Rezin Returns to Senate Seat

Sue Rezin admits it was a long hard campaign with financial costs upwards of 2 million dollars.  But the hard work has resulted in a win.

The Republican senator from Morris beat Democratic challenger Chris Benson by more than 15,000 votes.  Rezin’s final vote tally is 55,224 to Benson’s 40,143. 

This marks the second time in four years that Rezin has beaten Benson.  In the 2012 election, Rezin won by more than 6,000 votes.

Mennie returns as Putnam County State’s Attorney

Republican incumbent Christina Mennie handily defeated Democratic challenger Bradley Popurella to remain the State’s Attorney in Putnam County.  Mennie totaled 2,058 (65.9%) votes to Popurella ‘s 1,065 (34.1%).

Sales tax and consolidation question pass

Bureau County voters in Spring Valley approved a sales tax question on their ballot Tuesday by a 240 vote margin. The Cherry/Dimmick Schools merger question passed overwhelmingly.

Contracting crew ruptures major Ameren gas line in Lostant

A construction company working on the south side of Lostant hit a high pressure gas line Tuesday causing headaches for thousands of people.

At around 10:30 Tuesday morning, Lostant and Wenona firefighters were called about a ruptured gas line along Route 251 on the south end of Lostant. The highway around the rupture was closed and folks in a nearby subdivision were evacuated.

Ameren crews have been working to repair the line and are relighting pilot lights at homes in Lostant, Wenona, Toluca and Rutland throughout the night. Folks wanting electric crews to have their pilot lights reignited are asked to turn their porch light on.

Because of the natural gas issues, there will be no hot lunches at Fieldcrest west and east schools Wednesday.

LaSalle County Website Experiences Occasional Loading Issues on Election Day

It turns out a new website, like most new technology, can bring with it some hiccups. As a result, you may have had some troubles if you tried to visit LaSalle County’s website today.

While the website is up, issues were first reported around 10:00 this morning. According to a press release from the county, the issue has to do with the company hosting the website. Occasionally, error messages have come up when trying to view pages on the county’s website.

The LaSalle County IT department says it is working to get the issue resolved as quickly as possible.

“Busy but Smooth” so far at LaSalle County Polls

While it’s been a busy election day, there haven’t really been any hiccups in LaSalle County.

That’s according to County Clerk JoAnn Carretto who says things have been busy but smooth. She says her office has received a steady amount of calls all day, and with a higher than normal voter turnout that is expected, but things have gone well.

Carretto believes about 70% of registered voters in the county will be casting their ballots. The current county turnout record though is still 1992, where 83% of those registered in LaSalle County voted.

State Troopers Gave Half as many Tickets in October than in September

Did you use a little more caution when you were driving on the Interstates last month?

State Troopers weren’t as active when it came to lawbreakers last month compared to September. According to the latest numbers released, District 17 Police gave out only 286 tickets last month compared to 579 the month prior.

Alcohol and drug-related arrests were down to 8 from 27 in September. Other criminal activity was pretty much the same with 25 arrests made there.

Unfortunately, troopers had to handle 49 crashes in LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam County in October. While none of the crashes were fatal, that was an increase from 39 two months ago

Marseilles man hurt in Spring Valley wreck

A rollover crash in Spring Valley sent a Marseilles man to the hospital.

Fifty-five-year-old David Querciagrossa was southbound on Route 89 Monday night when for whatever reason he crossed into the other lane of traffic and rolled into a ditch. He was pulled out of his car by paramedics and taken to St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley.

Querciagrossa was ticketed for driving with a revoked license and without insurance. He was given a court date.

Watch out for critters when headed to vote

When you drive to your polling place, watch out for animals.

Monday morning near Somonauk, 31-year-old John Stehlik of Millington says he crashed into a cow on a county road. He was okay. About 20 minutes later La Salle County deputies were called to a car crashing into a deer on Route 6 near Ottawa. 77-year-old Patrick McCarty of Ottawa was okay.

Then just before 8 Monday night, 72-year-old Robert Wagner of Somonauk says he was riding his motorcycle near Lake Holiday when an animal ran out in front of him. He fell off his motorcycle into a ditch but was okay.

Several seats up for grabs on the La Salle County Board

The LaSalle County Board may look quite different depending on the results at the polls.

The 29 seats on the board are currently held by 17 Republicans and 12 Democrats. However, seats held by 4 Republicans and 3 Democrats are up for grabs.

One seat that will definitely have a fresh face is the District 1 Mendota seat held by Stephen Abel. Abel didn’t seek re-election this year, meaning that his seat will either go to Republican Curtis Faber or Democrat Larry Beck. Eight board members are also running unopposed.

In Bureau County, only one county board race is contested with Democrat Robert McCook facing off against Republican Jeff Pinter for the District Twelve seat. Putnam County doesn’t have any contested county board races.

Stay tuned to Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO for live Election Night coverage starting at 8:00.