Storms roll through Illinois Valley on Mother’s Day

How bad were the Mother’s Day storms at your house?

A weather spotter in Putnam says nickel size hail fell at their place while marble size hail was reported just before 6pm Sunday in Cedar Point. A spotter in Marseilles measured over an inch of rain in an hour and also a wind gust of nearly 70 miles per hour.

During the height of the storms, Ameren reported over 400 power outages in Marseilles with scattered outages in Granville and Ottawa.

La Salle prepares to say goodbye library director

You see her when you visit the La Salle Public Library, listen to the music at Jazz’in the Street and take your kids to Celebrate La Salle- La Salle Public Library Director Laura Frizol. She’s been the director for 16 years but is leaving at the end of May to get married and move to Virginia. She says she’s sad to be leaving. Her first library job was in her junior high school’s library.

During her time in La Salle, the library has grown in size and has changed thanks to new technology.  She says one of her first duties working in a library was typing cards for the card catalog.

Frizol has also been part of the La Salle Business Association and LPAC, groups that have been responsible for a number of community festivals.

You can say goodbye to Frizol and meet the new library director, Cristy Stupegia during a reception from 2-4pm Sunday at the library.  Hear more with Frizol by listening to an interview that’s available at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

SUV scorched near Wenona

Hopefully your Mother’s Day celebration didn’t involve a fire.

While hosting their 44th Annual Mother’s Day Dinner, the Wenona Fire Department was called out to Interstate 39 where an SUV caught fire Sunday just after noon. Wenona Fire Chief Dan Sullivan says the driver pulled off to the side of the interstate just before the Wenona exit when he saw flames coming from underneath the SUV.

The SUV is a complete loss. The driver wasn’t hurt.

Southbound traffic on I-39 was down to one lane near Wenona for over an hour while firefighters were on scene.

Spring cleanup week in Spring Valley

It’s spring cleaning time in Spring Valley.

If you live in Spring Valley, have your unwanted stuff out with your regular garbage no later than 6am on your regular garbage pickup day through this Friday. Crews will only stop once at each house during spring cleanup week.

Things that won’t be picked up include electronics, oils and chemicals, landscaping, tires and windows. Spring Valley will have a recycling pickup June 14th for electronics.

Chicago checks out robots

     The Chicago Public Library has more than books for borrowing. It now has a fleet of 500 robots available for checkout. The idea is to give Chicagoans of all ages a chance to dabble in the basics of computer coding.

    The gadgets known as Finch Robots were donated by Google Chicago. They were invented by a lab at Carnegie Mellon University and can be programed to move, make noises, light up and draw.

Letterman announcer talking disaster prep

    You may have heard him introduce David Letterman every night, now announcer Alan Kalter will take on a more serious topic. Kalter is the voice on new ads about disaster preparation from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

   Calling himself the “voice of reason”, Kalter encourages people to have an emergency kit, a disaster plan and to use common sense. Kalter also encourages families to practice their disaster plan and refers them to the ready Illinois website for more tips. The ads are already airing here in Illinois.

 

IDOT to examine Ottawa bridge

    If you use the Ottawa Route 23 bridge over the Illinois…you may have shared it with the marathon runners yesterday. Now, prepare to share it with the Illinois Department of Transportation the first half of this week.

    IDOT says 1 lane will be open to traffic in each direction while engineers examine the bridge tommorrow through Wednesday. Motorists should allow extra time and watch for flaggers and signage.

 

Warm but stormy is our weather

    You have the warm weather you wanted…but, it comes with a downside. The National Weather Service says scattered thunderstorms this afternoon could carry golf ball sized hail, 60 mph plus winds and torrential rains. Tornados can not be ruled out.

   Thunderstorms could develop south of Interstate 88 this afternoon. The Weather Service says the best chance for severe weather is between 3 and 8pm today. Bureau and Putnam Counties could experience severe thunderstorms as well.