Layoffs Could Be Coming To La Salle Plant

Rumors are swirling that a major employer in La Salle could lay off workers.

Workers at Illinois Cement are not commenting if they are planning temporary layoffs of nearly 100 workers next year.  An employee at the plant told AM 1220 WLPO that management officials won’t be back in the office until Tuesday.

The Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development lists Illinois Cement with 100 employees.

Child Porn Sending La Salle Man To Prison

A man from La Salle arrested as part of a statewide crackdown on child porn is headed to prison.

Wade Coop was sentenced to 12 years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of child pornography.  He admits to having child pornography images on a computer.  Coop also pled guilty to possession of cannabis plants and received three years which he’ll serve at the same time as his child porn sentence.

Coop was arrested September 30^th as part of a crackdown on child pornography by Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office.  Lance Greathouse of Peru was arrested along with Coop.

Coop was already a convicted sex offender when he was arrested for the latest crime.

Lovejoy To Be Remembered

Princeton’s most famous son celebrates his 200^th birthday on January 6^th.

Next Thursday marks the Bicentennial Celebration of Reverend Owen Lovejoy’s birth.  To celebrate the day, members of the Lovejoy Bicentennial Committee are planning a festive gathering at the Elks Lodge, a former Lovejoy property at 6:30.  Activities will include a presentation on Lovejoy by Festival 56 co-founder Dexter Brigham.  The event is free and open to the public.

Lovejoy’s Princeton home is now a museum.  He used the house to harbor fugitive slaves as part of the underground railroad.

Tea Party Gives State Representative Endorsement

If area Tea Party groups had their say, David McAloon of Bourbonnais will be the next 75 District State Representative.

In a press release, Tea Party groups of the 75^th District including the Bureau-La Salle Tea Party say McAloon is a longtime conservative Republican who has an exceptional business background and is very aware of the anti-business policies in Illinois.  McAloon has been heavily involved with the Tea Party across the state but was defeated soundly in the February Primary by Congressman-elect Adam Kinzinger.

The 75^th District seat is open after Sue Rezin was picked to replace Gary Dahl in the state Senate.

Woman taken to hospital after crash

Careful driving on wet roads.  Police say a woman rolled her car after loosing control and going into a ditch.

Megan Hayes of Sheridan told police the crash happened after she hydroplaned near Wedron Tuesday evening.  Hayes was taken to Ottawa Regional Hospital for treatment.

Peru Alderman would like to see a county bus service

There are places in Ottawa that people from La Salle-Peru sometimes need to visit.  And vise versa for people living in Ottawa.  If you want to make it across the county though, you’ll need a car or a friend that has a car.

Peru Alderman Bob Ankiewicz brought up the topic of bus service during Wednesday night’s city council meeting.  Inspired by an effort by the La Salle County Transportation Coordination Committee to get grant money for public transportation, Ankiewicz told the council a county-wide bus service would be a good idea.  He said people could come to Peru to shop and people from Peru could visit the county offices in Ottawa.

He asked that they look into it.