Alert Neighbor Helps Ottawa Police Arrest Alleged Burglar

Would your neighbors call the cops if they saw something strange going on at your house?

Ottawa Police received a call from a neighbor around 10:30 Thursday morning about a possible burglary in progress. The caller told police they saw someone go into and out of a nearby home through the window. They also told police about the car the suspicious person was driving.

Because of that description, Ottawa police say they were able to quickly find and arrest 27-year old Joseph Bernico of Ottawa. Bernico was taken in for Residential Burglary and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, both felonies.

He was taken to the LaSalle County Jail where he awaits a bond hearing.

Boil Order in Effect Until Saturday for South Side of McNabb

You’ll want to boil your water for the next couple days if you live on the south side of McNabb.

According to Village Clerk Pat Harrison, construction crews hit a water main while working today which led to the boil order. She says the boil order affects everyone living between Main Street and 10^th Street in the Village.

She expects the boil order to be lifted in 48 hours.

Tri-DENT Agents Find Nearly 7 Pounds of Substance Containing Cocaine During Traffic Stop

A man from the Bronx may be a long way from home, but he’s going to be spending more time than he had planned in Bureau County.

Miguel Reynoso was stopped by Tri-DENT agents on Interstate 80 near Ladd on Thursday morning. During the stop, a K-9 unit led officers to search the car further, where they would find more than 6 pounds of a substance containing cocaine.

Reynoso was arrested for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver, and taken to the Bureau County Jail. He is currently waiting on a bond hearing.

DePue and Spring Valley firefighters respond to a garage fire

Sirens blared Thursday morning as firefighters were called to a garage fire in DePue.

The fire broke out around 7 o’clock in the 600 block of East Street which is on the north side of the village. Firefighters from Spring Valley were called to help with the fire.

Nobody was hurt and the fire was out in about a half hour.

Man in DePue bitten while walking his dog

A man walking his dog in DePue became a bite victim after another dog attacked.

DePue Police say on Tuesday afternoon, a dog running loose attacked a dog that was being walked. The owner of the dog being walked intervened and was bitten on the hand by the attacking dog. He declined medical treatment.

The owner of the attacking dog, 56-year-old Miguel Lopez-Serrato of DePue was ticketed for letting his dog run loose. His dog was taken to a vet to be held 10 days for observation.

Potential live saving drug donated to Mendota Police

The Mendota Police Department is better equipped to handle heroin overdoses thanks to a recent donation.

The LaSalle County Medical Reserve Corps donated 14 Naloxone kits to the Mendota Police department on Wednesday. Naloxone is a drug that is used to help counter opioid overdose, and officers throughout the Illinois Valley have been receiving training on how to give the treatment.

This donation is part of a $15,000 award the LaSalle MRC received to help expand the program they are using to train officers. The LaSalle MRC says they’re also planning to do a community assessment to get better data about the issue of opioid overdose in the county.

Rainfall totals are in from Wednesday morning storms

Strong storms not only knocked out power to many but also dumped a lot of rain Wednesday morning.

According to the National Weather Service, over two inches fell in Sublette with over an inch and a half of rain in La Salle, Oglesby, Somonauk, Mendota, Peru, Ottawa and Earlville. Streator, Sheridan, Marseilles and Seneca all had just over an inch.

Places like Sterling and Dixon saw almost three inches of rain early Wednesday.