Zoning and design rules leave Peru salon owners frustrated

Making improvements to your business might be more difficult than you would think.  It has been for the owners of Shear Wizards in Peru.

Kim Espinoza and Jill Gutherie have owned the hair salon on Fourth Street in Peru for 14 years and have plans for a building addition, new siding, and a new roof.  But the process is taking longer than they expected.

They say they first went to city officials for permission in July and still have to wait for a design review committee and several variances to be approved.  Their exterior plans have already received approval of the downtown development committee but they say they were told it would be another six weeks before they’ll be considered by the design review committee.

They were at Monday night’s city council meet to explain their situation.

Others at the meeting sided with the women, thinking there is too much city involvement.  One woman suggested the council reconsider having a downtown development committee which since 1991 has tried to keep downtown businesses looking uniform when it comes to awnings and exterior colors.

Mayor Scott Harl, Frank Taylor the building and zoning and the women meet after the meeting to discuss the process.

Chemical Plant Workers Will Get Paid

Workers at Euclid Chemical in Sheffield will still get paid even if their workplace has burnt down.

A company spokesman announced late Monday afternoon that Euclid officials met with the 15 workers at the plant and assured them they’ll be paid and receive benefits through the end of the year.  Spokesman Joshua Robbins says the site is being secured with fencing and is under 24-hour security provided by Euclid.

As far as the cause of the Saturday morning fire, Robbins says they’re investigating the cause but they have to wait until all the fire burns out and the emergency phase is over.  Once the Sheffield Fire Protection District hands over authority of the site, Robbins says a full assessment of the property will happen to determined what burned in the fire and the extent of any environmental impact.

Local Broadcasting Voice Dies

A legendary area broadcaster passed away Sunday after battling a lengthy illness.

78 year old Art Kimball died after spending 56 years behind the microphone.  Kimball did play-by-play on AM 1220 WLPO in the 70s and did radio in Ottawa as well as owning stations in Mendota.  He may be best remembered as being the former voice of the Illinois State Redbirds and starting up the IHSA Sports Report, a show later hosted by AM 1220 WLPO Sports Director Lanny Slevin.

Services for Kimball are pending.

Area Charity Disqualified From National Competition

The voting is over for an area organization that sends Christmas stockings to military personnel overseas.

Project Santa has been disqualified from the One Billion Points charity video contest.  It’s affiliated with Kmart and Sears.  Project Santa had been voted into the top 20 charities, winning a chance at receiving 500 thousand dollars to by merchandise.

Heidi Milner with Project Santa says over the weekend she received a notice saying they were disqualified.  She’s not certain why they were cut but she’s thinks it has something to do with the voting.  She also says others were disqualified.

Project Santa plans to send seven thousand stockings to troops this year.  The items in the stockings, the stockings and the postage are paid for with donations.

Car And Bike Crash Part Of Hectic Weekend At Starved Rock

When a motorcycle and car collide, the biker usually gets the worst of it.  That wasn’t the case yesterday in Utica.

Conservation Police say William Bush of Palos Heights came around a corner on Route 71 in Starved Rock State Park and lost control.  He laid his bike down and ending up hitting a car.  The woman driving the car was taken to the hospital.  Her name wasn’t released.

Bush meanwhile was arrested for DUI and improper lane usage.  He refused treatment and was released after posting bond.

La Salle city council race taking shape

Four city council seats will be up for grabs next April.  So far three of the incumbents have taken out petitions to run again.

First Ward Alderman Diz Demes, Second Ward Alderman George Green, and Fourth Ward Alderman Gary Schroeder are circulating petitions.   So far they’re unopposed.

Third ward Alderman Demitrio Salazar hasn’t taken out a petition yet.  Salazar was appointed to the seat after Jeff Grove left it to become mayor.

Former police chief Tom Kramarsic and John Duncan the fourth have taken out petitions for the third ward.

Petitions can be circulated through December 20.

Peru and Spring Valley city councils to meet tonight

It’s Columbus Day, a holiday, but that’s not stopping the Peru and Spring Valley City Councils from meeting tonight.

In Peru, they’ll be opening bids for new LED road lights and pest control.  They’ll also receive the treasure’s report for the fiscal year that ended April 30.

The Peru Council meets at 7:30pm.

The Spring Valley Council meets at7pm.

NRA endorsing Justice Kilbride in November election

An Illinois Supreme Court Justice that is facing opposition as the November election approaches has received endorsements from the National Rifle Association and Illinois State Rifle Association.

Tom Kilbride is up for retention to the Illinois Supreme Court.  He’s been chosen by other Illinois Supreme Court justices to become the next Chief Justice later this month.

The NRA gave Kilbride an “A” rating saying they like Kilbride because his decisions have shown “support of the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

Woman arrested for alleged knife attack

Domestic battery was the charge for a woman who’s accused of attacking a member of her family with a knife.

Rachel McSherry of Utica was arrested early Sunday morning at her home.  She was taken to the La Salle County Jail where her bond was set at $75,000.

IVCC instructor to speak at national convention

Controversy and geology- two things you probably don’t associate together but topics an instructor at Illinois Valley Community College wll touch on as he speaks at the Geological Society of America 2010 Annual Meeting & Exposition in Denver.

Mike Phillips is presenting “Saving the best for last: addressing subjects of public controversy by answering questions first and placing conclusions in scientific context” during a session entitled: “Exposing Myths and Misrepresentations of Climate Change and Evolution Science: Strategies and Case Studies for Geoscientists, Educators, Policy Makers, and the Press.”

The event is November.  Phillips has been teaching at IVCC for 14 years.

He says myths and misrepresentations persist in areas where the scientific evidence is strong but people are not comfortable with the conclusions.