Fireworks remain a topic of contention in Peru

A beer garden for adults or a family friendly event?  The argument continues in Peru over whether the fireworks should be on the riverfront and whether the C.S.O. should be allowed to have a beer garden on Water Street.

Alderman Rodney Perez brought up the issue again last night.  He’s been leading the charge to make the night what he thinks would be more friendly to families.  He also thinks the thousands of dollars spent on the display should be raised through donations and not paid by the city.

Other council members don’t see a problem with what they’ve been doing.  Many of those council members are members of the C.S.O., including Bob Ankiewicz, Dave Potthoff, and Dave Waldorf.

Three times Mayor Scott Harl had to stop the heated discussion.   He wants them to talk about it at a committee meeting.  While alderman Ankiewicz didn’t seem to like the idea, Alderman Sherry Mayszak says they’ll set a meeting date.

Sales tax vote could come Monday in Peru

You’ve heard the proposal to raise the sales tax in Peru by half a cent.  The city council will talk about it and decide if that’s they want when they meet Monday evening.

Mayor Scott Harl says the money would only go towards road and sewer projects.  It’s been the topic of two town hall meetings.  At the most recent meeting, some people agreed with the mayor’s idea, seeing it as the best way to fix the roads.  Others argued it should be a referendum issue before the voters.

The Peru City Council meets next at 7:30pm Monday.

Foster child’s death ruled a homicide

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) – A coroner’s jury in Peoria County has ruled that the May death of a 4-year-old girl who had been living in a foster home was a homicide.

Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said Tuesday that Kianna Rudesill was living in a foster home in Cullom in rural eastern Illinois on May 3 when she suffered numerous injuries to her head, back, arms and legs. The girl was taken to a Peoria hospital where she died the next day.

The Pantagraph newspaper in Bloomington reported that a pathologist found that Kianna couldn’t have suffered such a range of injuries on her own.

Family members such as Kianna’s mother, Tawnee Jones, want to know why no one has been arrested.

Livingston County Sheriff’s Detective Doug Bunting said an investigation is ongoing.

LPHS band members selling candy bars again

You may want to keep a few dollars handy; LP Band students have begun their annual candy sale.  The LP Band has kicked off its annual candy sales, meaning students will be going door-to-door in the LP School district.  They’ll have variety of Kathryn Beich candy bars.  Money raise will go towards the band’s next bi-annual performance tour in 2013.

Tonica business among fastest growing in the country

A local company with a workforce of 20 is doing just as well if not better than companies with thousands of employees.

Town and Country Services of Tonica is considered one of the fastest growing private businesses in America according to Inc. Magazine.  Luke Weiden says there’s real no secret to his company’s success other than having an established customer base and workers who take pride in their job.  He says the company has very little turnover in staff which giving them an advantage.

Weiden says they’ve also stayed above the recession.  Despite the success, Weiden says Town & Country has no immediate plans to expand.  He does want to keep expanding the customer base throughout La Salle County.

Other businesses named to the list are Clover Technologies and Carus Chemical.

Hear more from Weiden by listening to an interview on the AM 1220 WLPO news page.