School bus crash near Champaign involves a driver from Oglesby

An Oglesby driver is accused of causing a crash that involved a school bus.

According to the state police, David Curry was on Route 47 near Champaign Friday morning when he slid through an intersection. He allegedly smacked into the side of a school bus that was hauling 35 children.

Four of the children were taken to a Champaign hospital for minor injuries. Curry wasn’t hurt but was ticketed for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Plenty of interest in election for Village of Utica Trustees

Some towns the size of Utica have a hard time finding people to run for office. But Utica isn’t your ordinary small village.

According to Village Clerk Lori Gbur, six people have taken out petitions to run for village president. The list includes: Kevin Stewart; Jim Schrader; Rick Maltas; Bill Ciccone; Robyn Lawson and Mike Brown.

There are also four trustee seats available in Utica. Taking out petitions for a trustees seat are: Ron Pawlak; Shawn Savsza; John Schweickert; Steve Newell; Dave Stewart; John Pappas and Robert Smith.

Candidates have to turn in petitions between December 15th and the 22nd if they want to be on next year’s ballot.

Nearly 50 children get to “shop with a cop” in La Salle County

Thanks to your generosity, 45 less fortunate children will be shopping Saturday in the Illinois Valley.

La Salle County Sheriff’s Deputy Felecia Rasmussen says enough money was raised this year through the “Xmas 4 Kids” program that they’ll be taking dozens of children shopping for things like hats, gloves, coats and toys for Christmas. Among the children deputies will be helping are children who are staying in shelters like PADS.

The Xmas 4 Kids charity started in 2005.