IDOT prepares for Veterans Memorial Bridge work

A bridge project that will affect you every time you take the Route 23 bridge through Ottawa is about ready to begin.  I-Dot is preparing for the patching of the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Starting Tuesday, (May 24, message signs reminding you about lane closures will be placed along the route.  There will be occasional closures during the second week of June with the patching beginning on June 9.

Bridge traffic will be down to one lane in each direction until the work is completed, which is scheduled for the end of June.

The intersection of Route 23 and Route 71 at the south end of the bridge will be closed, and traffic signals will be turned off. You won’t be able to get from Route 71 from Route 23 at the south end of the bridge. A detour for Route 71 will be posted.

La Salle selling two city parking lots for yet to be announced plans

Somebody has plans for the city parking lot at 2^nd and Wright Streets in La Salle, but who that is and what they want to do with it is being kept private for now.

The city is in talks to sell that lot and the lot east of the city garage on 2^nd Street Street.  The council took steps Monday night to approve the sales but more needs to be worked out before it’s final.  The sale of the lot next to the garage is contingent on the sale of the corner lot.

Alderman Tom Ptak is a trustee of the Cawley Family Trust, who is involved with the sale.  He’s abstained from voting on the sale.

The city hopes to finish the sale and announce the plans at a special meeting next Monday at 6:30pm.

Spat Between Oglesby Council Members

An event called fun fest has Oglesby’s mayor and public safety commissioner mad at one another.

Mayor Don Finley and Commissioner Tom Porter had a heated argument at last night’s city council meeting after Porter accused Finley of not thinking his input was needed when deciding on whether a beer garden will be fenced off at the Oglesby Summer Fun Fest in July. Porter read email exchanges between the two and said not having a fence around the beer garden is “irresponsible and increases a safety burden”.

Finley told Porter they’re meeting this Thursday night at 6 to finalize details of the festival and that he talked to the police chief and doesn’t think the fence is necessary.  When Porter questioned when and who Finley talked to about the fence, the mayor said “I didn’t know I had to check in with you”.

The festival is supposed to happen July 7^th thru the 10^th near the swimming pool.  Besides the beer garden, there will be live music, a car show, carnival and kids games.

La Salle boy injured after being hit by a car

Look both ways before you cross the street and watch out for children when you’re by a school- just a couple of safety tips.

A 13 year old student at Lincoln School in La Salle ended up going to the hospital instead of class Monday morning after being hit by a car.  It happened near 11^th Street and St. Vincent Avenue before school.

Police say the boy walked out into traffic and the driver couldn’t avoid hitting him.  The boy was taken by ambulance to Illinois Valley Community Hospital where he was expected to be treated and released.

Oglesby woman named Special Olympics Global Messenger

An athlete from Oglesby will be sharing her experience with Special Olympics with others.  Kelli Ewbank was one of eleven Special Olympics athletes to recently become a certified Special Olympics Global.

A Global Messenger is an athlete who shares the message and vision of Special Olympics. To do so, she completed a two-day training session with a focus on public speaking and presentations. Her parents Kevin and Kimbra Ewbank attended the training session and will serve as her speech mentors.

Ewbank has participated in Special Olympics with LaSalle-Peru High School for five years.

IVCC plans ceremony for GED recipients

Earning your GED is a feat worth celebrating.  A ceremony for people who have recently received their GED through Illinois Valley Community College will be at 7 p.m. Monday, May 23 in the Cultural Centre.

Invitations have gone out to all recent GED graduates. If you didn’t receive an invite, but would like to participate in the ceremony, call IVCC’s Adult Education program by Wednesday.

Three Time Ottawa Commissioner Dies

A three time Ottawa city commissioner has died.

70 year old Bill Walsh died Sunday.  He served on the city council from 1983 thru 1987, then from 1995 until 1999 and finally from 2003 to 2007.  He lost a re-election bid in 2007 to current commissioner Dan Aussem.

You can hear funeral services for Bill Walsh during AM 1220 WLPO’s In Memoriam.

City parking lots and video games in bars topics for La Salle City Council

Could changes be in store for a couple of downtown La Salle parking lots?  The city council will talk about the sale of two lots on Second Street when they meet at 7pm Monday.

Prior to that meeting, a committee will talk about allowing bars to have more coin operated machines.  This would affect the number of video games and poker machines.  The committee meets at 6:30pm.  Both meetings are in the council chambers.

Price Of Gas Still Falling

Gas prices have dropped by a dime in most spots since last week.

In Peru, unleaded gas at Sapp Bros. is now at 3.85 a gallon.  Shell and BP stations on Shooting Park Road along with Hy-Vee are all offering gas for 3.89 a gallon as of Sunday night.  In La Salle, Shell is 3.89 a gallon.

In Spring Valley, Shell is charging 3.92 a gallon with BP at 3.93.  Love’s in Utica is also 3.89 a gallon.  3.95 is the going rate for BP and Shell stations in Ottawa.  All gas stations in Mendota were still costing over 4 dollars a gallon as of last night.

You can search prices in your town at gasbuddy.com