Hotel developers to receive reimbursement

One of the most recent additions to Peru north end is the Holiday Inn Express.  It’s included in a TIF district, making developers of the hotel eligible to be reimbursed for a portion of what was spent to build it.

An agreement outlining what the developers, Peru Hotel Group, LLC will be paid received the green light from the Peru City Council last night.

Attorney Herb Kline handled the legal work for the city.  He says the project qualified for the TIF because of flooding and drainage issues on the land.

Developers will receive a 40 percent reimbursement as they pay property taxes on the hotel.  The most they can receive is one million 668 thousand dollars.  The reimbursement will come from the TIF fund.  They should begin receiving payments in 2011.

Children And Women’s Assistance Center Closing

The end of the year also means the end for the Streator WIC site.

WIC, or Women, Infants and Children provides food, health care referrals, and other assistance to low-income pregnant women children found to be at nutritional risk.  The La Salle County Health Department says the decision to close the WIC site in Streator has been in the works for many months to consolidate services.  It’s a cost savings move.

Clients from the Streator area can get assistance at the WIC site in Ottawa.

Most roads snow covered

The plows are out but the snow has made road conditions far from ideal.  Mostly minor accidents have kept area police departments and tow trucks busy since Monday afternoon.

Late Monday night, IDOT considered most roads to be snow and ice covered.  You can find a statewide road condition map at their website www.gettingaroundillinois.com.

State Police troopers suggest don’t drive if you don’t need to and if you do dress for the weather, avoid using your cell phone and wear your seat belt.

Wintry Weather Thru Tuesday Morning

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the entire listening area until 10am Tuesday.

Snow will continue through the evening and mix with freezing drizzle early Tuesday.  Snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are likely followed by minor ice accumulation.

Travel will be difficult through Tuesday morning.

Snow Plow Crash In Tonica

Tonica police and fire responded to a car and snow plow crash which happened just after 1:30 Monday afternoon.

The crash happened right off Interstate 39 on Ray Richardson Road, also known as North 20^th Road.  State Police were looking for the car driver as he apparently drove from the scene despite losing the entire front of his car.

More details as they become available.

IVCH Gets Grant Money For New Equipment

While plenty of additions are visible on the outside of Illinois Valley Community Hospital, there’s a lot going on inside too.

New equipment to help nurses move patients more safely is coming thanks to the IVCH Foundation.  The Foundation is dishing out over 47 thousand dollars in grants this year.

Nearly 12 thousand dollars is going to buy patient safety items including things to help with patient transfers.  A 23 thousand dollar grant is being given for a new maternal monitor in the OB unit.

Two smaller grants are going towards a new pediatric gym and treadmill.

Leonore Man Pleads Not Guilty To Running Three People Over

A man from Leonore will go to trial in March for allegedly hitting three people with his truck.

41 year old Joseph Bierbrodt pleaded not guilty in Stephenson County Court last week.  He was arrested in October after allegedly hitting two men and a woman from Freeport.  The incident happened the morning of October 3rd outside of a bar.  Bierbrodt’s accused of dragging one of the victims 75 feet before stopping and running him over.  All three victims are out of the hospital.

Bierbrodt is charged with aggravated battery, two counts of leaving the scene of an injury accident and aggravated reckless driving.  He posted bond and is out of jail.

His trial is set to start March 7^th in Freeport.

Arrest Made After Pontiac High School Bomb Threat

When you hear about bomb threats at schools, you probably assume it’s a student.  Police aren’t blaming a teen in Pontiac.

33 year old Donald Bowen of Pontiac was charged over the weekend for calling Pontiac High School December 14^th and saying a bomb was inside and would detonate in 45 minutes.  No bomb was found.

Bowen’s officially charged with three counts of falsely making a terrorist threat.

Spring Valley Crash Sends Two To The Hospital

A man from La Salle was arrested for allegedly causing two crashes while driving drunk.

Erik Zaragoza was tracked down Friday afternoon in Spring Valley and arrested for DUI, leaving the scene of an injury accident and failing to yield.  Zaragoza’s accused of hitting the car of Julia Biagioni of Spring Valley that sent her and Raymond Biagioni of Spring Valley to St. Margaret’s Hospital.  Both were eventually released.

Zaragoza then allegedly went on to into a crash involving himself on Route 89.  He was then taken to the county jail.

 

Oglesby council to approve tax levy

The tax levy and bids for work at a new park are a couple of things that will come up at the Oglesby City Council Monday.  The council meets at 7pm.