Field of candidates for 38th state senate district grows

The competition is shaping up between Democrats who want to be your state senator.  Putnam County Treasurer Kevin Kunkel says he thinks he could be useful in Springfield.

Kunkel was born and raised in Putnam County and is in his fourth term as treasurer.  He says he thinks he’s already established himself in State Representative Frank Mautino’s portion of the 38^th senate district but will need to work to get his name out in the eastern counties.

He’ll face La Salle County Board member Tom Ganiere in the spring primary.  Incumbent State Senator Sue Rezin so for is unopposed in the Republican primary.

IVCC Foundation begins collection for Shannon Washington burial

Earlier this week you heard the story about the former star Illinois Valley Community College basketball player that died after being stabbed by another woman.

The IVCC Foundation has started a collection to help Shannon Washington’s family pay for her burial expenses.  You can mail your donation to: IVCC Foundation, 815 N. Orlando Smith Road, Oglesby, IL, 61348.  Please designate “Shannon Washington” on the memo line of your check.

Washington is being remembered during a memorial service at noon, Tuesday in the IVCC Cultural Centre.

Police say suitcases contained nearly 45 pounds of marijuana

Suitcases packed with marijuana are becoming a regular thing during traffic stops on Interstate 80.  Police say they found 45 pounds of marijuana in two large suitcases after pulling over a man from Toledo, Ohio Tuesday morning.

Police say they received permission to search the car and looked in the trunk. Gibran Bedra was arrested for possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.

The investigation didn’t end there.  A car that was traveling with Bedra was stopped and two others from Ohio were arrested for the same thing.

Bedra, Brian Ochs and Tiffiany Torres of Ohio, were being held in the La Salle County Jail.

Quinn to lawmakers: Live with your budget choices

CHICAGO (AP) – Gov. Pat Quinn says the layoffs and closures he’s announcing are a direct result of lawmakers’ choices on the Illinois budget.

He said Thursday that members of the General Assembly can’t vote to slash the budget and then complain if that requires closing state facilities and cutting jobs.

The Democratic governor says lawmakers need “a rendezvous with reality.”

Quinn announced that he wants to close seven prisons and mental facilities around the state. He’s also laying off more than 1,900 people.

That would violate an agreement Quinn struck with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The union is almost certain to sue.

 

State Senator Rezin says she’ll seek a full term

Your state senator would like to hang on to her job.  Republican Sue Rezin announced Wednesday that she plans to run for 38^th District seat in 2012.  Rezin was appointed to the seat last year after Gary Dahl resigned.

So far she has no challengers in next spring’s primary election.

La Salle County Board member Tom Ganiere and Putnam County Treasurer have announced plans to run.

The district includes La Salle, Bureau, Putnam and Grundy counties.

St. Mary’s Hospital looking for new CEO

St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator is looking for a new CEO.  Joanne Fenton announced yesterday that she’s leaving the hospital to become the CEO of a hospital in Colorado.  Fenton was named to the position three years ago.

A search for her replacement has begun.  An interim CEO will be chosen before her last day, September 27.

Boy arrested for shooting out car window

A teen in Earlville is apparently a good shot with a slingshot, he’s also in trouble.  Paul Lengsfeld of Mendota told the police he was driving on East 15^th Road Wednesday when a kid in a passing car shot out his rear passenger side window.

The boy was handed over to his parents.

Peru code enforcement officer says the job is paying off

Tall grass, abandon cars and other types of property neglect is getting noticed in Peru.  In his four weeks as Code Enforcement officer, Bob Borostowski says he’s been able to get people to comply with the rules while saving the city money.

Borostowski says he takes complaints from people in town, aldermen, and finds problems by driving around.  For the most part, landlords and property owners have been complying.  He says most people fix the problem before they’re ticketed and he’s saving the city money because people with tall grass and weeds have been cutting their yards, so the city doesn’t have to hire a company to do it.