Marseilles Part Of National Wreath Ceremony

At 11 o’clock this Saturday morning, over 300 wreath laying ceremonies will happen simultaneously across the country.  One of those places is in Marseilles.

The Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial is the only site nationwide doing a ceremony that isn’t a cemetery.  Fourteen wreaths for each panel of the wall will be laid Saturday morning.  The ceremony will also feature guest speakers and refreshments.

The Wreaths Across America idea started in 2005 after wreaths being laid in Arlington National Cemetery.

Latest On Tanya Shannon Search

The search for a crash victim’s missing wife is on hold but an investigation into her whereabouts isn’t.  Tanya Shannon was last seen Saturday night leaving a party in Streator with her husband Dale.

41 year old Dale Shannon was found dead in the driver’s seat after La Salle Count Sheriff’s Deputy found the crash early Sunday morning.  The only trace of Tanya was her cell phone that was left in the car, footprints and one of her slippers.

Sheriff Tom Templeton suspended the ground search for Tanya Shannon yesterday.  His says they’re investigating her disappearance as a missing person’s case.  When asked what would change it into a criminal investigation, he says evidence.

Investigators have been asking people with any information to come forward but so far, Templeton says they haven’t received much.  Information on Tanya Shannon has been entered into a police database for other agencies to see.

As for when a ground search could resume, Templeton says when there has been some snow melt.  Templeton says a light, blowing snow was falling at the time of the accident.  One thought is that her body could be under the snow.

Seven Candidates Officially Want To Be Senators

The field of candidates interested in taking over for retiring State Senator Gary Dahl doesn’t yet include La Salle County Sheriff Tom Templeton.

La Salle County Republican Committee Chairwoman Susan Thornton says despite plenty of speculation, Templeton hasn’t told her or Senator Dahl that he’s interested in becoming a state senator.  Thornton and seven other committee chairpersons will meet Saturday in Ottawa to pick someone to fill Dahl’s remaining term.

The field to choose from right now is businessman Harry Bond of Bourbonnais, Channahon Mayor Joe Cook, former La Salle County Republican Chairman Frank Kobilsek of Mendota, former congressional candidate David McAloon of Bourbonnais, State Representative-elect Sue Rezin of Morris, community service organizer Pat Shebby of Sheridan and Senator Dahl’s legislative aide O.J. Stoutner of Peru.

Thornton says she’ll likely chair the selection process since La Salle County has the most voters in the 38^th District.

Final Deer Hunting Numbers

Local hunters took down far fewer deer during the second part of firearm deer season than they did in the first.

Bureau County hunters took down 394 deer between December 2^nd and the 5^th, compared to 1,024 during the three-day first season.  La Salle County’s harvest for last weekend was 389 deer, compared to 878 last month.  Putnam County hunters brought down 141 deer last weekend, compared to 355 in November.

Counting both firearm seasons, Illinois hunters shot down 98,700 deer.

Coroner: crash victim died from neck injuries

Injuries consistent with a car crash are what killed a father of four whose wife is still missing.

La Salle County Coroner Jody Bernard says an autopsy performed Monday shows 41 year old Dale Shannon died after his neck snapped.  Investigators believe Shannon’s car hit a utility pole after leaving the Grand Ridge Mazon Blacktop early Sunday morning.

Bernard says he would have been killed immediately.  They’re awaiting the results of toxicology testing.

Police think his wife Tanya was in the car with him and got out of the car after the crash.  Her footprints were found in the snow along with a slipper.  Three days of searching the area have turned up no sign of her.  The search has been suspended until the weather gets warmer.

Groups continue to raise money for radium dial workers monument

A fundraiser to pay for a life-size bronze statue depicting a radium girl is almost half way to its goal.

A little over$ 19,000 has been raised to pay William Piller of Mendota $40,000 for the statue.  David Raikes of the Laborer’s Local 393 gave the city a $2,000 check last night to go along with $5,000 that the union raised with a fish fry.  Proceeds from ticket sales of “These Shining Lives” also provided over $9,000 towards the monument fund.

Mendota High School Senior Madeline Piller started the idea of a radium girl monument five years ago after a history project she did on radium girls won national recognition.  City officials hope her dad has the monument ready for dedication on April 28^th which is Worker’s Memorial Day.

Peru sewer project suspended for the winter

Winter is putting a freeze on a major sewer separation project that’s been going on for months in Peru.  Crews have been separating the storm and sanitary sewers.  They started at Water Street and have been working north.

Jeff Snyder with Chamlin and Associates says contractor T.J. Lambretch was moving out their equipment Tuesday.   Snyder says the project is pretty close to being on schedule and some things will have to be redone when work resumes in the spring.

Snyder says the work has reached Main Street and pretty much finished up almost all of east-west legs.  Next year they’ll continue north to 7^th Street.  The project is scheduled to be completed next year at this time.

The work was expected to cost just less $6 million, but there have been unexpected costs.

Ottawa’s tax rate to slightly increase

Property tax bills in Ottawa shouldn’t be that much more next year than they were this year.

The Ottawa City Council placed on file last night a tax rate that’s expected to go from a $1.60 per 100 dollars assessed valuation to $1.61.  The city is looking to collect just over $5.1 million in property taxes next year, about $82,000more than the last tax year.

City Treasurer Don Harris says the tax rate increase is below a 5% jump so they won’t need a truth in taxation hearing.  He thinks the city’s EAV won’t increase but doesn’t know how much it’ll decrease.