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

Peru will host event to properly get rid of torn flags

With all the flags flying on Memorial Day, did you notice any that have seen better days? There is a right way to get rid of a tattered and torn flag.

There’s a flag retirement ceremony Tuesday, June 14th at Veteran’s Park in Peru. Boy scouts will help veterans properly retire the flags that day.

According to the U.S. Flag Code, an American flag should be destroyed in a “dignified way”, preferably by burning it.

Peru City Council will vote on “poop ordinance”

Monday night could be the night where city leaders in Peru come down on homeowners with piles of poop in their yards.

The Peru City Council will vote to amend their “waste accumulations ordinance.” If enough council members agree, it could be “unlawful for the owner of any dog or cat to allow its feces to accumulate to the extent it creates a nuisance.” 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.”

The ordinance doesn’t mention how much a fine for too much poop in the yard will be.

Illinois Valley senator pushing idea to fully fund schools

Could State Senator Sue Rezin help save schools like Hall and Streator Elementary from closing?

The Republican of Morris is co-sponsoring a proposed bill that she says would fully fund K thru 12th grade education for the first time in seven years. Rezin’s plan gives $227 million to K-12 schools and it includes nearly two million dollars for agriculture education.

The idea was just introduced in the senate yesterday. Lawmakers are expected to leave Springfield for a break after today.

So far only Republicans have signed on to sponsor Rezin’s proposal.

Huge Crowds Mean Huge Traffic Near Starved Rock State Park

If you’re headed to Starved Rock this Memorial Day you’d better make sure to give yourself plenty of drive time.

Traffic along Interstate 80 is already moving slow around the Route 178 exit through that route’s intersection with Route 6. The ramp on I-80 at mile-marker 81 will be closing off and on Monday afternoon due to congestion. Conservation Police Sargent Phil Wire said Sunday that you can expect delays in the area through 3:30 on Memorial Day.

Starved Rock has been the place to be over the holiday weekend. Sunday, Wire said cars were lined up throughout the village of Utica. In fact, all parking was gone early in the afternoon, which forced Starved Rock to close their south and west entrances temporarily.

Wire says the big draw is the falls, until they dry up some time in June.

Fatal Accidents Claim Lives in LaSalle County Over Long Weekend

The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Department is looking into the causes of two separate fatal accidents.

The first crash happened on the south bluff of the Illinois River Sunday morning. According to the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Department, the two-vehicle crash took place shortly before 11:00 east of Ottawa. They say the crash occurred at the North 27^th Road and North 2703^rd Road intersection.

Later, a fatal motorcycle accident happened just before midnight in Mission Township, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Police say it only involved the one motorcycle that crashed on North 41^st Road.

Both accidents are currently under investigation. We’ll have more information on Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO as it becomes available.

 

 

Ceremonies Across the Illinois Valley Pay Tribute to those who Paid the Ultimate Price

If you’re looking to honor the men and women who have died while serving our country, here are some of the places you can do that today.

Memorial Day services are being held at 10:00 at Oglesby’s Memorial Park, where patriotic music will be played by the Oglesby Washington School Concert Band. A ceremony will also be starting at 10 at Ottawa’s Washington Park, after a wreath ceremony at 9:30. Services in Utica will be getting underway at Danny Carey Memorial Park at 9:30 as well.

The Peru Veterans Memorial group will be gathering at the western side of Washington Park for their procession which begins at 11:00. In Princeton, a program is being held at 10:45 at Soldiers and Sailors Park, which is where the city’s parade will end.

This afternoon, services will be held in Spring Valley at Valley Memorial Park Cemetery beginning at 2. Also, services will be held this afternoon in Tonica at 1:30 at the cemetery east of United Methodist Church. The L-P marching band will be on hand to provide music.

If you’re planning to go to any of the ceremonies, the weather will be cooperating. The forecast calls for highs in the 80’s under mostly sunny skies.

Grundy County Police Still Seeking Answers about Death of Braidwood Teen

Grundy County police are still looking into what led to a Braidwood teen’s death early Saturday morning.

According to County Coroner John Callahan, the death of 18-year old Kelsey Allison appears to be drug related. He said Allison was declared dead shortly after 5:00 on Saturday.

While he believes the drugs were involved, Callahan said he couldn’t speculate about what drugs were involved. He did add, however, that “items of interest” were found near the scene and being examined by the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department.

An autopsy was conducted Saturday but Callahan says it wasn’t able to provide an immediate cause of death.