Crews called for an accidential fire in La Salle

An accidental fire at an auto shop in downtown La Salle could have been worse. Firefighters were called to Last Muffler and Brake on First Street late Friday morning for a fire that started while employees were draining fuel from a car.

The fuel was going into a container on a tool cart when it started on fire. Workers were able to safely push the cart outside. Firefighters had it out in minutes.  Only the container and the cart were damaged.

First baby of the year for IVCH is a boy

Baby New Year arrived Friay at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru. Ethan Thomas Van Houten was born just at 8:01am. His parents are Abigail and Nathaniel Van Houten of Streator.

He has a five-year-old sister waiting to greet him when he goes home.

Spring Valley man hurt after overturning his vehicle in southern La Salle County

A man from Spring Valley spent part of his holiday in the hospital after a crash.

Gabriel Leonard was on a county road east of Wenona Thursday afternoon when he says he lost control, went into the shoulder, hit a utility pole and then overturned. He was taken to St. James Hospital in Pontiac.

IVCH looking to help people with resolution to quit smoking

Did your New Year’s resolution include kicking the habit of smoking? If yes, Illinois Valley Community Hospital has a program that could help.

IVCH is hosting a program put on the by American Lung Association called “Freedom From Smoking” starting January 13th. It’s an eight-session, seven week-course held each Tuesday from the 13th until February 24th. You’ll try strategies to quit smoking and remain nicotine free.

The class is $40 a person and pre-registration is required by calling IVCH.

Dozens expected to plunge into chilly Illinois River for charity

If you’re going to jump into the river this time of the year, may as well do it for a worthy cause.

The fourth annual “Penguin Plunge” is Saturday at Heritage Harbor Marina in Ottawa. Each “plunger” is asked to raise at least a hundred dollars to take the plunge into the Illinois River. All proceeds benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The goal is to raise around $100,000.

Twenty-one teams are signed up to take the plunge starting at 2pm. Teams are made up of students from places like Ottawa and Marquette High School along with Ottawa firefighters.

Some of the more unique team names include the “Shrunken Testicles” and the “Oglesby Burr Dogs”.

Streator has the cheapest gas prices in all of Illinois

The new year hasn’t stopped gas prices from falling in the Illinois Valley.

According to GasBuddy.com, the lowest gas right now is in Streator at $1.55 a gallon. That’s the cheapest gas in the state.

Ottawa stations are selling for $1.86 a gallon while you can fill up in Princeton for a $1.89. La Salle and Peru stations range in price from $1.90 to nearly two bucks a gallon.

The average gallon of unleaded in Illinois right now is $2.17 a gallon, down 12 cents from last week.