Heroin, Not Homemade Alcohol, Responsible for DeKalb Inmate’s Death

Police are saying a heroin overdose is what killed a Rochelle man who died while in jail last month.

Brandon Washington was initially believed to have been drinking some homemade alcohol prior to dying at the DeKalb County Jail. An autopsy determined the 29-year old had taken the heroin while behind bars. Washington was in jail for a murder he was convicted of back in 2009.

DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott is launching an investigation into just how Washington was able to get the heroin while in jail. The investigation is ongoing so additional details were not yet available.

Illinois Valley Community Hospital Restricting Visitors due to “Widespread Flu Activity”

Just because it’s been feeling like spring this week doesn’t mean the threat of flu is gone just yet.

In Peru, Gene Vogelgesang says Illinois Valley Community Hospital will only be allowing visitors who are 18 or older. He says this is due to the Department of Health reporting “widespread flu activity in the state.”

After getting a spike in flu cases earlier in the week, OSF Healthcare made the call to restrict visitors in Ottawa, Streator and Marseilles.  You now also have to be at least 18 to visit OSF clinics. And if you have a cough, you’ll also need to wear a mask.

Ottawa singer wins Rock Star 2016

Backed by a large cheering section, Jennifer Peterson of Ottawa became the latest “Rock Star” in the Illinois Valley.

Peterson bested four other singers to win the $500 grand prize. She closed the month long competition with a performance of the Etta James classic “At Last”. T.J. Martin of Peru was the runner up while Marie Collins of Spring Valley came in third.

Rock Star 2016 was put on by 99.3 WAJK, 96.5 the Wolf, Starved Rock Lodge and Euclid Beverage.

Peru leaders formulating plans for former Washington School property

Have you driven by what used to be Washington Elementary School in Peru? Not much is left.

The city of Peru will take over the property once all testing reports are finished and the foundation is completely gone. City leaders are now starting to contemplate what to do with the property across the street from Washington Park.

During this week’s city council meeting, Alderman Tony Ferrari mentioned to start preparing landscaping plans. Little league officials have already approached the city about a bigger baseball diamond on the old school site. Of course there’s also the idea of a splash pad or new swimming pool.

There is a chance it may not even be turned into park space. During a Recreation Board meeting, Alderwoman Becky Mueller seemed to suggest the city already had more than enough park space.

Garage fire breaks out in LaMoille

The sky over LaMoille was lit Thursday night by a fire.

Fire departments from across Bureau County responded last evening to a garage fire on Hopps Street, not far from LaMoille High School. The Bureau County Sheriff’s Office helped out at the scene by temporarily closing off Route 89.

You’ll hear more details as they become available.

Infamous “No Teeth Keith” tracked down in Indiana

“No Teeth Keith” is no longer a free man.

Twenty-three-year-old Keith Cousins of Streator was tracked down late last month in Indiana. He’s been wanted by the state police since December for allegedly stabbing a man during a fight in the small Whiteside County town of Lyndon.

Cousins is now back in Illinois in the Whiteside County Jail facing an aggravated battery charge. He was given the nickname of “No Teeth Keith” since he’s missing front teeth.

Controversial Donkey Basketball coming to another Illinois Valley school

As animal rights groups threaten to protest in Earlville, more donkey basketball games have been announced in the Illinois Valley.

The Fieldcrest High School Renaissance program is holding a donkey basketball tournament next month to raise money for their scholarship program. A similar event is Saturday in Earlville, where animal rights groups call the games a “cruel and outdated practice”.

Donkey basketball in Earlville is a fundraiser for the senior class.

Gas prices continue upward trend

Is it time to start cutting back on driving again because of gas prices?

Many stations in the Illinois Valley have raised the price of unleaded by 20 to 30 cents this week. Some stations in Peru, Ottawa and Streator are now charging $1.99 a gallon. Just a month ago, gas prices in the Illinois Valley ranged from $1.23 to $1.45.

The statewide average for unleaded is $1.99, up 14 cents from a week ago and up 8 cents from yesterday.