New Judge Candidate In La Salle County

The ballot keeps getting longer for a circuit judge election in La Salle County.

The latest to announce their running is Ottawa defense attorney Joe Navarro.  Navarro set up a Facebook page called “Navarro for Judge” in setting his campaign in motion.  So far he’ll be running against fellow Ottawa attorney Anita Kopko and the attorney for the La Salle County Board Troy Holland.

Navarro was once elected La Salle County State’s Attorney.

Big Money Spent In Oglesby

If you want a huge boost in building permits for your city, make sure a senior housing development is in the works.

Oglesby brought in 4.5 million dollars in building permits from April thru June.  Finance Commissioner Paul Danekas says they need a “few more quarters like that” saying it’s the biggest money report he can remember since being on the council.

The Stough Group is responsible for 3.5 million dollars in building permits.  They’re putting up a 50-unit senior housing edition northwest of the four corners intersection.  Just south of that, the Alliance Dental Group is building an office that produced 900 thousand dollars in permit fees.

Dr. Brian Billard is going into the new dentist office.

Man dies while swimming in Fox River at Wedron

Swimming with friends is a good time, especially on a hot summer day.  But it can also be dangerous.

A 26 year old man from Chicago died while swimming in the Fox River at Wedron.  Investigators say Justin Daniel and his buddies were jumping into the river from a sandstone bluff at Ayers Landing when Daniel jumped in and didn’t come up.

His body was found several hours later and he was pronounced dead.  An autopsy was performed Monday.

Ottawa City Hall the scene of a hold-up Monday

You hear about banks and convenience stores being held up but what about a community college office?

Ottawa police are looking for whoever robbed a temporary IVCC office at Ottawa City Hall Monday.  The person apparently showed a gun and made off with a small amount of cash.  Nobody’s been arrested yet.

The college has offices at city hall because there’s construction work going on at the Ottawa campus.

Spring Valley man dies following car crash

If you were following the story of the accident in Peru that left six people treated for injuries last Friday, one person has since died.

42 year old Anthony Cosimi of Spring Valley died Saturday while at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  Cosimi was one of five men in a van that crashed with a car the Route 251 and Interstate 80 intersection.

Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll says an autopsy was performed but they’re still trying to determine a cause of death.  She says Cosimi had a broken arm and significant blockage in his heart vessels.

9/11 Remembrance Coming To Henry

How are you going to mark the 10^th anniversary of 9/11?  You could remember with others in Henry.

The Henry Fire Protection District is hosting the Central Illinois 9/11 Ten Year Anniversary ceremony at Central Park in Henry.  Fire, police and EMS personnel from across central Illinois plan to be in Henry for the 6:30 ceremony.

A procession of police and firefighters will march to the park along with color guards and a Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums Band from Peoria.  NYPD officer and 9/11 responder David Martinez will be the keynote speaker.

Judge sets Blagojevich sentencing for Oct. 6

CHICAGO (AP) – A federal judge has set an Oct. 6 sentencing date for ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Judge James Zagel set the date during a status hearing Monday. Blagojevich didn’t attend the hearing.

Legal observers say Zagel is likely to sentence Blagojevich to about 10 years for a lone conviction at his first trial and convictions on 17 corruption counts at his retrial. The retrial convictions in June included trying to sell or trade President Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat.

Blagojevich was last in court in July to sign papers putting up his home and another property as collateral for a $450,000 bond that lets him remain free while awaiting sentencing.