Electrical problem shuts down nuclear reactor

MORRIS, Ill. (AP) – Damage to an electrical transformer caused one reactor to shut down automatically at a northern Illinois nuclear power plant over the weekend.

Unit 2 at the Dresden Nuclear Station shut down Saturday morning, and it remained offline on Sunday as crews worked to fix the damage.

Dresden spokesman Robert Osgood says the problem is on the non-nuclear side of the plant.

He says the plant responded as expected, and there was no safety threat. He says a second reactor is operating normally, and electrical customers will not be affected.

It’s owned by Exelon Generation.

Crash kills La Salle woman

A man remains hospitalize after a crash that killed a woman and stopped traffic on Interstate 39. It happened Saturday night south of Wenona.

State Police Troopers ay 83-year-old Nancy Hylla was heading south but crossed the median and hit Robert Limke of Rockton who was heading north. Hylla was pronounced dead by the Marshall County Coroner while Limke was taken to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria where he is in fair condition. A 13-year-old boy in the car was also taken to Peoria.

Police say Hylla also hit Richard and Salley Scoles of Streator. The couple was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator along with Danny and Deborah Clifford of Batavia. Police say Danny Clifford crashed his SUV while trying to avoid the other accident. Police say they didn’t suffer serious injuries.

Flooding no longer expected for the Illinois River

The recent rain won’t be enough to push the Illinois River over its banks. A flood watch that had been planned for the Illinois River at La Salle is no longer because the river is expected to remain about four feet below flood stage.

Volunteers needed for Ottawa in Bloom

There was snow on the ground when the Ottawa in Bloom planners had their first meeting of the season.

Stephanie Stacy works in landscaping and is involved with Ottawa in Bloom. She says you don’t have to be a gardener to participate.  She estimates they had 100 people volunteer last year with many of them coming from church or other civic group.

Zinnia is the flower of the year in Ottawa