Alderman proposes two fireworks displays for Peru

You would have your choice of fireworks displays if an alderman in Peru gets his idea approved.  Rodney Perez has been asking other city leaders to go along with suggestions he thinks would make the celebration more enjoyable for people with children.

He used a committee meeting Wednesday night to explain why he thinks they could hold a family fun day and low-profile fireworks display at Baker Lake on July 3.

Later that evening, there would be a larger display on Water Street with a fenced-in beer garden.  He would like to see all alcohol be restricting to that area and open container rules enforced.  He also thinks both displays could be fund for 18 thousand dollars.

Not everyone in the crowd of about 40 agreed with everything he was suggesting.  Some people don’t see a problem with what they’ve been doing.  Others are worried another fireworks display would lower the quality of the one on the riverfront.  On the flipside, there were a few mothers who said they don’t like to take their kids to Water Street.

The full council could be voting on the idea next Wednesday.  Perez says he wants to have it on the agenda.

Family Says No Thanks To Habitat For Humanity

It’s back to square one filling the latest Habitat for Humanity home in Ottawa.

The Steenbergen family of Streator has decided against moving into the new habitat home on West Superior Street.  The family didn’t give a specific reason why they’re pulling out.

Habitat for Humanity of La Salle, Bureau and Putnam Counties will now reopen the family selection process.  Habitat homeowners must be able to pay the mortgage, taxes and insurance and put in 500 hours of “sweat equity”.

Wine Lovers Converge This Weekend

Hope you come thirsty to Matthiessen State Park this weekend.

The annual Vintage Illinois Wine Festival is Saturday and Sunday at the park.  Nearly 30 wineries from across Illinois are expected to showcase their stuff.  Local wineries include August Hill, Illinois River Winery and Starved Rock Market Place in Utica.

Entry into the festival is 15 dollars a person which includes a souvenir wine glass and five tasting tickets.  Additional tasting tickets are a dollar apiece.

Besides wine, there will also be food and live music both days.

IVSO plans performance for Sunday

A Broadway Pops concert kicks off a new Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra concert series.  Broadway star Ron Sharpe, will be the featured tenor soloist.  The concert will also include popular songs from the musicals Showboat and Kiss Me Kate.

The performance is at 3pm Sunday at Celebrations 150 in La Salle.

Season Passes will be on sale.  Individual tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for students.

Fall enrollment down slightly at IVCC

Closer to home and more affordable than a four-year university, Illinois Valley Community College is still a popular choice though fewer students are on campus this fall.

IVCC, like all but one community college in Illinois, is seeing a decline in fall enrollment.  Mark Grzybowski is the Director of Admissions.  He says after record setting enrollments of the past several years, this semester’s enrollment is down slightly from fall 2010.  And students are taking small class loads than last year.

Grzybowski says the decline could be because students need to spend more time earning a paycheck and because they no longer enrollment inmates at the Sheridan Correctional Center.

Grzybowski says nearly 30% of the seniors who graduated from in-district high schools last spring are students at IVCC.

Man Flees Crash Scene But Avoids Any Charges

Two men are lucky to be okay after their car hit a tree and overturned in Putnam County.

Deputies say Christopher Painter of Henry was on Route 18 near Magnolia Tuesday afternoon when he lost control on a curve.  He drove into a ditch, hit a tree and then overturned.  Painter refused treatment but was ticketed for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving suspended and uninsured.

His passenger, Marco Orseno of Berwyn fled the scene.  He was later found at a home in Henry but wasn’t charged with anything.

One In Every Seven Illinoisan Considered Poor

CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois falls somewhere in the middle when it comes to states with the highest percentage of poor people.

Census data Tuesday shows the ranks of the nation’s poor have swelled to a record 46.2 million – nearly 1 in 6 Americans.
Mississippi had the highest share of poor people, at 22.7 percent and New Hampshire had the lowest share, at 6.6 percent.

Illinois had 14.1 percent in 2010, up from 13.2 percent in 2009.

Smoke Shop Manager Indicted For Drugs

The manager of Ned’s Smoke Shop in Spring Valley is officially charged with dealing drugs.

Nedal Abdallah was indicted Friday in Bureau County Court for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.  He was arrested August 29^th at the shop for allegedly selling bath salts to an undercover TRIDENT officer.

Abdallah is free on 40 thousand dollars bond.