Closed Crossings Cause Commuters in Ottawa to find Detours During October

You may be taking some different roads than usual if you travel through Ottawa. A number of railroad crossings will be closed for repairs in October.

According to the City of Ottawa, the Illinois Railway started their rehab work on 10 crossings in the city on Wednesday. Currently, the Guion Street and Fremont Place crossings are closed. They’re expected to reopen Friday.

Next week you’ll have five construction sites to avoid. Starting next Monday and ending Wednesday, the Post and LaSalle Street crossings will be closed.

On Wednesday the DeLeon Street and DeSoto Alley crossings will be closed. They should be opened back up by Friday the 14^th. The city says contractors will have detour signs posted to help you around the construction

Volunteer’s Memorial Golf Outing Raises Thousands for Food Pantry

If you’ve had the chance to volunteer in the Illinois Valley then you’ve seen firsthand the amazing impact volunteers can have. In Spring Valley, one volunteer has continued that impact more than a year after his passing.

The second annual Dick Snyder Hero Golf Gathering and BBQ was held last month. More than 100 golfers teed off in support of Snyder and the Hall Township Food Pantry.

The event was able to raise $3,200, all of which is going to the pantry. The pantry plans to use the money to buy new, heavy floor mats with the money. They are also saving some of the money to buy a forklift for the pantry.

City Council Moving Forward with Reconstruction of 4H Road

It looks like an Ottawa Road will be getting some repairs in the not-too-distant future.

Tuesday night, a three-member Ottawa City Council voted to move forward with spending $175,500 for reconstruction of 4H Road in the city. They’re planning for that money to come from the Motor Fuel Tax Funds.

The council also placed an agreement on file with Renwick and Associates related to the upcoming work. They’ll decide whether or not to approve the agreement at their next meeting.

Life Flight chopper responds to motorcycle crash in Varna

Just as many people are headed to school and work, first responders in the Illinois Valley handled a couple crashes.

At around 7:45 Wednesday morning, the call went out to Seneca paramedics to respond to a two-vehicle crash on westbound Interstate 80 between Seneca and Marseilles. One of the vehicles involved ended up in a ditch. None of the drivers were hurt.

About five minutes later, firefighters in Varna were called out to a motorcycle crash on Route 17 in front of Midland High School. A Life Flight helicopter has been called and plans to land at the airport in Lacon for the injured motorcyclist.

You’ll hear more details as they become available.

Streator Police looking for missing man

It’s been almost a week since 55-year-old Thomas Berckemeyer of Streator was last seen. Streator Police consider him missing.

Berckemeyer was last seen Friday morning by a family member. He suffers from heart problems and has a medical port in his chest which is worrisome since he didn’t take any medications with him.

Berckemeyer was last seen wearing a red and black winter coat, blue jeans, a blue t-shirt, and white shoes. You can see pictures of him on the WLPO Facebook page.

Minnesota man accused of trying to lure children in Somonauk and Lake Holiday

An arrest has been made in a child luring story you first heard Tuesday on Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO.

After getting several leads from the public, the Somonauk Police Department arrested 80-year-old Gary Kadlec of Rochester, Minnesota for disorderly conduct. He’s accused of trying to lure a young girl into his car Monday afternoon near James Wood Elementary School. Officers think Kadlec could’ve tried the same thing with other kids in Lake Holiday and Yorkville.

Kadlec was found at a relative’s home in Lake Holiday. He eventually was released on bond and given a November court date.