Sales tax increase proposed for Peru

A half-percent sales tax increase could be Peru’s way of paying for road and sewer improvements.  Saying the city has fallen behind with road improvements, Mayor Scott Harl is proposing a sales tax increase that would only fund infrastructure improvements.

Harl explained his idea to the Peru City Council Wednesday night.  He’s suggesting it be in place for five years and not be applied to car sales and food.

Alderman Rodney Perez asked if a quarter percent sales tax would work, but Harl didn’t believe it would generate enough money.

Sales tax in Peru totals 7%, with the city’s share at 1.5%.

Harl wants the council members to think about it so they could possible take action on it by July.  That’s when it would need to be submitted to the state.

Area Council Sells City Hall To Bar Owner

A town in Marshall County has sold its city hall.

The Henry City Council this week agreed to sell the downtown city hall for $60, 001 to owners of an adjacent business.  The buyers who run a bar and grill plan to use the former city hall to expand their bar and for a new dining room.

City government in Henry will now be run out of a donated building near the Illinois River.

Local Mayor Walking To Fight Cancer

If you were planning a walk tonight, why not do it with Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach?

During the next six Thursday nights, Eschbach is hosting a “walk with the mayor”.  He’ll meet walkers at 6 in Washington Square and take a one hour walk through different Ottawa neighborhoods.

Eschbach says he’s doing the walk for two reasons.  One is to encourage walkers to join a city of Ottawa Relay for Life team.  His second reason is just for improved health.

Egypt focus of La Salle Public Library family reading event

Children can meet King Tut and dress up like Cleopatra during on upcoming family reading night at the La Salle Public Library.  “Expedition Egypt” is the theme for tomorrow’s program.

Kidsworks Touring Theatre Company will perform “The Pharaoh, The Sphinx, and the Curse of the Mummy.”  It includes dance, music, and facts about Egyptian customs.

The program is at 6:30pm Thursday in the library.  There’s no cost to attend.  It’s recommended for children four years and older.

Fishing expo scheduled for Saturday at Baker Lake

There’s a good opportunity this weekend for youngsters to try their hands at fishing.

The 13^th annual Kid’s Fishing Expo happens Saturday at Baker Lake in Peru from 9am until 2pm.  The free “how-to” clinic is for boys and girls ages 6 and up.

Barry Welbers with the Better Fishing Association says hopefully many kids take up fishing as a hobby after the expo.

The BFA and DNR will have live fishing displays, casting games, and refreshments.

You can hear a complete interview with Welbers by visiting the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

Biker Sent To Hospital In Spring Valley

An evening ride on the Harley ended up sending a man from Spring Valley to the hospital.

Kyle Thompson was taken to St. Margaret’s Hospital after crashing into a deer Tuesday night on Route 6 at the curves in Spring Valley.  Thompson said he didn’t have time to avoid the deer.

He wasn’t ticketed.

Changes Coming To IVCC Nursing Program

Illinois Valley Community College is considering changes to its admittance process for nursing students so more will finish the program.

The nursing program had a 38 percent drop out rate in the last year.  The college’s director of nursing Dr. Kathryn Kott says there is an increasingly long wait to get into the program and sometimes financial aid ends before people get admitted.

The plan is to change nursing admission standards so that students are taking more classes to prepare them for nursing and not just to inflate admission scores.  Officials hope the changes have students finishing the nursing program within three years and not the five years it’s taking most of them to finish now.

The new nursing setup will be partially implemented for the fall 2012 semester.