La Salle sticks with their current waste hauler

Hopefully you’re happy with your garbage service in La Salle because the city has hired them for another five years.

Illinois Valley Waste Management has been chosen over Affordable Waste to handle trash, recyclable, and yard waste services.  The rules for trash service will remain as is.

Households in La Salle have been paying $13.50 a month for garbage.  The new contract has a rate of $12 per month plus a cost of living adjustment.

Bald Eagle Weekend Approaching

Mark your calendars, the 14^th annual Bald Eagle Watch Weekend returns to Starved Rock January 23^rd and 24^th.

Besides eagle watching, activities will go on at Starved Rock Lodge and the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center from 9 until 5 each day.  There will be presentations on various birds, Asian carp, kids’ games and Native American dancing.  The programs are free.

As of Sunday, 42 bald eagles were reported at the Starved Rock Lock & Dam.

 

Peru Cracking Down On Afterschool Traffic

Parents picking up their kids after school yesterday at Northview Elementary in Peru were greeted by a police officer.

Like many other schools, there are continuing issues with parents clogging up neighborhood streets after school.  So parents at Northview were given a printout reminder that there is no parking or picking up/dropping off children on the east side of Plum Street until north of 21^st Street.  Police officials say one of their priorities is making sure children are safe before and after school and that with parent’s cooperation, there will be no need to issue tickets.

The minimum fine for a petty traffic offense is 120 dollars.

Quinn Begins First Full Term

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Democrat Pat Quinn is calling for unity and pledging to work with all in state government, including his former political opponents.

Quinn was sworn in to office Monday as the state’s 41st governor. In his inaugural address, he said unity is key to addressing challenges ahead.

Quinn starts his first full term amid an immense budget crisis. The state budget deficit could hit $15 billion. Quinn and other Democratic leaders are trying to pass a major income tax increase.

He was lieutenant governor until January 2009. That’s when he took over from then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who was removed from office by lawmakers after his arrest on federal corruption charges. Quinn beat Republican state Sen. Bill Brady in the November election.

Earlville School District At A Crossroads

If you have any tie to the Earlville School District, you may want to be at a special board meeting tonight.

The Earlville School Board is seeking public input at the 6 o’clock meeting.  Board members say the district must find a way to raise revenue to keep the school district open.

At first, the board talked about borrowing working cash bonds but this idea was met by a petition drive to put the issue on a ballot.  Now the board seems to be leaning towards upping the Education Fund rate by 95 cents per $100 assessed valuation.  This would mean 240 dollars more a year in property taxes for someone owning a 120 thousand dollar home.  Earlville’s current Education Fund tax rate is the lowest in the county and has been the same for nearly 40 years.

School board officials say the state owes the district 81 thousand dollars in late payments.

Princeton fire chief wants a new aerial truck

Princeton’s fire chief thinks his department’s aerial truck has exceeded its stay.

John Petrakis spoke to the Princeton City Council this week and said there are concerns with the department’s 30 year old aerial truck.  Fire officials say the truck should’ve been replaced 10 years ago.  Petrakis says firefighters don’t have faith in the old truck.

The city council has agreed to look into bids for a new truck estimated to cost nearly $800,000.

Clock ticking on Dem push to raise Ill. taxes

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Time is running out on a Democratic push to fix Illinois’ massive budget deficit by raising taxes.

Democratic leaders want to pass an increase before noon Wednesday, when a new General Assembly will be sworn in. After that, the Democratic majority will be smaller and some lame duck legislators will be gone.

Rep. Frank Mautino, D-Spring Valley, says the governor and legislative leaders need to decide what they’re going to do by Monday afternoon. If they don’t, there may not be enough time to pass a proposed $7.5 billion tax increase.

But new state Treasurer Dan Rutherford says Democrats should slow down. The Republican official says a major decision like raising taxes should wait until new lawmakers are sworn in.

Banquet hall gets new owner

One of Ottawa’s largest empty buildings has a new owner.

Don and Kari Castelli of Ottawa closed on the purchase of Koolie’s Banquet Hall this past Monday.  They plan to renovate the large building and reopen it as Festivities Unlimited.  The Castelli’s are taking reservations for weddings and receptions, benefits and other parties.

Koolie’s Banquet Hall on Route 6 closed in 2008 when the owner retired.

Mautino votes against medical marijuana legislation

Opinions are mixed among local lawmakers when it comes to medical marijuana.

The Illinois House voted down the medical marijuana bill Thursday by a vote tally of 60 to 56.  Democrat Careen Gordon and Republican Bob Pritchard voted for the bill while Democrat Frank Mautino voted against.

The bill would’ve given patients with certain chronic conditions like cancer and glaucoma the right to possess as much as two ounces of marijuana for personal use.