I V Food Pantry prepares for Holiday

   How many people will you have for Thanksgiving dinner? If you are the Illlinois Valley Food Pantry, you’ll be preparing for 2100 individuals or 750 families. To be eligible for this distribution, you must register with the Pantry by November 18.

    It is the public that predominately helps make the Pantry’s distribution a success. If you can, you asked to donate instant potatoes, stuffing mix, green beans, corn, small cans of fruit or applesauce, Yams, corn muffin mix, evaporated milk and canned pumpkin, a turkey or a ham. Leave your donation of food or money at the pantry from 9 – Noon every weekday except Wednesday when hours are 11 – 6.

     The Illinois Valley Food Pantry will be closed Thanksgiving and Black Friday. The pantry serves people in the LPO area and nearby villages.

Cleveland State University to retire Klein’s number

Former Hall High School standout, Kailey Klein will have her number “23” retired by Cleveland State University in February. In a CSU release,  Klein lead the women’s program to 2 NCAA tourney appearances and finished her career as the all-time leading scorer in CSU history in points, free throws made and free throws attempted.

Klein was named the MVP of the 2008 Horizon League Championship after leading CSU to its first tourney title in school history.  As a senior, Klein lead the Horizon League in scoring at 19 points per game. She scored 626 points, the third most in a season in school history.

18-year old makes choice

  Hit the car in front of him or take the ditch. 18-year old Melrose Kempiak of Seneca told deputies he chose the ditch. Early Friday evening, Kempiak was on North 35^th road in Dayton Township when he realized the car in front of him was slowing to make a turn. He swerved right but struck the passenger side of the car driven by a 16 year old woman. There were no injuries or citations in that accident occuring 2 miles west of Wedron.

Lung Cancer top cancer killer

There’s a reason November is “Lung Cancer Awareness Month”. The American Lung Association says lung cancer is the top cancer killer in men and women – killing almost twice as many women as any other cancer. Currently, only 17 percent of lung cancer cases among women are diagnosed early, according to Kristen Young of the Lung Association. This could change, she says as millions of Americans at high risk for lung cancer now have access to potentially lifesaving screenings.

The screening can detect lung cancer before there are symptoms, when it is easier to treat. The Lung Association says diagnoses have nearly doubled among all women in the past 37 years, yet only 1 percent of women cite lung cancer as a top-of-mind cancer concern.

Cleveland State to retire Klein’s number

Former Hall High School standout, Kailey Klein will have her number “23” retired by Cleveland State University in February. In a CSU release,  Klein lead the women’s program to 2 NCAA tourney appearances and finished her career as the all-time leading scorer in CSU history in points, free throws made and free throws attempted.  Klein was named the MVP of the 2008 Horizon League Championship after leading CSU to its first tourney title in school history.  As a senior, Klein lead the Horizon League in scoring at 19 points per game. She scored 626 points, the third most in a season in school history.

Drug dog traps cross country travelers

    What were a man from Colorado and a woman from New York doing driving through Bureau County? If you believe police they were dealing drugs.

    Members of the drug group Tri-DENT pulled over Quinn Sales of Colorado Spring and Michelle Cambria of the Bronx Wednesday. With the help of a drug dog, drug agents say they found an ounce of heroin, 2 ounces of crystal meth and 4 grams of cocaine.  Both Sales and Cambria were taken to the county jail in Princeton. Sales needs $15,000 to get out while Cambria needs $10,000.

I V Food Pantry planning for Thanksgiving

    How many people will you have for Thanksgiving dinner? If you are the Illlinois Valley Food Pantry, you’ll be preparing for 2100 individuals or 750 families. To be eligible for this distribution, you must register with the Pantry by November 18.

    It is the public that predominately helps make the Pantry’s distribution a success. If you can, you asked to donate instant potatoes, stuffing mix, green beans, corn, small cans of fruit or applesauce, Yams, corn muffin mix, evaporated milk and canned pumpkin, a turkey or a ham. Leave your donation of food or money at the pantry from 9 – Noon every weekday except Wednesday when hours are 11 – 6.

     The Illinois Valley Food Pantry will be closed Thanksgiving and Black Friday. The pantry serves people in the LPO area and nearby villages.

Tire slashing spree reported in Spring Valley

   It gives tire dealers business, but vehicle owners in Spring Valley aren’t happy. Spring Valley police told “Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO” news a person or persons slashed tires on 15 vehicles around town from 10pm. yesterday evening into Friday morning.

   If you live in Spring Valley and saw suspicious activity…or see some in the future, please call Spring Valley police. You can call Illinois Valley Crimestoppers at 1-800-340-4045 and remain anonymous. Cash rewards up to $1000 are available for information leading to an arrest.

Anxious moments in Streator after an online threat

A threat of violence 300 miles away still had students and staff on edge at Streator High School.

According to a message on the Streator High School Facebook page, a student in Indiana threatened violence to his school online and because he has social media contacts in Streator and other schools in La Salle County, fears were ramped up of something happening locally. The Streator Police Department quickly got involved and determined there was no local threat.

Police presence was ramped up at Streator High Friday because of the threat investigation. They’ve also been testing radio equipment within the high school.

Hunter rescued near Oglesby after tree stand mishap

Having a cellphone can be a life saver.

Lee Barr of Sandwich was setting up for a day of bow hunting at the Starved Rock Forest Preserve along Route 71 when he fell backwards using his tree stand Friday morning. The 43-year-old was saved from falling to the ground when his legs got pinched in the climbing stand. He was dangling 20 feet above the ground when he called 9-1-1 on his cellphone.

Utica firefighters responded and pulled him down after he was hanging for around a half hour. Surprisingly Barr refused medical treatment.

Conservation Police Sgt. Hank Frazier says this should show how important it is for hunters to have phones on them at all times. He says it’s also important to use a harness. Barr had his harness unhooked when he flipped upside down.