La Salle Sand Mine Gets Approval For New Rail Line And Loading Facility

Usually when there’s a meeting about anything to do with sand mines in La Salle County, there’s controversy.  That wasn’t the case last night in Ottawa.

Without any public opposition, the La Salle County Board unanimously approved a special use permit for Quality Sand Products in La Salle to build a rail spur so they can haul sand to existing tracks in Troy Grove.  The spur would go from the existing mine west of the Interstate 39/Interstate 80 intersection up to a new loading facility at the corner of I-39 and Route 52.

Father and son Dan and Josh Voss run the sand mine in La Salle.  Their mine was approved last February by the La Salle City Council.  Unlike other mines in La Salle County, they didn’t face long hearings or vocal opponents.

Spring Valley man arrested in Peru for heroin

March hasn’t been a good month for alleged heroin dealers.  Investigators with TRIDENT have arrested more than a dozen people on heroin related charged.  Most recently they arrested Andres Mendez Jr. of Spring Valley.

He’s accused of selling heroin to an undercover agent and was arrested Friday in downtown Peru for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.  Mendez was taken to the La Salle County Jail where he’s being held on $1 million bond.

Woman arrested for DUI after crash in La Salle

A couple of tow trucks were needed after a woman hit a parked car in La Salle.  Brianna Mancini of Oglesby was arrested for DUI, improper lane usage, and not slowing down to avoid an accident after police say she hit a car on 9^th Street Sunday night.

Police say the parked car then hit another parked car.  Brianna Mancini and Jason Mancini were taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital.

Trucker drives off Interstate near Troy Grove

A semi crash Monday morning near Troy Grove is blamed on a tired trucker.

Eugene Hanks of Oden was driving north on Interstate 39 south of the Troy Grove exit when he allegedly fell asleep and drove off the road.  The semi went through a fence and stopped in a field.

Hanks wasn’t hurt but was ticketed for driving while fatigued and improper lane use.

State’s Attorney to review fatal ambulance crash for possible charges

A crash involving a Peru Volunteer Ambulance is still being investigated.

Woodford County Detective Robert Gillson says he hopes to have the accident report ready for review by the state’s attorney’s office in the next day or two.  He says its common to take several days before finishing a crash report when it involves a death.

64-year old Galeen Driscoll of Metamora was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash last Wednesday.  She was driving a car that crashed with a Peru ambulance.

The ambulance driver, Daniel Dempsey of Peru is in fair condition at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  EMT Jim Zborowski of Peru was treated and released.

Downed power pole closes Peru roads

It took several hours but the intersection of Shooting Park Road and Plank Road in Peru has reopened.  Also affected was North Peoria.   The intersection was closed after a semi hit a power pole Monday morning.

Wait Could Be Over Soon On Bureau County Beagle Decision

The fate of seven horses and over a dozen beagles in Bureau County could be announced at any time.

Members of Illinois Valley Animal Rescue testified in Springfield last Wednesday that the beagles and horses should not be returned to owner Dan Labounty in rural Arlington.  They argue Labounty has had the animals living in unacceptable conditions for many years.  The animals are temporarily being cared for by members of the Bureau County Animal Control Office.

The hearing judge has five days from last week’s hearing to give his decision.  Meanwhile an online petition pleading for the horses and beagles to not return to their owner has reached over 26 thousand “signatures”.

It’s St. Baldrick’s Week In Ottawa

Just in time for the warmer weather dozens of people in the Illinois Valley will be losing their hair for a good cause.

The 11th annual St. Baldricks event in downtown Ottawa is this Saturday from 10 until 2 at Jeremiah Joes.  Over 150 people are expected to have their heads shaved in an effort to fight childhood cancer.  The St. Baldricks Ottawa event has raised over 500 thousand dollars in the last decade.

This year’s goal is to raise 50 thousand dollars.  To sign up or donate go to a link posted at wlpoamandfm.com

Chicago Officer Hit By Bullet While Carrying Out Drug Bust

CHICAGO (AP) – A Chicago police officer helping execute a search warrant for drugs has been hit in the face by a ricocheting bullet.

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy says someone from inside the South Side home fired a shot last night that ricocheted and hit the officer between his eyes. The 34-year-old officer was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. McCarthy says the officer is “stable” but still has a fragment of the bullet lodged in his forehead.

Police are questioning six people who were inside the home when the shooting happened.