Rainfall recap for the Illinois Valley

How much rain have you gotten since Sunday? While it may not be a ton, just imagine if it would’ve been cold enough for snow.

According to the National Weather Service, on average 13 inches of snow equals an inch of rain. With that in mind, over half a foot of snow could’ve been on the ground now in places like La Salle, Sheridan, Paw Paw, Marseilles and Ottawa since they all had a half inch of rain or more in the last 24 hours.

The chance of storms returns Wednesday to the Illinois Valley.

Still no cause given for fatal Streator fire

More than a week after a fatal fire in Streator, how it started is still officially known.

Bryan Park with the Streator Fire Department says the investigation is still ongoing so he’s unable to comment on the cause. Park says the department hopes to have an update in the near future.

Streator and Grand Ridge firefighters rushed to a house fire the morning of December 10th at 511 South Monroe Street. While one man was able to get out okay two victims died after being trapped in the single-story home’s basement.

Sixty-six-year-old Mary Jane Klein and 72-year-old Marvin Bradford died in the fire.

No white Christmas expected for the Illinois Valley

If you’re a fan of having a white Christmas, keep dreaming for it to happen in 2015.

According to the National Weather Service, the sun will be out and it’ll be dry this Christmas Eve and Christmas day. It could warm up to almost 50 on Christmas. Rain is in the forecast into the New Year but no snow.

Looking back, no snow fell on Christmas day last year and according to the weather service in Chicago, snow has fallen on Christmas only about half the time dating back to 1873.

Burning car causes all kinds of issues in Ottawa

A car and garage were burnt but nobody was hurt during a Sunday morning fire in Ottawa.

The call went out just before 7:30 Sunday morning about a car fire on West Lafayette Street. Firefighters arrived to see a Chevy Monte Carlo burning underneath a car port. Besides the car, a nearby garage along with the neighbor’s fence and car were melted by the fire.

The cause of the fire is undetermined and the state fire marshal’s office was called to investigate.

Alcohol blamed in rollover outside Seneca

A rollover near the Exelon nuclear plant is being blamed on a drunken driver.

La Salle County deputies got called to a crash south of Seneca just before 3 Sunday morning. Jenae Wise of Seneca rolled her car on Route 170. She was rushed to Morris Community Hospital.

Wise was also arrested for DUI, driving uninsured, and having both marijuana and paraphernalia. After her hospital stint she was taken to jail.

Alleged drunken driver blamed in Peru hit and run that sends two people to the hospital

A crash on the east side of Peru sent a pair to the hospital.

Joshua Maurice of Peru is accused of smacking into the driver’s side of a pickup driven by Andres Mendez of Spring Valley near 7th and Pulaski Streets. Investigators say Maurice who was also driving a truck left the scene Sunday afternoon only to be stopped a couple blocks away. He was arrested for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident. Maurice was given a court date.

Mendez and his passenger Maria Mendez of Spring Valley were both taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru.