Memorial tree planted to remember Streator High student

A Streator teen killed in a car crash is now memorialized outside Streator High School.

A tree was planted Saturday in honor of Leo “Shorty” Cardoza. The 18-year-old died a few months after a car crash that killed another classmate. Cardoza would’ve graduated last year.

The Streator High School Student Council led the effort to plane the memorial tree.

Bob Seger and Eagles cover bands headline Riverfest music lineup

If you like classic rock cover bands, you should be pumped about the music lineup for this year’s Ottawa Riverfest.

On Thursday, August 4th, a Rolling Stones tribute band called “Hot Rocks” will open for an Eagles tribute band called “7 Bridges Road.” Saturday’s lineup includes Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band “Creedence Revived” followed by Bob Seger tribute band “Silver Bullet STL.”

The lineup Friday, August 5th is local favorites “Brushville” along with “Chicago Farmer” and Chris Gelbuda.

Search continues for Peru bank robber

An armed bank robber remains on the loose after pulling off a heist in Peru.

Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei says the FBI and the state police’s special crimes unit is helping follow leads after the Centrue Bank location on Shooting Park Road was robbed Tuesday morning just before 10:30. You can check out surveillance photos of the robber on the WLPO Facebook page.

The robber allegedly ran out the back door of the bank and could’ve sped away in a small hunter green, 4-door car. There were supposedly sightings of the car on Shooting Park Road prompting Peru elementary schools to go on lockdown Tuesday afternoon.

If you have any information, call the Peru Police Department.

Peru puts teeth in dog poop ordinance

The message from the Peru City Council is to pick up after your dogs in any yard, whether it’s your own or someone else’s when out for a walk.

The council voted to amend their “waste accumulations ordinance.” If you let your dog’s poop pile up in your yard, you could get a nuisance ticket from $50 to $750. A nuisance is defined as “feces accumulation that interferes with the enjoyment of a neighboring property because of odor or attraction or breeding of vermin.”

Alderman Dave Potthoff says while some may make fun of the council for caring about dog waste, he sees it as a public health issue and a way to protect neighborhoods.

Rezin says No Budget should mean No Cost-of-Living Raises for General Assembly

As the state approaches one year without a formal budget, do you feel your elected officials should get a raise? If you don’t think they should, an Illinois Valley state lawmaker agrees.

State Senator Sue Rezin is sponsoring a bill that would eliminate a cost-of-living raise that legislators, constitutional officers, and agency directors would be getting one month from today. The 1.7 percent increase would cost taxpayers $209,000. Rezin’s bill would also freeze per diem and mileage reimbursement rates for an additional year for members of the General Assembly.

Rezin believes the move is “an easy vote” and one that “the people of Illinois are demanding.”

Peru Teen Declared “Brain-Dead” Days after being Pinned Under Car

If you’ve been following the story of a teen who was pinned under a car last week near Peru, there is unfortunate news to report.

The Peoria Coroner’s office has reported that the boy had been declared brain-dead early Sunday morning, but was being kept on life support for organ donation. Sixteen-year old Gavin Freeman was working on the car along a county road in Peru when, according to police, the car rolled off of a jack and pinned him underneath.

Freeman suffered head and chest injuries in the accident. He had to be flown to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Bank in Peru robbed Monday morning

The manhunt is on for a man who walked into Centrue Bank on Shooting Park Road in Peru while showing an assault rifle.

The 9-1-1 call went out around 10:20 Monday morning about a white man, about 5’7, slim build with a salt and pepper colored wig and oversized clothes robbing the bank and running out the backdoor. Investigators think he may be driving a small, four-door hunter green car.

You can see surveillance photos of the suspect on the WLPO Facebook page.

Huge attendance numbers again at Starved Rock State Park

So did you go out and enjoy Starved Rock State Park this past weekend or did the crowds scare you off?

Conservation Police Sgt. Phil Wire thinks when you count Memorial Day, the park had around 100,000 visitors. Attendance Saturday and Sunday alone topped 70,000.

The park was over its capacity Sunday afternoon which caused people to be turned away. Monday was considered to be at capacity but the park didn’t technically close like on Sunday.

New construction project planned on I-80 between Ottawa and Utica

It’s back to work for many people after the holiday weekend including construction crews.

Things could be slow going on Interstate 80 between Ottawa and Utica starting Tuesday. Construction is planned on I-80 between Route 23 and Route 178 for the next month.

In Bureau County, resurfacing on I-80 is already underway from Princeton west to Sheffield and from the Bureau/Henry County line west to Geneseo.

IVCC looking for next batch of truck drivers

Are you looking for a career change? How about learning to be a semi driver?

Illinois Valley Community College will start up four week long truck driver training courses June 20th and July 18th. The classes are Monday through Friday from 8 until 4:30. There’s also a six-week evening class starting June 27th.

For more information you can click IVCC Truck Driver Training