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