Two injured in I-39 crash south of Wenona

Dozing off behind the wheel may have caused a crash that snarled traffic for several hours on Interstate 39 near Wenona.

A Compton man allegedly fell asleep behind the wheel of his semi Tuesday morning around 8. The 63-year-old crashed into a temporary construction wall. The debris from that collision hit a nearby construction worker.

Both the driver and worker were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Northbound traffic was backed up for several hours after the crash.

Crackdown on vacant buildings moves ahead in La Salle

Almost three years ago, Kathy Tomlinson of La Salle went to her city council asking for something to be done about vacant buildings. Two of those are now off the list.

Building inspector Chris Covert says the city now owns an abandoned 4-unit apartment building in the 600 block of 6th Street and is in the process of tearing it down. It’s the culmination of an almost three-year long legal battle over ownership of the property.

Another vacant property in the 600 block of 9th Street was finally sold after the city pressured the previous owner into action. That building is now in the process of being remodeled.

City Attorney James McPhedran says the city has taken an aggressive stance on vacant properties and will continue to address the problem.

End is near for summer long construction in Oglesby

The major construction project through the heart of Oglesby is almost done.

According to the NewsTribune, Oglesby Streets Commissioner Dennis Yborra says there are only a few things left to finish with the Walnut Street construction project. If it doesn’t rain a lot, he thinks the work could be done Thursday.

Besides a new driving surface, the Walnut Street project also includes water main improvements and new handicap-accessible ramps. Federal money is paying for around 80 percent of the improvements.

Contractor picked to oversee building of new waste water treatment plant

A contractor out of East Peoria will call the shots when a new waste water treatment plant is built in Spring Valley.

According to the NewsTribune, the city will pay River City Construction out of East Peoria over $10 million to be the lead contractor. They were the lowest bidder.

Spring Valley has been given a $9.6 million state grant to build the new waste water treatment plant. The plant was underwater and damaged after flooding in April of 2013.

Growing overdose problem will be addressed in Streator

Drug overdoses are something that many don’t like talking about, but they happen more than you think in the Illinois Valley.

You can help raise awareness at Streator’s 2nd annual Overdose Awareness Memorial Walk this Saturday. The walk goes from 11 until 3 and will begin and end at Streator City Park on Hickory Street. There will be speakers, food, music, vendors and a balloon release.

There have been over 100 overdoses in the last five years in La Salle County. Nineteen percent of those happened in Streator.

For more information on the Overdose Awareness Memorial Walk, click Streator Overdose Walk