Peru alderman plans cleanup effort

Fast food wrappers, empty bottles and other trash tend to collect along busy streets.  A Peru alderman has organized a group of volunteers that will be picking up litter Saturday morning in Peru.

Second Ward Alderman Rodney Perez says he put together the effort because people around town asked him to start a volunteer group.

Perez says they’ll meet at 8:30am at city hall and begin picking up trash at the north end of Marquette Road.  They’ll also cover Route 251 and Water Street.

They’ll be using garbage bags and gloves provided by TEST and safety vests from the city.  Alderman Dave Waldorf and his family will be helping out Saturday.  He says for safety reasons they will have about 10 people in the group.

He’s planning for another group to do cleanup in another part of town on July 23.  He’s interested in attracting students that need to earn community service hours.

You can learn more about his project by listening to an interview available at the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

Ill. regional ed offices to operate despite cut

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The head of a group representing Illinois regional superintendents says the state’s regional education offices will remain open despite Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto of funding for salaries.

Bob Daiber is president of the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools. He said Friday regional superintendents will fulfill their duties, which include inspecting schools and checking employee backgrounds.

He says the group met with Quinn’s staff about how to pay superintendents and their assistants. He says there will be future meetings to work out details.

Quinn used his veto power to eliminate $11.3 million for the superintendents before he signed the budget last week.

The state’s budget director has said the 44 superintendents may go without pay for several months until a deal can be worked out with lawmakers.

Early morning Mendota fire considered arson

A fire at a barber shop in Mendota appears to have been deliberately started, perhaps to cover up a burglary.  Firefighters went to the building on 9^th Street before sunrise Thursday morning after someone called reporting smoke.

An investigation after the fire was out left investigators with the fire marshal’s office and police department believing it was arson and a burglary.

If you know anything about the burglary or fire, call Mendota Crimestoppers or the Mendota Police Department.

Peru man arrested for prescription painkiller

It’s taken three and a half months, but a man whose Peru home was searched in March has been arrested on a felony drug charge.

At the time Joseph Welk was arrested for possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia after police officers went through his home on Walnut Street.

Police had said they found another drug that was sent to a crime lab.  Police say that turned out to be a prescription painkiller.  A warrant was issued for possession of a controlled substance.  Welk was picked up on the warrant while in court July 1.  He was being held in the La Salle County Jail with his bond set at $7,500.

Illinis State Park remains open will repairs continue

Temporary repairs continue with sewage systems at Illini State Park in Marseilles.

The DNR says phase two of temporary repairs is done at the park.  The concession stand and shower building opened back up recently.

DNR officials reopened the park last weekend and say it’ll stay open while permanent repairs are made.  The park was closed for over a month because of sewage issues starting in mid-May.

Group of 30 hears plan for sales tax increase in Peru

Peru’s roads need to be repaired but how to pay for those repairs remains a debate.  City officials, including Mayor Scott Harl and City Treasurer Gary Hylla made their case for a half-cent sales tax increase to an audience at city hall Thursday night.

A few people in the crowd grilled Harl and Hylla, wondering if the money would be used solely for infrastructure improvements and if the plan would include borrowing.

Harl admits he would like to borrow $7 million he thinks they would have paid back during the five-year plan.

When asked if they could make cuts to free up the money for infrastructure work, Hylla said it would be impossible to cut two million dollars from a $10 million budget.

Harl wants the city council to approve the sales tax increase by October.  The issue doesn’t need voter approval.