Reports of Shed Break-In Near Wenona Turns into Investigation into Two Stolen Trucks

Stolen guns, trucks and tools are all part of an investigation that is going near the La Salle-Marshall County line in Wenona.

Marshall County deputies were called Thursday morning about a shed being broken into north of Wenona. When they got to the property they also found out a Green, 2005 Chevy one-ton pickup was missing from the property as well.

To add to the intrigue, deputies also found an abandoned pickup truck just down the road from the broken into shed. It turns out that pickup was reported stolen from Iroquois County.

That truck had several guns inside when it was reported stolen but when looked at in Wenona, deputies say they didn’t find any guns.

Reddick Mansion to Open Again for Prom Photos

Reddick Mansion will be available once again this year to Ottawa and Marquette high school kids looking for a place to take their Prom photos.

Friday, Marquette students can use the grounds for Prom photos from 3:00 to 5:00. Ottawa students can take their photos at the mansion from 4:00 to 6:30 on Saturday. Members of the Reddick Mansion Association will be there to direct people and answer any questions.

This is the 8^th year that the site, which is 158 years old, will be open to Prom-goers.

Mendota fire victim remains in critical condition

One of two women pulled out of a burning Mendota house last Saturday is still being treated in Rockford.

Sixty-six-year-old Mary Boustead was listed in critical condition as of Thursday at OSF St. Anthony’s Medical Center. Another woman, 62-year-old Cynthia Milliron died from injuries sustained in the fire.

First responders were called at around three in the afternoon Saturday about a two-story house on fire in the 700 block of Burlington Street. The fire was put out in a couple of hours. The cause of the fatal fire remains under investigation.

One Mendota Police officer at the fire scene was treated and released from OSF St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota for smoke inhalation.

Convicted murdered to be sentenced in Ottawa Friday

The man who killed an Ottawa truck wash owner at this time last year will learn his fate Friday afternoon.

William Horman faces up to 60 years in prison when he’s sentenced by Judge H. Chris Ryan. Horman who is 49 years old was found guilty of beating Robert Dowd to death, burning his body, and dumping the remains in the Fox River. Prosecutors think Horman and Dowd had a business partnership that went wrong.

Jonathan Beckman of Wedron worked out a deal with the prosecution and testified that he was with Horman on the night everything happened. He was sentenced to 5 years last week for his role in the murder.

Gypsy moth treatment planned for late June in the Illinois Valley

A tree killing pest will have planes flying over the Illinois Valley this summer.

Despite state budget issues, state planes will drop a treatment to stop Gypsy Moths called “Disrupt” around the Illinois Valley on June 25th and 27th. The treatment area covers more than 63,000 acres. All of Utica, Oglesby, La Salle and parts of Peru and Putnam County is 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.

Electronics recycling event planned Saturday along Ottawa’s riverfront

If it’s not old clothes cluttering your closets, it’s old electronics. You can get rid of them the environmentally friendly way by taking them to a drop-off Saturday in Ottawa.

State Senator Sue Rezin has helped organize a free “Recycle Day” Saturday from 9 until noon on Woodward Drive near the old Central School. They’ll be taking electronics and computer components for recycling. Most things like laptops, monitors, radios and vacuums will be taken for free. You cannot drop off televisions, refrigerators or batteries.

You can drop off gently-used household items like dishware, clothes, and toys that will be donated to charities.

Parking and paving coming to La Salle’s Rotary Park

There is a lot to like about Rotary Park in La Salle but one thing you could argue is lagging is parking. That’s about to change.

Thanks to money donated during the city’s popular Christmas light display at the park, work is planned on a new parking lot at Rotary Park that will add 90 spaces. Money will also be used to pave around the loop cars use to check out the lights.

Be aware if you’re going out to the park in the near future, work has started on widening the entrance to the park on the Troy Grove Blacktop. You can get into the park using the north entrance.

Streator dispatchers lose jobs to consolidation

When you have an emergency in Streator, police and firefighters from Streator will still respond. However your 9-1-1 call won’t be answered in Streator anymore.

As of Tuesday, Streator’s 9-1-1 service was consolidated into “LivCom” or the Livingston County 9-1-1 service in Pontiac. All of Streator’s emergency calls are now handled in Livingston County and all non-emergency calls to the Streator PD should now go to a Pontiac number, 844-0911.

The consolidation is part of a statewide mandate. It’s meant the loss of up to eight full and part-time employees in Streator.

Streator Police Chief Kurt Pastirik took to his department’s Facebook page to thank all of his city’s dispatchers and to say they will be missed.