Peru Pool fans list idea with Pepsi fundraising project

A few companies have made online fundraising contests a popular way for local projects to vie for money.  And Friends of the Peru Pool are trying to take full advantage.

They’ve listed “rebuilding the Peru Pool” with Pepsi’s Refresh Project website in the $50,000 tier.  You can vote for the Peru Pool by going to the Pepsi Refresh website.

Four-car crash snarled traffic on Route 251

The need for paying attention to the road cannot be overstated.  One crash led to another on the Route 251 bridge Tuesday afternoon and it left many people sitting in traffic.

Traffic was down to one lane while police and wreckers cleared the four-car crash.  Police say southbound traffic was moving slowly for whatever reason when someone apparently was caught off guard and rear ended the car in front of them.  That car hit the car in front of them and so on.

Four people were taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital to be checked out.

Old elementary school could be history by 2012

By the time 2012 arrives, the old Matthiessen School could be no more.  The city will find out in two to three months if they’ll receive a state grant that would cover most of the cost of demolition.

The city council last night gave the go ahead to apply for the CDAP Grant.  Asbestos has already been removed.  Demolition is expected to cost $182,675.

As for what will be done with the land, Mayor Jeff Grove says he would like to see it used for education but says nothing is concrete.

Police say they found nearly 50 pounds of marijuana in car trunk

A stop for speeding turned into a serious drug charge after police say they found nearly 50 pounds of marijuana.

State troopers stopped Angela Holmes of Portland, Oregon Monday night on Interstate 80 near La Salle.  Police say they searched the car after their dog smelled drugs and found four bags of marijuana in the trunk.

Holmes was arrested for possession of cannabis with Intent to deliver and was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

16 year old accused of having a firearm without a valid FOID card following traffic stop

A firearm, drug paraphernalia and too many other kids is what police say they found after stopping a 16 year old from Sheffield.  The boy was pulled over Monday night in Spring Valley.

He was released to a parent with a number of tickets, including one for having a firearm without a valid FOID card.

Memorial service planned for former IVCC basketball player

A star athlete who led the Illinois Valley Community College Lady Eagle’s through two successful seasons is being remembered with a memorial service.

Shannon Washington died Sunday in Florida after being stabbed. Washington was attending Florida A & M University on a basketball scholarship she earned while play for IVCC.

The service is scheduled for noon, Tuesday, September 13 in IVCC’s Cultural Centre.

Father and daughter released from the hospital after shooting in rural Mendota

If you’ve been following the story of the people who were shot while at a home outside of Mendota, they have been released from the hospital.

Police say Hector Sandoval and his eight year old daughter Karla were treated at Rockford Memorial Hospital after being shot Monday evening.

Jesus Rosas of rural Mendota faces charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm.  He’s being held in the La Salle County Jail.  Police say they’re still trying to figure out why shots were fired.

Oglesby Council to take vote on utility tax increase

If you don’t want to see your utility taxes be increased in Oglesby, Tuesday night’s your last chance to speak up.  The city council agreed to a roughly 3% increase last week.  The final vote comes this evening.  The Oglesby City Council meets at 7pm.

Rural Mazon man dies following crash in Grundy County

Police are trying to figure out what happened during a crash that killed a man from rural Mazon.  It happened early Monday morning in Grundy County.

Investigators believe 25 year old Thomas Jeschke was on Prairie Road when for whatever reason he drove into the ditch and flipped his car end-over-end.  Coroner John Callahan says Jeschke was thrown from the car and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash is being reconstructed and remains under investigation.

La Salle seeks grant to demolish Matthiessen School building

An old school building in La Salle that would make a great set for a scary movie could be closer to being razed.  La Salle officials are trying to get a federal grant to demolish the former Matthiessen School.  A hearing for the grant is at 7pm Tuesday during the city council meeting.