Medical related projects drove Peru’s 2010 commercial construction

A hospital addition, medical clinic, and eye doctor kept construction crews busy in Peru and made up for the bulk of new construction permits in 2010.

Building and Zoning Inspector Frank Taylor says his office issued building permits for projects totaling nearly $23.8 million.  He says medical projects, like the expansion of Illinois Valley Community Hospital and the new St. Margaret’s Clinic on Midtown Road drove the commercial permits.  The only new retail permit was for Pet Smart, which opened this month.

It was another slow year for new home construction.  Taylor says he issued only six new residential permits.

That was more than their neighbor to the east.  La Salle saw one permit for new home construction but many permits for smaller projects including new garages, demolitions and remodeling.

Majestic Birds Take Center Stage

Cold weather should make for a perfect Bald Eagle Watch Weekend in Utica.

The 14^th annual bald eagle weekend runs from 9 until 5 Saturday and Sunday at Starved Rock Lodge and at the Illinois Waterway Visitors Center. There will be presentations on various birds, Asian carp, kids’ games and Native American dancing.  The programs are free.

Over 40 bald eagles have been reported at the Starved Rock Lock & Dam.

Two Sentenced In Ottawa Drug Death

An elderly man from Marseilles and a woman linked to the infamous “Da Hittaz” case in La Salle County are both going to prison for their parts in a drug overdose.

74 year old Donald Beal pled guilty this week to unlawful possession of a controlled substance while 25 year old Rendelle Farrell pled guilty to drug-induced homicide.  Beal was given five years and Farrell seven.

The two were arrested in 2008 after 23-year old Chandra Pommier of Ottawa died of a heroin overdose.  Beal sold the heroin to Farrell who then gave the drug to Pommier before she died.

Both Beal and Farrell will get credit towards their prison sentence for nearly two years spent in the La Salle County Jail.

Warming Centers Open In The Area

If you need somewhere to escape the cold, the state is offering warming centers in their Department of Human Services offices.

The local state warming centers are at 225 Backbone Road in Princeton and on 700 Centennial Drive in Ottawa.  The warming centers are only open during regular business hours.

PADS Homeless Shelters in Peru and Ottawa are also open all day.

Diesel Spill On Plank Road

Police have reopened the Plank Road overpass to traffic.

The overpass was closed this morning over Interstate 80 after a FedEx truck spilled biodiesel gas.  The truck’s fuel tank severed right around 5 this morning and Peru firefighters responded soon after.

The spill happened on the north end of the overpass.

Frigid Temps Blanket Area

Dangerous wind chills have arrived.

A Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect for La Salle County through 11am today and for Bureau and Putnam Counties until 9 this morning.  Wind chills are between 20 to 30 degrees below zero this morning.

The high temperature today without the wind chill is expected to be in the single digits.