Local Headlines

CHICAGO – The American Automobile Association forecasts that 104 million Americans will travel by car, the most on record for a year-end holiday. AAA Spokesperson Jeanette Casselano, says only about a dozen states are seeing more expensive gas prices with increases of less than a dime. In

OTTAWA – The new bison at Buffalo Rock State Park has a name. Cocoa was the winning name of the contest that local schools took part in, according to Kathy Casstevens, Marketing Director for Starved Rock State Park. In early November, I & M Canal State Trail officials integrated an 1000

PERU – Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei discussed the possibility of hiring part-time police officers in the future. Three ordinances were amended and approved at Monday’s city council meeting, which would implement the process of hiring part-time officers. Bernabei assured the public that

PERU – Peru Police Department gained a new officer as Brendan Sheedy was sworn in at Monday night’s city council meeting. Sheedy graduated from the College of DuPage’s Suburban Law Enforcement Academy last Friday as part of the college’s largest graduating class in the history of the

PERU – Two people were transported to a local area hospital after a multiple vehicle crash in Peru Monday night. According to Peru Fire Chief Jeff King, four vehicles heading northbound on 251 and Wenzel Road rear-ended each other, sending two people to Illinois Valley Community Hospital

PERU – The Starved Rock Lodge Trolley made its annual round of donations to a local homeless shelter and organization for the disabled. As part of efforts to support local organizations, Marketing Director Kathy Casstevens says from Black Friday to Christmas Eve, the lodge gathers monetary

PERU –  A family who lost their home to a tragic fire in Peru is receiving generous support from the community. Katherine Twardowski and her two sons lost their home last week Thursday to a fire that heavily damaged their home in the 1600 block of 5th Street. A go-fund-me page was

LASALLE – Motorists in Illinois will face higher penalties for violating Scott’s Law in the new year. Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly says 2019 has been an especially tragic year. 27 ISP stationary squad cars have been struck by vehicles, higher than the number of all

MENDOTA – Food distribution in time for Christmas happened Sunday in Mendota at the First Presbyterian Church Micro Pantry. Over 30 families were assisted in making sure their Christmas dinner needs were met thanks to many donated hams, sides and other items. Also, unexpectedly, toys were

DEKALB – A single vehicle crash took the life of a Sycamore high school student and his mother Saturday in rural DeKalb County.  The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office say that 17-year-old Kal-El Sexton was driving on Plank Road near Lukens Road when for unknown reasons the vehicle left