Veterans’ Memorial Bridge will be Worked on after Labor Day Weekend

As soon as the long weekend ends, construction begins on a major road in Ottawa.

Starting Tuesday morning, crews will be working on Route 23 at the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge in the city. You can expect delays in the area through Thursday.

The Illinois Department of Transportation says the work being done is just routine maintenance. You’ll want to give yourself some extra time if you plan on being in that area because IDOT says traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction during the work.

LaSalle Teen Allegedly Knew Elderly Couple was Home during Thursday Burglary

A LaSalle woman woke up to feel a “gloved hand covering her mouth,” States’ Attorney Brian Towne said as he described the scene of an alleged robbery that took place early Thursday morning.

Towne was setting the scene as part of 18-year old Tyler Cannon’s first appearance in court on Friday. Cannon is accused of breaking into the couple’s home, stealing some items, and “intentionally injuring” the elderly woman’s husband before trying to run away.

The woman was able to break free and call 9-1-1. Police caught Cannon shortly after the call, and he was taken to the LaSalle County Jail. He’s been charged with home invasion and residential burglary.

This morning, Cannon’s bail would be set at $500,000. He’s due back in court September 22^nd.

Peru Woman Appears in Court on Drug, Weapons Charges

A woman who was arrested after Peru Police executed a “high-risk search warrant” was in court Friday.

Still in custody, 33-year old Danielle Pyszka learned she faced three felony charges involving drugs and weapons. She’s being charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. The weapon charges resulted from police allegedly finding a switchblade and metal knuckles in Pyszka’s home.

If convicted, she could be sentenced up to one year for each of the weapon charges and up to 3 years for allegedly having cocaine. Her bond was set at $20,000, and she’s due back in court September 22^nd.

Two hurt in a fender bender on Route 71

A crash east of Cedar Point sent a man and woman to the hospital.

Deputies were called out to Route 71 just before 5:30 Thursday night. Forty-one-year-old Mykai Stephens of Minonk says she was slowing down to turn when she was rear-ended. The teen claimed Stephens hit the brakes abruptly without signaling.

While nobody was ticketed, Stephens and her passenger, 34-year-old Bruce Tettemer of Standard were taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru.

Burglar wakes elderly couple, runs away before being caught by police

One of the scariest things has to be awoken in your home by an intruder. That nightmare scenario happened to an elderly La Salle couple Thursday morning.

A woman living on 4th Street frantically called the police saying she was awoken by a man in her house that had pushed her husband and ran out with some of the couple’s property. La Salle Police were at the house quickly and not even a half hour later arrested 18-year-old Tyler Cannon at his home in La Salle.

Officers say they found some of the couple’s stolen things at Cannon’s place. The teen was arrested for home invasion, residential burglary and aggravated battery to a senior citizen.

He was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Gas prices unchanged from a week ago

Maybe the thought that gas prices go up before a holiday weekend is just a myth.

The price at the pump across the Illinois Valley is pretty much the same as it was a week ago. Peru has the cheapest gas at $2.04 a gallon with gas in La Salle at $2.09. Mendota, Oglesby and Ottawa stations are at the high end with $2.19 gas.

The statewide average for unleaded is $2.32 a gallon, down three cents from last Friday.

Everything from demo derbies to fireworks this weekend in Mendota

It’s Tri-County Fair time in Mendota!

Gates open at 3 Friday with the carnival ready to roll at 4. Friday night’s grandstand entertainment features Megacross at 6.

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.

Rob from the 96.5 the Wolf morning show will broadcast from the fair tomorrow at 11.

Boating not suggested over the holiday weekend

The Illinois River is falling but that doesn’t mean its safe for you to take your boat out on it this weekend.

Conservation Police Sgt. Phil Wire says doing that is “not a smart idea.” Wire says the river is still moving very fast and with that debris is flowing quickly. Wire says you’ll likely hit the debris because it’ll be too late when and if you see it.

Despite Wire’s warning, there are no boating restrictions in place on the Illinois River.

Alleged Streator Circle K robber gets trial date

A week after allegedly robbing a Streator gas station, a Rockford man found out when he would stand trial.

William Webb pled “not guilty” to the three felonies against him Thursday. He is accused of shooting once at a Streator Police officer while trying to escape after robbing the south side Circle K. The officer fired back but no one was hit.

At the time of his arrest, Webb was on parole for a murder conviction in Winnebago County. He’s been charged with attempted first-degree murder, armed robbery, and aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Webb’s trial has been set for October 31. He’d need to come up with $200,000 cash to be released from custody.

Webb turns 51 years old today.

Search continues for missing woman from Ladd

According to a new missing person’s flyer being circulated, the reward for information leading to the location of Deborah Dewey is $10,000.

The 62-year-old from Ladd was last seen according to state troopers last Monday in Spring Valley. Her car was found this past Monday at a Morris truck stop. Dewey’s car was unlocked and according to the flyer her purse and keys were inside the car.

A group of volunteers have searched for Dewey the last two days at La Salle’s Rotary Park. That search was done without the lead of actual police investigators.

If you have any information about Dewey’s whereabouts, call the state police in La Salle at 224-1171. You can pick up a missing person’s flyer about Deb Dewey at the main office of L-P High School.