Huge Tugboat Coming To Ottawa

Want to see the country’s largest towboat? Head down to the Ottawa Riverfront Saturday.

Public tours of the Motor Vessel Mississippi run from 10 until 2. The towboat is docked off Allen Park. It’s actually coming into town late tonight but won’t open to the public until the scheduled tours.

The towboat has five stories. It’s 52 feet tall and 241 feet long.

No More Texting While Driving

Governor Pat Quinn yesterday afternoon signed into law a ban on text messaging while driving.

You could get a ticket now for either sending or reading text messages while driving. You can text or read the messages if you pull to the side of the road or are stopped in traffic.

The texting ban goes into effect January 1st.

Picketing Outside Local Nursing Home

Another area nursing home is making waves. This time it’s Camelot Terrace in Streator.

Current and former workers of the nursing home have been picketing this week claiming unfair labor practices. They claim that owner Michael Lerner of Chicago is stalling contract negotiations, wrongfully firing workers and giving miniscule raises.

Workers have been picketing from 9 to 6. They’re part of the Service Employees International Union.

La Salle County Board Member Moving

Just how slow is the housing market these days? A La Salle County Board member says his house sold in 33 days.

District 13 representative Michael Beavers is planning to move to Nova Scotia, Canada where his wife is from after selling his house in La Salle. So that means next Thursday is Beavers last meeting as a county board member.

Beavers was elected to the board in November of 2006 which means his seat is up for re-election next year. It’s up to the La Salle County Republican Central Committee to come up with a candidate to replace Beavers. If you’re interested and live in the 13th district, call Pat Wagner.

Gas Station Robbed In Streator

A man from Streator was indicted this week for robbing a Circle K Gas Station in Streator.

Leonard Beck is charged with armed robbery after he allegedly threatened a Circle K clerk with a drywall knife or saw in order to rob the station on July 18th. He made way with an undisclosed amount of cash before police found him hiding in a garage.

Beck is being held in the county jail on 100 thousand dollars bond.