La Salle becomes new owner of Matthiessen School building

The old Matthiessen School has been an eyesore on Grant Avenue for more than a few years. Busted windows, open doors, and overgrown weeds and trees make it look like something out of movie but that should soon be changing.
After years of talks with the building’s owner, the City of La Salle has acquired the building. It’s free, but it comes with asbestos and some other environmental issues. That didn’t seem like a problem for the city council that gladly voted to accept the building Monday night.
Plans are to secure the building that currently, if you wanted to break the law, you could walk inside. Eventually, Mayor Jeff Groves says he would like to see the building torn down.

Iowan Gets Sentence For Local Rape

47 year old Ricardo Louison of LeMars, Iowa received 22 years for the rape and 13 years for kidnapping. He has to serve the sentences back to back. He has to serve at least 85 percent of his total sentence. He’s already in prison in Iowa but will be released in October.

Louison was charged last year for kidnapping and raping a woman in Princeton. The incident happened in 1999. Louison lost all his money gambling and wanted to rob a Princeton hotel. He ended up doing a lot more by kidnapping the motel clerk after threatening her with a knife. He then tied up the woman, put her in his truck, raped and stabbed her before letting her go near Utica.

Disorderly conduct charges for La Salle kids

Disorderly conduct charges for a three kids police say were setting off homemade explosives in La Salle.
Police, fire officials, and a bomb squad brought in before sunrise Saturday overnight after police say several kids were found with homemade explosives at the corner of Crosat and Grant.
The names of the kids aren’t being released because of their age.
The charges have been referred to the states attorney’s office.

Students, community tour new Primary School

Fresh paint, shiny floors and plenty of space- the new Putnam County Primary School building was open for tours Saturday.
The district’s new grade school was built after a tornado in 2004 damaged the old building.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Saturday morning.
The new building is in Granville, near the high school.
It features a mulit-purpose room that will be used by athletic teams through-out the district.

Road work begins on La Salle County Highway 54

If you normally take La Salle County Highway 54 over Interstate 39, watch out for road construction workers.
Starting Monday, the westbound lane at the Tonica Interchange will be closed for pavement repairs. The eastbound lane will stay open. The work is expected to take a week. You’re encouraged to take an alternate route.

Appropriations up for vote in La Salle

The City of La Salle’s spending wish list will be up for a vote Monday when the city council meets.
They’re scheduled to vote on an appropriations ordinance.
Also on the agenda for tonight are a couple of requests from people wanting permission to sell ice cream and ordinance regarding the old Matthiessen School property. The council meets at 7pm.