Second Bird Tests Positive for West Nile Virus in LaSalle County

The second case of West Nile virus among birds in the Illinois Valley has been confirmed.

According to the LaSalle County Health Department, a crow in Ottawa that was collected by the department Friday tested positive for the virus. This came a day after a crow in Peru tested positive, which the department said the first West Nile activity in the county this year.

Chris Pozzi, the department’s Director of Environmental Health, says this “recurrent activity throughout the county” serves as a good reminder for people take precautions against insect bites, as mosquitoes often transmit the virus. The County Health Department also asks you to report any dead birds you may find to them at 433-3366.

The LaSalle County Health Department also says there still has yet to be a single human case of West Nile virus in the county.

Trio of interstate crashes leave behind no injuries

Here’s something refreshing to hear.  Nobody was hurt after three separate crashes on Interstate 80 Friday in La Salle and Bureau County.

Traffic was first snarled around 9:30 Friday morning after 43-year-old Ibrahim Mustafic of Washington state lost control of his semi because of rain.  He jackknifed his semi on westbound I-80 between Peru and La Salle.

About four hours later, a car driven by Natasha Siddiki of Plainfield went off westbound interstate 80 west of Princeton.  Siddiki ended up hitting a tree.  She told state troopers she reached for a bag of food on the passenger seat and lost control.

Finally about an hour after that crash, 44-year-old Jill Gaughan of La Salle says while changing lanes on westbound I-80 near Ottawa she saw a vehicle in her blind spot and overcorrected.  She drove through a fence and into some shrubbery.

LaSalle County Board Considering Changing Sunday Liquor Sale Hours

If you’re planning on tailgating on Sundays this football season, you may be able to stock up on beer earlier in parts of LaSalle County.

The LaSalle County Board placed a resolution on file Thursday that will move up liquor sales in unincorporated parts of the county. Currently, you can’t buy booze until 10:00 on Sunday. If passed next month, the board will move that time up to 8:00.

The Spring Valley City Council did something similar in June, in a move they said would cater to businesses with video gaming.

Last week the County Board also approved a move that will ban music after midnight at beer gardens in unincorporated parts of the county. Previously music had been allowed to go until 1:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

LaSalle County Sales Tax Money Down in April, First Quarter of 2016

Does it feel like you’re spending less this year? That’s one possible reason LaSalle County has seen a decrease in sales tax revenue so far this year.

The county recently released that they received more than $211,000 in April, which was the lowest total for that month since 2013. It also was a drop of 8% from sales tax revenue received last April.

The dip comes after a March which has been the highest sales tax total seen by the county since 1999. For the first quarter of 2016 the county has taken in about $11,000 less than it did for the first 4 months of last year.

Aurora man wins Sweet Corn Festival 50-50

The big 50-50 winner at the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival is from Aurora.

Mario Rodriguez’s name was pulled Monday morning. He’s the winner of $4,100. He won nearly $2,000 more than last year’s winner.

If you missed out on the Sweet Corn Festival 50/50, the pot is growing for the Amboy Depot Days 50/50. As of Friday, the pot was $23,000. The winner in Amboy will be drawn August 28th.

Last year’s winner took home a check of $149,000.

Motorcyclist banged up in crash

Heavy traffic played a role in a motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon north of Utica.

Forty-two-year-old Michael Hoffmann of Plano was northbound on Route 178 when he says cars in front of him suddenly stopped. He swerved towards a ditch and jumped off his motorcycle once he realized he was going to crash.

Hoffmann was taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru. He wasn’t given any tickets.