Peru paying to see whats under abandoned gas station

A closed gas station that’s become an eyesore in Peru has the city’s attention.

The city is spending over $7,000 to get soil samples from the old Marathon Gas Station property on 4th Street. They think the owner didn’t clean out underground gas tanks there’s state money available to remove the tanks.

Before cleaning up the property, Peru needs to own it. They’ve gone to court trying to get a deed.

Alderman Dave Potthoff says the soil sampling and clean up is important because of houses being close to the station. Last year the state fined the station’s last owner over $500,000.

Gypsy Moth treatment planned high above the Illinois Valley

One downside of warmer weather is the return of pests like the Gypsy Moth.

Yellow planes dropping a treatment to stop the moths called “Disrupt” will be flying low around the Illinois Valley in June. The planned treatment area covers more than 63,000 acres. All of Utica, Oglesby, La Salle and parts of Peru are included in the treatment area.

The Gypsy Moth strips the leaves off many types of trees including oaks, apple and birch trees. The treatment to prevent mating of the moth is not supposed to be bad for humans or animals.

Skoog Announces Co-Sponsorship of Bill as Lawmakers Return to Springfield

State lawmakers headed back to Springfield today, and an Illinois Valley representative is backing a bill designed to help victims of sexual violence.

76^th District Representative Andy Skoog signed on as a co-sponsor to the bill, which would make state and local police share DNA information as soon as it’s available. He says this bill is “common sense” and would help get sex offenders off the streets quicker.

Skoog is looking to earn his first full term in office this November. He’s being challenged by Republican Jerry Long from Streator.

Dierks Bentley and ZZ Top coming to the state fair

Despite no budget, the state is ready to pay some big name singers and bands to play at this year’s Illinois State Fair.

Four of the five nights of grandstand concerts will be country performers. The lineup is: Jake Owen; Dierks Bentley; Cole Swindell; and Little Big Town. The lone classic rock show features Gregg Allman opening up for ZZ Top.

Ticket prices range from $19 to $64. The fair runs August 12th-21st.

ATV crash sends Streator man to Peoria

ATV’s are fun but also very dangerous.

A Streator man was flown to Peoria Sunday afternoon after an ATV crash east of Streator.  La Salle County deputies say 51-year-old James Brewer crashed his ATV along the BNSF tracks.

He was initially driven to the outpatient clinic in Streator before being taken to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Picking up the pieces after a windy weekend

Have you finished picking up all the branches and whatever else blew into your yard this weekend?

According to the National Weather Service, the top wind gust in the Illinois Valley happened late Saturday morning at the Peru airport. A northwest wind gust was clocked in at 59 miles per hour. There was a 60 mile per hour gust in Pontiac and a 56 mile per hour gust in Morris.

The winds caused power outages Saturday in Peru and Leland with a report of at least one tree uprooted in Peru.

Amtrak collision kills driver from Sandwich

If you’ve been following the story of a crash in Somonauk between a train and car, the victim’s name has been released.

Twenty-eight-year-old Joshua Wilson of Sandwich was pronounced yesterday afternoon. He allegedly drove around railroad gates and hit an Amtrak train. The fatal collision happened just after three o’clock.

The train had just left Chicago bound for California. None of the 273 passengers or crew on the train was hurt.

Cancer fundraisers bring in big dollars

The generosity of the Illinois Valley has shown through again. Two different weekend fundraisers to help those fighting cancer raised thousands of dollars.

A two-day truckload sale at the Dalzell Fire Department brought in over $63,000. Many people waited in lines Saturday and Sunday to get products at a discounted price. Proceeds go to the Cops 4 Cancer organization.

On Sunday, over $12,000 was raised at the latest St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser. The head-shaving event included over a dozen firefighters from Utica, Oglesby, Peru, Ladd and McNabb getting haircuts.

Deadly year continues on Illinois Valley roads

With a fourth of the year now in the books, the fatal crash numbers pile up in the Illinois Valley.

So far in 2016, there have been 7 fatal crashes in La Salle County leading to eight deaths. Last year in La Salle County 14 people were killed in crashes.

Bureau County is also well above last year’s pace with five killed in five separate crashes. Last year eight were killed during crashes.

Putnam County meanwhile has yet to see a fatal crash. Last year one person was killed in a Putnam County crash.