Spring Valley police looking for tire slasher

Either someone isn’t talking or there were no witnesses to a tire slashing spree last week in Spring Valley. Police report no new developments and are looking for the person or persons responsible for cutting at least 1 tire on 15 vehicles Thursday night and early Friday. Reports came in from all across the town.

If you saw something or see suspicious activity in the future, you’re asked to call Spring Valley police. If you want to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-340-4045. You could be eligible for an reward if your information leads to an arrest.

Princeton community to examine substance problem

All of a sudden people are talking about the heroin problem in the area. And, Princeton’s turn comes Wednesday evening in their Metro Center.

“Community Partners Against Substance Abuse” want you to talk and listen to the issues surrounding heroin, prescription drugs and alcohol in our area. Before that, Tim Ryan – “Man in Recovery” and “Kyle the Kid” from the “Man in Recovery Foundation will address the audience.

Bureau and Putnam County law enforcement and their coroners and school officials have been extended invitations. The event starts at 6:30.  A similar program is planned for LP’s auditorium on November 17. It will be moderated by our own Rod Thorson.

Holiday deadly for U.S. pedestrians

Police are reporting a number of deadly incidents involving vehicles and pedestrians on Halloween night. In Minneapolis, a 5-year-old boy out trick-or-treating was struck by a car while crossing a street. In New York, investigators are looking at whether a seizure or some other medical problem may have caused a motorist to smash into a group of trick-or-treaters in the Bronx, killing 3.

And in Ypsilanti, Michigan, a 14-year-old girl was struck by a car then dragged nearly two miles when hit by a second vehicle. She’s in critical condition at a hospital.

Gun packing customer stops Chicago thief

The Chicago Tribune reporting a robbery thwarted in the southwest side Saturday night by a patron legally licensed to carry a gun. At this time, police say a man walked into a store in the Gage Park neighborhood around 7 p.m., announced a robbery to 2 employees and displayed a handgun.

While forcing a second employee to the back, a customer pulled out his gun and shot the robber – killing him. The robber was believed to be in his 40s.

At least 5 people have been wounded in other shootings across the city since Saturday night, police said:

State Police will be visible more

     As the holiday approaches, State police will increase their presence across our 3 county area. District 17’s Commander Lieutenant Jon Dively says troopers will be looking for impaired drivers at night, drivers violating seat belt and child safety laws during the entire month. After November 15, troopers will be conducting STEP patrols to crack down on speeders, lack of occupant restraints and other offenses.

   State police estimate seat belts save 12,000 lives a year. Over half of all vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes were not properly buckled in. Speed-related crashes account for over 40 percent of all traffic fatalities.

Agreements and Ordinances await Ottawa Council

   City business will be addressed at 7 Tuesday night in the Ottawa Council Chambers. The council will be asked to authorize agreements with McClure Engineering regarding the Main Street Bridge and 2 agreements with Renwick and Associates including the 2016 curb replacement. Mayor Eschbach will present 2 ordinances. One to annex Marvid Inc and Ottawa U store it property and another to authorize the sale of public property at 616 – 618 Court Street.

Feds plan 2nd meeting for cleanup project

   Maybe the Feds occasionally listen to the “little guy”. The News Tribune reports the U.S. EPA will schedule a second public meeting regarding industrial and potential pollution cleanup in residential neighborhoods in LaSalle. The EPA acknowledging public notices for the first meeting arrived late to LaSalle Peru households. That meeting date has not been set.

    What’s proposed is cleanup of pollution left by Matthiessen and Hegler on the Carus property. The second phase is clean up of the M & H site and testing for lead and metals on residential lawns, back-filled ravines and performing up to $100 million dollars worth of soil replacement from residential areas.

   The project is getting more attention because the project has moved higher up on the Superfund priorities list.

Streator native on TV this weekend

    A marketing manager and Streator native is on Chicago public television this weekend. Erica Abdnour, a Chicago resident, was one of 3 guests on this week’s edition of “Check Please”.

   Each week the WTTW produced show selects 3 Chicago area residents to each suggest their favorite restaurant. The other 2 dine at that restaurant and then review it.

    Erica suggested “Oak and Char” on River North as a superb place to dine. The other two – a former Chicago Cubs executive and a writer from Geneva, gave less than rave reviews. You can see the show on line at the WTTW website.