Congressman Kinzinger Comments on State’s Budget Woes

While his job involves representing the interests of the Illinois Valley nationally, one U.S. Representative is speaking his mind about the latest events in the state budget crisis.

Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger issued a statement Thursday, saying Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan showed an “utter lack of leadership and civility” on Wednesday. House Democrats passed their own version of the budget Wednesday, one which did not take into account any of Governor Rauner’s pro-business proposals.

Kinzinger went on to say “Forcing an unbalanced budget down the throats of his colleagues and abruptly adjourning is not leadership.” Governor Rauner has already threatened to veto the spending plan if it passes the State Senate.

Ottawa Man Arrested after Police Found “Substance Containing Cannabis”

Although Springfield lawmakers are working “decriminalize” small amounts of marijuana, messing around with pot can still get you in serious trouble.

An Ottawa man is facing a felony charge following his arrest after a traffic stop Wednesday. Fifty-nine-year old Jeffrey Zaranti of Ottawa had been wanted, according to police, since they searched his home back in March. At that time, he allegedly had more than a pound of a substance containing cannabis.

Zaranati was charged with Unlawful Possession of Cannabis and taken to the county jail. He has to come up with $2,000 to get out.

Pair arrested in alleged attack and robbery in Utica

A robbery allegedly went down Wednesday morning in Utica.

Deputies say 20-year-old Sarah Gruenwald and 19-year-old Nathis Phillips lured a man out to Route 6 so that Phillips could jump him. The pair is accused of stealing the victim’s money and clothes.

Gruenwald and Phillips were later arrested at Gruenwald’s First Street home in Peru for robbery. Phillips also faces a battery charge.

Both were taken to the county jail in Ottawa.

Deputies keeping busy looking into scam phone calls

Apparently the scammers are not giving up easy.

The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office has been getting several calls from people complaining they’ve been the target of phone scammers. Deputies say besides the ongoing IRS scam, the elderly are being called with the scammers claiming to be their grandchildren on vacation. The scammers claim they need bond money and are asking for payment using electronic or money card transfers.

Before sending any money, be sure to check with your family or the police. Money transfers are hard for police to track and could leave you without some cash.

Putnam County deputies ready for Summer Camp visitors

Thousands will be passing through the Illinois Valley on their way to a Summer Camp that isn’t for their kids.

Billed as the “Biggest Event in the Midwest” over Memorial Day weekend, Chillicothe’s 16th Summer Camp Music Festival means many will be taking Route 29 through Bureau and Putnam Counties on their pilgrimage. Putnam County Sheriff Kevin Doyle says it means even more work during an already busy time. Doyle says the department plans to step up patrols once again but he hopes the weekend will be uneventful.

He says, overall, incidents over the festival and holiday weekend have been trending down as drivers exercise more caution on the roads.

Truck fire snarls traffic in Ottawa

Things have been cleared up after a pickup truck caught fire in Ottawa.

Marseilles firefighters were called around 5:30 Thursday morning for a pickup truck on fire north of Hanks Farm on Route 71. When firefighters arrived, they found the truck fully engulfed in flames.

Deputies arrived to direct traffic. Firefighters had the blaze out in under an hour.

Illinois Valley Cellular fixing dropped call issue

If you’ve been having dropped calls recently as an Illinois Valley Cellular customer, the company is aware and is on it.

The company put out a message Wednesday apologizing for dropped calls in areas north of La Salle-Peru. IV Cellular has been experiencing interference on their cell signal. Crews have pinpointed the interference and are working to resolve the issue.

Check the IV Cellular Facebook page for updates on the dropped calls issue.

Man wanted for drugs in the suburbs could be in Mendota

Your help is needed to finding a man wanted for messing around with heroin.

The Mendota Police think 34-year-old Joshua Trahan could be in Mendota or somewhere nearby. He’s wanted out of DuPage County for possession of heroin.

Trahan is white, 5’8 and 180 pounds, bald and tattoos on both cheeks, on his neck and forehead. His last known address is on Guiles Avenue in Mendota.

For a picture of Trahan, check out the WLPO Facebook page.

Parts of the Illinois Valley hit hard by storms

While much of the Illinois Valley was spared from severe storms Wednesday, that wasn’t the case everywhere.

In Somonauk, about a dozen trees were either blown over or split in half. One tree fell on a house and cars. In Leland, small tree branches were down with pea sized hail, heavy rain and 50 mile per hour wind gusts.

Nationwide there were 14 tornado reports Wednesday, 12 in Kansas. Almost the entire state of Illinois is under a “marginal risk” for severe storms on Thursday.