Quinn: Court made correct decision on salaries

CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn expects the state’s regional school superintendents to keep working without pay until at least October.

He said Friday he expects lawmakers to resolve the dispute over cancelled salaries for the 44 superintendents and their assistants when they return to work in Springfield in October. They have been working without pay since July 1 after Quinn cancelled their salaries.

The Democrat says important policy questions are at stake. He says the education bureaucrats should be paid with local money, not state dollars that are better spent in the classrooms to teach students.

The superintendents sued, but a central Illinois judge refused to intervene earlier Friday, ruling Quinn had “broad” power.  Quinn says the judge made the right ruling.

Olive Garden applies for building permit in Peru

Ask just about anyone in the Illinois Valley which business they would like to see come to Peru and the answer is often Olive Garden.  Fans of the Italian restaurant chain, your wishes have been answered.

The company applied for a building permit in Peru Friday.  Mayor Scott Harl and Community Development Director Bob Vickery shared the news with reporters Friday afternoon.  The building would go up new Pet Smart and Kohl’s.

The design and review committee will look over the plans Wednesday evening.  The permit would have to be issued by the building inspector’s office.

Parole Denied In Streator Murder Case

No parole for a convicted murderer from Streator.

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board on Thursday unanimously denied 64-year old Henry Hillenbrand’s parole request. He was convicted of killing 20-year-old Patricia Pence and 24-year-old George Evans in 1970 and is serving a life sentence.

Prosecutors say Hillenbrand had once dated Pence. He went to the home she was sharing with Evans and shot him in the head before attacking her. After he was convicted but before he was sentenced, Hillenbrand escaped from the LaSalle County Jail.

He lived as a fugitive until he was recaptured in 1983.

Fire Set Near Oglesby Wastewater Treatment Plant

A fire across the street from the Oglesby Wastewater Treatment Plant is under investigation.

Police and fire went out to the area around 4 this morning after someone called in reporting smoke coming from near the plant.  Officers say damage was contained to construction equipment.

Police say the fire is suspicious in nature.

Outcry In Washburn Over Alleged Police Abuse

Some people in the typically quiet  Washburn are making noise about what they see as over-zealous policing by some local officers.

Signs around town accuse local police of being thugs and untrained after a pair of recent incidents left a man from Metamora hospitalized and led to another man being pinned to the ground at a local festival. A village board meeting is planned for Tuesday to hear complaints and gather information.

Police Chief Craig Rutledge says three part-time officers have been taken off active duty and the incidents are under
investigation.

Niemann Ready To Hit Bureau County Fair

The main grandstand act of the 156^th annual Bureau County Fair is tonight.

Rising country star Jerrod Niemann will entertain at the fairgrounds in Princeton after opening act Eden’s Edge takes the stage at 7:30.  Gold Circle seating for Niemann is 30 dollars, reserved track seating is 25 dollars while the cost is 22 dollars per ticket for reserved grandstand seating.  Ticket price includes admission into the fairgrounds.

Also going on at the fair today is another round of chainsaw artist displays, a royal Bengal tiger show, beer garden, cake walk and carnival.