Lack of Communication Causes LaSalle County Board’s Objection to Railroad Proposal

You can count the LaSalle County Board among those who have issues with the proposed Great Lakes Basin Railroad.

The board approved a resolution yesterday expression their opposition to the project. According to the NewsTribune, among the issues presented were concerns that the county hadn’t been provided “clear, detailed information explaining the perceived need for the railroad project.”

They blamed Great Lakes Basin Transportation for the lack of communication which played a role in their objection. The company’s current route includes 26 miles of track that would run through northeast LaSalle County.

The opposition is in no way set in stone, though. Chairman Jerry Hicks said the board could change its mind in the future if the concerns about the railroad are addressed.

Women born in Putnam County expected to live long lives

If you or someone you know has recently had a daughter in Putnam County, you may want to stock up on birthday candles because a new study says they have the highest life expectancy statewide.

According to the Illinois Morbidity and Mortality Bulletin, baby girls born in Putnam County in recent years can expect to live to more than 85 years old. Girls in Bureau County will live to be older than 82 on average, compared to 80 in LaSalle County. The life expectancy for men is shorter across the board, with a life expectancy of around 77 in Bureau and Putnam Counties, and a little over 75 in LaSalle.

The study also says Illinoisans overall live longer than other places nationwide, with the average life expectancy in the state just about 79 years.

Fatal crash overnight in Sheffield

A 39-year-old man is dead after crashing in Sheffield.

According to the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened on West Railroad Street just before 2 o’clock Wednesday morning. There was only one vehicle involved.

The name of the victim hasn’t been released yet.

Marshall County Sheriff’s Office asking for homeowners to watch out for burglars

Be vigilant, that’s the message from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.

County deputies are still investigating a break-in and stolen pickup truck case near Wenona. A few days later a similar thing happened in rural Oglesby.

A message from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office says you shouldn’t confront these burglars. Instead get information and call 9-1-1 if you see a burglary in progress.

Farms along Interstate 39 and Interstate 57 have been targets recently for burglars.

Manhunt for man accused of shooting at a police officer now focused in southern Illinois forest

The manhunt continues today for a central Illinois man accused of attempted murder of a police officer.

The search for 35-year-old Dracy “Clint” Pendleton is focused in the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. Pendleton is considered armed and dangerous and in fact may be carrying around an AK-47.

The manhunt for Pendleton started Saturday night after he got into a gunfight with a police officer in Mahomet which is near Champaign. The officer was hit in the arm and has since been released from a hospital. State troopers think Pendleton was hit by a bullet in the neck.

Pendleton is white and 5’10”, 155 pounds with blue eyes and blond hair. He could be driving a stolen 2007 GMC pickup truck with Illinois registration.

Troopers think Pendleton has shaved his beard and trimmed his hair since the initial wanted photo was released earlier in the week.

Funeral home fire in Toluca not considered suspicious

Some kind of electrical issue likely started a fire that gutted a funeral home in Toluca.

Calls about a fire at the Calvert-Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home in Toluca started coming out late Monday night. Firefighters from places like Streator, Minonk and Lostant responded to help the Toluca Fire Department. When firefighters got to the fire of the two-story home turned funeral chapel, flames were shooting out of the attic.

It took crews about 6 hours to put out the initial fire although there was another fire call Tuesday morning around 8 after a hot spot rekindled. Nobody was hurt in the fire.

Heavy rain has the Illinois River on the rise

It doesn’t take a lot of rain anymore to cause flooding along the Illinois River.

A Flood Watch has been issued for the stretch of the Illinois in La Salle-Peru. The river is a couple feet below flood stage Wednesday morning but is expected to rise about a half foot above flood stage by Thursday morning. The stream should fall back below flood stage in La Salle-Peru Friday morning. The Illinois in Ottawa and Henry is rising as well but is expected to stay a couple feet below flood stage.

Many spots in the Illinois Valley have seen 2 to 4 inches of rain this week.

High humidity leads to dense fog in the Illinois Valley

Give yourself extra time to get where you need to go this morning.

A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for all of the Illinois Valley until 10 o’clock. Visibility is a quarter mile or less in most spots.

Make sure your headlights are on and that you keep plenty of distance between you and the driver ahead of you.