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.

I-80 traffic stop leads to felony drug charge

Baggies of cocaine and marijuana are what police think they found after a traffic stop on Interstate 80.

Keith Perkins of Summit and Timothy Canady of Davenport, Iowa were stopped for speeding Friday near La Salle.  Troopers say they searched the car after smelling marijuana.

They say they found a baggie of marijuana in Canady’s pocket and a baggie with cocaine in the glove box.

Both were arrested for possession of a controlled substance.  They were taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Woman arrested for forged prescription

Try to have a forged prescription filled and you could be left facing a couple of serious charges.

Police called to HyVee in Peru Saturday arrested Julie Mitchell of La Salle for possession of a controlled substance and forgery.  She’s accused of having a forged prescription.  She was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Rt 71 resurfacing begins Tuesday

Taking Route 71 between Ottawa and Utica will require a bit of patience starting Tuesday.

Crews will begin a resurfacing project that will span from Route 178 to Route 23, covering over 10 miles of road.

The job is being done by Len Trovero Construction of La Salle for $2.5 million .  It’s expected to be completed by December.

Dog tag fees expected to increase in Spring Valley

If you’re a dog owner in Spring Valley, be prepared to pay a more for a dog tag.

The city council is considering a raise in rates because what they’re currently making doesn’t cover the cost of dealing with unlicensed dogs.  They could approve an increase at tonight’s council meeting.  They’ll also consider an ordinance dealing with water loss.  They meet at 7pm.

Peru to discuss $12.7 million sewer project

Every town is required by the EPA to come up with a plan to prevent sewage overflow from going untreated.  In Peru, they’re choosing a plan that will cost them $12.7 million.

The council Monday night could approve allowing Chamlin and Associates to submit plans to the IEPA.  The plan is to continue separating sanitary and storm sewers piece by piece.  Officials think it is the best of three plans, one of which involved building large storage tanks.

The council meets at 7:30pm.

Fire spreads to tree in Spring Valley

As the weather begins to change, you’ll see more people burning yard waste.  Be careful.

Fire fighters in Spring Valley were called Sunday to a home in the 500 block of Richard Mautino Drive for a tree that was on fire.

A person was burning old branches when the remainder of the tree caught fire.  Fire Chief Steve Scheri says they were able to save a child’s playground equipment.