Donation helping La Salle continue shopper bus

The shopper bus will continue making rounds through La Salle thanks to a donor.

A family that wants to remain anonymous has offered to pay for La Salle’s share of the bus for one year.  Mayor Jeff Grove made the announcement at Monday’s city council meeting.  The shopper bus cost the city about $10,000 a year.

Even still, the fare for riding will be increasing from a quarter a ride to one dollar.  The toll increase was suggested by Peru and was approved by the La Salle Council.

Proposal could create more parking in downtown La Salle

Parking in downtown La Salle usually isn’t a problem if you don’t mind walking, but if you work downtown you be trying to dodge tickets.

With most of the downtown being restricted to three hour parking, there’s a proposal to change parking along a stretch of Second Street that would created more spaces while eliminating three hour parking restrictions.

Alderman Tom Ptak brought it up at Monday’s city council meeting.  He’s suggesting parallel parking spaces be changed to angled parking.

Before any changes could be made, it needs the approval of the streets and alleys committee.

Interesting Election Field Shaping Up In Oglesby

A former La Salle County Board member and an ex-Oglesby cop are among those interested in running for office.

With the mayor and all four commissioner seats up for re-election in April, nine people have taken out petitions to run for city council in Oglesby.  Incumbent Mayor Don Finley and incumbent Commissioners Paul Danekas, Tom Porter and Dennis Yborra have all taken out petitions for another term.  Other’s who have taken petitions out are Al Piecha, Brian Camenisch, Amy Arnold, Drew Merriman, and Shelly Cooke.

The city clerk’s office didn’t say if Piecha, Camenisch, Arnold, Merriman and Cooke were running for mayor or a commissioner’s seat.  They are obligated to tell voters what seat they’re running for if asking to get a petition signature.

Municipal election petitions can be circulated until December 20^th.

New Family Court Judge Sworn In

A judge opening in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit is filled by a former Assistant States Attorney.

Michael Jansz was sworn in this morning to replace the retiring Associate Judge James Brusatte.  Jansz was an Assistant States Attorney in La Salle County from 1988 to 1990.  Currently, he’s a partner at the law office of Herbolsheimer, Lannon, Henson, Duncan, and Reagan in Ottawa.

Jansz will handle family court matters in Bureau, La Salle and Grundy counties.  He was chosen from 23 applicants.

Teen Accused Of Stealing And Burglarizing Cars

While many people were sleeping, a teen from Ottawa is accused of breaking into cars and wrapping one car around a tree.

Dorian Redmond was arrested this morning after he allegedly crashed a stolen car into a tree.  He’s accused of stealing the car and burglarizing two other cars in the 400 block of West McKinley Road on the south side of Ottawa.  Investigators say they found a stolen I-Pod on Redmond and found stolen electronics, a wallet and clothes in the stolen car he crashed.

Redmond was being held at the Ottawa Police Department this morning facing one count of burglary to a motor vehicle and unlawful consumption of alcohol.  Additional charges are pending.

State Inspector General to appear in La Salle Wednesday

Ethics reform laws and the state’s efforts to act as a watchdog will be the topic of a stop by a State Inspector General Wednesday.

Jim Burns with the Secretary of States office will be at the La Salle driver’s license facility 9am Wednesday.

The State Inspector General’s office is responsible for investigating violations of the Lobbyist Registration Act.

Sewer project and senior housing topics at Oglesby Council meeting

Plans for a senior housing complex are one of the things the Oglesby City Council will be talking about Monday night.  The Stough Group has apartments in Spring Valley and Peru and they want to build in Oglesby.

The council could also hire a contractor for the Walnut Street sewer separation work.

The Oglesby City Council meets at 7pm Monday.

Man crashes car while trying to avoid deer

If you see a deer in the road, don’t swerve.  Police say Zeno Osipavicius went into the ditch and hit a utility pole and culvert to miss hitting a group of deer Sunday morning.  He wasn’t hurt.

Non-profit resale shop in need of Christmas trees

A resale shop that supports a center for families affected by domestic and sexual abuse wants your old Christmas tree.

Freedom House’s Upscale Resale needs artificial trees that they can use in their third annual Christmas Tree Auction. Trees go on display on Saturday, November 13, and the auction closes Saturday, November 27. All of the proceeds will benefit victims of domestic abuse.

Shopper bus returns to La Salle City Council agenda

The shopper bus continues to run routes in Peru and La Salle but some city officials in La Salle are wondering if the service is worth the cost.  More shopper bus discussion could come during Monday night’s city council meeting.  Last time a couple of supporters told the council the bus allows them to keep their freedom.

The La Salle City Council meets at 7pm.