Groundbreaking Planned For New Ottawa School

The first dirt being moved at the new Central Intermediate School in Ottawa happens this month.

The elementary school district has announced a groundbreaking ceremony for the new 5^th and 6^th grade school will happen September 14^th at one o’clock.  The new school will be south of Shepherd Middle School on 46 acres of land the district recently purchased.

The last estimated cost of building the school is around $23 million.  However the district is set to get state and federal aid that may cover that amount after the old Central School was flooded out.  The district also has the ability to sell bonds for the school after passing an 18 million dollar referendum earlier this year.

The new school is expected to be ready for classes in January of 2012.  The district’s lease with Wal-Mart is up at the end of 2011.

New IVAC Executive Director named

The new Executive Director of the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce is a past board president.  Marci Duro begins Wednesday.  She replaces Barb Koch who’s retiring after 17 years as executive director and CEO.

Duro served two terms on the IVAC board and served as president for two years.  She has owned and managed local employee staffing related businesses.

R.J. Whitecotton is the IVAC Board President.  He says they had many fine candidates and thought Duro’s business background and ability to relate to other business owners was a big plus.

Woman hospitalized after crash in Putnam County

An accident near Granville has left a woman hospitalized in stable condition.

Police say Jessica Saepharn of Granville was hit by Matthew Pierson of Green Valley while on Route 71 Tuesday morning.  Police say Pierson crossed the center line.  Pierson was ticketed for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident and improper lane usage.

Saepharn is being treated at St. Margaret’s Hospital.

Moped Rider Killed After Crash In Minonk

A man from Minonk died after his moped was hit by a Ford Explorer.

26 year old Eric Brown was pronounced Sunday at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  He was driving Saturday night in Minonk when John Cunningham also of Minonk allegedly ran a stop sign and slammed into Brown.  Cunningham was ticketed for failing to yield and operating an uninsured vehicle.

Investigators say Brown wasn’t wearing a helmet.

Repairs planned for Monks Avenue and 38th Street

Go shopping at Target or grab a sundae at Dairy Queen in Peru and chances are you’ll pass through the intersection of Route 251 and 38^th Street.

The pavement in one of the lanes is in bad shape, the worst street in Peru according to some aldermen.  But that will be changing.

The city is hiring UC Paving to replace the asphalt there for $5,800.

The same contractor will also be fixing a road failure on Monks Avenue for about $8,000.

Latest On Dog Attack In Varna

If and when charges are filed in last Wednesday’s dog attack in Varna, it won’t be the Marshall County State’s Attorney’s decision.

Paul Bauer is referring the case to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office since he once represented a potential defendant in the dog attack that killed Jason Walter of La Salle.  Bauer represented Karen Brady in a 1995 case.  Brady is the woman living in a mobile home who owns three dogs blamed in the attack.

Since the fatal attack, a cable repairman and mechanic have both come forward saying one of the pit bulls that’s been euthanized showed aggression to them in the past few weeks.

Closing for Mirror Building Tuesday

A property is never really sold until the deal closes.  Tuesday is closing on the sale of the Mirror Building in Peru.

Mitchell Kahl  of The Phoenix Group is buying the three-story building next to Maud Powell Plaza from the City of Peru for $650,000 dollars.

Kahl owns the Phoenix Group insurance office on Progress Boulevard.  Plans were for Kahl to own the building and rent it to his company.

The building was listed with five Peru real estate agencies.  Each are receiving commission, with Janko Realty receiving a larger percentage since they were the selling agent.

A $580,000 mortgage with 5% interest remains.

Biker Dies In Bureau County

A man from Neponset died over the weekend after crashing his motorcycle.

68 year old George Bates was pronounced dead Friday by Bureau County Coroner Janice Wamhoff after a crash on Route 6 in western Bureau County.  Investigators say Bates was the only person involved.

The accident remains under investigation.

Update on Route 251 Closure

If everything goes right, Route 251 should be back open at Route 6 in Peru before the week is through.

Tom Hufnagel with IDOT says they’re going to do all they can to have the road back open for traffic by the end of the day Friday.  Route 251 under the Route 6 overpass closed last Monday and IDOT initially said the project would last two weeks.

Crews are repairing two steel beams on the overpass that were damaged last year.

Wild Scene Turns Fatal At Area Car Show

A car show in Newark turned tragic over the weekend.

The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office says 55 year old Ricke Van Riper of Oswego died after a fight at the Newark Car Show Saturday afternoon.  According to investigators, Van Riper showed up in Newark around noon Saturday and began arguing with his estranged wife.  He then lit his own truck on fire.

Van Riper then started fighting with another man before going into his burning truck to get some knives.  He began throwing knives at the other guy involved in the fight before trying to stab the man.  People at the car show were able to eventually stop Van Riper but not before he was knocked unconscious.

Van Riper was taken to Valley West Hospital in Sandwich where he was pronounced dead.  The other man involved in the fight was treated and released.

The incident and death remains under investigation.