Drivers Will Have Say On Toll Increases

Even though there are no tolls in the Illinois Valley, you probably pass through them from time to time.

If you want to have your say before the price of tolls are raised, there are some public hearings coming up within an hour’s drive.  There’s a hearing August 19^th from 7 until 9 at the NIU-Convocation Center in DeKalb.  On August 22^nd, there are hearings at Comfort Inn in Dixon and Sterling Municipal Building.  Those hearings are also 7 until 9.

Most toll booths would go up from 40 to 80 cents for I-Pass users and 80 cents to $1.60 for drivers paying with cash.

Governor Headed To Oglesby

A multi-million dollar building planned for Illinois Valley Community College has the governor coming to town.

Governor Pat Quinn will speak tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 about nearly 23 million dollars in capital funding for the Community Technology Center.  The college is coming up with another seven million dollars for the building.

The center will house nine career programs, all enrollment management services, the Business Training Center and Adult Education.  It’s supposed to open by 2013.

Wrobleski prepares for his first school year as superintendent of LPHS

Getting ready for a new school year comes with a mix of excitement and anxiety for parents, students and maybe even teachers.  For Steven Wrobleski at LP High School it’s not only a new school year but it’s his first school year has superintendent.

Dr. Craig Carter retired at the end of June, leaving to Wrobleski who had been the curriculum director.  Wrobleski says been busy getting to know members of the community and talking with the teachers.

He’s also working on the budget.  Wrobleski says he’s fortunate Carter left the district finances in great shape.  And Carter has been on campus, helping him with the budget.

Freshmen orientation is Friday.  Classes begin next Monday.

Hear more about Wrobleski by listening to an interview available at the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

Downed power lines affecting traffic on Route 351

Downed power lines could have you going a little out of your way in La Salle.  Northbound Route 351 or, St. Vincent’s Avenue, was being closed off from 24^th Street to Raccuglia Drive Tuesday afternoon.

It happened after a car hit a pole.  Electricity was also out to some customers in that area.

Peru storm sewer seperation project on hold after contractor pulls out

You won’t see any crews working on a large storm sewer separation project in Peru today or tomorrow.  Work on the job came to a halt late last week because the contractor, T-J Lambrecht, pulled out.

The work began last year after being approved for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.  Peru Mayor Scott Harl says they had been paying the contractor as they received payments from the state, but a summer shutdown in Springfield slowed down payments by 30 days.  Harl says a check was given to the contractor last Wednesday, leaving him surprised that Lambrecht still pulled out a day later.

Harl says a date to meet with the contractor has yet to be scheduled.  In the meantime, city officials are looking to borrow the money it would take to pay for the rest of the contract.

Harl stresses that the city had been paying their bills.  He’s holding another town hall meeting next Tuesday to talk about a proposed sales tax increase.

Local Historic Site Deemed Preservation Success Story

A Native American excavation site in La Salle County is considered one of Illinois’ top preservation success stories over the past 40 years.

The group Landmarks Illinois put together a list of 40 preservation success stories in celebrating their 40^th anniversary.  The preservation of the Zimmerman site across from Starved Rock State Park is ranked 16^th on the list.

The historic landmark group mentions that in 1988 the state bought the former “Grand Village of Illinois” land to stop a subdivision being built there.  Several excavations have been done at the site and it’s now an Illinois Historic Site.

Monday Storm Reports

It was a wild Monday afternoon with storms rolling through the Illinois Valley.

According to the weather service, over two inches of rain fell in La Salle and Peru in around 45 minutes.  Pea to marble size hail was reported in Mendota.  Power outages were scattered across the listening area.

In Marseilles, lightning struck a home and started a fire.  There’s also a report of lightning hitting a home in Ottawa.

All the storm damage was done between 2:30 and 4 o’clock.