Volunteers needed at Hall High School Saturday

Hall High School needs your help to help out those in need.

Starting at 9 o’clock Saturday morning, volunteers are needed to help load up a truck at the old high school building with items from the old high school that will be donated to a needy school in Alabama.

With demolition of the old building quickly approaching, Hall has a bunch of excess books, desk and equipment that won’t be making the transition to the new school. Instead of just throwing those items out, Hall is donating the supplies.

If you’d like to help out, meet on the east side of the school gym at nine o’clock. Students can earn service hours by volunteering.

Double D Trucking donated the truck and logistics. For more information, text Deanna Carlson at 815-488-6611.

Car crashes into a house in Granville

Nobody was hurt after a car crashed into a house in Granville.

The call for firefighters, police and paramedics went out after 7 Friday morning. The crash was in the 100 block of Cleveland Circle, just south of Putnam County High School. A neighbor called 9-1-1 telling police the man living in the house wasn’t home.

Ameren crews were also called because of a gas leak in the home.

Missing person case ends not far from the Illinois Valley

A missing man with Alzheimer’s disease was found “weak and confused” but alive along Interstate 39.

Thursday morning, state troopers in Pontiac checked on an abandoned car on Interstate 55. They found out that it belonged to 81-year-old Nathaniel Burns of Hammond, Indiana. He was a missing person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

About six hours later, a state trooper found a broken down car on northbound Interstate 39 north of Paw Paw. Burns was then tracked down at a truck stop in Rochelle.

He was taken to Rochelle Hospital but was expected to be discharged to his family.

Illinois Valley politicians against lessening penalty for pot possession

Do you think getting caught with a small amount of pot is worth going to court or jail for?

The Illinois Senate and House have passed a proposal to “decriminalize” possession of 15 grams or less of marijuana. If Governor Bruce Rauner agrees, you would only be fined $55 to $125 for having a small amount of pot instead of getting a court date.

Both State Representative Frank Mautino and State Senator Sue Rezin are against the idea.

Gas prices are up just in time for the busy holiday weekend

Hitting the road for the holiday weekend? There’s not much difference in price from town to town in the Illinois Valley.

According to GasBuddy.com, Streator has the lowest gas prices at $2.52 a gallon. You can also find sub-$2.60 gas in La Salle, Peru, Princeton and Granville. The cheapest gas in Ottawa, Oglesby and Mendota is $2.65 a gallon.

The statewide average for gas is $2.89, up 15 cents from a week ago.

Bridge closure in Oglesby will effect east end traffic

There will be one less way out of Oglesby starting Tuesday.

The Ed Hand Bridge on County Highway 23 will be closed next Tuesday, Friday and Monday, June 1st from 8 until 3. Crews are inspecting the bridge’s deck truss.

No detour will be posted.