Cost Of Trucker Class Could Go Up

Not only is basic tuition likely going up at Illinois Valley Community College, but it looks like the cost of the truck driver course is also rising.

The college’s audit/finance committee has recommended increasing the fee 193 dollars for the 10 hour course.  The cost for the truck program would be 3,400 dollars, still among the lowest costing in the state according to college officials.

The committee thinks the increase is needed because of increasing fuel costs and the rising costs of equipment rental.

Peru TIF Public hearing to be held tonight

An area north of Interstate 80 in Peru could be included in a proposed TIF district.

The city council in December took the first steps in creating the north commercial TIF by creating an interested parties registry.   The first public hearing about the TIF is 6pm Monday at city hall.

The TIF would be the city’s second commercial TIF and the third overall.

State doles out grant money for area libraries

Several libraries in La Salle County are receiving state grants.

The state is giving out around $12 million this year in “Per Capita and Equalization Aid Grants”.  Nine libraries in La Salle County are getting money.

The library district in Ottawa is getting a $29,000 grant.  Streator’s been awarded $14,000 while La Salle and Peru library districts are getting $10,000 grants.  The Graves-Hume Library district in Mendota was selected for a $7,000 grant while Marseilles and Oglesby libraries will get $4,000 and the library districts in Utica and Earlville will get over $2,000.

The grants can be used for things like salary, equipment and materials.

Police say they found heroin during traffic stop

Heroin related charges for a man and woman from Bureau.  Police with TRIDENT stopped Cynthia Shipp and Billy Tillotson Friday in Peru.  Investigators had thought the two were involved with drug activity in the Illinois Valley.

After bringing out the drug dog, police say they found 22 bags of heroin from Shipp and eight bags of heroin from Tillotson.

Shipp was arrested for possession with intent to deliver; Tillotson for possession.  Both were taken to the La Salle County Jail.