Man arrested in La Salle after allegedly receiving marijuana in the mail

Any package being sent through the U.S. Postal Service is going to be inspected, including a packaging with 12 pounds of marijuana.

A man with a California address is facing a felony drug charge in La Salle County after police say he receive more than 5000 grams of marijuana in the mail Friday.

Joseph Larabee was pulled over and arrested at Ninth and Joliet Streets in La Salle by members of TRIDENT. He was being held in the La Salle County Jail with his bond set at $500,000.

RICL receives ICC permission to build transmission line

The Illinois Commerce Commission is giving Rock Island Clean Line the certificate it needs to build a direct current transmission line from Iowa to a power station in Grundy County.

Tuesday’s decision doesn’t give the company the power to of eminent domain.  That should make opponents happy. One of the most outspoken groups opposed to the project is Block RICL. After the ruling, Mary Mauch of Block RICL was unclear if the company would be given eminent domain, but was strongly hoping that it wouldn’t.

The ICC’s order requires Rock Island to get the money to cover the total project costs before building the transmission line. Any expansion to the project would need ICC approval.

Still, Michael Skelly, President of Clean Line Energy, calls the ICC ruling, “a great step forward for the Rock Island Clean Line project and brings Illinois one step closer to creating a cleaner energy future.”

The transmission line would run east to west through Bureau and La Salle Counties and into Grundy County where it would connect to a ComEd substation. The transmission line would carry power created by wind turbines.

Peru officials taking another look the Venture Drive and 38th Street intersection

You’ve had two years to get used to the redesigned intersection at Venture Drive and 38^th Street in Peru. Do you think it needs to change again?

Traffic flow through the busy intersection near Dairy Queen and Hobby Lobby was reconfigured to prevent cars from backing up onto Route 251. It’s a strategy that’s worked but many shoppers and business managers are frustrated.

City officials are ready to come up with a better plan. Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei says they’re presenting a plan to businesses so they can come up with a final plan.

The presentation is scheduled for 6:30pm Tuesday, December 2 in the Wren Community Room at Peru City Hall. City Engineer Eric Carls will lead the presentation.

Man from Sandwich killed in crash north of Ottawa

If you’ve been following the story about a fatal crash in Ottawa, the driver killed was from Sandwich.

The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office says 30-year-old Justin Nichols was southbound on Route 71 Monday afternoon when for whatever reason he crossed into the other lane of traffic and hit a delivery truck head-on. Nichols was pronounced dead at the scene.

The fatal crash happened just before 1:30pm near the intersection of Route 71 and the Morris Blacktop.

Alleged burglar in Streator facing three felony charges

Streator Police think one man is behind break-ins to a liquor store, bank and bar.

Anthony Fialko of Streator was arrested Sunday for three counts of burglary. He’s accused of breaking into Streator Community Credit Union, Chalkey’s Tavern and Streator Liquor and Tobacco last weekend.
Investigators believe forced his way into the businesses and stole merchandise. Fialko was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

The investigation is ongoing.

Other Illinois cities besides Chicago see demonstrations after Ferguson announcement

CHICAGO (AP) – It’s not just big cities that are having demonstrations reacting to a Missouri grand jury’s decision not to indict a police officer in Ferguson.

In Peoria, about two dozen protesters had a peaceful vigil outside the U.S. attorney’s office. Some held signs that said “Justice for Michael Brown, We are all Ferguson.”

A vigil is planned Tuesday at a Springfield church. The pastor says he hopes it fosters respect between law enforcement and the community.

Ice Odyssey returns to downtown Ottawa

Ottawa will be the land of the ice and snow this weekend.

The city’s 6th Annual Ice Odyssey is Saturday from 10 until 4. Chainsaw artists will transform blocks of ice into holiday images. Their work will stay on display throughout downtown Ottawa.

There will also be vendor booths and downtown businesses will be offering up sales.

Very little snow but plenty of wind hits the Illinois Valley

It wasn’t a big snow maker but Monday’s winter blast made things plenty uncomfortable.

As far as snow goes, the National Weather Service says 1.2 inches fell in Mendota which was one of the higher amounts across northern Illinois. The snow that fell was being whipped around by wind gusts that picked up in the afternoon.

The Peru Airport had a gust Monday of 41 miles per hour while a spotter in Morris measured a 40 mile per hour wind gust.

Driver killed in crash north of Ottawa

There were a lot of crashes Monday in the Illinois Valley, at least one proved to be fatal.

It happened just before 1:30 Monday afternoon near the intersection of Route 71 and the Morris Blacktop in Ottawa. Two vehicles were involved in the crash and one driver was pronounced dead.

The coroner’s office is still investigating and hasn’t released any names yet involved in the fatal crash.