Two Killed in Two Shootings on Interstate 290 Thursday

Shortly after traffic was allowed on an Illinois Interstate after a fatal shooting that took place Thursday morning, a second fatal shooting was reported.

According to State Police, troopers were called to the first shooting which had taken place around 5:30 on I-290 near the suburb of Skokie. A man was killed in the shooting and a female was hospitalized in critical condition.

The shooting had shut down the interstate for about 4 hours before police reopened it shortly before 10:00. Then, according to state police, a second was reported on I-290 eastbound at Central Avenue around noon. A passenger in the vehicle was killed while the driver was not injured in that incident.

Both shootings are still under investigation and anyone with information is being asked to contact the state police. This brings the number of shootings on Chicagoland area expressways this year to 41, 2 more than in all of 2015.

Wait continues on reopening of Route 6 between Ottawa and Marseilles

A one month construction project could turn into a three month ordeal when all is said and done.

Work that has closed Route 6 between Ottawa and Marseilles continues behind schedule. While the main part of the work is done in replacing a culvert over a creek, crews still need to install guardrails and landscaping along with doing some pavement work.

The Route 6 closure started July 12th and at that point the road was only supposed to be closed a month. Because of a rainy late summer, the road may not reopen until mid-October.

Details released on a service to remember Deborah Dewey

While questions remain surrounding her death, friends and family will gather this weekend to remember Deborah Dewey.

A celebration of Dewey’s life is planned Sunday from 2 until 5 at Senica’s Oak Ridge in La Salle. The family written obituary says Deborah “was taken far too soon from her family and friends on September 12th.” That was the day state police say they found Dewey in a shallow grave on a property in Standard along Route 71.

You can see the obituary notice for Dewey by going to Deb Dewey Service

Crash at busy Peru intersection injures two women

A crash between a minivan and truck in Peru sent two women to the hospital.

Thirty-one-year-old Delma Hernandez of Spring Valley was driving the minivan just before six Wednesday evening at the intersection of Shooting Park Road and Route 251. She’s accused of turning into the truck driven by 36-year-old Christopher Piontek of Peru. Hernandez and her 18-year-old passenger Zaneika Norrington of La Salle were taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru. Piontek wasn’t hurt.

Hernandez was ticketed for failing to yield.

Fire alarm system malfunctions at L-P

Whether it’s an old house or school, problems always pop up. At L-P High School the issue is with the fire alarm system.

The main building’s fire panel which controls fire alarms and heat sensors malfunctioned Wednesday, disabling the building’s fire alarms. Until the system is repaired, L-P custodians will be doing hourly fire safety walks throughout the entire building. If there is a fire, students and staff will be told to evacuate using the PA system.

The fire alarm issue is only affecting L-P’s main building and not the career center, east gym or auto shop. Peru and La Salle firefighters were also made aware of the issue.

Elderly woman hits gas instead of the brake before smashing into Peru building

Caution tape and barricades remain up outside a downtown Peru building after an SUV drove into it Wednesday afternoon.

Seventy-eight-year-old Socorro Barnes of Spring Valley says as she was trying to park on 4th Street, or Route 6 she hit the gas instead of the brake. That mistake took her Kia Soul into the office building. The gaping hole in the building has since been boarded up.

Barnes was taken to St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley. She wasn’t ticketed.

Granville Library to Look at Lindberg’s Connection to Illinois Valley Next Wednesday

You’re probably familiar with the accomplishments of Charles Lindberg, but did you know about one of his misadventures in the Illinois Valley?

The Granville Library will be hosting an event where you can learn more about that infamous trip next Wednesday. Ron Bluemer who is an author, historian, and Director of the LaSalle County Museum will be giving a presentation on Lindberg.

One year before his historic flight across the Atlantic, Lindberg had been an air mail pilot for a company in St. Louis. He frequently flew over the valley, but one trip in particular would end with him crashing in a field near Wedron.

The event runs from 6:00 to 7:00. For more information, contact the Granville Library.

Putnam County Lawyer’s Gift to Improve Cultural Centre at IVCC

Part of a donation left by a former Illinois Valley Community College trustee will be going to improve an auditorium at the school.

According to the college, they will be using the $410,000 gift left by Walter Durley Boyle on improvements to the school’s Cultural Centre. In addition to his role at IVCC, Boyle was a long-time Putnam County lawyer.

The school says nearly $400,000 of that will be used for putting in LED lighting and wall treatments that will improve acoustics and aesthetics. The work will also include painting, and electrical and fire alarm improvements.

The 600-seat auditorium was opened in 1980. It’s typically used for college and public ceremonies as well as musicals, graduation, and other activities.

Stretch of Route 251 Officially Dedicated to Veteran Family

The first cars officially drove on the newly dedicated “Witczak Brothers Memorial Highway” Wednesday morning.

State Senator Sue Rezin and State Representative Andy Skoog both spoke before dedicating the stretch of Route 251 between Tonica and Mendota to the Witczak family. The family had seven brothers serve their country in either World War II or the Korean War.

Anthony Witczak thanked his mom in a tearful speech during the dedication ceremony.  He told the crowd that his brothers would’ve really appreciated the honor.

After the dedication, the Peru Memorial Color Guard provided a 21-gun salute.

Patient who was considered endangered after leaving Mendota Hospital turns up downstate

A man who walked out of OSF St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota while wearing scrubs has been found safe and with relatives in southeastern Illinois.

An alert went out overnight that a 33-year-old Mendota man needed to be evaluated but walked out. Officers warned that he could be agitated and aggressive.

At about 11 Wednesday morning, Mendota Police Sgt. Dave Lawson says a family member called his department saying the man who left the hospital is safe and is seeking treatment. Lawson says he is no longer considered missing or endangered.