Man arrested for stolen vehicle after running out of gas in La Salle County

A police officer will run the plates anytime they come upon a broken down car. Remember that if you ever need to lay low.

A man from Skokie that was allegedly driving a stolen car was arrested after running out of gas on a La Salle County road west of Serena. Sheriff’s deputies found Devonte Johnson Thursday morning. Police say Johnson asked for a ride but they soon discovered that the car was reported as stolen out of Forrest Park.

Johnson was arrested for unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle and was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

 

Power outage scheduled for Oglesby

A few blocks of Oglesby will be without power Tuesday. An emergency electrical situation has the city planning a power outage from 9am-3pm Tuesday.

You’ll be affected if you live in the 100 through 300 blocks of Florence Street, the 100 block of Field Avenue and the north side of the 100 through 400 blocks of East Walnut Street. A few homes on Church Street will also be without power.

State approves rate increases for Ameren and ComEd

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Get ready to stash away more money to pay utility bills. The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved rate increases for Ameren and ComEd.

The commission approved an 11 percent overall raise for ComEd and 17 percent overall raise for Ameren. Commission officials say the amount you’ll pay depends on different factors, including location and how much electricity you use.

The new rates were set using a formula created by a state law that allows utilities to recover costs for specific investments in infrastructure. The Citizens Utility Board says it’s disappointed in the increases.

Food pantry in La Salle gearing up for annual Christmas meal distribution

Think of all of the shopping trips and ingredients you’ll be using to prepare Christmas dinner for your family. Imagine shopping for 650 families.

Approximately 1,800 people are relying on the Illinois Valley Food Pantry to provide them with something special for Christmas. The pantry needs donations of instant potatoes, canned vegetables, turkey, and ham. They’re also accepting cake mix, frosting and cash.

Donations can be dropped off five days a week.
Or If would like to receive food assistance, register with the pantry by Wednesday. Distribution will be Saturday, December 20.

You can find the pantry in the 100 block of Marquette Street in La Salle.

Shotgun deer season closes trails at Illinois Valley parks

Hunters and hikers don’t mix very well so for one of the few weekends out of the year, hikers will give way at Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks.

The second muzzleloader deer season goes from sunrise Friday through sunset Sunday. To keep hikers and hunters safe, all trails at Matthiessen Start Park are closed this weekend along with trails along the Council Overhang and Ottawa, Kaskaskia and Illinois Canyons in Starved Rock.

The parks themselves are still open.

IVCC extends lease for satellite campus in downtown Ottawa

Know anyone who has attended classes at Illinois Valley Community College’s campus in Ottawa? It’s been enough of a success that school leaders are extending their lease.

The IVCC trustees Thursday night agreed to a five-year lease extension for the satellite campus in Ottawa. The lease amount is the same the college has been paying the city of Ottawa since the campus opened in 2009.

The building is 11,000-square feet and so IVCC will pay $12 a square foot for the first two years of the lease, $13 the following year and $14 the final two years of the lease. In exchange Ottawa provides janitorial services and $10,000 worth of technology upgrades.

IVCC President Jerry Corcoran says “thousands of students” on the east side of the district have taken advantage of the Ottawa campus.

The story of Scrooge being told in unique way on Streator theater stage

By now, you’ve probably watched several versions of “A Christmas Carol”. Performers at Engle Lane Theatre in Streator are ready to give you a very rare rendition of the Charles Dickens classic.

They are planning two shows Saturday presented in “readers’ theater style” where actors and actresses read from scripts on stage with a projector providing background images. Performances are at 2 and 7 with tickets $15 for adults and $10 for kids.

The play is directed by Brian Blasco and Scott Fulton.