Streator Man Gets Green Award

A Streator man was recently in Springfield to accept an award based on environmental practices.

The Illinois Department of Transportation was given the “Green Government Award” and accepting the award was Streator’s Steve Massey.  He’s IDOT’s Acting Sustainable Practices Manager.

Massey was honored for developing the Illinois Fallen Soldier Tree Memorial at Illini State Park.  The memorial includes 250 oak trees, a natural granite monument and bronze memorial plaque memoralizing Illinois soldiers killed since the start of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.  The memorial also includes a parking lot and limestone benches.

Syringe Arrest For Earlville Man

If you decide to relieve yourself in broad daylight, it’s probably going to get attention of police.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office arrested three men after one was allegedly outside a parked car on Route 23 urinating.  The man who had to go, Brandon Humm of Earlville, was arrested for disorderly conduct.

Two guys with him, Gregory Hebert of Earlville and Steven Hart of Shabbona were picked up for unlawful possession of hypodermic syringes.  Hebert was also charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Hebert and Hart were taken to the DeKalb County Jail while Humm was released on bond.

Area Bank Disciplined By State

A bank with branches in Ottawa and Streator has been disciplined by the state.

In their monthly disciplinary report, The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation announced that Centrue Bank in Streator has been forced to do a written agreement with regulators that promises to improve business practices of the bank.  No other details were given.

A similar agreement was ordered by the state in October for Citizens First State Bank in Walnut.

Giannoulias Campaigns In Ottawa

One of the favorites to win President Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat made a campaign stop in Ottawa Friday afternoon.

State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias spoke about the need for someone to create jobs.  Some ways he promises to try and create jobs is to provide low-interest loans and tax credits for entrepreneurs and small business owners to either start a company, keep what they already have or possibly grow enough to hire more workers.  Giannoulias said he will also push hard in getting the Illinois Valley linked to Chicago with high-speed rail.

He also made time to attack his likely Republican challenger, Congressman Mark Kirk.   Giannoulias says Kirk has been a huge part of the budget problem, voting for reckless budgets that caused the recession based on what special interest groups gave him money.

Before even worrying about being Kirk, Giannoulias has Democrat challengers on Tuesday.  The field includes: Inspector General David Hoffman; Cheryle Jackson, President of the Chicago Urban League; Dr. Robert Marshall; and attorney Jacob Meister.

http://ping.fm/p/RXRis – Alexi Giannoulias meeting voters in Ottawa

http://ping.fm/p/Y2zgJ – I39 car fire

Stage 212 presents “A Talent for Murder”

If you’re a fan of mystery and comedy, you’ll found both at Stage 212 this weekend.  “A Talent for Murder” opens Friday in La Salle. 

It’s set over a three-day weekend in and around the writer’s mansion.  It features performances by Anne McClain, Matt Gerding, Ron Jenkins, Jenn Hartenbower, Rob Mellen, Zoe Beer and Joe Peshel. It’s directed by Joyce Myler.

Performances are this weekend and next.  Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30p.m. Sunday matinees begin at 2p.m. It’s 14 dollars to get in.

15% unemployment in La Salle County

Local unemployment continued to grow bleaker in December.  La Salle County’s unemployment rate reached 15% last month, 5% higher than the same time in 2008.

Putnam County unemployment was almost just as high, at 14.4%.  Bureau County unemployment was 13.7%.

The Ottawa-Streator area figure was 14.7%.  The state department of employment security says the largest job losses were in manufacturing, transportation warehousing, and financial activities.

Koch announces plans to retire from IVAC

The organization that tries to attract industry to the Illinois Valley has a new president.  R.J. Whitecotten took over as the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce president last night.  He accepted the gavel from outgoing president Pam Furlan during IVAC’s annual dinner.  Whitecotton’s term is for two years.

IVAC Executive Director and CEO Barb Koch followed that by announcing her plans to retire in December 2011.  Koch was hired by IVAC in 1983 and became the executive director and CEO in 1993.  She says the two year notice will give them time to find her successor.

Area departments battle blaze on Troy Grove Blacktop

It’s too soon to tell what started a fire at a rental home on the Troy Grove Blacktop.  The stubborn fire had departments out overnight from Peru, La Salle, Mendota, Troy Grove and several other towns. 

The fire was called in just before 1:30am Friday. Frigid temperatures caused equipment to ice up. 

After seven hours, Peru fire, the department handling the call, had finally returned everything to the station but they were soon called back for a flare-up. 

James Crane owned the home.  It was an unoccupied at the time.  It’s a total loss.