Arrest made in La Salle robbery

A couple of days after a robbery outside of the La Salle Dollar General, one of the men police say was involved faces a felony charge, but no charges for the other one.

          The robbery happened Wednesday afternoon outside of the store.  Police say they didn’t use weapons but implied a threat.  Police aired a description of the people involved and a possible car over the police radio.  About two hours later, Spring Valley Police had stopped a pair matching the description.

          One of them, Johnny Lee Williams of Glenwood was arrested for robbery.  The other person hasn’t been charge.

          Police say Williams was apparently in the area working for company out of Cicero.

Four Hurt After Crash Near Lostant

Four people were taken to the hospital after a crash late yesterday afternoon near Lostant.

Sheriff’s deputies say Anthony Rhodes of Streator was on Route 18 when he lost control on the ice.  He hit Amy Spears of Streator and then when on to also hit John Spealman of Wataga.

Rhodes, Spears and 10 and 5 year old passengers of Spears were all taken to St. Mary’s Hospital.  No tickets were issued.

Leland Woman Hurt In Crash

The ice is being blamed for a rollover crash last evening near Leland.

Investigators say Tammy Michael of Leland was on East 1950^th Road when she lost control on the icy road.  Her car went into a ditch and rolled over.

Michael was taken to Sandwich Hospital.

Several Schools Make Honor Roll

Fifteen area schools have made the “state honor roll”.

Kennedy Elementary in Spring Valley, Henry-Senachwine and Amboy High Schools made the honor roll under the Academic Improvements Award category.  Schools in this list made substantial gains in academic performance over the last several years.

Deer Park and Wallace Elementary in Ottawa, James Wood Elementary in Somonauk, Lisbon Grade School in Newark and Tonica Grade School all made the honor roll for Academic Excellence Awards.  These schools maintained very high academic performance over at least three years.

The final honor roll award category is Illinois Spotlight Schools.  These are high-poverty schools where high academic performance is said to be closing the “achievement gap”.  Local schools on this list include: Lincoln Jr High in La Salle; Centennial and Oak Park Elementary in Streator; Jefferson Elementary in Ottawa; Lincoln Elementary in Mendota; and Leepertown Elementary in Bureau.

Northern Illinois University in 2003 started up a state honor roll list to recognize schools for having No Child Left Behind success.

Proposed TIF receives opposistion

A plan to create a commercial TIF district north of Interstate 80 in Peru is meeting resistance from many of the taxing bodies that would be affected.  A joint review panel recently voted 6 to2 against recommending the TIF for approval.
The main complaint is the inclusion of a recently built Holiday Inn and Suites.  Opponents say they’ll loose property tax they would otherwise receive if the hotel is included.
Also included in the TIF would be several old motels, two old truck stops, and some undeveloped areas.
The joint review panel will re-examine the TIF next month.

Peru council considers airport managment agreement

Fuel sales and hangar rentals are at the center of a discussion on changes at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport.  The city council is poised to vote on a management agreement with Midwest Avtech regarding the city-owned airport.
Alderman Joe Mikyska is the chairman of the airport committee.  He says the agreement reflects the change in management that took place in August.  At that time, Chuck Studer became the manager after Donna Merenda with the city’s public works department was moved to another building.
Since August, Midwest Avtech has been responsible for paying airport employees, fuel sales and some repairs.
Some city council members were surprised to hear the city no longer makes money from the sale of fuel and also from the rental of the corporate and maintenance hangars.
Mikyska argued during Wednesdayt night’s informal council meeting the arrangement saves the city over $32,000.
The agreement would be good until the city decides to cancel it, which would require a three day notice.  It will be voted on during Monday’s regular council meeting.