Car Belonging to Missing Ladd Woman Found in Morris

Police have made a discovery that could help them solve the disappearance of 62-year-old Deborah Dewey of Ladd.

According to Deborah’s son Chris Dewey, police were able to locate her car Monday morning in the parking lot of R-Place in Morris. Chris said police believed the car was undisturbed. State Police have been working with the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office in locating the woman who was last heard from last Monday morning.

Chris Dewey said the discovery is helping everyone stay positive, because it gives them a specific place to start the search. He also said there is an undisclosed cash reward for information that helps them locate Deborah Dewey.

Peru Pro-Police Signs Available Again at City Clerk’s Office

If you’ve been looking to get one of the signs in Peru that say “We Support Our Police,” you should head to the City Clerk’s Office.

A post on the city’s Facebook page Monday afternoon announced that the city will be giving the signs out again at the 4^th Street Office. The signs are being provided by a group called the Peru Citizens Service Organization.

The Peru CSO has made similar contributions to the city in the past, ranging from maintaining the flags downtown to putting up Christmas decorations during the holiday season.

The signs are free but donations will be accepted to offset the cost of the signs.

Fatal Crashes See Spike Nationally and in Illinois Valley

If you feel like you’ve been hearing more about deadly crashes this year, you’re not the only one. According to data from the National Safety Council, people around the state and country may agree with you.

They say fatal crashes nationally through the first half of this year are up nearly 10 percent. That comes after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday that fatal crashes in 2015 had increased at the highest rate in 50 years, with the increase even higher in Illinois.

In the Illinois Valley, the numbers are even more shocking. The 23 traffic deaths so far in 2016 equal the entire year of 2014 for the most in 5 years. Bureau County has had 9 deaths this year which is already a 5-year high. One person has died this year on Putnam County roads.

The NHTSA has suggested an increase in drivers as the reason for the increase in crashes.

Iconic Oglesby diner is for sale

For $575,000, you could buy yourself a popular restaurant and a place to live.

Garzanelli’s Supper Club in Oglesby is for sale through Coldwell-Banker. The owners of the restaurant and bar took to their Facebook page to say yes they are selling but no they are not closing. The message said information floating around about Garzanelli’s being sold to another area business is “100% false.” The owners say “a local reporter put it on Facebook so we wanted to set the record straight.”

You can see the sale listing by clicking Garzanelli’s Sale Listing

“Dump Towne” trailer creating social media buzz

During campaign season, is there a line that can’t be crossed? A trailer showing up at public events in the Illinois Valley is getting plenty of attention.

One of the floats in this weekend’s Tonica Fest parade featured a trailer and the message to “Dump Towne,” referring to La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne. What has folks talking about the trailer is that there is also a message on the trailer talking about Towne’s married life and saying that “adultery is a crime in Illinois.”

Towne’s opponent, Republican Karen Donnelly reacted to the trailer saying on Facebook that her campaign is not affiliated with whoever is behind the travelling anti-Towne billboard. She goes on to say that she doesn’t support or condone such negative campaign tactics.

Stuffy old school means early dismissals in Marseilles

With highs this week expected to be in the 80s and even 70s, it’s not exactly a heat wave. However it’s warm enough to make things uncomfortable at one Illinois Valley elementary school.

The Marseilles Elementary School District is letting out at 1:30 everyday this week due to the heat and excessive humidity. A message on the district Facebook page says the “dynamics of our older building are unique and it retains heat.”

Students will still get lunch before heading home each day.

Flash flooding impacts parts of Grundy and Livingston County

The Illinois River is over its banks in La Salle and Peru.

A Flood Warning is in effect with the river more than a foot and a half above flood stage as of Monday morning. The good news is that the Illinois crested Monday morning and should fall back below flood stage by Tuesday afternoon.

The worst flooding right now is in Braceville in Grundy County and Odell in Livingston County. Three to six inches fell in a short time Sunday in Braceville and Odell leaving roads and yards flooded.

Labor Day weekend means its time for Tri-County Fair

It’s Tri-County Fair week in Mendota!

While the fair officially runs Friday through Monday, you can get a sneak peek at the carnival rides this Thursday night for a few hours. On Friday, the carnival opens at 4 with the grandstand entertainment being Motocross.

The rest of the fair includes a demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls, a rodeo and fireworks. For a complete schedule of events, click Tri-County Fair Schedule

Another huge 50-50 jackpot at Amboy Depot Days

Would you be able to find Harmon, Illinois on a map? This year’s big winner of the Amboy Depot Days 50-50 drawing hails from the small Lee County town.

Chad Hudson’s ticket was drawn Sunday afternoon as the 50-50 winner. He took home $135,000, down a bit from last year’s winning pot of $149,000. As a runner-up prize, Pam Moore of Dixon won a 2016 Chevy Malibu while Amber Klone of Woodhaven Lakes won $10,000 as a “third place prize.”

The festival’s half of the 50-50 goes to support groups like the Amboy Fire Department, Special Olympics, and the Lee County Shop with a Cop program.

Ladd woman still missing

It’s now going on a week since the disappearance of 62-year-old Deborah Dewey of Ladd.

The Illinois State Police and Bureau County Sheriff’s Office have taken the lead in searching for the woman who was last heard from last Monday morning. Officers have used search dogs and planes to search for Dewey.

For a picture of Dewey and other details you can click Deborah Dewey Flyer