Nine arrested for DUI in La Salle during Independence Day crackdown

If it seemed like you noticed a lot of people getting stopped in La Salle lately, it wasn’t your imagination. The La Salle Police Department recently wrapped up a two-week effort to catch people drinking and driving or without a seat belt.

From June 23 to Sunday, 9 tickets were written for people driving under the influence. 11 tickets were written for people who had a revoked or suspended license and 6 people were arrested for possession of marijuana. 31 people were ticketed for driving a car without insurance.

Peoria Street and Shooting Park Road intersection reopens

Construction along Shooting Park Road in Peru continues but at least the intersection at Peoria Street has reopened. The intersection was closed for water main work. It reopened Wednesday.  

Water main work continues on North Peoria Street between Midtown Road and 30th Street. The Public Works Department hopes the road won’t have to be closed Thursday.

You’re asked to drive cautiously through the construction area.

Spring Valley man in serious condition after being hit by a train

Five days after being hit by a train in Spring Valley, a man remains hospitalized. 30-year-old Jake Rodriguez was flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria after being run over by a freight train early Friday morning.

The train conductor called the Spring Valley Police Department after spotting a man lying in between the tracks about one mile east of the Route 89 dry bridge.

Rodriguez was found underneath the train. He was suffering from a head injury. As of Wednesday, Rodriguez was listed in serious condition.

 

Woman dies in crash with van in Peru

A woman is dead after getting rear-ended by a van in Peru.

51-year-old Darla Lindenmier of Peru was pronounced dead Tuesday night after being flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll says Lindenmier was heading south on North Peoria Street on a motorized bicycle when she was hit from behind by a minivan.

The driver of the van, Janette Langan of Carbondale has been ticketed for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.  Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei says there are no signs that Langan was impaired at the time of the crash.  She and her five passengers weren’t hurt.

An autopsy on Lindenmier was planned for Wednesday.

Fair season underway with return of Marshall-Putnam Fair

The 93rd annual Marshall-Putnam Fair is back in Henry.

Wednesday’s schedule includes a kickoff dinner, harness racing and the Little Miss, Junior Miss and Miss Marshall-Putnam Fair pageants. Tomorrow at the fair there is a carnival, rodeo and more harness racing. Friday and Saturday will include a demolition derby, arm wrestling tournament and tractor and truck pull. The fair wraps up Sunday with a bocce ball tournament, talent contest and another tractor and truck pull.

Tickets to the fair are free but grandstand events cost anywhere from 3 to 25 dollars.

Park officials watching for hikers in restricted areas at Starved Rock

Over a week after storms hit the Illinois Valley, not all trails are back open at Starved Rock State Park.

Conservation Police officers say they handed out 23 tickets to hikers over the holiday weekend who ventured into restricted areas. Park officials say hanging limbs and damaged trees could fall and cause you to get hurt.

Signs are up to alert hikers of closed trails.