Businesses warned of health inspector scam

You’ve heard of people pretending to be cops, but what about people pretending to be the health inspector?  Apparently it’s scam that’s happening in Illinois.

People have been calling restaurants claiming to be public health officials trying to schedule inspections.  The caller asks detailed personal and business information.

It hasn’t happened in La Salle County but the county health department is telling businesses to be on the lookout.

Woman pleads guilty to arson and theft

A plea deal in the case of a woman accused of setting a house on fire and stealing from a church in Ottawa.

In court Friday, Terri James of Ottawa pleaded guilty to residential arson and theft.  In exchange, an attempted arson charged was dropped.

James was arrested in March after fires broke out at an abandoned house on Leland Street and a home on Catherine Street in Ottawa.  Prosecutors think she was trying to destroy evidence showing that she stole over $100,000 from the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Ottawa where she was a secretary.

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for next month.

Blagojevich jurors end 8th day of deliberations

CHICAGO (AP) – Jurors at the corruption trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich have ended their eighth day of deliberations early and gone home for a weekend break.

A court official sent a one-sentence statement around 1:30 Friday afternoon that jurors have left. It gave no indication about whether they may be close to reaching a verdict.

They’re expected to be back Monday morning for their ninth day of deliberations.

Blagojevich faces 24 counts, including charges of trying to sell or trade an appointment to Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat. His co-defendant brother, Robert Blagojevich, faces four.

Both have pleaded not guilty.

Special Olympics Dinner Results

The 8^th annual Starved Rock Area Special Olympics dinner and auction was a success.

Area Director Cheryl De Paepe says over $32,000 was raised at Thursday night’s event.  The goal was $28,000.  225 were at the dinner and auction which was hosted by 96-5 The Wolf’s Cowboy.

Miller Group Charitable Trust and 96-5 the Wolf were the presenting sponsors.  Miller Group Media includes AM 1220 WLPO, 99-3 WAJK, 96-5 the Wolf and the Newstribune and AgriNews.

De Paepe says the cash will allow them to continue to provide programs at no costs to the athletes.



Governor Cancels Peru Stop

The campaign trail of Governor Pat Quinn will not include a stop tomorrow in Peru.

The governor had originally planned a meet and greet event between 5 and 5:30 tomorrow at the Peru Wal-Mart.  But a Wal-Mart official said the governor had to cancel this morning.  A reason wasn’t provided.

Quinn is seeking to keep his job by beating Republican challenger State Senator Bill Brady.

Sweet Corn From Peru Farmer Helps Fight Cancer

Sweet corn was the centerpiece of a recent fundraiser held by Exelon employees.

Workers at the La Salle Station donated over 32 hundred dollars to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure against breast cancer.  Employees raised funds by buying sweet corn from Dean Sack of Peru.  Sack works at Exelon and grew the sweet corn on his farm.  His wife is raising money for an upcoming 60-mile Komen Race that she’s a part of.

The Exelon station in Byron also took part in the fundraiser.  Whatever is left of the 23 thousand ears of harvested corn will be donated to food pantries.

Sales Tax Holiday Starts For School Supplies

If you haven’t started back to school shopping yet, now would be a good time to start.

Today thru August 15^th, the 5% sales tax on back to school supplies is being waived as part of a “sales tax holiday”.  City and county sales taxes are still in effect.

While this is great news to many, State Representative Frank Mautino helps put the state budget together and says this won’t help matters.  Mautino estimates that the holiday will mean a 50 to 60 million dollar tax loss to state government.  He says he’ll have to go into the budget and cut that money from somewhere.

Here’s a link to the list of school supplies eligible for the sales tax break:  http://www.revenue.state.il.us/SalesTaxHoliday.htm

Breast Fest Comes To Ladd

Wanting to come up with an attention grabbing title for her American Cancer Society Fundraiser, Geri Miller of Ladd picked “Breast Fest”.

Miller’s event runs tomorrow noon until midnight at Dick’s in Ladd.  There are four bands, food, and auctions for 15 dollars a person.  Proceeds go to the fight breast cancer.

Miller was diagnosed with breast cancer when she turned 35.  Less than a week away from turning 50, Miller is nearly halfway to raising 50 thousand dollars this year for the American Cancer Society.

While it’s meant to be a festive event, Miller says she feels blessed to be a cancer survivor and wants to remember those who lost their battle to cancer. Advance tickets to Breast Fest are available at State Bank of Cherry, North Central Bank of Ladd, and Spring Valley City Bank.  They’ll also be available at the gate tomorrow.