Peru school bus involved in minor accident

It was a wild ride for some middle school students in Peru.

Their bus was in a minor accident after classes let out Monday afternoon. Superintendent Mark Cross says the back passenger’s side wheel got stuck in a sinkhole caused by a water main break washing out part of the road. It happened at the corner of 9th and Buffalo Street near Howard Fellows Stadium.

Twenty students got out of the bus okay and hopped on another bus to get home.

UPDATE: Spring Valley man dies in Route 251 crash

A man that taught many students in the Peru Public School District was the person killed in Monday morning’s crash on Route 251. Investigators say 57-year-old Kim Parsons was heading south on Route 251 when he was hit by Margaret Insco of Peru. Parsons died at the scene.

Police say Insco was heading north towards Peru when she crossed into oncoming traffic. Police say Insco first hit Nicholas Boyde of Peru and then Parsons. Boyd wasn’t seriously hurt. Insco was flown to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. She’s in critical condition.

If you saw the crash and know anything about what led up to the crash, you’re urged to call the Peru Police Department.  The Peru Police, La Salle County Coroner, La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office and Illinois State Police are investigating.

Parsons had been working as the Technology Coordinator for the Streator Elementary District.

Burglary charges after items go missing from Ottawa cars

Another reminder to keep your car locked. Two men have been arrested after allegedly stealing stuff from unlocked cars in Ottawa.

Police say the burglaries happened in early August. Arrest warrants were issued. Timothy Guynn of Streator was arrested last Thursday by the Streator Police. Ryan Summers of Ottawa was arrested Saturday in Ottawa. Both face three counts of burglary and were being held in the La Salle County Jail with their bonds at $20,000.

Chicago man dies after trying to swim across Illinois River near Utica

The decision to try and swim across the Illinois River cost a Chicago man his life.

Conservation Police got called Saturday night about 22-year-old Angel Barreto of Chicago trying to swim from the river bank on Dee Bennett Road to Plum Island just west of the Starved Rock Dam. He went under about 30 yards from the shore.

Barreto was found Sunday morning by rescue crews near Plum Island and pronounced dead. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

Hundreds gather to bring awareness and remember those lost to suicide

The walk around Baker Lake in Peru was emotional and full of memories.

The annual La Salle County Out of the Darkness Walk Sunday brought together families and friends that had lost someone to suicide. Some teams were affected by more than one death.

Along with several speakers talking about their losses, the walk raised more than $15,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Aspiring medical marijuana companies can finally turn in their applications

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – After pitching their product to towns across the Illinois Valley, medical marijuana companies can finally officially apply for a license starting Monday.

The state is accepting applications over the next two weeks from companies who want to operate a cultivation center or dispensary when medical marijuana becomes available next year. A half-dozen companies have approached Peru about operating a cultivation center. La Salle, Oglesby, Ottawa and Princeton have also been approached. There will only be one cultivation center picked for all of Bureau, La Salle and Putnam Counties.

Just to apply for a cultivation center costs $25,000. If you get picked, you’ll have to pay another $200,000 to the state just to get a license.