La Salle could do away with shopper bus service

Is the shopper bus worth keeping?  The bus owned by Peru and shared with La Salle takes mostly senior citizens to area banks and stores during weekdays.

Some city officials in La Salle are wondering if it is worth the cost.  It cost the city about $10,000 a year.

Mayor Jeff Grove says the times he’s been on it, there’s been about five to eight riders.

Alderman Jim Bacidore wants to do away with the service.  He’s asked to have it on the agenda for the next meeting.  None of the other aldermen sound like they disagree with him.

The La Salle City Council meets next on October 4.  If they decide to cancel their contract with Peru, they would need to give 30 days notice.

Missing Man Found Dead In Oglesby

A man reported missing five weeks ago was found dead Sunday in Oglesby.

According to the Oglesby Police Department and La Salle County Coroner’s Office, 54 year old Donald Lucas was found dead in a wooded area on the eastern edge of Oglesby around noon Sunday.  Initial autopsy results show that Lucas died of hanging.

No foul play is suspected.

Details Released About Fatal Semi Crash In Ottawa

More details have just been released into a crash Friday morning that killed a trucker in Ottawa.

State Police say 51 year old Bruce McWilliams of Glendale, Arizona was eastbound on Interstate 80 when he drove into a ditch just west of Ottawa.

After driving off I-80, McWilliams crossed East 16^th Road and went down an embankment before crashing at the bottom of a hill.  The semi’s cab was crushed and flatbed trailer broke away from the cab.

Investigators aren’t sure why McWilliams drove off the interstate.

Mailboxes and newspaper boxes damaged in Spring Valley

Police are hoping you can help them find whoever damaged mailboxes and newspaper boxes in a neighborhood in Spring Valley.

People in the area of Oakdale Avenue and Bernal Court noticed yesterday morning that many had been damaged.

If you know anything about it, call the Spring Valley Police Department or Illinois Valley Crimestoppers.

State of the City address scheduled for Oct 7

Want to know what’s shaking in Ottawa?  Make plans to be at Pitstick Pavilion on October 7th.

Mayor Bob Eschbach will give his yearly “State of the City Address” at Pitstick’s that day.  It’s sponsored by the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Eschbach will give a progress update of projects that have started in the past year and what’s all in the works for the upcoming year.  Lunch begins at 11:30am with Eschbach taking to the podium around 12:15pm.

Call the chamber for tickets.  They’re $20 per person if you’re not a chamber member.

You’re asked to register by October 4^th.

Reddick Library plans events for Banned Books Week

Despite the popularity of Harry Potter and Twilight books, some people don’t want them readily available to kids.  These individuals, groups or organizations challenge the books trying to get them banned from schools and libraries.

Reddick Library in Ottawa is taking a stand against these groups and is inviting special guests to read excerpts next week from challenged or banned books.  The library is having a “ReadOut” Thursday, September 30^th from 6:30 until 8 during “National Banned Books Week”.

If you want to take part in the banned books week event at Reddick Library, call to register.

Besides Twilight and Harry Potter, some other well known books that some groups want banned include To Kill a Mockingbird and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Old buildings, indluding an old school on agenda for La Salle Council

The La Salle City Council is getting a visit from the new leader of the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce.  Marci Duro is on Monday night’s meeting agenda.  The city council recently decided to not renew their membership with IVAC, though had said they would consider rejoining later.

They could also talk about trying to get a grant to have the old Matthiessen School knocked down and an ordinance for vacant buildings.

The council meets at 7pm.