Probation, Short Jail Stint Sentence Issued in Bureau County Hit-and-Run Case

The driver in a Bureau County hit-and-run death has pled guilty to the charge against her.

Earlier this week, 23-year old Haylee Miller appeared in court to enter the pleas as part of an agreement. She was charged with failing to report an accident that resulted in a death.

The death is that of 31-year-old April Williams of Princeton.  The fatal accident happened in late June on the west edge of Princeton. Miller allegedly left the mobile home she was staying in with Williams. When Williams ran out to try and stop her, Miller hit her before driving off.

According to a release from the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office, Miller was sentenced to 6 months in the Bureau County Jail followed by 4 years of probation and 180 hours of community service.

Gas Prices Dip Lower in Illinois Valley and Statewide

Gas prices continue their downward trend in the Illinois Valley and statewide.

You can find gas for less than two dollars a gallon throughout the Illinois Valley.  According to GasBuddy.com, gas in Ottawa has fallen to $1.92.  Unleaded in Peru, La Salle, Mendota and Princeton ranges from $1.93 to $1.99 a gallon.

The statewide average for unleaded is $2.12. That’s a penny cheaper than it was a week ago.

Double Deer Trouble for Earlville Man

The first weekend of firearm deer season could mean drivers in the Illinois Valley will start having fewer problems with animals on the road.

An Earlville man had an especially tough day Wednesday. LaSalle County Deputies say 49-year old Steven Osborne was heading east on Route 34 when a deer ran into the driver’s side of his vehicle shortly after 5:00.

Then, police say, he was driving southeast about an hour later on East 1553^rd Road when another deer hit the passenger side of his vehicle. Neither Osborne nor his passenger were injured in the accidents. He wasn’t ticketed.

Water Main Break Causes Headaches Thursday in La Salle

If you tried to take Bucklin Street in La Salle yesterday afternoon, chances are you had some trouble.

According to the NewsTribune, a water main broke around 3:00, shooting water up to 4 feet high in the air at times. Public Works Director Jeff Bumgarner said the city didn’t evacuate even though the main break was near a high-pressure gas line.

City workers broke pavement to release some pressure while they waited for crews to arrive. Some businesses on Bucklin near First and Third Streets had to have their water shut off during the incident.

Crash in Rutland Sends Iowa Woman to Hospital

An Iowa woman had to be taken to the hospital after a crash in Rutland Township.

LaSalle County Deputies were called to the crash around 3:00 Wednesday afternoon. The accident took place at the intersection of Route 71 and East 24^th Road.

According to police, 54-year old Tammy Becker had to be taken to Ottawa Hospital. The other driver, 63-year old Richard Hoss, wasn’t injured. Police didn’t give any tickets in the accident.

Peru Police Tracking Target Electronics Thief

Police are after a man who allegedly took hundreds of dollars of electronics

According to the Peru Police Department, reports of the felony theft first came in on Wednesday. The thief supposedly got away with more than $600 from the Peru Target on Monday.

They took to Facebook to post pictures of the person believed to be behind the theft. The strategy worked as they posted an update this morning saying that they now have identified the suspect.

The department, however, didn’t release the suspect’s name.