Biden in Chicago

CHICAGO (AP) – Vice President Joe Biden says the “new Republican party” fundamentally doesn’t believe in public education the way Democrats do. The Democrat spoke Sunday before thousands of educators at the National Education Association’s annual convention in Chicago. The association bills itself as the largest labor union nationwide. The speech came a day before the union’s vote on whether to endorse President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign. Biden says Republicans in states like Wisconsin and Ohio would once have negotiated better with teachers and labor unions. But he says there’s now an organized effort to place blame for budget shortfalls on their shoulders. Biden’s speech largely praised teachers, but he drew applause when he briefly acknowledged there’s widespread unhappiness among them for the Obama administration’s education policies.

54 year murder case ended

A court record shows a Washington man arrested in the 1957 slaying of an Illinois girl has a long history of molestation claims, one of which cost him his job as a police officer. Seventy-one-year-old Jack Daniel McCullough was charged Friday in the death of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph of Sycamore, Ill. He is being held in Seattle on $3 million bail. An affidavit obtained by the Seattle Times and posted on its website says McCullough went into the military after Maria disappeared and later worked as a police officer. He was working in Milton when a teenage runaway accused him of sexually assaulting her. The affidavit says he pleaded guilty to an unlawful communication charge and the department fired him. The affidavit also includes other molestation allegations covering several decades.

Sunday parking restrictions – Peru

Parking restrictions will be in effect at 5pm tonite in Peru until after the fireworks show. Water and Plain streets and Putnam and Water Streets will be barricaded. After 5pm, no traffic will be allowed on Water Street between Plain and Putnam. After 7:30pm, southbound traffic will be detoured at Pike and Market and on Putnam Street south of First. The city of Peru will prosecute persons caught defacing, destroying or removing temporary parking signs.

Lip Sync results

They looked like they were singing…but they really weren’t. And that was good enough for the judges at the finals of Saturday night’s WAJK “Lip Sync” contest in Streator. Brandon Preciado of Mendota won in the “12 and under” category performing Usher’s “More”. Armando Pena of Streator performed Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” and took first in the 13 – 20 age category. In the “Family / Adult category, Abbie Fuller, Whitney Castrejon and Mackenzie Centeno of Dana won lip syncing “Girls just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Laupner.

patron returns for encore

Just after midnight Saturday, LaSalle County Sheriff’s office arrested 37-year old Dennis Osborne of Aurora for criminal trespass to property and criminal damage to property. The police report says Osborne was causing problems earlier at Skoog’s in Utica and was asked to leave. However, Osborne decided to return and broke a large glass window at the front of the bar. The Aurora man went to the County Jail.

Grundy County Fair – Paige DeChausse

Today’s Grundy County Fair schedule includes an American Idol contestant and fireworks. The carnival and food court get things going at noon today in Morris. The day continues with various entertainment shows before Paige DeChausse of American Idol fame hits the grandstand stage at 7:30. Her concert is free. Fireworks will follow the DeChausse performance.

Live Positively and raise money

With the State of Illinois putting Starved Rock State Park on a “bare bones” budget, do you think the park could use $100,000? Even fifty thousand dollars? To help Starved Rock and its sister parks – Matthiesson and Buffalo Rock – requires you to vote on-line. Coca Cola is sponsoring what it calls the second annual “Vote for your favorite Park”. Up thru September 6th, you can support Starved Rock State Park by voting at “live positively dot com”. You can also upload photos of you at the park to the “live positively dot com” website or “check in” from the park at Facebook places. Later, in August, you’ll be able to upload video of you at the park.

Friends of Peru Pool

Raising money by having fun. It’s a time honored way to help a good cause…and “Friends of Peru Pool” is utilizing that method today. The “Friends” are having various activities in Washington Park today between 11 – 4 to raise funds for the eventual rebuilding of Peru Pool – now closed. Dunk tank, water fights bouncy house, games, food and a car show are planned. Celebs taking turns in the dunk tank include Jon Shap from 99-3 WAJK and Jennie Laio and T. J. Chapman from the LP Softball team. The softball team took second place in the State Class 3A Tourney in mid-June.