Busy rail crossings in Mendota and Streator will close for construction

Well-traveled rail crossings in Mendota and Streator will be closed to traffic until next month.

The Route 34-BNSF Rail crossing in Mendota will be closed starting Monday. BNSF Railway is rebuilding the crossing. Detours will be used for both east and westbound traffic using Main and Eight Streets.

In Streator, the Route 18 or Main Street crossing will be closed for a couple weeks starting Sunday. Detours will take you on stretches of Route 23.

Peru woman accused of pinning a man against a barn with her car

There are a lot of things to use as weapons. A woman from Peru is accused of using her vehicle.

La Salle County deputies were called out for a disturbance Friday morning to a house in rural Mendota. Allysa Haupt was arrested for aggravated battery after she allegedly hit a man with her vehicle and pinned him up against a pole barn. She drove away but was later arrested and taken to the La Salle County Jail.

The victim was taken to Mendota Community Hospital.

Suburban man accused of biting La Salle County deputy

A traffic stop in Mendota Saturday morning was far from routine.

Christopher Cali of Bolingbrook is accused of fighting with a La Salle County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Cali allegedly bit a deputy after being pulled over just after two Saturday morning on 13th Avenue in Mendota.

He was arrested for felony resisting/obstructing police and aggravated battery to a police officer. He was also wanted on two warrants out of Will County for battery.

Cali was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Illinois readies itself for potential Ebola case

CHICAGO (AP) – The Illinois Department of Public Health has announced a 21-day quarantine for those who’ve had direct contact with West Africa Ebola patients.

Illinois’ action follows that of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The two issued a mandatory quarantine for travelers after a physician who returned to New York City a week ago from treating Ebola patients in Guinea fell ill with the virus.

Governor Pat Quinn says the order is a “common sense step” to ensure Illinoisans will be protected from potential exposure to the virus.

No Ebola cases have been reported in Illinois.