Police Investigating Burglary Scam In Peru

Police in Peru are investigating a case of two phony repairmen taking advantage of an elderly man.

An 84 year old man on the west side of town says he let a Hispanic man inside to check for water leaks in his basement Wednesday afternoon.  After being downstairs for 10 to 15 minutes, the victim told police he came back upstairs and saw a valuable coin collection, cash and checkbook missing.  Police think another burglary came inside while his cohort was downstairs.

If you have information, call the Peru Police Department.

La Salle County Board Keeps Health Insurance

After a lengthy discussion and four different votes, the La Salle County Board voted 16 to 9 to keep offering insurance benefits to board members.

That vote came after Democrat Stephen Abel made a motion to do away with health insurance altogether for board members.  His motion even would’ve stop coverage for 11 board members currently on the county plan.  Abel’s motion failed though 13 to 12.  Besides Abel, Democrat’s Tom Ganiere, Tom Walsh, Ron Dittmer, Mike Kasap, Joe Panzica voted to end board member insurance as did Republican’s Randy Freeman, Arratta Znaniecki, Steve Tuftie, Catherine Owens, Sandi Billard and Charles Borschenius.  The main argument against is county board members are part-timers who don’t deserve full-time benefits.

The board did also vote 23 to 2 to make it impossible for any new board member to receive a county pension.  Board members now need a thousand hours a year to get the county pension which none work currently.  Republican Jerry Myers said “that doors closed for new members”.

Democrats Bob Jakupcak and Herman Bruns voted against changing the pension requirements.

Chicagoans Accused Of Breaking Into Area Farmhouse

Three men from Chicago face charges of breaking into a home in Waltham Township.

Just before three o’clock Wednesday afternoon, the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office was called by a Chicago area task force about a residential burglary north of La Salle.  Officers followed a car to Minooka where they arrested James and Angelo Miller and Joe Mitchell for residential burglary.

All three were taken to the La Salle County Jail on 40 thousand dollars bond.  Mitchell has posted bond and been released.

Blagojevich Could Be In Court Tomorrow

CHICAGO (AP) – Prosecutors want a judge to order Rod Blagojevich to appear in court to sign what they contend is overdue paperwork allowing the ousted governor to remain free while awaiting sentencing.

In a filing this week, government attorneys say Blagojevich hasn’t met bond conditions Judge James Zagel set after jurors
convicted him on 17 of 20 corruption counts last month. Zagel told Blagojevich he must secure the bond that’s permitted
him to remain free since his 2008 arrest by posting his Chicago home and another property. If he flees, he’d lose them.

The filing says defense attorneys have turned over some but not all necessary documentation. Prosecutors want Zagel to require Blagojevich to come to court Friday.

Motorcycle Crash Victims Still In Hospital

Two area people hurt in separate motorcycle crashes remain in critical condition.

Micah Towne of Ottawa and Denise Brand of Marseilles are being treated at St. Francis Medical Center.  Towne was flown there after he hit an SUV head-on at Starved Rock State Park.  Brand was flown to Peoria Monday after she and her husband were hit by a minivan on the south side of Ottawa.

Brand’s husband Paul was listed in fair condition Wednesday.