Boob-a-Palooza includes a night of music, food and fighting cancer

For a sixth year, “Boob-A-Palooza” returned to the Illinois Valley to help fight “the dread”.

The fundraiser iwas Saturday at Celebrations 150 in La Salle. Last year’s fundraiser set a new record by raising over $65,000. Proceeds from “Boob-A-Palooza” go to Cops 4 Cancer which uses the money to help people and families dealing with cancer pay for groceries, utilities and house payments.

The night included live bands, food, drinks and raffles. Tickets are $20.

Let the spring thaw begin in the Illinois Valley

One of the busiest businesses this weekend is sure to be your neighborhood car wash.

High temperatures Saturday and Sunday are expected to be in the low 40s with highs Tuesday through Friday in the 50s. Snow isn’t anywhere in the forecast only a slight chance of rain tomorrow and Friday.

The only downside to the warm up is snow melt could lead to eventual flooding.

Citywide water alert in Streator continues into second day

A citywide boil order remains in effect for Streator.

Illinois American Water which serves Streator and Kangley issued a water alert after a sample came back positive for E. Coli bacteria on Friday. Karen Cotton with Illinois American Water says they’re erring on the side of caution by issuing a citywide alert and flushing Streator’s water system.

Cotton says you can bathe and shower using the water but you should let it boil at least five minutes if you plan on drinking it. She’s hoping to lift the boil order by the end of the weekend.

Bottled water is again available at the Streator Fire Department.

Donations needed to help provide over a thousand people an Easter dinner

Over 500 families in the Illinois Valley are relying on donations for their Easter dinner this year.

The Illinois Valley Food Pantry’s Easter Distribution is Saturday, March 28th from 10 until 2 at the office on Marquette Street in downtown La Salle. They expect to feed 550 families and around 1,600 individuals. If you need a meal and haven’t signed up for one yet, the deadline to sign up is Wednesday, March 25th.

As always the food pantry is accepting donations including instant potatoes, pork and beans, corn and ham. Monetary donations are also accepted.

Guilty verdict in Ottawa home invasion case

A jury of 10 women and 2 men took about two hours to decide a Chicago man was guilty of a home invasion in Ottawa.

30-year-old Richard “Merch” Felton was found guilty Friday afternoon of home invasion and residential burglary. The jury believed Felton tied a then 92-year-old woman to her bed so he and others could ransack her home near Thornton Park in Ottawa. His DNA was found on zip-ties used to bind the woman’s feet.

Felton will be sentenced April 23rd and could face 60 years in prison. The victim’s age elevates the potential prison sentence.