow plow

When the snow is falling and the wind is blowing driving isn’t easy.  A woman is hospitalized in good condition after police say she clipped a snow plow Monday night.

The accident happened at Route 251 and North 32nd Road.  Police say Sherri Heiman of Mendota lost control and went into the path of a plow.  A person behind the plow also rear-ended the plow.

No Swimming At YMCA In Peru

If you wanted to take a dip today at the Illinois Valley YMCA in Peru, you’re out of luck.

Due to equipment failure, the Link Aquatic Center is closed today.  It was also closed down yesterday because of equipment issues.

The steam rooms at the Y are also closed.

Latest Road Condition Report

Be careful driving this morning, it’s plenty slick.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, Interstate 80 heading both east and west from La Salle-Peru is completely snow covered as of 5am.  Interstate 39 south towards Bloomington is also completely snow covered while I-39 north towards Rockford is considered just partially snow covered.

As for county roads, the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office says all roads are snow covered and icy with numerous cars in ditches.  If you get stuck, deputies say be prepared to wait awhile.

Dangerous Cold Returns To The Illinois Valley

It’s not quite the polar vortex of earlier this month but frigid temperatures are back for awhile in the Illinois Valley.

A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect until 10 this morning.  It could feel like 20 to 25 below zero in some places this morning with the wind chill.  When it gets this cold, hypothermia and frost bite can happen quickly.

The daytime high today isn’t expect to get out of the single digits.  In fact temperatures will likely below freezing the rest of the week.