Streator Teens Suspected to be Behind Vandalism to Appear in Court this Week

Two teens from Streator have court dates this week for their alleged roles in acts of  vandalism that took place in the city.

Earlier this month Streator Police arrested 18-year old Luke Grammer and 19-year old Logan Mann. They were believed to be among those who were shooting out windows in September with a BB Gun.

A grand jury decided to indict the pair on Tuesday, charging Grammer with 2 counts of criminal damage to property while Mann only faces one. Grammer has come up with the $2,000 to be released from jail while Mann remains in custody.

Mann will be back in court Thursday while Grammer’s next court date isn’t until Friday.

Ottawa Woman Indicted for Allegedly Having Sex with Underage Teen

A woman accused of having inappropriate relations with an underage teen will be back in court Thursday.

Twenty-one year old Savannah Lyles of Ottawa was indicted Tuesday on one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Ottawa Police arrested Lyles after investigating a tip late last month that led them to her.

She’s scheduled to appear in court with her lawyer Thursday morning. She’s currently not in custody, having posted the $1,000 to be released shortly after her arrest.

Ottawa Awarded Millions for Bridge Over Interstate 80

Trying to take Route 23 over Interstate 80 in Ottawa is a treacherous task if you don’t have a car. However, a new grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation will go toward a project that can lessen that risk.

IDOT announced Wednesday that a $2 million award will be given to the city for a Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge over the interstate. The award is part of more than $30 million that has been given through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.

To be eligible, Ottawa had to commit to match at least $400,000, and demonstrate a plan that their award would be spent by 2019. The $2 million dollar award was tied for the most given to any of the 33 projects that received money.

Woman Arrested for Burglary also Facing Drug Charge

A Streator woman who was already wanted for her role in a burglary got into more trouble when drugs were found during her arrest.

Police arrested 24-year old Caitlin Mantzke earlier this month for allegedly stealing from a house on West Lafayette Street. At the time of her arrest, they found heroin on her.

On Tuesday, a grand jury indicted Mantzke on one count of burglary and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, both felonies. She remains in custody at the LaSalle County Jail needing $2,000 to get out.

Mantzke is due back in court on the 28^th.

Wyanet man identified as fatal crash victim

If you’ve been following the story about a fatal crash south of Manlius Tuesday afternoon, the driver killed in the wreck is 29-year-old Daniel Nelson of Wyanet.

Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash by the Bureau County coroner. The head on collision involved Nelson’s pickup truck collided with a semi on Route 40 just north of Interstate 80. The semi driver was not hurt.

Crews from the Illinois Department of Transportation shut down Route 40 after the crash. You’ll hear more details as they become available.

Fire forces temporary closure of Naplate restaurant

If you’re a fan of Mariachi’s in Naplate, well, you’ll have to dine elsewhere for a while.  Naplate Fire Chief John Nevins says a fire – electrical in origin – started around 5am Wednesday in the Mariachi’s basement at 1911 West Ottawa Avenue.

Ironically, Nevins said his company only had to cross the street to answer the call.  Naplate and Ottawa firemen had the blaze under control in 30 minutes.  Flames did burst into the dining area before being extinguished.   Chief Nevins placed the damage estimate at $50,000. There were no injuries and no nearby structures were affected.

Alleged heroin and cocaine dealer tracked down in Peru

Officers in the Illinois Valley think they’ve taken down a heroin dealer.

Just before noon Tuesday, 33-year-old Joe McSpadden was arrested in Peru at the corner of West Street and Route 6. He’s accused of selling heroin to an undercover informant several times before in La Salle. McSpadden had been living in the Daniels Motel in La Salle. When searching his room officers allegedly found more heroin and crack cocaine.

McSpadden was arrested for two counts of dealing drugs, a count each for heroin and cocaine. He was hauled off to the jail in Ottawa.

Tax levy headed up at Illinois Valley Community College

It looks like leaders at Illinois Valley Community College are going to ask a little more from taxpayers.

The college’s audit-finance committee met last night and came up with an $11.6 million tax levy for this year.  That means the school would ask for a little more than a half million dollars more in property taxes than they did in the 2015 tax year.

Vice President for Business Services and Finance Cheryl Roelfsema says the increased levy would “assure us of being at the full tax rate for education, operations and maintenance, funds that are crucial for our daily operations.”  The full IVCC board of trustees will vote on the tax levy next month.

Taxpayers in eight counties help fund IVCC.

Bridge project timeline frustrating Oglesby politician

Work on the Ed Hand Bridge in Oglesby is running behind and at least one city official in Oglesby is fed up about it.

According to the NewsTribune, Commissioner Gary “Butch” Carey wants to write a letter to try and speed along construction of the bridge over the Vermilion River. Work on the bridge has been delayed a handful of times this summer and fall because of rain.

The bridge and the stretch of Ed Hand Highway from the bridge north to Route 71 have been closed since April. It looks like they could stay closed until June. The closure cuts off access to and from Oglesby from the east end.

When it’s finished the bridge will be widened to include bike paths. The La Salle County Highway Department is overseeing the construction.

Alderman in Spring Valley found guilty of battery

A Spring Valley alderman has been found guilty of misdemeanor battery.

According to the NewsTribune, Judge C.J. Hollerich handed down the verdict Tuesday for 57-year-old Chuck Hansen. He was arrested back in March after getting in a scuffle outside of a bar in Spring Valley. The altercation was caught on video by the victim and posted for a few days at least on YouTube.

Hansen will be sentenced November 10th. He’s looking at a maximum of a year in county jail plus a fine. Hansen could also get probation.

This isn’t his first brush with the law. Back in 2001 he pled guilty to two counts of battery in a Bureau County Court. He was given a fine and one year probation.