La Salle supports Kaskaskia Hotel grant effort

It’s been a few years since plans to renovate and reopen the Kaskaskia Hotel in La Salle were announced.  The owners had hoped it would be open by now, but financing hasn’t come easy and demolition and construction has yet to begin.

A state grant could change that. The city on behalf of the Kaskaskia Foundation LLC is applying for a Community Development Assistance Program Grant.  The grant is for $1 million.  Application, administrative and any matching costs will be paid by the Kaskaskia Foundation.  To assure the city has no financial responsibility, they’ve drawn up an agreement.

Nora Fesco-Ballerine is with North Central Council of Governments.  She’ll actually be submitting the grant.  She says they should know in about 30 days if they’ll receive it.

The grant would cover only a sliver of the project that’s estimated to cost over $20 million.

La Salle approves new tattoo and body piercing parlor zoning

If you want to open a tattoo parlor, La Salle won’t be your first option, unless you want to set up shop in an area zoned light or heavy industrial.

The city council Monday night approved zoning changes that place tight restriction on where tattoo and body piercing shops can open.  It’s the city’s way of making sure they aren’t popping up in high-traffic areas.

The two parlors already open downtown are grandfathered in.  They can be sold to another owner and kept open as tattoo shops providing no changes are made to the building.  The same rules apply to taverns in neighborhoods.

White Sox Help Streator Recovery

The Chicago White Sox are once again helping an area baseball league after a devastating tornado.

After the 2004 Utica tornado, the Sox pitched in money to help with rebuilding.  They are doing the same now for Streator in response to the June 5th tornado that ravaged the St. James Rec area and South side ball diamonds.

White Sox Senior Director of Community Relations Christine O’Reilly told 99.3 WAJK’s morning man Jon Shapiro that  Sox charities will cut a check for 5k to the Streator Youth Baseball League.

You can hear Shap’s interview with O’Reilly and Streator Youth Baseball President Jason Telford Tuesday morning on 99.3 WAJK.

Hot Button Issue At Tonight’s County Board Meeting

A night meeting tonight for the La Salle County Board.

There could be a lengthy debate tonight when it comes time to vote to terminate a contract with Sikich Technology out of Aurora.  The county has paid Sikich upwards of 400,000 thousand dollars for new financial software that still isn’t operational.  They entered into a contract with Sikich four years ago.  A representative from the software company will address the board before their vote tonight.

Elsewhere on the agenda, the board will discuss the latest on tornado damage in Streator.

Bureau County Fair Tickets On Sale

Tickets are now on sale for grandstand entertainment at this year’s Bureau County Fair.

Country artist Craig Morgan is the headline act with opening group Rodeo Drive.  They’ll take the stage in Princeton on Friday, August 27^th at 7:30.  Tickets for Morgan are 32 dollars for Gold Circle Seats, 27 dollars for Reserved Track Seats and 24 dollars for Reserved Grandstand Seats.

You can order tickets by calling the Bureau County Fair Office.

Food kiosk and grant for Kaskaskia Hotel items at La Salle Council meeting

A request to open a food kiosk on St. Vincent’s Avenue will be one of the topics at tonight’s La Salle City Council meeting.  The Planning Commission has recommended the council not approve a special use permit for the small shop.  The full council takes up the issue Monday night.

Also on the agenda, Verizon is asking to put up cell phone atennas on the Lincoln-Malcolm- Garfield water tower and a public hearing on a grant for the Kaskaskia Hotel.

The council meets at 7pm.