Family Fun Day with fireworks shot down in Peru

Imagine fireworks exploding in the sky over Baker Lake in Peru.  Their many colors reflected in the water while families resting on blankets watch from below.  Keep imagining because it’s not going to happen, at least not next summer.

The majority of the Peru Aldermen are against the idea of having a small fireworks display as part of a family fun day the week before the July 3 fireworks in Peru.  Aldermen Rodney Perez, who started the push to change the traditional Water Street fireworks, and aldermen Sherry Mayszak and Jim Lukosus were the ones who supported the idea when it came up for a vote Wednesday night.

A few people, including Mayor Scott Harl wanted to see the vote held over until a later meeting so they could hold a town hall meeting on the topic next Monday, but other aldermen thought they had already spent enough time talking about it.

Work continues on Route 178 in Utica

Driving through downtown Utica, you might need to pause for a moment to make sure you’re following the road.  Route 178 is being realigned and though a lot of work still needs to be completed, the downtown has been transformed.

Joe Spika with IDOT says the contractor has finished pouring the concrete from the rail road tracks to the school and the bulk of the concrete paving leading up to the canal should be done by the end of the week.

You’ll see them working on the sidewalks in the next few weeks.  Electrical subcontractor is working on street lightening.

For the new bridge over the I and M Canal, the bridge deck was poured Monday.  Spika thinks they’ll be through with the bridge in a month or so.

Final completion is next season but the contractor is trying to get as much as they can done this year.

District 17 Trooper honored by MADD

If you know someone who was given a DUI from a state cop, there’s a good chance it was Trooper Jeffrey Nichols.  He was District 17’s top officer in 2010 with 84 DUI arrests- one third of the DUI tickets written by local state troopers.

Nichols was one of six troopers to be honored during the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Heroes Banquet Saturday in Springfield.

Out of the Darkness Walk Sunday in Peru

When a crowd of walkers set out on the path around Baker Lake in Peru during the “Out of the Darkness Illinois Valley Walk” Sunday, many of those participating will have a particular person in mind.

Dawn Moutray is the Director of Social Services at Illinois Valley Community Hospital.  She has formed a team to remember her brother, who committed suicide two years ago.

You can get involved by forming a team or walking solo.  Check-in is at noon Sunday with the walk following at 1pm.  There’s no minimum fundraising fee or cost to register.  Money raised will support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

You can learn more by visiting at www.am1220wlpo.com and clicking on extended content.  Information packets are also available at the La Salle County Broadcasting studios.

Leadership At IVCC Get Raises

It’s a good time to be president of Illinois Valley Community College.

The IVCC Trustees approved a 3.5 percent salary increase for Jerry Corcoran.  Vice Presidents Rick Pearce, Cheryl Roelfsema and Lori Scroggs also received 3.5 percent raises.

Despite budget woes in the past with athletics, the trustees also gave coaches 1.5 percent raises for the current school year.

Fireworks question to go before Peru City Council tonight

A proposal to overhaul the July third fireworks in Peru has been met with resistance and support.  Alderman Rodney Perez wants to see a small fireworks display added to a family fun day at Baker Lake next June 30.  And he wants to see changes to the beer garden at the Water Street display on July 3.

Many people have opposed his idea, saying it would diminish the quality of the display on Water Street, but some others think the Water Street event has become too out of hand for families.

The Peru City Council will decide when they meet at 7:30pm Wednesday.