Gas Prices Going Down

It’s taken awhile but gas prices are back below four dollars a gallon in some spots.

In Peru, unleaded gas at Sapp Bros. is now at 3.95 a gallon.  Shell and BP stations on Shooting Park Road along with Hy-Vee are all offering gas for 3.99 a gallon.  In La Salle, Casey’s and Shell are both 3.99 a gallon.

In Spring Valley, Shell is charging 3.98 a gallon with BP at 3.99.  Love’s in Utica is also 3.99 a gallon.  3.99 is also the going rate for BP, Shell and Casey’s in Ottawa.  Thornton’s, Marathon and Kroger are charging 3.96 a gallon in Streator.  All gas stations in Mendota are still costing over 4 dollars a gallon.

You can search prices in your town at gasbuddy.com

LP School board to hold special meeting Monday

There could be a change of plans at LP High School.  Superintendent Dr. Craig Carter had planned to retired at the end of the 2011-2012 school year, but could be happening sooner than first thought.

A special school board meeting is at 5pm Monday to discuss that.  The board in March picked the school’s curriculum director, Steven Wrobleski, to be Carter’s successor.

Home-rule conversation comes to Princeton

Another area town is exploring the idea of becoming a Home Rule-style government.

The Princeton City Council is putting together a committee that will include community members to looks at the pros and cons of Home Rule.  Places like La Salle and Utica in the recent past have passed referendum’s becoming Home Rule while Ottawa’s referendum to make the governmental change failed.

One of the main advantages of Home Rule government is being able to use taxes for whatever areas a city wants.  A non-Home Rule town for instance has to use its pillow tax money for tourism only.

Ottawa Wine and Jazz Festival signs with 26 wineries

The first-ever Ottawa Two Rivers Wine and Jazz Festival has reached its limit.

Organizers say 26 wineries from every corner of the state have signed up for the June festival in downtown Ottawa.  The space is determined by the number of wineries able to fit under a 60 by 180 foot tent.  Local wineries showing their stuff will be August Hill Winery and Illinois River Winery in Utica.

Besides wine and music, there will also be an Antique Market and Gardening and Botanical Arts Faire.

Oglesby to pick up branches

If you have some branches laying around in the yard, bundle them up for pickup.

Crews in Oglesby will chip branches Monday morning.  All branches need to be on the berm no later than 6am.  There will be no backtracking.

No branch can exceed six inches in diameter.