Contractor hired for Monks Avenue work

Water main breaks have been a problem for people living on Monks Avenue in Peru but hopefully for not much longer.

After a main break in mid January, the fourth in a month’s time, the city council decided it was time to for water main improvements in that area.

Wednesday night they decided to hire J.W. Ossola Construction of Granville for nearly $120,000, the lowest of the bids received.  The project had been estimated to cost $100,000.

Work could begin in two to three weeks.

You’ll be waiter longer to see any road and street repairs.  A stretch of May Road was added to the project Wednesday night.  Because they’re using Motor Fuel Tax money, the plans need IDOT’s approval.  Those will be sent to Springfield next week.  Then the project can be bid out.

Dancing With The Stars Couples Announced

99.3 WAJK’s Jon Shapiro will be dancing for the Red Cross with defending champion Grace Lethiot as his professional partner.  99.3 WAJK and 96.5 the Wolf’s J.C. Phillips and Abby Derix will try to win money for the Arthritis Foundation.  Dr. Lee Ceresa will dance for Horizon House with Brianne Hollingsworth while “Sellin’” Ellen Credi and Rod Schomas will represent Lighted Way and BCR owner and publisher Sam Fisher and Christin Chamberlain compete for Freedom House.

Jamie Atkins of Jazzercise and R.C. Schultz are dancing for the March of Dimes while Barb Harl, Peru Mayor Scott Harl’s wife is competing for IVCIL with Eric Chambliss.  La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne and Jane Schomas are dancing for Easter Seals while August Hill Winery’s Dave Schuda and Kelsey Hardwee compete for the IVCC Foundation.  Rounding out the field is Reilly Jaeger and Chris Michaels of WCMY dancing for Hegeler-Carus Foundation.

The event happens Sunday May 22^nd at Senica’s Oak Ridge.  Tickets go on sale April 1^st.

Pair Officially Charged With Amici’s Burglary

Two people from the suburbs are still behind bars after being charged with a string of burglaries including at Amici’s in Peru.

47 year old Angelica Galan of Berwyn and 19 year old Alec Klocek of Plainfield were indicted Tuesday in La Salle County Court with seven counts of felony burglary.  They’re accused of break-ins in December at: Amici’s in Peru; Kotecki’s Service Station, Fabric Care Center and Twin City Restaurant in La Salle; and Sunfield Restaurant, Hi-Way Restaurant and Superior Street Coin Laundry in Ottawa.

Galan is being held on 75 thousand dollars bond, Klocek 60 thousand dollars.  A third man accused in the burglaries, 51 year old Jack Carpenter of Joliet is being held on a separate charge in Will County.

Dog recovering after being rescued from a burning home

A dog that was rescued from a burning house in La Salle is reportedly still hanging on.  The dog was pulled from the home on Fourth Street Tuesday afternoon.

La Salle Fire Chief Andy Bacidore says it sounds like the blaze started in the basement.  The house is considered destroyed.

A man and woman that live in the home were released from St. Margaret’s Hospital after being examined.  Two dogs were also inside of the house. One made it out on its own while the other was removed by firefighters and needed to be revived using a special animal oxygen mask.

Bacidore believes the man and woman are staying with family while the one dog was staying with a neighbor.

Water main project up for discussion in Peru

Street and water projects are a couple of the things they’ll be talking about at Peru City Hall.  The city council could hire a contractor to replace the water main on Monks Avenue.  The street has experience an unusually high number of breaks recently.

They’ll also go into to closed session to review old executive session minutes.  The Peru City Council meets at 7:30pm Wednesday.

American Red Cross issue appeal of blood donations

Like schools, blood drives have been canceled recently because of wintry weather.  This has the blood supply extremely low.

The American Red Cross has issued an “appeal” for blood nationwide.  Sarah Stasik is director of the Illinois Valley Chapter of the Red Cross.

She says the Red Cross only declares an appeal when blood supplies are really low.

Stasik says her office’s weekly blood drives have stayed pretty consistent with 37 units of blood a week.  The weekly blood drives in Peru will move to every Tuesday starting February 22^nd.

California men arrested for cannabis indicted

Two men from California accused of hiding more than 300 pounds of marijuana in a semi have been indicted in La Salle County.

Rigoberto Galeano and Ricardo Posas are charged with possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.  Police say they arrested them after a traffic stop on Interstate 39.   They were indicted Tuesday.

Galeano and Posas remain in the La Salle County Jail with their bond set at $250,000.