Hegeler-Carus Foundation big winner in Dancing with the Stars for Charity event

A new winning choreographer emerged during the 4^th annual Illinois Valley Cellular Dancing with the Stars for Charity event.  Taking first place Sunday night were Chris Michaels of WCMY and Reilly Jaeger.  The pair danced for the Hegeler-Carus Foundation.

Second place went to Barb Harl, wife of Peru Mayor Scott Harl and Eric Chambliss.  They danced for the Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living.

La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne and Jane Schomas received third place.  They danced for Easter Seals.

The People’s Choice honor went to Dr. Lee Ceresa and Brianne Hollingsworth who danced for Horizon House.

Finishing out of the top three were 99.3 WAJK’s Jon Shapiro and 99.3 WAJK and 96.5 the Wolf’s J.C. Phillips.

Money was raised through ticket sales and raffles.  Every charity will receive at least $2,000.

Ill. lawmakers approve murder registry, almost

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois senators had to backtrack on legislation creating a state registry for murderers.

The Senate approved the bill 40-0 on Sunday, then realized there had been an oversight. Amendments that were supposed to be included in the bill had never been adopted.

The sponsor used a parliamentary maneuver to reverse the bill’s approval. The amendments will be added later this week and then the correct version of the bill will get another vote.

The goal is to let people know if a murderer lives near them, just like people can look up the locations of people on a state registry of sex offenders.

Police agreement and donations topics for Peru council

While some cities have stopped making donations to local non-profits, Peru continues to set aside $20,000 in the budget for such things.  That’ll be one of the things they’ll talk about at their council meeting Monday evening.

The council could also approve an agreement with the Ottawa Police Department that would allow the Peru Police Department to provide and receive help from Ottawa officers.

The Peru City Council meets at 7:30pm Monday.

Produce market on special meeting agenda

A produce market that’s proposed for a grassy lot a long Joliet Street in La Salle will be one of the things talked about when the city councils holds a special meeting Monday evening.

Keith Boggio of Putnam County wants to build a market at the northwest corner of 8^th and Joliet Streets.  Before he can he needs to buy the lot from the city and receive a zoning variance.

The special meeting will be at 6:30pm Monday.

Retrial guessing game

Rod Blagojevich’s attorneys set off a guessing game when they said last week that they would call prominent people to testify in the former governor’s corruption retrial. Trial watchers are wondering who will be called to the witness stand next week: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel? White House adviser Valerie Jarrett? Dozens received subpoenas before the governor’s first trial last year.

redistricting hearings

The public will have another chance to weigh in on the state’s proposed new legislative districts. The Illinois House is having a public hearing today in Chicago on its proposed redistricting map. The Illinois Senate had its hearing yesterday. Democrats are in charge of the process because they control the Legislature and the governor’s office.

history mural

Ottawa is known for murals but its neighbor to the east is getting in on the act. A public unveiling happens this afternoon at 1 for a history mural in Marseilles. The 40-foot mural designed by local artist Tim Trumbo has 222 images covering Marseilles’ 175 year history. The mural is on the north wall of Carroll’s Flowers and Gifts in the 400 block of Main Street.

Dancing with the Stars tonite

The field of celebrity dancers for the 4th annual Illinois Valley Cellular Dancing with the Stars for charity event is almost complete. 99.3 WAJK’s Jon Shapiro will be dancing for the Red Cross while 99.3 WAJK and 96.5 the Wolf’s J.C. Phillips and Abby Derix will be trying to win money for the Arthritis Foundation. Dr. Lee Ceresa will dance for Horizon House, “Sellin’” Ellen Credi and Rod Schomas will represent Lighted Way and BCR owner and publisher Sam Fisher and Christin Chamberlain is competing for Freedom House. Jamie Adkins of Jazzercise is representing March of Dime