Trial date set for Peru woman accused of causing crash that killed popular teacher

A Peru woman is scheduled to head to trial in May for allegedly driving under the influence when she caused a crash that killed a popular teacher and theater performer.

Margaret Insco has a jury trial start date of Monday, May 18th with a final pre-trial hearing on May 15th. She was indicted this week for aggravated DUI and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Insco was allegedly driving impaired last September when she crashed into a truck and car on Route 251 in Peru. 57-year-old Kim Parsons of Spring Valley died in the crash. He was a teacher with the Streator Elementary School District and was involved with Stage 212.

Insco is in the La Salle County Jail on $500,000 bond.

Crack cocaine arrest made in Mendota

A man with the nickname of “Diesel” is accused of having crack cocaine in Mendota.

Mendota Police along with members of the drug group Tri-Dent arrested Anthony Lockridge of Chicago Thursday afternoon after a traffic stop. He’s accused of having with him less than 15 grams of crack cocaine. That’s a class 4 felony.

Lockridge was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Bus changes likely means change to school days in Ottawa

Starting and ending times for school days at Ottawa’s elementary schools are likely changing in the fall.

Superintendent Cleve Threadgill says in order to make necessary reductions to their bus fleet, they “strongly anticipate changes to the starting and ending times for our schools next year”. This is in response to Ottawa High School likely cutting ties with sharing bus services with the elementary district next year. Threadgill says he understands why the high school is looking at alternatives to save money.

Threadgill plans to talk about bus alternatives at the elementary school board meeting Tuesday night at Central School.

Ottawa driver arrested for DUI after rollover crash

A rollover west of Serena is blamed on a drunken driver.

La Salle County deputies say they arrested Kevin Thompson of Ottawa just after midnight Saturday morning after he rolled his vehicle on Route 52. He was picked up for DUI, driving uninsured and failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Thompson was looked at by paramedics at the scene and then taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Man arrested for alleged attack at Earlville bar

Things got rough at the Knotty Pine Tap in Earlville.

After putting out an alert for a man wanted in an alleged battery at the bar, James Warren of Somonauk was arrested Friday morning for two counts of aggravated battery. Investigators think he used a golf club during the battery.

He posted bond and was released with a court date.