Ottawa City Council meeting Friday afternoon

The Ottawa City Council normally meets on Tuesday nights but the snow storm forced them to postpone the meeting until Friday afternoon.  They’ll be meeting at 4pm at City Hall.

President of local radio and newspaper company dies

Kind, generous and extremely talented- some of the words being used to remember the President of Miller Group Media.   Pete Miller III of Peru died Thursday morning at the age of 50.

Miller Group Media includes AM 1220 WLPO, 99-3 WAJK, 96-5 The Wolf, The NewsTribune and Agrinews.

Miller and the Miller Group Charitable Trust were very supportive of the Illinois Valley YMCA.  YMCA Executive Director Dave Potthoff.

Miller was also a supporter of the March of Dimes, Illinois Valley Animal Rescue, and many other organizations.

John Spencer is the Vice President of Operations at La Salle County Broadcasting, part of Miller Group Media.  Spencer says he thinks a lot of Miller’s energy and enthusiasm filtered down through his companies.

Miller was named publisher of the Newstribune in 1985 and is credited with giving the paper its present name.

His death is being investigated by the Peru Police Department, the La Salle County Coroner’s Office, and the Illinois State Police crimeservices.  An autopsy will be performed Friday.

Traveling remains tricky after winter storm

Getting around town is taking longer because of the snow packed roads but it isn’t stopping too many people from getting where they need to be.

Rural roads remain challenging.  IDOT considers the secondary roads in Bureau County to be snow covered.  Roads are considered patchy in La Salle County, as are the Interstates 80 and 39.

Slow down and give yourself extra time.  Click here for IDOT’s statewide road condition map.

Heroin related arrested in Streator

Heroin is what police say they found after searching a home in Streator.

Members of the drug team TRIDENT went through Jason Watson’s home Monday.  Watson was arrested for unlawful possession of controlled substance and was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Meeting will explain Rt 178 plans

IDOT is having a public meeting about the realignment of Route 178 at 6pm Thursday in the Utica Village Hall.  They want to set up a traffic control plan since 178 will be under construction during Burgoo.

Utility work began last month with actual realignment roadwork starting February 28^th.  Crews will replace the canal bridge, build a new road connecting Route 178 to Mill Street and widen the north end of Route 178.

Road Closures Still Problem

Interstate 80 reopened yesterday but in western Bureau County, the interstate is down to one lane.

Route 92 is closed between Ohio and LaMoille while Route 6 between Princeton and Interstate 180 is closed.  There are stretches of Routes 26, 34 and 92 also closed in Bureau County.

IDOT says many roads still have drifting snow and black ice.