Trees and power poles blown down in Mendota

While there weren’t any thunderstorm or tornado watches or warnings, damage was done in Mendota.

Just before six Monday evening, a tree crashed into a house on 13th Avenue. Also a lane of Route 251 was closed because of downed tree branches and power poles. The damage was mainly in the south part of Mendota.

There was one tornado confirmed in the state Monday night and that was a funnel cloud that touched down in Will County near the town of Symerton.

Resurfacing of Walnut Street in Oglesby ready to start

If you use Walnut Street in Oglesby on a regular basis, you might want to make alternate plans.

Roadwork on the main thoroughfare through the city starts this week. The project runs on Walnut Street from just east of Casey’s to Lehigh Park and includes replacing curbs and disability ramps.

The resurfacing project will take about two months to finish. Before road work, the city also paid for water main improvements along Walnut Street.

Seneca man killed in head-on crash on Route 6

A 96-year-old Seneca man is dead following a crash on Route 6 east of Seneca Monday afternoon.

Ted Szafranski of Seneca was traveling westbound on Route 6 when he allegedly collided head-on with a tractor trailer traveling eastbound. Szafranski was pronounced dead at the scene by Grundy County Coroner John Callahan at 1:30.

The crash is being handled by the Seneca Police Department and the Illinois State Police were called to do a truck inspectionat the scene.

An autopsy is planned for Tuesday. The incident remains under investigation by Seneca, Grundy County and Illinois State Police.

Heavy rain closes parts of Starved Rock State Park

All the rain is having both a positive and negative impact to Starved Rock State Park.

On the positive side, the rushing water means waterfalls at the park are flowing. On the negative side, flood waters have closed the boat ramp, lower picnic area and the Starved Rock Visitor’s Center main parking lot.

All hiking trails at both Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks are open but trails are wet and muddy so be careful.

Transformer replacement means planned power outage in Ladd

In times of an emergency, towns have to do some desperate things like shutting off power to everyone.

Starting at 8 Tuesday morning, a planned power outage will begin in Ladd. This outage will be village-wide. Crews are replacing the main transformer for the second time in two years.

The outage could last up to eight hours.

Two stabbed during fight inside Mendota bar

Things got rough at a Mendota bar.

Mendota Police got called to the Hub Tavern Sunday morning about a stabbing. Two people were  stabbed during a fight inside the tavern. The victims were eventually treated and released at St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota.

As of Monday morning, no one was arrested although charges are pending.