Peru Police Department promotes patrol officer

A man who’s been patrolling Peru as a police officer has been promoted.

Rick Piscia has been promoted to the rank of sergeant, meaning he’ll supervise a patrol shift.

Sergeant Shawn Anderson is being appointed a commander following the retirement of Ken Hanford.

Cars vandalized during football game

Some football fans had an unpleasant discovery after the LP Homecoming football game Friday night.  Seven cars were scratched up during the game.  If you have any information about who did it, call the Peru Police Department or Illinois Valley Crimestoppers.

Edgar endorses Brady for Governor

A former Republican Governor is putting his support behind the Republican State Senator running for governor.

Jim Edgar announced Tuesday he’s endorsing Bill Brady.  Edgar says Brady will restore fiscal discipline to manage the state budget and reverse out-of-control spending.

Edgar served two terms as Governor from 1991-1999 before retiring from elected office.

Brady says he’s honored to have Edgar’s endorsement.

Man Allegedly Hit With Brick And Robbed In Streator

Two men from Streator face charges they robbed a man by hitting him with a brick.

Lewis Duncan and James Feddericke were arrested yesterday in Livingston County.  They’re accused of hitting a man in the head with a brick and stealing his wallet and 600 dollars.  The alleged attack happened September 18^th in Streator.

Duncan and Feddericke are charged with robbery and aggravated battery.  Both are in the La Salle County jail on 75 thousand dollars bond.

Five Hurt In Crash Near Troy Grove

Five people were hurt after a two car crash yesterday afternoon east of Troy Grove.

According to the sheriff’s office, a 16 year old girl from rural Utica was south bound on East 8^th Road and Michael Jones of Joliet was east on Route 52.  The girl had stopped at the intersection before proceeding ahead and being hit in the passenger’s side by Jones.

The 16 year old girl and passenger Hannah Munson of Waltham Township were taken to Mendota Community Hospital.  Another passenger, Victoria Hamiel of La Salle was life flighted to Rockford Memorial Hospital.

Jones and his passenger Susan Jones were both taken to Ottawa Regional Hospital.

No tickets were issued.

Voting Already Started In November Election

If you can’t wait to vote in the November election, you can cast a ballot now.

Absentee voting in person at the county clerk’s office opened last Thursday in La Salle County.  Unlike previous years, you don’t have to give a reason why you’re voting absentee.

Early voting this year’s election starts October 12^th.  The last day to register to vote for the November election is next Tuesday.

School’s Out In Ransom

No classes today at Allen-Otter Creek School in Ransom.

Water is off in the town because of a leak at the village’s pump house.

Former L-P Teacher Headed To County Board

A former teacher at L-P High School is trying his hand at politics.

Dan Mercer of La Salle is area Democrats’ choice to fill a vacancy in District 12 on the La Salle County Board.  Former board member Kelly Reffett resigned last month after she missed several committee and board meetings to other commitments being executive director of the Kankakee County Red Cross.

Mercer taught social studies and German at L-P for 18 years.  He’s currently working as a field service director for the American Federation of Teachers Local 604.

He’ll officially be appointed by the county board October 14^th.

Utica Chef Falls Short In National TV Competition

A Cajun cooking chef won “Nightline’s People’s Plate List” competition”.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t Cajun Connection chef Ron McFarlin.

Instead, Henry Chandler won the contest as announced during last night’s “Nightline” program.  Chandler owns Henry’s Louisana Grill in Ackworth, Georgia.

He and McFarlin were among 18 finalists in ABC’s “People’s Plate List” competition, a contest among nationwide chefs.  A Rockford woman wrote in a nomination letter for McFarlin after her stop at his Utica restaurant.

Around 40 thousand votes were cast in the competition.