Peru hopes to borrow money to move along stalled sewer work

Cutting a check is better than taking out a loan, but Peru doesn’t have that option as they try to get the contractor for a large storm sewer project to finish the job.

T-J Lambrecht pulled out of the job late last week.  They’re concerned that the city isn’t paying them on time, but Peru Mayor Scott Harl says they’ve been paying them as they receive money from the state.

To lure the company back to work, city treasurer Gary Hylla says they need to get a revolving line of credit good for up to $2.8 million, or what’s still owed.

Mayor Scott Harl says they can’t wait on the state because they’re under contract, streets have been left torn up and they’re holding up the resurfacing of Route 6.

The city council will take a vote to borrow money at Monday’s meeting.

Code enforcement officer coming to Peru

The house with the knee-high weeds and the list of building code violations just might have to be fixed up if the code enforcement officer comes knocking.

Soon a code enforcement officer will be tackling trouble properties in Peru.  The city council approved the new position Wednesday night.  The person will work be part-time from April to the end of September writing tickets.

City officials have started taking a tougher stance on abandoned and nuisance properties, including a new set of rules which was passed in July.

Cause Of Death For Ottawa Woman Being Re-evaluated

A death that happened in 2006 will be re-evaluated by the La Salle County Coroner’s office.

Tracy Cusick of Ottawa was found dead in a bathroom 5 1/2 years ago. At the time, officials told her family she drowned in a toilet and there was no foul play.  However Cusick’s body was exhumed in October and the case remained open.

Cusick’s sister, Katrina Gibbons says there will be   a coroner’s inquest Tuesday. The inquest could reveal an official cause of death. Gibbons says she is looking forward to finding “the truth about my sister’s death, about what really happened in that house.”

Fatal Crash East Of Mendota

Following behind a driver you just want to pass can leave you itching to hit the gas but you need to be patient.  A man from Earlville has died after apparently crashing head-on with a semi truck.  Police believe 37 year old Danny Lassiter was trying to pass the van in front of him.

It happened around 9:30am Wednesday on Route 34 between Earlville and Mendota.  Lassiter was pronounced dead at the scene.  The man driving the truck wasn’t hurt.

Fundraising Continues For Radium Girl Memorial

After years of planning, dedication of the Ottawa Radium Girls Memorial is only a few weeks away.

A ceremony is planned for the morning of September 2^nd at the northwest corner of Clinton and Jefferson Streets.  The memorial depicts a woman who worked at a radium dial plant in Ottawa.  Several women died from radiation in the 1920s and 30s.

The city is paying 64 thousand dollars for the memorial and so far, over 50 thousand has been raised through fundraisers and donations.  If you donate at least a thousand dollars, a bronze plaque will be added to the memorial with your name or business.

Miller Group Charitable Trust donated 20 thousand dollars to the campaign in December.  Miller Group Media includes AM 1220, 96.5 the Wolf, 99.3 WAJK, NewsTribune and AgriNews.