La Salle and Peru Police investigate burglaries

Three burglaries in La Salle and another in Peru have had police investigators busy.

Twin City Family Table, formerly the LP Family Restaurant; Kotecki’s, and the laundromat across from Kotecki’s in La Salle were hit by burglars sometime before opening Thursday morning.

In Peru, an employee arriving for work at Amici’s Restaurant noticed the place had been burglarized overnight.  Peru Police Detective Sgt. Scott DeGroot says someone came in through the backdoor took cash.

La Salle Police Chief Rob Uranich says they think the break-ins are related and could be connected to burglaries in Ottawa.

November unemployment figures improved from same time last year

If your New Year resolution is finding a new job, you’ll have your work cut out for you.  November’s unemployment numbers were improved over the same time last year but they were still high.

La Salle County unemployment last month was just under 12% but a full percent lower than November 2009.  Bureau County unemployment was 10.1%, over one percent less than the previous November.  And Putnam County unemployment was 11.4%, a one percent improvement over the same time last year.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the Ottawa-Streator area November 2010 figure was at 11.4% compared to 12.5% in November 2009.

There were job losses in manufacturing, government, construction and retail.

Crash stops westbound traffic on I-80 in La Salle County

A crash that turned a stretch of westbound Interstate 80 in La Salle County into a parking lot has been cleared.  The accident happened late Thursday morning between Utica and La Salle.  It had traffic backed up to Ottawa.

It reportedly wasn’t serious.

Crane used in hospital building addition leaving

A sign that the building addition at Illinois Valley Community Hospital is progressing- the 365-foot tall crane that’s been outside of the hospital for several months is leaving.

It was being used to lift steel beams to the construction area on the third and partial fourth floors.  It was also used for the new helipad. The area will be the new obstetrics and intensive care units.

If you need to visit the hospital next week, the south half of the parking lot will be closed Monday through Wednesday while the crane is being taken apart and taken away.

Winter weather advisory includes Bureau and Putnam Counties

If your Christmas travel plans have you heading west tomorrow, the drive could be tricky.  The National Weather Service has a winter weather advisory set to take effect at midnight Thursday and continue through Friday evening for an area including Bureau and Putnam Counties.

Snow is predicted to begin by midnight Thursday and continue through Friday.  They think you could be waking up to one to two inches of new snow tomorrow morning.

Contract approved for Radium Girl monument

The city of Ottawa has taken another step in bringing a Radium Girl monument to town.

The Ottawa City Council has signed off on a$40,000 contract to have William Piller of Mendota build a life-size, bronze statue at the site of an old radium dial plant in Ottawa.  Fund-raising to pay the contract is well underway with about 50% of the cost already raised.

Piller’s daughter Madeline 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.