Ottawa planning Home and Handmade Market

A farmer’s market has grown into a staple of summer and fall Saturday mornings in downtown Ottawa.  It’ll be getting some company.

The Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Ottawa Downtown Merchant’s Association are rolling out a Home and Handmade Market next month.

The market will be held on the first and third Saturdays May through October.  On sale will be high-end handmade goods.

For information on how you can get involved, www.OttawaDowntownMerchants.com.

Northwest student wins rain barrel drawing contest

Cutting back on water consumption is part of having a greener household and one way to do that is with a rain barrel.  A state effort promoting the use of rain barrels asked Illinois students to create the art that would be featured on them.

Northwest Elementary School second-grader Noah Willis will have his art featured on a rain barrel for the school.

Steve Massey with the Illinois Department of Transportation was at Northwest School Friday afternoon to announce the winners of a drawing contest.

Four elementary schools in District 3 received free rain barrels; among them was McKinley Elementary in Ottawa and Northwest Elementary School in LaSalle.

The rain barrels were donated by Illinois Correctional Industries.

Legislation would bar release of gun permit info

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Names of people authorized to own guns would be declared secret under legislation approved by the Illinois House.

The state police would be barred from releasing information on people who have Firearm Owner Identification cards.

The House approved the bill 98-12 Friday. It now heads to the Senate.

The attorney general ruled last month that the list of people with FOID cards must be released under the state Freedom of Information Act.

Firearm advocates objected. They argue the information would tell criminals who owns guns that are worth stealing.

The bill would allow disclosure of names in criminal investigations.

Pot Bust In Peru

A man from the east coast was apparently hauling marijuana thru the area.

After allegedly failing to signal, Nicholas Higley of Connecticut was pulled over this morning on May Road in Peru.  With the help of the La Salle K-9, investigators say they found 6.5 pounds of cannabis in Higley’s car.  He was arrested for unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.

Higley was taken to the county jail.

Third Family Member In Peru Busted For Pot

Spending quality time with the family may have involved getting together to deal drugs for one family in Peru.

Peru investigators on Thursday arrested 18-year old Brandon Wilson at his home on Plum Street for unlawful possession of cannabis with the intent to deliver.  Investigators were already at the Plum Street house in mid-February when they arrested Brandon’s dad Michael and his 19-year old sister Brittany for possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.

Brandon Wilson was taken to the county jail.  His dad and sister are free after posting bond.