WGFA NEWS NOTES FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2007 >

Two dead, one injured in a traffic crash in Kankakee County….. Police cracking down this holiday weekend……. After gun scare, Pontiac to Ban Cell Phones…… New report on farmland values……. Popular Labor Day events underway in Illiana…….

Labor Day Weekend weather calls for plenty of sunshine and 80 DEGREE temperatures. Fog early today, but sunshine and high near 79. Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day Monday calls for temps in the low to mid 80s.

Two southern Illinois men were killed Thursday in a colission between a car and semi tractor-trailer south of Momence. 19-year-old Brian Blaine of Edwardsville may have been distratced on a cell phone, according to state police. Blaine was northbound on Illinois Route 1 and 17 whe he swerved to avoid a semi and hit the rear axle of the trailer. Blaine and a passenger–27-year-old Nathaniel Gately of New Douglas (IL) were killed. A third passenger in Blaine’s car–26-yr-old Jerry Westmoreland of Glen Carbon (IL)–was taken to Riverside Hospital with serious injuries. Police report the truck driver, 36-yr-old Shaun Elkins of Harvard (IL), was not injured. Momence Fire and Kankakee County Sheriff’s Police also answered the call just before 2:30 pm.

Police presence will be obvious on most state routes this holiday weekend. State Polcie in both Illinois and Indiana are working with local law enforcement in patrolling roadways to make sure drivers are buckled up and obeying speed limits. Road construction is suspended, where possible, to give motorists a break.

Several area communities are hosting Labor Day Holiday celebrations. (see B-B list). The annual power boat races in Kankakee, The Herscher Festival, the Earl Park Fall Festival and the Pontiac Thresherman’s Reuinion are a few of the events sure to draw crowds.