Starved Rock is open after temporary closure

UPDATE: Starved Rock State Park was closed for 90 minutes Sunday afternoon after reaching capacity. It reopened at 2:30pm.

For a second day, visitors are parking in Starved Rock State Park’s picnic area. JoLyn Wild, Natural Resources Coordinator, told “Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO” 26-thousand people were in the park Saturday. Cars filled the Visitors Center and overflow lots. Site Superintendent Kerry Novak almost closed the park, but, things freed up and it remained open.  7700 came through the Visitors Center.

Wild believes it is even busier Sunday inside the park  and nearby Matthiessen was close to capacity.

If you’re going to venture to Starved Rock, the  Visitor’s Center offers films and exhibits on its history and trail maps.

Cassidy sought by police for alleged fraud

There’s a new wanted man in Mendota.

The Mendota Police Department is looking for your help in finding 23-year-old Brady Cassidy.  He has an address of Cherry and is wanted on a La Salle County warrant for fraud.  The warrant was initially issued in October.

You can see what Cassidy looks like on the Mendota Police Department Facebook page.

“Ghosts” visit area and play ball Saturday night

About 150 people watched “ghosts” play baseball Saturday night with young children in a rural Putnam County field. The crowd loved the hi-jinks of these “ghosts” representing a baseball team from yester-year that appears in the film “Field of Dreams”.  The supposed ghosts hail from the Dyersville, Iowa area where the film was made.

Putnam County Rotary and Darrell Alleman hosted a night of baseball fun that included a showing of the Kevin Costner flick and food provided by the Putnam County FFA. According to Rotary member Randy Borio,  the event will return next year in even bigger style.

Free Wi-Fi and fun at Hennepin Monday

Looks like a full day of activities if you attend 4^th of July in Hennepin.  It starts with a 5K Run/Walk registration at 6:30 and ends with “Thunder on the Illinois” fireworks at 9:30pm followed by music by “3 Day Weekend”.

In between are a Car show at Bassi Park, and at Durley Boyle park:  water fights, bags tourney, bingo, kids inflatables, PC FFA alumni pork chop dinner.  Near the Courthouse and on stage late afternoon: The Putnam County High School Choir, a performance by the Panteras and Little Panteras, Golf Cart Parade and music by “3 Day Weekend”.

Rocket Communications is offering free Wi-Fi.  Anyone texting or displaying pictures of the event on Facebook or Twitter is asked to use the hashtag: Thunder on the Illinois.

California driver arrested in store after chase

Drivers who rack up lots of tickets aren’t all from the Illinois Valley.  Peru police checked out a report of a car in the ditch on Unytite Drive late Saturday afternoon, but ended up arresting the driver inside the Peru Wal-Mart.

The report says, as police approached the car, its driver,  48-year old Stardust Chase of Woodland, California drove off to escape police.  She eventually left the car in the Wal-Mart parking lot and entered the store where she was later arrested.

Chase was cited for fleeing and attempting to elude police, reckless driving and still other traffic citations and was sent to the county jail.

 

2 accidents get attention from authorities

Two fire departments and their EMT’s were out at accident scenes Saturday afternoon.

Utica’s went 1 mile east of their station for a 2 car collision in front of “Cajun Connection”.  Chief Ben Brown said 2 occupants of one car went to OSF St. Elizabeth while a third refused medical attention.  There was no word on the condition of the other driver. The Sheriff’s office handled the accident scene.

Princeton firemen and EMT’s went out to a 2 vehicle accident about 1pm Saturday at Route 26 and Backbone road. A Princeton firefighter/ EMT said the only occupants were the drivers and the injuries were minor. The vehicles had extensive damage. Princeton city police processed the accident scene.

Fire personnel cannot give out the names of the people involved in those accidents.