Peru hires company for wind turbine test tower

A new structure should soon being going up on Peru’s skyline- test wind tower.  The city wants to install a 2.5 megawatt turbine, but before they can, they must have a test tower to make sure it’s worth the effort.
The council Monday night hired National Wind Assessors of North Dakota to install a met tower for nearly $34,000.  About $28,000 of the cost is being covered by a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.
Alderman Ron Wren isn’t sure when the tower would be installed.  The city has yet to reveal a location.

Peru indoor pool gets another year

The Peru indoor pool will be open for another year.  A one-year lease for the pool at Crafter’s Village was easily renewed Monday night by the city council.
While no one was opposed to renewing the lease the agreement that has the city paying $800 a month, Mayor Scott Harl told supporters they’ll have to live up to their end of the deal and that they would review the lease again in a year.
The city began talks with swimmers in August about ways to make the pool less of a financial loss.  Supporters have been able to recruit a few new members, raise the membership fee, lower rent, and increase fees charged to St. Margaret’s Hospital and the Lighted Way- two groups who also use the pool.
City officials expect the indoor pool to cost the city a balance of about $17,000 next year.  It has 77 members.
Membership applications and information about the pool are expected to be sent out with the next round of city bills.

Peru indoor pool lease up for renewal

The future of the Peru indoor pool could be determined during Monday night’s city council meeting.  The council will need to vote on whether or not to renew the lease.

          The council will also vote on the creation of a design review committee and a new program that would offer money to people who buy new more energy efficient appliances.

          The council meets at 7:30.

Free wings turns new restaurant into campsite

The promise of free wings for a year was enough to have people, mainly young ones, camping out at Buffalo Wild Wings in Peru.

          The chain restaurant opened Sunday but the line started around sunrise Saturday morning.  The first 100 customers were promised free wings for a year, which breaks down to about six a week.

Watch the video shot by AM 1220 WLPO’s JC Philips.

Tickets on sale for “It’s A Wonderful Life”

A Christmas classic is coming to Stage 212.  “It’s A Wonderful Life” will be performed as a radio program. 

          It’s the story of a businessman named George Baily and how he comes to realize the good he’s done after being shown what life would have been like had he never existed. 

          It’s directed by Rachel Mellen and features Dick Dorsch, Pete Fauth, and Megan Baznik-Wilson in the cast.

          Performances open December 11.  Tickets go on sale Monday.

Sheridan man dies after crash

A crash in Northville Township left a man dead and an area without electricity.

          It happened just before 2:30am Sunday on East 29^th Road.  La Salle County Sheriff’s Deputies say Patrick Casner of Sheridan drove off the road and it a power poll, snapping the pole.

          Casner was pronounced dead at the scene. 

          Power was knocked out for awhile.

“Fill the Mayflower” brings in over 2,800 pounds of food

A food drive over the weekend has given the Illinois Valley Food Pantry a boost.  Over 2,800 pounds of food was donated during AM 1220 WLPO, 99-3 WAJK, and 96-5 WKOT Radio’s “Fill the Mayflower” effort Saturday at Hy-Vee in Peru.  Stevenson Moving and Storing provided the truck. 

          The drive also brought in $123 cash for the pantry.