Ottawa Paying Thousands To Landscape Another Downtown Block

The Ottawa City Council is moving ahead with landscaping another downtown block, although not everyone is supportive.

The council voted 3 to 2 Tuesday night to hire the Ives/Ryan Group of Lombard to streetscape the 600 block much like they’ve already done the 700 and 800 blocks of La Salle Street.  The contract amount is not to exceed ten thousand dollars.

Councilmen Ed Whitney and Dale Baxter voted against the contract believing that the landscaping could be done in house as a way to save money.  But Mayor Bob Eschbach says the 600 block which includes the courthouse presents challenges like underground vaults, so he feels better if they pay an outside professional to do the work.

Planting of trees and flowers will start in the spring.

Streator churches will hold final masses Sunday

A week from Wednesday, Immaculate Conception, St. Anthony and St. Stephen’s Catholic Churches will cease to exist.

Reverend Monsignor John Prendergast sent a letter out to parishioners several weeks ago saying that Immaculate Conception, St. Anthony’s, and St. Casimir will cease to exist September 29th.  They’re being consolidated into the new St. Michael the Archangel Parish of Streator.  St. Stephen’s will remain as the sole worship center for the parish until a new church is built.

The churches that are closing hold their final mass on Sunday.

Deficit Budget Passed By OHS

Holding the line on spending is the plan for Ottawa High School.

The school board passed a FY 2010-11 budget Monday that includes 15.3 million dollars in revenue compared to 15.6 million in expenditures.  Superintendent Matt Winchester says the planned spending is down 4.8 percent from a year ago.  They plan to save 625 thousand dollars by cuts in supplies and equipment and by cutting personnel through attrition and retirements.  Winchester says they’ll use 1.8 million dollars from their reserves to cover the different in expenditures and revenues.

The district will be left with 1.5 million dollars in its cash reserves.

LPHS lineman out with an injury

The LP Cavaliers will be missing their star lineman when they host Dekalb Friday night.

C.J. Robbins the LP lineman has a sprained MCL in his knee and is expected to be out two to three weeks.  He was injured during the Cav’s loss to Kaneland last Friday.

Worker Injured At Peru Plant

A man hurt in a workplace explosion yesterday in Peru is listed in serious condition.

Peru Police say the injured worker is a 35 year old Hispanic man from La Salle.  They don’t want his name released.  The man is being treated at St. Francis Medical Center.

Peru police and firefighters were dispatched to BP Transportation just west of Plank Road near I-80 around 11:30 Monday morning.  The worker was cutting a barrel with a torch when an explosion occurred.  No one else was injured.

He was initially taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital.

Mendota Pondering Senior Housing Development

Oglesby isn’t the only community considering plans for a 50-unit housing development.  Officials in Mendota have been reviewing plans The Stough Group has for building senior housing development on city’s west side.

The preliminary plat last night was recommended to the council with minor changes. The Stough Group will return next month to present their final plat to the planning commission.

Thanks to the Newstribune for information in this story.

Prosecutors Watching Sex Offenders Online Use

When a convicted sex offender registers to use social networking sites like Facebook or Myspace, police need to be the first to know.

La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne says his office is prosecuting its first ever cases where sex offenders were arrested for not registering their internet communication information.  This is anything from email addresses to whether or not they use Facebook or Myspace.  Sex offenders have to give this information to police along with where they live or work and an updated photograph.

Towne says most police departments have officers trained specifically to monitor sex offenders.  If sex offenders fail to give police information about their online habits, they’ll face a Class 4 felony.

Oglesby Mayor Wants To Keep His Job

Don Finley says he will seek re-election in the April municipal election.

He took over a few months ago when Tony Torres resigned abruptly.  Finley was electric commissioner at the time, a seat he took over mid-term when Don Ernat moved out of city limits.

Elsewhere on the city council, Finance Commissioner Paul Danekas and Public Safety Commissioner Tom Porter also say they’re running for re-election.  Streets Commissioner Dennis Yborra says he’s undecided while Electric Commissioner Gary Carey says he doesn’t plan to run.

Candidates can now take out petitions to gather signatures to be on the April ballot.