Holiday crash injures several teenagers and kills woman in Marshall County

The Thanksgiving holiday proved to be a fatal day in Marshall County.

Deputies were called around 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon about a crash at the intersection of Route’s 40 and 17 near Tanner’s Orchard. Nineteen-year-old Jacob Schlosser of Henry is accused of running a stop sign and hitting a sedan driven by a 15-year-old boy who had a learner’s permit.

Forty-seven-year-old Linda Stahl of Bradford was a passenger of the 15-year-old and was pronounced dead after the crash. Schlosser, the 15-year-old and three of his other passengers, all young boys were taken to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. They’re all in stable condition.

The Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and the county coroner are still investigating the fatal crash.

Sale of homes slows down in the Illinois Valley

Have you bought a home lately or know someone who has? Home sales slowed down a bit last month in the Illinois Valley.

There were 107 closed sales in La Salle County on homes last month, down from 114 the month before. In Bureau County, 27 homes were closed on compared to 29 in September. And in Putnam County, seven homes went off the market last month compared to 11 in September.

For the year, home sales are up 22 percent in Putnam County and up by two percent in Bureau County. Sales are down nearly eight percent in La Salle County.

Local retailers hope for big Small Business Saturday

Do you still have a lot of Christmas shopping to do? If you do, why not shop local and take part in “Small Business Saturday”.

In La Salle, over 40 small businesses are offering up discounts and giveaways. As you go from store to store, have your passport stamped and you can have a chance at winning one of our business gift baskets.

According to state numbers, for every $100 you spend at a local store, almost $70 of that stays in your community. For every $100 you spend at a big box store, just $40 stays in your community.

Rod Thorson from Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO will broadcast live from downtown La Salle tomorrow starting at 11.

Popular Christmas light display returns in La Salle

Arguably the biggest Christmas light display in the Illinois Valley is back.

The switch will be flipped on at 5 today for the 7th annual Weber’s Christmas Show across from Senica’s Oak Ridge on the east end of La Salle. The display is synched to music and includes a 35-foot tall tree and 96,000 lights.

As in past years, you’re asked to make food and monetary donations when driving up to watch the light show. Proceeds are donated to the Illinois Valley Food Pantry.

Between 2007 and 2012, the Weber’s Christmas Show raised over $40,000 and collected more than 11,000 pounds of food. The display went on hiatus the last two years.