Verizon Wireless to place antennas on La Salle water tower

You’ll  notice a few new antennas on the water tower near Northwest School in La Salle.  The city will be renting tower space to Verizon Wireless for at least $1,200 a month.

Plans call for antennas with lines to be mounted on the water tower’s catwalk.  The equipment would be colored to blend in with the water tower.

An equipment shed is being built at ground level on land owned by the city.  The shed will be 12 foot by 26 foot.  Landscaping would be placed around it so it’s not so obvious.

The city council approved a special use permit and lease for the plan Monday night.

La Salle council votes to leave IVAC

The City of La Salle is parting ways with The Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, at least for half of a year.

The city council was unanimous in deciding Monday night to not renew their membership with IVAC and to reevaluate the situation in six months.  Their annual $13,000 membership fee would have been due this month.

The council was torn on rejoining last year, mainly because they had hired an economic development director.

Aldermen last night questioned whether they were getting their money’s worth and if IVAC was being open in sharing information with the city.

Alderman Gary Schroeder says he would rather see the city use the money for in-house economic development.

An IVAC representative was not at the meeting though several city officials are members.

Closing Arguments Go Into Second Day

CHICAGO (AP) – Closing arguments in Rod Blagojevich’s corruption trial will run over to Tuesday.

Judge James B. Zagel made the announcement Monday, after the prosecution had delivered its closing and as an attorney for Blagojevich’s brother was giving his.

Zagel rejected a request by Blagojevich’s attorney, Sam Adam Jr., to give his entire closing on Tuesday. So Adam was scheduled to speak to jurors for about 45 minutes Monday, then finish Tuesday.

The prosecution will get a rebuttal afterward.  The judge is expected to then give jurors instructions and they
could begin deliberating immediately.

Biker Hurt Near Starved Rock

An out of town biker was hurt after crashing outside Starved Rock Sunday afternoon.

Utica Fire Chief Dave Edgcomb says a man from Montgomery was flown to Peoria after crashing on Route 71 headed east towards Ottawa.  The man wasn’t wearing a helmet and appeared to have rib and shoulder injuries according to Edgcomb.

The man’s name wasn’t available.

Man Escapes Injury At Marseilles Dam

A man from Montgomery was left without a scratch after going on a wild ride through the Marseilles dam.

Conservation Police Sgt. Hank Frazier says Stephen Koempel of Montgomery was on a jet ski with a buddy yesterday afternoon near the lock and dam in Marseilles.   His jet ski died out, leaving him floating towards the dam.  Frazier says the friend threw him a rope but wasn’t able to stop Koempel from floating to the dam.  Koempel ended up cutting the rope and dove into the dam.

Frazier says Koempel resurfaced unharmed 45 yards downstream.  The jet ski was found farther down the river and was totaled.

Storm Wreaks Havoc In Ottawa

Large branches still lay out in many parts of Ottawa after high winds swept through on Friday.

The 1600 block of Chestnut was a wild scene as trees fell on two different cars.  Roderick Cossman of Texas told police he was backing up trying to avoid debris when a tree fell on his Toyota Tundra.  No one was hurt.

At the same time, Brian Campbell of Ottawa had his Toyota Scion parked in the 1600 block of Chestnut when a tree fell on it.

Police also took a report of a boat being blown across the Value City Parking lot and hitting two parked pickups that are for sale.  The boat rested on the rear of Ashley Hinkelman’s truck.

Closing arguments have begun in Blagojevich trial

CHICAGO (AP) – Federal prosecutors have begun closing arguments in the corruption trial of ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

It’s their last pitch to jurors after a seven-week trial that’s been littered with names like Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel and Jesse Jackson Jr.

Prosecutors, Blagojevich’s lawyer and an attorney for his co-defendant brother are squaring off for what could be up to eight hours of closing arguments.

Monday’s main showdown will be between two methodical prosecutors and the ousted governor’s fiery defense attorney.

Blagojevich and his brother, Robert Blagojevich, have pleaded not guilty in an alleged scheme to sell the Senate seat Obama gave up when he was elected president, and plotting to illegally pressure people for campaign contributions.

Ottawa school plans go before plan commission

Before the Ottawa Elementary District can build a new school on the south side of town, the land needs to be annexed and rezoned.

The Ottawa Plan Commission holds a public hearing Monday night on the request.  They’ll also consider a conditional use permit for the school.

The Ottawa Plan Commission meets at 7pm at city hall.

Extra show added for “Back to the 80’s”

The current production at Stage 212 in La Salle has been so popular they’ve added a matinee performance of “Back to the 80.”

The extra performance is Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $16 each and can be purchased at the box office or by calling Stage 212.

Other showings of the musical have sold old.

Appropriations and IVAC membership items at La Salle Council meeting

An outline on what will be spent and taken in during the new fiscal year in La Salle could be approved Monday night.  The City Council is set to vote on an appropriations ordinance during their meeting at 7pm.  Before they do, there will be a public hearing on the appropriations at the start of the meeting.

They could revisit their membership in the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce.  In the past, not everyone has felt strongly about continuing their IVAC membership.