Missing Naperville man’s body found near Ottawa

Three days after jumping into the Illinois River for a swim, a man from Naperville has been confirmed dead. The body of 35-year-old Alberto Rodriguez, Jr. was found Tuesday in the Illinois River west of Ottawa’s Allen Park.

Conservation Police say Rodriguez jumped off a boat anchored near Illini State Park and was swept away Saturday. Members of Ottawa River Rescue, IDNR, and several fire departments were looking for him.

An autopsy is being performed Wednesday.

Hospital gift pushes Utica Fire Protection District past its fundraising goal for ambulance

Thanks to the generosity of the Illinois Valley, the Utica Fire Protection District has reached its fundraising goal to pay for a new ambulance and equipment.

Fire Chief Ben Brown says a $1,000 donation from the Illinois Valley Community Hospital Foundation pushes them to their $180,000 goal. Brown’s department started raising money last April.

The new ambulance is replacing a 1996 ambulance which they’ve sold to an Iowa fire department. Brown says they’ll have a dedication ceremony for the ambulance July 12th. At that time they’ll honor longtime paramedic Shelba Bimm who died last year.

Peru to buy dump truck from Standard

Buying a used truck instead of new truck will almost always save you money, even when you’re buying a one-ton dump truck. Peru is buying a 2008 dump truck from Standard for $34,000.

The truck comes with a plow and salt spreader and has 6,000 miles on it. Public Works Co-superintendent Jeff King says the truck is in perfect condition and costs half the price of a new truck. The truck will be used by the Public Works Department as a replacement for an older truck.

Spring Valley tackling dangerous sidewalks

Walked on any torn up sidewalks lately in Spring Valley?

According to the NewsTribune, the Spring Valley City Council is starting a new sidewalk repair program. Any sidewalks considered unsafe by the city will be replaced at the city’s cost. Council members have already came up with lists of unsafe sidewalks in their wards.

If you want your sidewalk fixed but it doesn’t meet unsafe standards, you can always apply for partial reimbursement from the city to make repairs.

Body pulled from Fox River after small plane goes down

A Chicago man is dead after an ultra-glide plane went down in the Fox River near Dayton.

Rescuers recovered the body Tuesday morning of 50-year-old Jeffrey Carpenter near the Dayton Dam. He was the passenger of a glider that started experiencing engine problems before crashing around 10pm Monday.

The pilot, Nicholas Peterson of Arizona was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa with non-life threatening injuries. The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to arrive soon and inspect the wreckage.

Aerial treatments planned in La Salle County to stop Gypsy Moths

An aerial assault begins next week in La Salle County on pests that feast on trees and shrubs.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture plans to start spraying areas east of Oglesby in and around Deer Park and Starved Rock State Park for the destructive Gypsy Moth. The moth can strip plants bare and especially likes oak leaves.

The spray won’t have any effect on animals or humans.