Large Marijuana Bust Near La Salle

A California man will likely spend his holiday at the La Salle County Jail.

Matthew Page was pulled over yesterday afternoon by a state trooper while driving east on Interstate 80 near La Salle.  He was initially stopped for a license plate issue but a K-9 soon arrived and searched his truck.  According to police, 35 pounds of cannabis was found in the bed of Page’s truck.

He was arrested for possession of more than 500 grams of cannabis with the intent to deliver.

New Unemployment Rates Are Out

For much of the listening area, the unemployment rate isn’t getting better or worse, it’s staying the same.

The jobless figures for October are now out and Bureau and La Salle Counties unemployment rates are the same as they were in September.  Bureau County’s jobless rate is 10.4 percent, La Salle County’s unemployment number is 11.6 percent.  Both counties unemployment rates are about a full percentage point lower than this time last year.

Putnam County’s October unemployment rate is 10.6 percent, down from 10.9 percent in September.  Putnam County’s jobless figure is nearly three percentage points lower than last October.

Jonesville Man Accused Of Selling Heroin

Apparently you’re never too old to deal drugs.

65 year old Roger Rose of Jonesville was arrested Monday by the TRIDENT drug team for unlawful delivery of controlled substance.  Investigators say Rose sold heroin to undercover informants at numerous spots in the La Salle-Peru area.

He was taken to the county jail with his bond at 50 thousand dollars.

Peru Church Offers Thanksgiving Dinner

If you know someone who will be spending Thanksgiving alone or maybe without a proper dinner, some area churches and businesses are offering dinners.

The First Congregational Church in Peru is hosting a community Thanksgiving dinner at noon Thursday.  The church near IVCH and the Peru Police Department will also have service at 11:15am before the meal.

The Highway Restaurant in Ottawa is offering a free meal from 10am until 2pm Thursday.

Construction of new health clinic nears completion

If you’re out shopping in Peru, you may notice the new brick building behind Culvers.  Construction on St. Margaret’s Midtown Health Center is nearly completed.

St. Margaret’s Health CEO and President Tim Muntz says the clinic will offer more to patients because it will have digital X-ray and lab services for faster a diagnosis.

Six doctors and three-mid level practitioners will have offices there.

Muntz says they want to have the doctors moved in and the clinic ready for patients by mid to late January.

State police promise extra troppers on the roads

As your driving to and from your Thanksgiving destination, be prepared to see plenty of police.

District 17 troopers will be out in full force today from noon until midnight Wednesday and again Sunday from 10 until 6.  Troopers plan to have a presence about every 10 miles on the interstates.

There were no traffic deaths last Thanksgiving weekend in Bureau, La Salle and Putnam counties.