Food drive to benefit Hall Township Food Pantry

The Hall Township Food Pantry keeps food on the table for many area families.

11 year old Adam Claggett is doing his part to keep the pantry stocked and he’s asking for others to get involved.  The “Help Adam Help Others” food drive for Hall Township Food Pantry is collecting items at area businesses including both McDonalds in Peru, Illinois Valley Community Hospital, Hyvee, Wells Fargo Advisors in Peru, and Dr. Running’s office in Oglesby.  They’ll also accept food and money donations at Stonewell Party Supplies in La Salle, Illinois Valley Eye Care in Spring Valley, and the Spring Valley Library.

The food drive runs through April 12.

Ottawa Elementary to hold community forum

When the new Central Intermediate School opens next year in Ottawa, that area of town will be plenty busy.

The school is being built just north of Shepherd Middle School with the two buildings sharing entrances.  To try and coordinate traffic and busing, the Ottawa Elementary School Board is hosting a community forum April 14^th to talk about busing and time change.  The board is considering changing Central School’s hours so it matches up with Shepherd.

The forum starts at 6:30pm.

Woman arrested for heroin in Peru

A drug investigation in the Peru area has left a woman from Spring Valley arrested.

Peru Police stopped Kelly McAdams Saturday night on May Road.  They say she had 10 baggies of what they believed was heroin.

McAdams was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with the intent to deliver, a class two felony. She was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

LP “Little Shop”

Something modern for this week’s LP’s musical. “Little Shop of Horrors” is about a poor young man, Seymour, who discovers an alien plant in the flower shop that employs him. Seymour makes a deal with the plant – the plant brings him fame, fortune and love – and Seymour provides human bodies for the plant. Tickets are $10 for adults and five dollars for students. Call 220 – 27 – 63 for tickets. The show will be staged at 7pm Thursday through Saturday this week.

Severe Weather possible tonite

The National Weather Service is raising the possibility of one to two inch rainfall in tonite’s thunderstorms. Indications are thunderstorms will develop in eastern Iowa and Northeast Missouri by late this afternoon and move into North Central Illinois by early evening. The National Weather Service says the greatest potential for severe weather is along West and North Central Illinois with sizeable hail, high winds and …perhaps, an isolated tornado. Stay tune to AM 1220 WLPO for continuing weather coverage.

Color My World

Efforts by a Mendota High School senior to help St. Jude children continue to blossom. Linnea Leonard wants to raise money for coloring books and crayons by hosting a carnival May 14th. In the meantime, Primo’s in Mendota is offering to host a “Color My World” night at their restaurant April 10th. Tickets are ten dollars and offer four entrees – the money from which will be donated to “Color My World”. Tickets are on sale at Mendota High School, Sports-N-Stuff and Leffelman’s in Sublette.

Low Voter turnout expected

It’s up to you to prove area county clerks wrong Tuesday. LaSalle, Bureau and Putnam County clerks say – based on lack of races and slow absentee voting, turnout will likely be low. JoAnn Carretto estimated for the News Tribune a voter turnout of less than 25% on Tuesday. Carretto said absentee voting turnout has been less than one percent. Putnam County Clerk Dan Kuhn stated similar numbers to the News-Tribune last week. Even with contested races in Bureau County, Clerk Kami Hieronymus says early voting simply hasn’t panned out. Aldermanic and IVCC Board elections are some of the possible reasons to vote this Tuesday.

Michigan man meets Mendota police

A failure to signal gets a Michigan driver in a lot of trouble with Mendota police Friday night. Just after 10:30pm, police stopped 29-year old Joshua Cooper of St. Clair, Michigan. Police say Cooper was ticketed for failure to signal, possession of a controlled substance, possession of less than 2.5 grams of cannabis, having a revoked license and DUI. If that wasn’t enough, officers discovered Cooper was wanted on a Henry county warrant for failure to appear on charges of DUI, no valid license and improper lane usage. The Michigan man was taken to LaSalle county jail.

Eric Hall in Media Madness

The deadline is near to vote for “News Tribune” sportswriter Eric Hall in the Peoria Chiefs promotion benefiting charities called “Media Madness”. Hall is in the final four of the competition squaring off against a “Peoria Journal Star” sportswriter. Hall needs to get the most votes to win 500 dollars for Ladd baseball. You can cast 25 votes today from any computer by going to the “Peoria Chiefs” website. Voting ends at 7pm tonite.

Chocolate is served

Chocolate lovers, a fundraiser today is chance to use your weakness for a good cause. The annual “Nothing’s Sweeter than a Child” Chocolate Festival features chocolate treats and a silent auction. Proceeds go towards La Salle County CASA. It’s from 1-4pm at Celebrations 150 in La Salle. Tickets are 10 dollars for adults and five dollars for children.