Fire breaks out in empty house in Peru

A late night fire broke out in an unoccupied home in Peru.

Smoke filled the area around 6th and Putnam Streets at around 10:30 last night. Peru firefighters smashed out windows in putting out the fire within about 20 minutes at 1023 Fulton Street.

The house is being sold as a package deal with the old Church of the Nazarene which is directly north of the house. The state fire marshal’s office and a Peru detective were immediately called to look into the cause of the fire.

Old Dominion trucking moving operations from La Salle to Peru

La Salle’s loss will be Peru’s gain.

Old Dominion Freight Line is closing their La Salle trucking terminal and opening an expanded facility in Peru. They are moving into an empty building on Unytite Drive that at one point was talked about being a medical marijuana cultivation center.

The new service center will have room for 85 trucks. The current one on Route 6 near Route 178 has 38-doors for trucks. Old Dominion’s service center manager in La Salle says the expansion is because of company growth.

They hope to open the new trucking facility in July.

New sand processing plant approved in Peru

The city of Peru has grown by 250 acres to the northwest.

An annexation agreement has been approved allowing Northern White Sand and Peru Land Acquisition, LLC to build a sand processing plant off Plank and Ladd Roads. The companies will bring in and ship out sand by truck and rail. There won’t be actual mining at the site.

The sand plant is expected to create around 50 jobs and about $30 million dollars in investment including an improved Plank Road. Hall High School will be the biggest property tax winner since most of the property is actually in Bureau County.

A groundbreaking for the sand plant is expected later this year.

Burglar runs in Ottawa after running into homeowner

A burglar tucked tail and ran when confronted by a homeowner in Ottawa.

Ottawa Police got a call Thursday morning about a residential burglary on the south side of town on Arch Street. The burglar got into a home through an unlocked window but ran when confronted by the homeowner. Investigators say the burglar did get away with property.

If you have information call the Ottawa Police Department.

Area rainfall reports from Sunday into Monday

How much rain did you measure between Sunday and Monday morning?

According to the National Weather Service, about nine-tenths of an inch fell in Streator. Seven-tenths of an inch fell in La Salle with about a half-inch of rain in Oglesby and Peru. Under a half-inch was reported in Seneca and Ottawa.

Wednesday is the only day this week without rain in the forecast.

Senator Sue Rezin and many others vote down anti-smoking proposal

Do you light up with kids in your car? A proposal to make it illegal to smoke in your car with children inside went up in flames in Springfield.

32 of 43 state senators including Republican Sue Rezin voted against the proposed bill. It would’ve made it illegal for you to smoke in your vehicle if there was someone under 18 riding with you. The fine for being caught would’ve been up to $100.

Supporters argued for the idea based on second-hand smoke dangers.

Man flown to Peoria after being hit by a car in Spring Valley

A hit and run in Spring Valley has police looking for a driver and the victim being flown to Peoria.

Just before three Sunday morning, a Spring Valley officer while on patrol found an injured man on the shoulder of Route 89 south of Route 6. The 26-year-old man from Spring Valley was taken to St. Margaret’s Hospital before being flown to Peoria. He’s in serious condition.

Investigators think the victim was hit by a red Mitsubishi Lancer that was headed south on Route 89. The car will have front passenger side damage and is missing part of the front bumper and passenger side mirror.

If you have information, call the Spring Valley Police Department.