Veterans Will Be Honored Across The Area

Thursday is Veteran’s Day and several ceremonies are scheduled.

In Oglesby, a ceremony is at 11am in Memorial Park.  In Peru, a ceremony is at 11am in Washington Park after a parade heads out at 10:45 from the west side of the park.

In La Salle, a ceremony featuring Illinois Department of Veteran’s Affairs Director Dan Grant starts at 11 inside the veteran’s home.  The ceremony will also feature performances by local schoolchildren.

Ottawa’s annual Veteran’s Day program gets going at 10:15 in Washington Square while the remembrance in Streator begins at 10:45 in City Park.

Princeton will honor veterans at the library with a reception at the library starting at 5:30.  At 7, the Bureau County Chorus will perform for the veterans.

Still No Cause Of Euclid Chemical Fire

Yesterday marked a month since Euclid Chemical burnt down in Sheffield, which caused black smoke to be seen for miles.

Joshua Robbins is a spokesman for Euclid Chemical.  He says clean-up continues at the site on Route 40 and that there is still no determination of what started the October 9^th fire.  The company and EPA are both investigating the cause.

Robbins says the 15 workers who are now displaced continue to be paid and receive benefits.  He said last month that this would continue through the end of the year.

Ottawa Mayor Running For Re-election

Bob Eschbach has taken out a petition and will seek a fourth term as Ottawa mayor.

Eschbach says the past 11 1/2 years as mayor have been exciting but admits challenging times lie ahead.  He says he’s particularly proud of bringing new employers to Ottawa like PetSmart and Clover Technologies along with teaming up with the Ottawa Elementary School District to get money for a new school.

Eschbach won re-election in 2007 by beating opponent Pat Graham by 411 votes.

Drugs Caused Man’s Death At Area Car Show

The investigation into a man dying after a fight at a Newark car show has wrapped up.

55 year old Ricke Van Riper of Oswego died after a fight at the car show August 28th.  Van Riper started fighting with another man before going into his truck to get some knives.  He began throwing knives at the other guy involved in the fight before trying to stab him.  People at the car show were able to eventually stop Van Riper but not before he was knocked unconscious.  He was taken to Valley West Hospital in Sandwich where he was pronounced dead.

The DeKalb Coroner’s Office says Van Riper died from cocaine intoxication.  People intervening in the fight didn’t cause his death according to the autopsy report.

Soup and desserts included in church dinner

A bible story has inspired members of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mendota to start cooking.  The second annual “Heaven’s Kitchen” is Sunday at 11:45am in the church hall.

The menu includes chili, vegetable and chicken vegetable pasta soups.  They’ll also be serving homemade desserts.  Meals can be delivered.

The food is free, but they’ll accept donations.

Man accused of breaking window

It must have been a wild Monday night in Wenona.  Police were called to Mean Jeans Tavern for a man accused of breaking out a bathroom window.

Nicholas McCasky of Toluca was arrested for criminal damage to property.  He was given a court date.

Volunteers busy with Project Santa

Stocking stuffing continues as volunteers with Project Santa prepare Christmas packages for military members serving overseas.

Over 3,700 stockings have been filled so far.  They’ll continue filling stockings through Friday.

Back to the drawing board with the Bureau County Jail

A referendum to spend $15 million on a new Bureau County Jail was easily shot down last week, but problems at the jail still need to be fixed.

Steve Sondgeroth is on the Bureau County Board.  He brought up the topic at Tuesday’s meeting.

He says the building and grounds committee needs to go back to the drawing board and explore options for upgrading the jail’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and bring some cost estimates to the board.

Sondgeroth says he thinks it’s important that they spend less money and still try to improve the safety and the quality of the jail.  Bureau County has about $900,00 in the jail fund that could potentially be used.

Thanks to the Newstribune for information in this story.