Convicted Felon Accused of Domestic Battery

A convicted felon is accused of battering a woman at his home in La Salle.

Twenty-three-year-old Rico Hernandez was arrested Wednesday morning for domestic battery.  He was also picked up for unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and having no FOID card.  La Salle Police say they found several guns and ammunition at Hernandez’s place.

He was taken to the county jail.

Arizona Man’s Trial Date Set After Alleged Heroin Bust

An Arizona man will be spending considerably more time in LaSalle County than he expected while he waits for his trial.

Forty-five year old Reginald Reeder of Arizona pled “not guilty” in court Thursday to possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. He was arrested last week after a routine traffic stop. During the stop, state troopers allegedly found more than 3 pounds of heroin in Reeder’s vehicle.

In addition to the plea, Reeder’s attorney also indicated he will try and get his bond reduced from the $2 million it is at currently. Reeder’s still in custody as he hasn’t come up with the $200,000 needed to be released.

His trial was set for January 23^rd. He’s due back in court December 16^th.

State police keeping up increased patrols

Expect the heavy police presence on Interstate 80 to continue for awhile.

Troopers out of La Salle say they plan on doing “Special Traffic Enforcement Patrols” in La Salle County this month. The Illinois State Police will be looking out for drunken drivers, speeders, distracted drivers and those not buckling up.

Fifty percent of people killed in crashes in Illinois aren’t buckled up while 35 percent are speeding.

Mendota man accused of firing shots during a domestic spat

Gunshots and not fireworks could be heard Wednesday morning in Mendota.

Just before 2:30 Mendota Police started getting calls about gunshots and a loud domestic dispute in the 1100 block of Washington Street. Thirty-two-year-old Benjamin Humphrey of Mendota was arrested for disorderly conduct. Once officers searched his apartment, he was also arrested for reckless discharge of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. He allegedly had in his apartment a magnum revolver, two spent cartridges and several boxes of live ammunition.

Humphrey was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Fill the Mayflower returns to help the Illinois Valley Food Pantry

When you’re picking up items for Thanksgiving dinner in a couple of weeks, buy a few extras for the Illinois Valley Food Pantry.

The annual food drive known as Fill the Mayflower is coming back to Hy-Vee in Peru on Saturday, November 19th. A Mayflower truck will be parked outside the grocery store looking to be filled with donated food to benefit the Illinois Valley Food Pantry. The food will be delivered to the pantry the day of the event.

The food drive is important for the pantry because it happens on the same day as the Thanksgiving meal distribution. Your help during the Fill the Mayflower will restock the pantry’s shelves.

Fill the Mayflower is sponsored by Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO, 99.3 WAJK, 96.5 the Wolf, the Illinois Valley Y, Hy-Vee and Stevenson Transfer.

La Salle woman hurt in rollover west of Streator

A rollover crash west of Streator allegedly involved a drunken driver.

Deputies were called to the crash around midnight Thursday morning on Route 18. Thirty-year-old Samantha Jackson of La Salle drove off the highway rolled her car several times before it ended up in a field. She was arrested for DUI and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Jackson was checked out at OSF Center for Health in Streator.