Update on Illinois Valley weather

All Severe Thunderstorm warnings in the Illinois Valley have expired.

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch till 9pm for LaSalle, Bureau and Putnam Counties.  Any storms that develop under these conditions could contain 70 mph wind gusts and 2 inch hail.

State judicial board weighing punishment options for Ottawa judge

A complaint has officially been filed with the state regarding Circuit Judge Joe Hettel’s drunken driving arrest.

The Judicial Inquiry Board could remove Hettel from the bench or just reprimand him for his March 31st DUI arrest in Ottawa. The judiciary board says Hettel refused to perform field-sobriety tests after crashing his pickup truck while using his cell phone.

Since his arrest and guilty plea, Hettel is handling only civil cases in La Salle County, no criminal cases.

Congressman Kinzinger wants to hear your thoughts

Got a question or concern for Congressman Adam Kinzinger? Members of his staff will be around the Illinois Valley in the next couple weeks.

The congressman will have office hours next Friday at the Marseilles City Hall beginning at 9:30. A Kinzinger staffer will be at the DePue Village Hall Tuesday, July 1st starting at noon and then at Oglesby City Hall the same day starting at 1:30.

Kinzinger is seeking another term in Congress. He’ll face Democrat Randall Olsen of Ottawa in the November election.

Illinois River on the rise

With all the rain this week, it should come as no surprise rivers are rising. A Flood Advisory is in effect for the Illinois River at both La Salle and Ottawa.

In La Salle, the river is at 18 feet Saturday morning and is expected to rise just below the 20 foot flood stage Sunday morning. When it gets that high, fields around the river in Peru, La Salle and Spring Valley flood.

In Ottawa, the Illinois River is about a foot and a half below flood stage. It’s expected to rise another foot today before falling back. At this level water starts coming up on the Allen Park boat ramp and entrance.