First Weekend of Firearm Deer Season Less Successful than 2015 Open

While hunters may not have been as successful in the first weekend of firearm deer season this year, it was still a solid weekend.

Hunters got fewer deer in Bureau and Putnam counties over the weekend than they did in 2015. In Bureau County, 704 deer were harvested compared to 715 for the first weekend of last year. Putnam County hunters killed 213 deer, a drop from the 252 they got the first weekend of 2015.

LaSalle County hunters had more success, though. Hunters there took 537 deer, 3 more than they got the first weekend of last year.

Statewide, more than 54,400 deer were killed last weekend, a drop of several thousand from the nearly 58,000 that were killed in the opening weekend of 2015.

Jobless Rate Continues Falling Across Illinois Valley

Do you think you’d have an easier time finding a job in the Illinois Valley than elsewhere in the state? Last month, that depended on the county you lived in.

Unemployment is down by a percent or more in LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam counties when compared to October of 2015. In LaSalle, unemployment fell by a half-percent in October compared to September, to 5.7 percent.

Bureau County’s unemployment fell by the same amount to 5.5 percent last month. Putnam’s unemployment edged a bit lower last month as well, to 4.9 percent.

Statewide, unemployment actually rose last month. The jobless rate statewide sits at 5.5 percent.

Semi Jackknife Backs Traffic up for Miles East of Princeton

A stretch of Interstate 80 was closed near Princeton early Wednesday afternoon due to a jackknifed semi.

State troopers say 74-year old Joseph Richardson of Riverdale was eastbound on I-80 just east of Princeton when his semi jackknifed partially into the median. He was ticketed for improper lane usage but not hurt.

In the hour following the crash, traffic backed up for 3 miles west of Princeton. It took crews two hours to get the wreck fully cleaned up.

Annual Red Kettle Campaign begins in the Illinois Valley

When hitting up the stores for the holidays, don’t forget the impact you can have by dropping a little something into the red kettle.

The Salvation Army in the Illinois Valley kicked off its annual “Red Kettle Campaign” on Monday. Volunteers will be ringing bells for the next month outside of Hy-Vee, Kroger, Big Lots, Handy Foods, Walgreens, Rural King, Hobby Lobby and Walmart.

For more information about the “Red Kettle Campaign,” click Red Kettle Campaign

Congressman looking to deliver letters and holiday cards to veterans home in La Salle

When writing out your Christmas Cards, be sure to include at least one for veterans.

Congressman Adam Kinzinger is collecting holiday cards for veterans living at the Illinois Veterans Home in La Salle. The Air Force pilot plans on personally delivering the cards to the veterans on Monday, December 12th.

You can drop off your letters and or cards at Kinzinger’s office in downtown Ottawa on or before December 8th.

La Salle hoping for big Small Business Saturday

Do you still have a lot of Christmas shopping to do? If you do, why not shop local and take part in “Small Business Saturday”.

In La Salle the message is “Shop Local, Shop La Salle.” Over 30 small businesses are offering up discounts and giveaways on Saturday. As you go from store to store, have your passport stamped and you can have a chance at winning one of our business gift baskets.

According to state numbers, for every $100 you spend at a local store, almost $70 of that stays in your community. For every $100 you spend at a big box store, just $40 stays in your community.