Bat in La Salle County had rabies

Here’s even more reason to avoid bats. A bat has tested positive for rabies in Ottawa.

There has been 27 bats testing positive for rabies this year in Illinois. This time of the year bats are more active so contact with humans and pets is more likely.

If you find a bat in your home, don’t release it outside until you talk with animal control or your public health department. The Illinois Valley didn’t have any rabies cases last year.

Tonica teen loses a grand in alleged drug money

A Tonica teen is out over a thousand dollars after getting pulled over in Oswego.

On Friday night, 19-year-old Andrew Broset was pulled over for a registration issue. He’s accused of having pot and a smoking pipe.

Deputies seized $1,400 from Broset which they say has to do with drug activity.

Area Congressman visiting this week

Your area congressman –  1 seen frequently on news shows – will be in our area this Wednesday and Thursday.  16^th District Congressman Adam Kinzinger will talk about the opioid bill passed by Congress and meet community members Wednesday at 10am at the Grundy County Administrative Building at 1320 Union in Morris and at 1pm at 220 South Hennepin in Dixon.

Kinzinger will visit the Denver Gardner at 1:30pm Thursday in Princeton and at 4:30pm, be in Ottawa for a Vet Commendation at Ottawa City Hall.

 

 

 

Indiana men’s alleged thefts end in Lee County

2 Indiana men caught Saturday near Amboy for burglary and theft may be responsible for much more including attempted murder.  Sheriff John Simonton said his deputies responded to a residential burglary at 8:30am Saturday about 5 miles west of Amboy.

Found nearby were 22-year old Kenneth Watters and 21-year old Devin Turner.  An investigation and interviews with Lee County detectives followed with Watters and Turner each charged with felony residential burglary,  having a stolen auto and plate and illegal display of a stolen plate. Watters is also wanted in Indiana for attempted murder.

Lee County police recovered a stolen vehicle in a nearby barn taken in Whiteside County by the 2 Friday night.  Whiteside deputies lost the 2 during a pursuit. Watters and Turner may be part of a 2 state string of  burglaries, robberies, car thefts and chases.

Lake Depue expecting company this week

You’ll start hearing the roar of boats on Lake DePue in the coming days.

Test runs begin for the 32nd annual Lake DePue Pro National Championship Boat Races start Thursday.  The actual competition starts Friday and continues thru Sunday.  As usual, there’s plenty of stuff going on around the lake besides just boat racing.

The DePue Men’s Club food stand opens Wednesday along with a beer garden and live music.  There’s also a teen dance, 5K Walk/Run and raffles.

It’ll cost you 3 dollars to watch the races which start Friday afternoon.  The nightly entertainment is free.

 

 

 

Canoe ride becomes Saturday search near Streator

A local man and woman tried canoeing the Vermillion River Saturday from Streator to a nearby bridge. They likely won’t forget their scary experience.  Conservation Police officer Phil Wire said the 2 dropped a brand new canoe in at “Hop-along Cassiday trail and paddled northwest to the “Red, White and Blue bridge” – their stopping point.

When they arrived, says Wire, the canoe struck some debris capsizing the canoe and  occupants. The man was carried away and not seen for an hour.  The woman made it to shore and called for help at a nearby house. There were some anxious moments,  but happily, the man did get to shore.  The bad part is he walked in blistering weather on the shoreline back to the bridge.  He was found to be in good shape and refused medical treatment.

Ottawa River Rescue , Grand Ridge and Oglesby Fire Departments assisted.  The 2 canoeists were not wearing their vests at the time of the accident.

Search performed Saturday near Streator

A local man and woman tried canoeing the Vermillion River Saturday from Streator to a nearby bridge. They likely won’t forget their scary experience.  Conservation Police officer Phil Wire said the 2 dropped a brand new canoe in at “Hop-along Cassiday trail and paddled northwest to the “Red, White and Blue bridge” – their stopping point.

When they arrived, says Wire, the canoe struck some debris capsizing the canoe and  occupants. The man was carried away and not seen for an hour.  The woman made it to shore and called for help at a nearby house. There were some anxious moments,  but happily, the man did get to shore.  The bad part is he walked in blistering weather on the shoreline back to the bridge.  He was found to be in good shape and refused medical treatment.

Ottawa River Rescue , Grand Ridge and Oglesby Fire Departments assisted.  The 2 canoeists were not wearing their vests at the time of the accident.

K-9 officers stop Peru burglary Sunday

Being right there – at the right time – and quick back-up, helped police nab a thief Sunday morning in Peru.

According to Chief Doug Bernabei,  K-9 officer Matt Peters and his partner, Miko, were patroling north Peru at 5am, and discovered a burglary / auto theft in progress on the lot at Coronet Dodge. The offender, later identified as 72-year old Roy Cope fled in a car, but then stopped and entered a corn field on foot along  Wenzel Road.  Backup from Peru, LaSalle and the county set up a perimeter.  Cope was eventually caught and had to be treated for dog bites at the hospital.

Bernabei said Cope had just got out of Iowa Corrections for burglary  and will now face charges of burglary, possession of burglary tools and auto theft. Cope will end up in the LaSalle County jail.