Walter Joins County Board

The newest La Salle County Board member took the oath of office Thursday.

Republican Elmer Walter of Grand Ridge has taken the District 24 seat over from fellow Republican Jack Leininger of Marseilles.  Walter says he plans to push for the size of the county board to be reduced and have benefits dropped completely for board members.

He’s a former Grand Ridge Township Trustee, a spot he had to resign from to serve on the county board.  Walter is a lifelong farmer.  He doesn’t know yet if he’ll seek re-election.

Heroin charges after traffic stop in Peru

25 bags of heroin is what police say they found during a traffic stop in Peru.  A man from Peru and a man from La Salle were arrested.

Police say William Zawacki and Jacob Patty were pulled over early Thursday morning.  A police dog detected drugs and the car was searched.

Zawacki and Patty were being held in the La Salle County Jail for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

La Salle theft caught on tape

Copper theft is a popular crime.  The most recent victim in La Salle is the owner of the former St. Roch’s Church on Crosat Street.

Surveillance video shows a man ripping down and walking away with a section of copper gutter Wednesday.  Police are investigating.

Water main breaks a chronic problem on Monks Avenue

There’s nothing like waking up to little or no water pressure.  That was the situation for people living on Monks Avenue in Peru Tuesday morning.

The two-block area experienced another water main break late Monday night.  It was the fourth main break in a month and 20^th blowout in 10 years for that Avenue.

Engineer Roger Chamlin says they’ve already talked about improvements to the water mains in that area in committee.  He’s planning a project that would reduce the number of breaks and improve water pressure.  He plans to have a cost estimate for Monday night’s meeting.

Garage Fire In Ottawa

A garage was heavily damaged by fire in Ottawa.

Firefighters were called out to the 300 block of Thompson Street on the southwest side of town just before 4pm Wednesday.  The owner of the garage Jeff Hughes told firefighters he was using a propane torch to thaw out a gas line on a grill when the hose caught fire.  The fire spread to the rest of the two and a half car garage.

Hughes wasn’t hurt.  Property and content damage is both listed at $10,000.

Benefit Planned For Injured Musician

Local musicians are banding together to help one of their own.

A benefit is planned January 30^th at Primetime Tap in Oglesby for Mark Piecha of Streator.  Piecha remains in ICU at St. Francis Hospital after a crash last Tuesday near Grand Ridge.

Local singers Chris Farrell, Brian Neumann, Jimmy Essl and Joey Figgiani will perform at the benefit for Piecha who is also a local singer.  Proceeds from the show will go to the Piecha family for medical expenses.

Tickets are 20 dollars which includes food, beer, soda and the live music.