Lottery jackpot may payoff tonight

The largest U.S. lottery jackpot in history is at stake in Saturday night’s Powerball drawing – $900 million. Sales have been robust since Wednesday’s estimated $500 million drawing, with people in 44 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico all getting into the mix.
A $2 ticket gives you a 1 in 292.2 million chance at joining the hall of Powerball champions.   A winner would have the option of being paid $900 million through annual payments over 29 years or opting for one $558 million cash payment. But 39.6 percent of the lump sum would go to federal income taxes.  Plus, most states would take a chunk – something winners in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming wouldn’t have to worry about.

IVCC offers dance classes

If you’re going to weddings this year and want to overcome your “2 left feet”, IVCC may be able to help. Long time instructors Jane and Rod Schomas will be teaching dancing classeses in February and April at Oglesby Lincoln School.

Offerings include “Wedding Reception Survival”, “Cha Cha Intensive”, “Latin Rhythms”, and different levels of “Swing Dancing”. You and a partner will both need to sign up. You can register with IVCC by phone, fax or mail. “Wedding Reception Survival” and “Cha Cha Intensive” begin February 9th.

Galesburg man arrested for “ice”

Read on and you can learn more about the drug trade and the phrases they use. According to the Peoria Journal Star, a Galesburg man was arrested at Peoria airport Thursday for having 94 ounces of “ice” – or purified meth – the type smoked. Dave Briggs of the Peoria area Narcotics Enforcement Group said it’s the type made in Mexican superlabs.

Briggs said his group received information that 51-year old Kent Morgan was transporting a powerful illegal stimulant to central Illinois from Utah. Morgan was arrested on 2 Class X felonies. He’s in the Peoria County jail under half a million dollars bond.

Cold air will settle into area

Besides the snow event, there’s a cold air event coming for the Illinois Valley. The National Weather Service says temperatures will slowly fall Sunday afternoon with single digits coming in Sunday night and a wind chill of as much as -10.

A surge of Arctic air arrives Tuesday giving us a wind chill below zero during the day and then the coldest night of this season with a low near zero. Wind chills could be -15 – -20. Temperatures will begin to slowly moderate Wednesday night into Thursday.

LaSalle County under Weather Advisory

In our 3 county area, only LaSalle is under a “Winter Weather Advisory” from now until 6am Sunday.  The National Weather Service estimates anywhere from 2 to 5 inches of wet snow may fall across the county and its roads. Visibilitiy will be greatly reduced and northwest winds gusting to 30 mph through Sunday afternoon will also reduce visibility due to blowing snow.

Toddler drives Florida highway

    Kids end up in the dangerous places. A 3 year old in diapers left his Florida home and took his Power Wheels for a spin on a very busy highway. WFLA TV says the Florida Department of Children and Families is investigating after shocked drivers saw the tot in his Power Wheels in the median of busy US 19 in Crystal River Wednesday.

    Witnesses like Danny Collins, who stopped to help said the father showed up 10 minutes later. The father said the son must have used a small chair to unlock the front door while he was in the bathroom. Collins said he took pictures of the incident because he said “Nobody is going to believe this.”

Winter Weather Advisory in Effect Saturday Afternoon into Sunday

If you’re planning on going anywhere this afternoon you may want to give yourself some extra time.

The National Weather Service in Chicago has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for LaSalle County from 3 Saturday afternoon until 6 Sunday morning. Between 3-6 inches of snow is expected to fall late this afternoon through tonight. The storm is focused more towards the east.

Right now Ottawa could see 2 to 5 inches with the La Salle-Peru area looking at 2 to 4 inches. Only an inch is expected to fall in Princeton and places to the West.

During the snowstorm, winds will pick up which could cause blowing snow. After the snow moves out, cold weather moves in with the temperature reaching single digits Sunday night and wind chills falling below zero overnight into tomorrow.

Marseilles Man Arrested After Early Morning Disturbance

You never want to be the reason cops are called to a situation, certainly not at 2 AM.

Chad Lavairer was arrested early Saturday morning by LaSalle County Deputies for allegedly causing a disturbance at The Lamp Liter. The Marseilles man was arrested for aggravated assault, aggravated resisting arrest, and criminal trespassing to real property.

Lavairer was taken to LaSalle County Jail where he awaits a bond hearing.

Several Illinois Valley Officials Commit to Attend “State of the Cities”

While the State of the Union is Monday night, the “State of the Cities” happens Thursday, February 11th at Grand Bear Resort in Utica.

The Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the “State of the Cities” luncheon from 11:30 until 1:30. Peru Mayor Scott Harl, Spring Valley Mayor Walt Marini, Utica Village President Matt Jereb, and Hennepin Village President Kevin Coleman are all committed to be there.

Oglesby Mayor Don Finley and Mark Village President Frank Niewinski aren’t sure they can make it.

The cost of the luncheon is $25 which includes lunch and drinks. You can reserve a spot by calling IVAC or signing up on their website.

Streator Parolee Picked Up Again by TRIDENT

A Streator woman is headed back to jail after allegedly selling multiple drugs to an undercover enforcement group.

April Capsel was arrested just before 3 this afternoon for allegedly selling cocaine and heroin to the TRIDENT drug group on several occasions. Capsel was on parole for similar charges that she was convicted on in 2013.

She had been sentenced to 4.5 years for the 2013 conviction. She has been taken to the LaSalle County Jail and her bond has not yet been set.

TRIDENT says more arrests are pending following a “lengthy investigation” into cocaine and heroin sales in the Illinois Valley.