Ninth mural unveiled in downtown Ottawa

If you’re a fan of all the murals in Ottawa, there is a new one to check out.

Ottawa’s ninth mural was unveiled Monday night on the First National Bank of Ottawa building on La Salle Street. It depicts a scene from the depression era.

Thomas Melvin of Chicago was picked to paint the mural. The city uses hotel/motel tax money to pay for murals.

Hy-Vee and secret donor back splash pad plan in Peru

You can call it the “J.A. Happ effect.”

After news came out last Wednesday that the major league pitcher from Peru was pledging $100,000 towards a splash pad for Peru, another donor stepped up. An anonymous donor has given $1,000 towards the splash pad.

Hy-Vee also recently gave $500 towards the project.

Peru goes with youth movement in picking new treasurer

The average age of elected officials in Peru just went down a lot.

Twenty-eight-year-old Jackson Powell has been appointed city treasurer. The L-P grad replaces Gary Hylla who retired with under a year left in his term.

Powell was picked out of two finalists and will make nearly $6,000 a year as treasurer. He’s also the controller at First Federal Savings Bank.

The treasurer’s position will be up for election in April.


Morris Police Make Arrest after Alleged Armed Robbery in Marseilles

A gun and a getaway car were two of the tools used in an alleged robbery in Marseilles Friday night, but it didn’t take long for the suspects to get caught.

The Marseilles Police Department says around 3 Friday afternoon, 31-year old Paul Hawkins allegedly went into a home on Union Street where he threatened the people inside with a gun. At least one of the people in the house was a relative of Hawkins, according to Marseilles Police Chief Jim Hovious.

Police say Hawkins then took a wallet and phone before leaving in a car driven by 38-year old Kimberly Somyogyi of Westmont. Police found Somyogyi and the car shortly after, but Hawkins wasn’t with them. She eventually revealed that Hawkins had been dropped off in Morris. Morris Police were able to arrest Hawkins after 10 that night.

The Marseilles Police Department says more charges could come against Hawkins, but Hovious says Hawkins is not a suspect in any other robberies. He is currently in the LaSalle County Jail facing two counts of Aggravated Assault and Armed Robbery. Somyogyi was also taken to the county jail in Ottawa where she faces an Obstructing Justice charge.

Peru Man Arrested after Allegedly Selling Heroin to Undercover Agents

Police in the Illinois Valley continue trying to stay a step ahead of drug dealers, and yesterday they succeeded.

Officers with TriDENT arrested 29-year old Daniel Buster from Peru yesterday shortly before noon. He was picked at a BP Gas Station in the city for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance. According to police, Buster had previously sold heroin to undercover drug agents.

He was taken to the LaSalle County Jail where his bond was set at $500,000. TriDENT says this is part of an ongoing investigation into narcotics sales in the valley.

Fall victim released from Peoria hospital

A woman who fell nearly 40 feet at Starved Rock State Park is on the mend.

Twenty-two-year-old Giselle Zepeda of Woodstock is no longer at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. She was flown there Saturday after falling in the area of River Trail near Wildcat canyon.

She and three other men were ticketed for being off the trails in a restricted area.

Wenona man thrown from his car during a rollover crash

A violent crash has a Wenona man recovering in Peoria.

Twenty-four-year-old Conrad Arrington is listed in fair condition as of Monday afternoon. He was flown to Peoria Sunday morning after he lost control on a curve. He overturned his vehicle several times before hitting a tree and a power pole. Arrington was thrown from the vehicle.

Arrington was also ticketed for failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash and driving without insurance.

Ohio motorcyclist killed in weekend crash

A tragic scene played out Friday night near the Bureau and Lee County line.

Just after 9 o’clock, 36-year-old Justin Hopson of Ohio was riding his motorcycle on Route 26 when he hit a deer. He was thrown from his bike and then hit by a semi that was behind him.

Hopson was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, 30-year-old Eva Hopson also of Ohio was taken to KSB Hospital in Dixon.

The driver of the semi is from Mexico and wasn’t hurt.

House fire near the La Salle-DeKalb county line

Nobody was hurt during a house fire in Leland.

Firefighters and police were called to the fire Saturday night just after 6 on Pine Road. The house and a garage were both heavily damaged.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Oglesby woman wins big 50/50 winnings

The winner of Oglesby’s huge 50-50 Summer Fun Fest drawing is a woman who calls Oglesby her home.

Diane Rose won half of the $26,580 pot. She is 79-years-old. Her daughter Lynn took to Facebook to say her mom was in tears when finding out she had won.

This year’s 50-50 topped last year’s jackpot by almost $6,000.