Utica politician has sights set on state representative gig

A recognizable name in the Illinois Valley has plans to replace another very recognizable name in Springfield.

If you visited Burgoo in Utica Sunday, you may have been asked to sign a petition on behalf of Andy Skoog. Skoog is looking at the possibility of replacing State Representative Frank Mautino if and when he becomes Illinois’ next auditor general.

Right now Skoog is the La Salle County Circuit Clerk, winning that seat in 2012. Before that he spent time on the Utica Village Board of Trustees.

Earlville man arrested after being accused of walking away from fiery crash

A fiery crash southeast of Earlville sent the driver to the hospital.

Deputies in La Salle County got called about a car fire just after noon Sunday. When they got to the car, there was no driver to be found.

Steven Weiman of Earlville was later arrested for DUI, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to report an accident to police. He was taken to St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota to be looked at.

Weiman also has a day in Ottawa court.

French explorer gets his own monument in downtown La Salle

The city of La Salle’s namesake now stands guard in the ever-improving downtown.

A statue of French explorer Rene-Robert Cavalier de La Salle now stands near the Lock 16 Visitor’s Center along Joliet Street. Next to the La Salle statue sits a message board talking about how La Salle “dreamed of creating a French fur trading empire in the Midwest.” During the winter of 1682 and 1683, he’s credited with establishing Fort St. Louis atop Starved Rock as protection from Native Americans.

The signage and statue is part of the “I & M Canal Passage” throughout northern Illinois.

Chicago man killed in skydiving accident

Jumping out of a plane is thrilling but also very dangerous. 65-year-old Richard Gomez of Berwyn is dead after his jump from Skydive Chicago took a deadly turn.

The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office and the Wallace Fire Department got called around 10 Sunday morning for a skydiver who had a “hard landing” at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa.

The sheriff’s office continues to investigate the fatal jump along with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Construction closes busy railroad crossing near downtown Ottawa

Let the fun begin trying to get in and out of downtown Ottawa from the north side.

Today’s the day CSX Railroad will start tearing up a railroad crossing on Columbus Street or Route 23 near the Wendy’s and Shell station. South and northbound detours will use stretches of Route 6, La Salle Street and Marquette Street to get you around the closed crossing.

Work on railroad tie replacements, grade crossings and the approach to the tracks will take up to ten days. CSX is also replacing crossings at Old Chicago Road, Champlain Street and Boyce Memorial Drive.