One person life flighted after crash near Kasbeer

One person was life flighted from the scene after a semi and car collided in Bureau County.

Ohio, Walnut and Princeton firefighters all responded around noon Thursday to the accident on Route 26 about a mile south of Kasbeer. The semi, which had been hauling grain, allegedly hit the driver’s side of the car and then burst into flames. The fire was put out in about a half hour.

A person in the car was trapped and had to be pulled out by paramedics and firefighters. That person was then flown to a hospital.

The Bureau County Sheriff’s Office hasn’t released any of the names involved in the crash.

Mandatory evacuation order lifted in Utica

With the Illinois River going down, a mandatory evacuation order in Utica has been lifted.

A message from the village says there will be minimal impacts to the areas of Utica that were hit hard by the 2013 flood. If things change, the village will send out alerts through its Code Red phone system along with updating their website.

A flood warning is still in effect for towns along the Illinois River.

Dogs and cats in Marseilles head to higher ground

It’s one thing to evacuate a home or business because of floodwaters. It’s a whole different experience evacuating a pet shelter.

Several cats and dogs at the Pet Project Shelter in Marseilles were moved to higher ground Wednesday. The dogs are staying at Play and Stay Dog Lounge in Ottawa while the cats are at the Novak-Brainard Veterinary Clinic in Ottawa and the Eastside K-9 Pet Lodge in Streator.

There’s an adoption event this Saturday from 10 until 2 at Play and Stay Dog Lounge in Ottawa.

Spring Valley lawmaker continues treatment for cancer

Good news on the health front from State Representative Frank Mautino.

The Democrat from Spring Valley says he has finished chemo and radiation “thanks to the skills and compassion of the doctor, nurses and staff”. Mautino says treatment has gone well and next up is surgery next month.

He announced in March that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. The cancer was found during a routine visit to the doctor in January.

From the beginning Mautino has said he expects to make a full recovery.

Annual wine and beer tasting event helps out area fire departments

After a long work week, how about relaxing with an adult beverage all the while helping out Illinois Valley fire departments?

You can do that Friday at Rudy’s Liquor’s annual “Taste of Summer”. Over 120 beers, ales and malt liquors will be served up along with wine and cocktail samples. Firefighters will be grilling brats and burgers.

Tickets for “Taste of Summer” are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. The “taste” is going on from 6 until 8:30 at Senica’s Oak Ridge in La Salle.

Proceeds benefit the Utica, Lostant and Oglesby Fire Departments.

The Illinois River begins to make its slow journey back down across most of the Illinois Valley

Thanks to a slowdown in heavy rain, the Illinois River is on its way down in most spots.

The river in La Salle Thursday morning is eight feet above flood stage but crested last night, a full six feet below the record level set in 2013.

In Ottawa, the Illinois is about four feet above flood stage but it’s gone down nearly a foot in the last 24 hours.

In Marseilles, the river has went down by a half foot in the last 24 hours while in Utica the river is still about 10 feet above flood stage but it crested last evening.

Downstream in Henry the Illinois is around five feet above flood stage and is expected to go up another foot before cresting early this weekend.