Benefit planned for Utica and La Salle police officer

A man who has made a living helping others could now use your help.

A benefit for Utica Police Chief Mark Wren is on Saturday, May 16th. Wren who is also a La Salle police officer has been diagnosed with bone cancer.

The benefit will be at the La Salle Knights of Columbus and include an auction, food, raffles, and live music from local favorites like Road Angel and The Craigs. Tickets are $20 and are available at both the Utica and La Salle Shell stations.

All the proceeds will go to the Wren family.

Teen in custody following stabbing

A 19-year old Marseilles man is in custody  after an early morning stabbing Saturday in the 200 block  of West 2nd Street in Streator.  But, that’s half the battle for Streator police, the sheriff and State Police crime scene services.

The Sheriff’s report says police and EMT’s responded around 4:40am to a home where a 21-year old man lay with multiple stab wounds. That man remains unidentified and is hospitalized in St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Curtis Smith of Marseilles had a bond hearing Sunday on one count of aggravated battery, a Class 3 Felony. The investigation continues.

Shed fire destroys contents

Fire destroyed the contents of a shed, but left the walls late Saturday afternoon in Granville.

Fire Chief Ron Campbell said they received a call about 5:45pm. The 12 x 20 wood shed’s contents including a lawn mower were valued at $10-thousand dollars. No one was injured.

Firemen from Granville and Hennepin were at the scene for almost 2 hours.

Woman hurt in Ottawa kitchen fire

What appears to be an unintentional kitchen fire in a single story complex sent a resident to the hospital early Saturday evening.

Ottawa Fire Department’s Captain Andy Borkowski said damage was limited to a kitchen in one apartment at 413 West McKinley. A woman occupant, who Borkowski refused to identify, was taken to OSF St. Elizabeth emergency room.

Borkowski says structural damage was $20-thousand and $10-thousand to the contents.

Body found in gas explosion wreckage

Police say a body was discovered Sunday afternoon in the rubble of an apparent gas explosion that leveled three buildings in Manhattan’s East Village. Officials did not identify the body.

Two people had been unaccounted for: Nicholas Figueroa and Moises Lucon. Figueroa had been on date at a restaurant in one of three buildings that were leveled. Lucon was a worker there.

Officials say 22 people were injured in Thursday’s blast.  Mayor Bill de Blasio said someone may have improperly tapped a gas line before the explosion. But he said officials need to get access to the wreckage to explore it further.

The Kitchen is now closed….at Monari’s

The kitchen has closed for its last time at Monari’s 101 on LaSalle’s West end. The historic gathering place will open one last time for drinks and hors d’oeuvres on Tuesday night before closing its doors forever.

Earl Monari Senior opened the supper club and tavern in 1964 and later purchased the building.

Earl Jr. told “Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO” news it reached the point where Dad turned it over to Earl and siblings Renee and Cathy.  Dad’s instructions were to keep it going and “not to fight amongst yourselves”.

Earl and Cathy are calling it a career after Tuesday night. Renee will be working at Lighted Way and “The Right Spice”.

A woman patron seated near the door Saturday night said “Monari’s” had become an institution.  She came there nights after finishing work at the “Red Door”.  She was 19 at the time.  The woman said she met her husband while dining at Monari’s.

Earl said no one has stepped up to buy the supper club.  The family is asking $275,000.

Arrest in Streator stabbing

Streator police have been joined by the sheriff’s office and state police to investigating a stabbing occurred early Saturday in the 200 block of West 2nd street in Streator. About 4:40am, police and EMT’s  responded to a report of a person being stabbed.

Upon arrival, a 21-year old man was found inside a home with multiple stab wounds. He was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital then life flighted to St. Francis in Peoria. After investigation, 19-year old Curtis Smith of Marseilles was charged with 1 count of aggravated battery, a class 3 felony. He is in the county jail awaiting a bond hearing.