Law enforcement “staking out” Dunkin Donuts to benefit the Special Olympics

Don’t be alarmed if you see a police officer on the roof of Dunkin’ Donuts in Ottawa Friday. It’s all for a good cause.

For the 13th year in a row, Illinois Valley officers are taking to the roof of Dunkin’ Donuts to raise money for the Special Olympics. Officers will take turns hanging out on the roof, hoping you go inside Dunkin’ Donuts and make a donation.

Every donor gets a free doughnut. If you donate $10 or more you’ll get a travel mug and a coffee coupon.

Illinois Valley unemployment rates to their lowest level in years

Did you or someone you know recently become gainfully employed? The number of unemployed in the Illinois Valley continues to trend down.

According to the latest state unemployment numbers, La Salle County’s April jobless rate was 5.9 percent, down from 7.3 percent in March. Bureau County’s latest unemployment rate is 5.1 percent, down from 6.6 percent in March. Putnam County’s April jobless rate is 5.3 percent, down from 6.8 percent the month before.

Illinois’ April unemployment rate was 5.5 percent while the national jobless rate was 5.1 percent.

Fire scene cleared up on I-80 near Princeton

Traffic was slow going Thursday morning on Interstate 80 near Princeton.

The trailer of a semi caught fire around five o’clock. The fire snarled westbound traffic but the interstate stayed open throughout the cleanup.

Besides police, firefighters from Princeton, Buda, Malden and Sheffield were all called out. Nobody was hurt.

Man on bike hurt after colliding with car in Mendota

A bicyclist was hurt in a crash with a vehicle in Mendota.

The accident happened Thursday morning just after 8 o’clock on Route 34 near Del Monte. The injured cyclist who is a man was taken to St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota.

A lane of Route 34 was closed for a short time after the crash.

I-80 construction closing a couple ramps near Ottawa

As part of the ongoing Interstate 80 construction between Ottawa and Marseilles, Route 71 ramps will be closed Thursday night.

The westbound Interstate 80/71 ramps will be closed to traffic from midnight until 6 Friday morning. Signage will direct you to either take Route 23 in Ottawa or the Marseilles exit to get off of I-80.

The construction between the Fox River in Ottawa and the Marseilles exit on I-80 is expected to last until early July.

L-P teacher succumbs to breast cancer

Counselors are available at L-P High School Thursday as students and staff cope with the loss of a popular English teacher and yearbook adviser.

Georgia Stohr died Wednesday morning at her home after a battle against breast cancer. She was diagnosed in October of 2013, becoming the third of five siblings to be diagnosed with cancer.

Funeral arrangements are pending with the Gladfelter Funeral Home in Ottawa.

To give L-P teachers more time to grieve, final grades and report cards will be delayed for L-P students.

Short fall at Starved Rock sends teen to IVCH

A teenager was hurt after a short fall at Starved Rock State Park.

Utica paramedics were called out to the Wildcat Canyon area Wednesday afternoon for an 18-year-old boy who fell about 10 feet. Utica Fire Chief Ben Brown says the teen was in the back of the waterfall at Wildcat Canyon when he fell.

The teen was taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital with minor injuries. Brown says he’s from La Salle County.