La Salle FOP contract receives city council approval

A three-year contract with the La Salle Police lieutenants and sergeants has the approval of the city council.

The first year of the agreement figures salary increases based on the salaries of third year patrol officers.  Pay increases will be based on eighth-year patrol salaries during years two and three.

The council approved the contract Monday night.  Next it needs the approval of the union.

Three Charged With String of Business Burglaries

A rash of burglaries across La Salle, Peru and Ottawa turned out to be related to break-ins in Dwight.  Three people face seven counts of felony burglary after an investigation involving a half-of-a-dozen police departments.

Jack Carpenter of Joliet, Angelica Galan of Berwyn and Alec Klocek of Plainfield are accused of breaking into The Hi-Way Restaurant in Ottawa, Kotecki’s Service Station and the Twin City Restaurant in La Salle and Amici’s in Peru in late December.

Galan was arrested Friday in Berwyn.  Klocek was arrested Saturday in Plainfield while Carpenter was in the Will County Jail on a previous charge.

Police say they were able to find some of the things reported as stolen.

Christmas Light Tradition Benefits Food Pantry

The always popular Scott Weber Christmas light display has provided a big boost to the Illinois Valley Food Pantry.

Weber’s display in east La Salle raised $7300 and 1300 pounds of food for the pantry.  One woman who wanted to be anonymous gave Weber five $100 bills.

During the four years of the popular light display, Weber has donated nearly $29,000 to the food pantry and over eight thousand pounds of food.

Movement To Get A YMCA For Mendota

Mendota needs your cheering on to win funding for a new YMCA.

The city is a finalist for a Reader’s Digest “We Hear You America” contest where towns can win a share of 5 million dollars for community projects.  Mendota is looking for cash towards a new YMCA.

You can vote for Mendota ten times a day at http://wehearyouamerica.readersdigest.com/

Mendota is currently in 44^th place.

Man crashes truck on the Spring Valley curves

People trying to drive between Peru and Spring Valley Sunday night, had to go a little out of there way after a crashed closed down the Spring Valley curves.

Police say Nick Nagle of Spring Valley was heading east through the curves when he lost control on the slick road, drove through the westbound lanes and hit the guardrail.  His truck ended up on its side.

He was ticketed for driving too fast for conditions and improper lane usage.

FOP contract up for discussion in La Salle

A contract with the police union is one of the things that will come up for discussion in La Salle Monday.  Council members will go into closed session to talk about the FOP contract.  They could take action after they come out.

The La Salle City Council meets at 7pm.

Islam topic of IVCC presentation

In a world that seems to becoming more secular, a program at Illinois Valley Community College discusses Islam.  History professor Steve Alvin presents “Islam in the Modern World” Wednesday at noon in Room C 316.

He’ll cover Islam and how it has struggled to survive in the modern secular world. Previous presentations in this series have focused on Mormonism and Hinduism.

Admission is free and you don’t need to be a student to attend.

Overnight snowfall leaves roads covered

With more people on the road this morning, driving conditions are improving but you should still be careful.

IDOT says most roads are patchy with snow.  And the National Weather Services says there is a chance for freezing drizzle this morning.