La Salle’s downtown parking changes effective Wednesday

Free parking in two city lots and a block without a three-hour time restriction are some of the incentives La Salle officials hope will improve downtown parking.

The new parking strategy is designed to free-up better parking spots for shoppers by encouraging employees to use city lots and areas away from store fronts.

Beginning Wednesday you’ll be able to park in the city lots behind Stage 212 and near the Knights of Columbus for free.  The lot across from city hall on Second Street still require a $20 monthly fee.

Parking on Second Street from Marquette to Gooding is also being changed around to create more spaces and will no longer have a three-hour time limit.

The parking changes are being done on a six-month trial basis.

DePue Mayor Wants Action On Superfund Site

The village of DePue wants Attorney General Lisa Madigan to help get pollution cleaned up in and around Lake DePue.

Mayor Eric Bryant wants Madigan to investigate the conduct of a project manager with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.  Bryant claims the IEPA has dragged out implementation of a plan to clean up pollution at the lake for 15 years, doing little to make owners of the contaminated sites clean things up.  A study was done in 1992 that first identified elevated levels of metals like zinc, lead and arsenic. 

Bryant says contamination and silt in Lake DePue has negatively impacted fishing and boating and threatens future boat races.

River Deal Huge For Area Rafting Company

There may be no one happier to hear about the reopening of the Vermilion River in Oglesby than Bob Herbst.

 Herbst owns Vermilion River Rafting in Oglesby which offers rafting and kayaking on the Vermilion River.  With Buzzi Unicem’s stretch of the river closed this year, Herbst says they did business with about 15 hundred people.  Before the river was closed to recreation, they did business with around 35 hundred.

Herbst says they probably would’ve had to close if the river was closed past next year. 

 

Community Gift Wrapping Event In Peru

If you’d like to get into the spirit of Christmas, head to Peru Mall Tuesday morning.

Community volunteers are needed to wrap gifts for area seniors in need.  The gift wrapping starts at 10 next to J.C. Penney’s.

The gifts were collected through the “Be a Santa to a Senior” program which is supported locally by the Red Cross, area senior centers, Ottawa Regional Hospital Adult Day Center and the La Salle Veteran’s Home.

Area Hospital Gets Good Grades

Some kudos has been dished out to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru.

HealthGrades’ ranks IVCH among the top 10 percent of hospitals when it comes to joint replacement and one of the top five Illinois hospitals when it comes to positive patient outcomes.  The independent ratings organization also gives IVCH five-star ratings for total knee replacement, joint replacement and total hip replacement.

The new 2011 ratings is online at http://www.healthgrades.com

IVAC holds board elections

A couple of new faces will be serving terms on the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Board.   Elections were recently held.

Accountant Jay Baxter and Double D Express President Josh Francque were chosen for their second three year terms.  Attorney Jim Peters, Zukowski Law Office, will be serving a third three year term.  Greg Vaccaro, owner of Apple Press and Jeff Wagner, Plant Manager of Eakas Corporation were chosen for the first terms.

Winter concert to be presented at IVCC

Not feeling the spirit of the season?  Maybe music would help.  The Illinois Valley Community College’s Wind Ensemble holds a winter concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Cultural Centre.

Kirk to be sworn in Monday

CHICAGO (AP) – Republican Mark Kirk is about to become Illinois’ newest U.S. senator.

Kirk will be sworn in on Monday in the United States Senate Chambers by Vice President Joe Biden. A reception is planned afterward.

The five-term congressman from Chicago’s north suburbs won the seat held once held by President Barack Obama and most recently by Democrat Roland Burris.

Burris was appointed by former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Kirk will fill the remainder of Burris’ term and a full six-year term. Kirk won a close race with Democrat Alexi Giannoulias.

Hazardous materials removal at old school topic for La Salle City Council

The old Matthiessen School in La Salle has sat as an eye sore for years.  The city wants to have the building demolished but first the asbestos needs to be removed.

The city council Monday could approve a moved that would allow a company to remove hazardous materials from the school property.

They’ll also be talking about the noise ordinance.  The council meets at 7pm.