Oglesby man and woman arrested on cocaine related charge

Two alleged sources for cocaine in La Salle County are in jail. Officers with the drug team TRIDENT Wednesday arrested Tabitha Becker, AKA Tabs, at her house in Oglesby.

Her roommate, Johnny Hopkins, was also arrested yesterday, but in Ottawa.

Police say Becker and Hopkins sold cocaine to undercover officers multiple times before getting arrested. Both were charged with unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and were taken to the La Salle County Jail. Their bonds were set at $1 million.

Mendota man seriously injured by a train

A man was seriously injured after being hit by a train in Mendota.  The collision was reported by BNSF Railroad shortly before 1am Wednesday. Investigators say the train consisted of several train engines and no train cars.

Police say the man from Mendota was on the tracks near the Sixth Street crossing when he was hit. He was flown to St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford and was in critical condition. His name hasn’t been made public.

Local shelter and police departments offer support to local domestic violence victims

Getting away from an abuser is easier said, than done. Often a victim needs the support of a domestic violence shelter and the police department to find safety. In La Salle County, ADV/SAS offers support.

Margie Morrison is the shelter’s executive director. She says their hotline receives calls from victims, investigators and concerned family members.  She says police departments are excellent at sharing their hotline number and providing rides to their shelter.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. You can show your support for victims by participating in a luminary and walk in Peru next Thursday at 6:30pm.  It will begin at the Maud Powell Plaza and end at the Peru Municipal Building.

You can learn more about ADV-SAS by listening to an interview that’s available at the WLPO AM and FM news page. The hotline number is 1-800-892-3375.

Mendota Community Hospital officials continue process to join OSF

A hospital in Mendota is a step closer to becoming part of the OSF Healthcare System. Officials with Mendota Community Hospital and OSF have signed an affiliation agreement.

The hospitals announced in May that they had started the process of merging.

Margo Gallagher Schmitz, President of Mendota Community Hospital’s Board of Directors, says integrating into the OSF Healthcare System will allow MCH to better serve the community.

She says you’ll get greater access to integrated primary, secondary, and advanced health care services.

MCH officials want to have the process completed next spring. The affiliation needs the approval of the Illinois Health Facilities & Services Review Board.

Ottawa limits what kinds of businesses can serve alcohol

Video gaming is changing a lot of things in Illinois including places wanting to serve alcohol that normally wouldn’t.

With the popularity of video gaming machines, Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach says they’ve been getting requests from gas stations and even grocery stores wanting a liquor license to serve alcohol by the machines. The council last night amended its liquor ordinance to allow only so called “Pour Licenses” for bars, pubs, clubs, taverns, restaurants and motels. Gas stations and grocery stores could still sell packaged liquor but not get a license to serve it to customers in glasses.

The council also streamlined its liquor ordinance by raising the cost of licenses for all businesses serving beer and wine from $675 to $900 with the exception of clubs, or service organizations.

Trucker crashes into trees near Utica after choking on his drink

There are a lot of ways to become distracted while driving. A trucker from Aurora says he crashed on Interstate 80 after choking on a drink.

Richard Offhaus the third was on westbound I-80 Monday afternoon when he says he choked on a drink. He left the interstate and hit several small trees east of Utica.

Offhaus was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

La Salle man arrested for a felony drug charge

A drug charge has a man from La Salle in jail.  Melvin Townsel, A.K.A Polo, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a warrant for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

Investigators with TRIDENT say he sold cocaine to someone working with the police.  He was taken to the La Salle County Jail with his bond set at $1,000,000.

Correction: The arrested man’s name is Melvin Townsel, not Melvin Townsend.  Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO News regrets the error.