Pair accused of dealing heroin in Ottawa

The fight to keep heroin off the streets in the Illinois Valley continues.

Members of the drug enforcement group Tri-Dent arrested Angela Trowbridge of Ottawa and Mason Jackson of Chicago Thursday in the 1400 block of Porter Street in Ottawa. Both were arrested for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. They’re accused of dealing heroin.

Once at the Ottawa Police Department, officers allegedly found Jackson had 68 bags of heroin. Trowbridge was also wanted on warrants for battery and driving with a suspended license.

Both Jackson and Trowbridge were taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Police chief in Lee County dies after driving into a field

A police chief is dead after having some sort of medical issue while behind the wheel.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office says 52-year-old Darrell Farringer of Amboy drove into a field near the Route 52 and 30 intersection yesterday afternoon around 5. He was unresponsive when officers arrived. Farringer was taken KSB Hospital in Dixon where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators say the crash doesn’t appear to have caused Farringer’s death. He was police chief in Ashton.

Scheduling conflict cancels Princeton Civil War festival

For one year at least the “Yanks” and “Rebs” are putting down their weapons in Princeton.

This year’s Shadows of the Blue & Gray Festival is canceled. Organizer Randy Woodbury says the Civil War re-enactment conflicts with national events so many re-enactors can’t make it to Princeton. The festival is usually every October at City County Park.

Woodbury says they’ve only canceled for this year and expect to bring back Shadows of the Blue & Grey in 2015.

Outlook is great for Fall Colors Weekend

“Right on cue”, that’s how Kathy Casstevens of Starved Rock Lodge describes the trees changing colors for Fall Colors Weekend.

Casstevens says the colors at Starved Rock State Park are at their peak thanks to great weather. She says a must see spot is the Route 71 entrance to the park. You’ll have more sunlight coming through this weekend than with past Fall Colors Weekend because there are less trees after the June storms.

Guided hikes will leave out from the Starved Rock Visitors Center at 9am and 1pm both Saturday and Sunday.

Annual Signature Chef’s Auction back to help children

Enjoy some local cuisine while also helping out the March of Dimes keep babies healthy.

Sixteen restaurants from the Illinois Valley will showcase their goods Thursday, November 6th at the 14th Annual Signature Chefs Auction inside Celebrations 150. Lyle Elsbury from Duffy’s Tavern is one of the head chefs. He says its great exposure for the restaurants.

Besides all the food there will be a silent and live auction. Some of the top auction items are Final Four College Basketball tickets, courtside seats to the Bulls and trips. The fundraising goal this year is to raise 125 thousand dollars.
You can buy tickets by calling the March of Dimes or going to their website.