Jackknifed semi snarls traffic near the Interstate 80 and Interstate 180 interchange

A crash east of Princeton snarled traffic on Interstate 80 for over an hour.

According to state troopers, 39-year-old Dontra Jones of Maryland was in a semi heading east on Interstate 80 near the Interstate 180 interchange when he swerved to avoid a piece of a tire just after midnight Tuesday morning. Jones ended up in the median, jackknifing his semi and blocking westbound I-80.

A westbound car driven by 39-year-old Souligna Stone of Rock Island hit the crashed semi in its passenger side door. Stone was checked out at Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton.

Westbound traffic on I-80 was rerouted for over an hour as crews cleaned up the crash scene.

Entertainment lineup announced for Sandwich Fair

Country crooner Frankie Ballard will play this year’s Sandwich Fair.

The 33-year-old will have his third album come out next month. His second album called “Sunshine and Whiskey” reached number 5 on the country album charts. Ballard has spent time on the road with Florida Georgia Line and Lady Antebellum.

The Sandwich Fair opens September 7th with Ballard playing on Friday, September 9th. Besides Ballard, you can check out a demolition derby, harness racing, truck pulls, and tractor pulls.

Annual beer tasting event to help Illinois Valley fire departments

You’ve heard of boys of summer. An annual event called “beers of summer” will help out local fire departments.

The annual benefit beer tasting is Friday, June 10th from 6 until 8:30 at Senica’s Oak Ridge. The beer tasting features over a hundred different beers, ales and malt beverages from around the world available for sampling. There are also door prizes and firefighters grilling food for you to enjoy.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. You can get tickets at Rudy’s Liquors in La Salle or at the La Salle, Utica, Lostant, and Oglesby Fire Departments. All proceeds go to the fire departments.

Spring Valley voters being asked again to support a sales tax hike

While the L-P School Board contemplates asking voters to raise taxes for a renovated high school, the Spring Valley City Council has decided they will ask their taxpayers for more money with a sales tax increase.

According to the NewsTribune, the council Monday night voted to have a question on the November ballot asking to raise the city’s sales tax by a half of a percent. If passed, the sales tax in Spring Valley would be higher than La Salle and Oglesby but lower than Peru.

The additional sax tax revenue could bring the city $118,000 in new revenue. That money would pay for roadwork in the city.

Voters in Spring Valley shot down a sales tax increase during the March election.

Huge weekend crowd at Starved Rock State Park

Are there some weekends where Starved Rock State Park is too popular?

Conservation Police Sgt. Phil Wire says an estimated 62,000 people visited the park last weekend. At times, especially Sunday, the crowds caused traffic backups on Interstate 80 at the Utica exit. Wire says that had his department doing more traffic control than actual law enforcement.

If the weather holds out, the numbers could be even bigger this weekend with Memorial Day. Wire says parking could really be at a premium if expected rain falls before the holiday weekend. That would take out some of the overflow parking at Starved Rock because of muddy conditions.