Oklahoma woman indicted for alleged child abuse in La Salle

You can run but you can’t hide from the La Salle Police Department.

Denise Benicke was tracked down in Hugo, Oklahoma last month and now she’s officially charged in La Salle County with child abuse stemming from something that happened five years ago in La Salle. She was indicted Tuesday in La Salle County Court for aggravated battery to a child.

Benicke’s has to come up with $5,000 to get out of jail and head back to Oklahoma.

Deputies stay busy serving arrest warrants

Part of being a sheriff’s deputy is to serve papers including arrest warrants. The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office made five arrests for warrants Tuesday in just four hours.

In Ottawa, Robert Brust was wanted for felony driving with a revoked license and Stacey Gabler was picked up for felony DUI. In La Salle, Roy Andrade was arrested at his apartment for felony driving with a suspended license. Richard Sutkus of Streator was hauled out of his house for a civil writ warrant while deputies took Keith Castrejon in Sheridan was arrested on a warrant for felony delivery of marijuana.

All five of them were taken to the county jail.

Guns stolen from the Exelon plant in Marseilles

Two weapons are missing from the Exelon nuclear plant in La Salle County.

A spokeswoman from Exelon says the stolen guns were used for training. She says they were found missing during an inventory check of the plant’s armory. The spokeswoman confirms they were stolen.

The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office is part of the investigation.

More Agriculture related studies could be coming to IVCC

Agriculture is a big part of the Illinois Valley so doesn’t it make sense that Illinois Valley Community College offers more agriculture classes?

A group of about 30 met Monday night to talk about marketing new Ag courses at IVCC. Since agriculture has gotten a lot more technical, the college could add courses dealing with agriculture technology, data and risk analysis.

The group plans to meet up again this fall.

Indicted handed down to man accused of causing dramatic chase in Ottawa

If you’ve been following the story of a high speed chase through the streets of Ottawa, the man accused of running from the law is still behind bars.

Jeffrey Hankerson of Ottawa was indicted Tuesday on charges of retail theft and aggravated fleeing and eluding police. He needs $5,000 bond to get out of jail.

Hankerson is accused of leading officers from the city of Ottawa and La Salle County Sheriff’s Office on a chase all over Ottawa on August 7th. The dramatic pursuit ended with guns drawn and Hankerson flipping his car on the eastside of downtown.

La Salle Police looking to spread holiday cheer to less fortunate children

Now that Christmas is less than four months away, it is time to start thinking about gifts for kids.

For the first time, the La Salle Police Department is having an “Officer Santa” set up where they buy holiday gifts and meals for less fortunate kids and their families. To do this, you’re monetary donations are needed.

If you can donate, ask for either Brian Milus or Sgt. Scott Samolinski at the La Salle Police Department.

Decorative sidewalks being put in downtown La Salle

The beautification of downtown La Salle continues with a streetscape project on the Route 351 entry way.

The city is putting in brand new sidewalks on both sides of Route 351 between Canal and First Streets. The sidewalks will feature decorative bricks and the city will also landscape the block on both sides.

They hope to have the improvements done by mid-September.