Oglesby Mayor Calls it Quits

There’s a mayoral vacancy in Oglesby. 

A week after announcing he wouldn’t seek re-election, Tony Torres resigned effective immediately at last night’s city council after meeting.  After reading a statement and shaking council member’s hands, Torres walked out of city hall with little fanfare. 

In his resignation letter, Torres cites personal reasons, namely health as to why he resigned.  He thanked city employees in his letter along with board and committee members.

By statute, the finance commissioner was supposed to run last night’s meeting but Finance Commissioner Paul Danekas was gone.  Electric Commissioner Don Finley took over.

The remaining council has 30 days to pick a new mayor to fill Torres’ remaining term which ends in under a year.  The mayor appointee can be anyone living in Oglesby.

Peru officials not ready to announce buyer of Mirror Building

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Paperwork is being prepared for Peru to sell the Mirror Building, but the deal isn’t done yet.

That’s what Mayor Scott Harl told the council Monday night.  They approved a motion to authorize the preparation and signing of documents for the sale of the three-story downtown building.  They’re not saying who the interested buyer is and what they’ll be paying.

Larry Bianchi with Janko Realty and Development is representing the buyer.  He says he thinks the community will be really happy with the usage.

Plans call for the first floor to be used as office space.  The second floor would be used for a technology center.  Bianchi says there are no plans for the third floor at this time.

City officials last month agreed to a new, reduced listing price for it.  They went from asking $880,000 to $735,000 after it appraised for 590 thousand dollars.

Harl thinks they’ll have more to say next Wednesday.

Oglesby Police Chief Leaving Post

Effective July 9^th, Oglesby Police Chief Tom Kramarsic is resigning from the job. 

In a prepared letter, Kramarsic said due to changes in his life like becoming a grandfather, he was stepping aside.  He also is hinting at making a run for a 3^rd ward aldermen seat in La Salle.  Well before working in Oglesby, Kramarsic spent 17 years as La Salle’s police chief. 

In his letter, Kramarsic pointed out than in his three years, the police department was cut 400 thousand dollars, the drug fund went from 80 dollars to 40 thousand dollars, and two squad cars were purchased at no cost to taxpayers.

Public Safety Commissioner Tom Porter announced that current Assistant Police Chief Jim Knoblauch is his choice to become full-time chief.

Tornado Watch Issued

Hours after three inches of rain was dumped in Granville and elsewhere, more storms are on the way.

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for the entire listening area until 10 o’clock.  Conditions are favorable for severe storms with damaging winds and hail and possibly isolated tornadoes.

Stay tuned to AM 1220 WLPO for the latest weather coverage.

Murder For Hire Trial Delayed

The woman from Ottawa accused of hiring a hitman to kill her husband won’t go to trial this week as planned.

The trial for Christina Dent was continued or postponed during a hearing this morning in La Salle County Court.  The new trial date is September 20^th.

A first attempt at a trial last month ended with a mistrial.  Lawyers couldn’t agree on what evidence would be talked about during the trial.  Specifically accusations made by Dent that her ex molested their child and her ex claiming Dent was cheating on him.

Dent’s accused of offering a hitman seven thousand dollars to kill her ex.  She was arrested by Ottawa Police last May.

She faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of solicitation of murder for hire.

Peru prepares to sell Mirror Building

After several years of being on the market, Peru looks to have a buyer of the Mirror Building.  The city council Monday night could authorize the preparation and signing of papers related to the sale.  City officials haven’t said who’s interested in buying it.

Also up for discussion tonight a nine thousand dollar bid for pavement striping.

The Peru City Council meets at 7:30pm.

Power outages affecting several Bureau County towns

Many dark homes in Bureau County Monday morning.  The storm that moved through earlier left towns like La Moille, Ladd, and Cherry without power.

Ameren IP says over 1,500 customers in Bureau County are affected.  There are also some outages in La Salle County but not nearly as many.

No word yet on when service will be restored.

Standing water on area roads receding

The water that had been flooding roads in Putnam County has receded.

Monday morning’s heavy rainfall caused flash flooding on Route 26 and Route 71.  Police say it’s receded.

Route 34 between La Moille and Mendota has reopened after a tree came down.  It’s been cleared.