Hall High School receives a grant from State Farm Insurance

An online contest sponsored by State Farm Insurance has earned Hall High School a $25,000 grant

Local State Farm Agent and Hall graduate Cody Burroughs was at the school Monday to present the grant.

Superintendent Mike Struna says $2,500 will be used for a distracted driving program next spring.

The school board will decide how to spend the remainder of the money. Struna says some possibilities are the resurfacing of the track and buying more laptops.

Woman and child sought by Ottawa Police Department

You normally don’t think twice when you see a woman with a toddler, but the Ottawa Police Department is hoping you’ll pay close attention. They’re looking for 29-year-old Shalane Stevens and her two-year-old son, Cortez White.

Police say the boy is supposed to be in DCFS custody but they believe he might be with Stevens. Cortez is described as black and big for his age. He was last seen wearing red Disney “Cars” pajamas.

Police say Stevens is white, 5’1″ and 180 pounds and was last seen Sunday night near the McDonald’s in Ottawa.

If you know where either of them is, call the Ottawa Police Department.

Local support group to participate in global candlelight vigil

Putting up the Christmas tree and watching Christmas movies are supposed to be fun activities, but Christmas can be a sad time, especially if the holiday reminds of you of a child you lost.

A Compassionate Friends support group meets regularly for parents that have lost children, but Sunday they are doing something special.  The local group, along with Compassionate Friends groups in other countries, is holding their annual Worldwide Candle Lighting Sunday.

The event begins New Zeland Sunday evening and will continue around the globe.

If you lost a child and would like to participate, there will be a gathering at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Peru at 6:30pm Sunday. Candles will be provided. You are encouraged to bring a picture of your child and any poems, readings, or music you would like to share to honor your child.

Head-on crash kills driver from Henry

A man from Henry was killed in a head-on crash at the Sandy Creed Bridge in Marshall County.

Investigators say 25-year-old Trevor Lester was eastbound on Route 18 near Henry Monday afternoon when he hit Jeffery Nott of East Peoria head on. Lester was pronounced dead at the scene. Nott was flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria with non-life threatening injuries.

The fatal crash is still under investigation by the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and Marshall County Coroner.

Grocery store theft in Mendota blamed on employee

Money went missing from Sullivan’s Foods in Mendota and police think they have who’s responsible.

18-year-old April Ohst of Mendota turned herself in Monday on a warrant for felony theft. She’s accused of stealing over $500 from Sullivan’s while she worked there.

Ohst posted bond and was released with a court date.

Latest heroin arrest happens in Oglesby

There’s been another heroin arrest in the Illinois Valley.

After watching drug activity in Mendota, members of Tri-Dent Friday arrested Robert Tannenbaum of Utica for unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He was arrested while in Oglesby.

Tannenbaum was taken to the La Salle County Jail. His bond was set at $10,000.

I-39 crash happens after driver swerves to avoid a deer

A crash on Interstate 39 that totaled a pickup truck happened after the driver tried to avoid a deer.

According to the Illinois State Police, Benjamin Csiszer of Somonauk was northbound on I-39 Sunday night near Oglesby when he overturned his truck trying to miss a deer. The truck ended up on its top on the interstate while a trailer he was hauling ended up in the median.

Csiszer and his passenger were taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital.