Close vote says no to ad spending policy in La Salle

Belt-tightening is common these days, especially in La Salle.  But a proposal to regulate advertising spending by the City of La Salle was met with defeat Monday night after several months of discussion.
Aldermen Gary Schroeder and George Green were backing a proposal to require Mayor Jeff Grove to check with the finance committee before buying ad space or time.  Green argued the city’s needs to save money anywhere they can.
Opponents thought it was unnecessary because Grove had already dramatically cut ad spending with the Newstribune and La Salle County Broadcasting.  Some also felt the rule was putting to much restriction on the mayor.
The vote ended with a tie that was broken by the mayor voting against the idea.

Oak Ridge Drainage problems on La Salle agenda

Storm water drainage problems have turned out to be a costly headache for people living along Oak Ridge Drive in La Salle.  Relief could be on the way.

The city council could talk about the problem and possibly decide to go out for bids during their meeting at 7pm Monday.

Other topics that could come up include a new leaf vacuum and the name of the street to the new waste water treatment plant.  A groundbreaking for the plant is Thursday afternoon.

Happ Falls Short Of Rookie Of The Year Award

St. Bede grad JA Happ finished runner-up for the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year award.

Happ was the only player picked on all 32 ballots, had ten first-place votes but still fell 13 points short of the winner, Chris Coghlan of Florida.  Happ was named the Sporting News Rookie of the Year.

Chicago Cub pitcher Randy Wells and Chicago White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham also received votes.

New Restaurant Coming To Ottawa

One of several empty buildings on the north end of Ottawa is being filled.

A restaurant owner from Oswego has bought the old Country Kitchen off Route 23 for 650 thousand dollars.  He plans to open up a Sunfield’s Restaurant, which is a sit-down, family-oriented diner.  It’ll be like the Sunfield’s on Route 34 in Yorkville.

Ottawa Chamber Executive Director Boyd Palmer says the hotel development on Etna Road is making things happen finally on the north end.

He expects the new restaurant to be open early next year.

Woman dies after farm equipment related crash

With farmer’s continuing to harvest, there’s a good chance you could come upon farm equipment on the road.  A woman in Grundy County is dead after investigators say she crashed with a piece of farm equipment near Minooka Sunday evening.

83 year old Dorothy O’Conner of Minooka was pronounced dead at the scene after police think she passed two farm tractors but came in contact with a piece of equipment being towed by one of the tractors.

Investigators say O’Conner had just left her son’s home less than a mile from the crash.