Fire leaves Spring Valley home damaged

Flames were showing and heavy smoke was seeping from the eves of a two-story house in Spring Valley.  A couple living on East Dakota Street called in the fire just after 10pm Monday.

Spring Valley Fire Chief Todd Bogatitus says he thinks it was an electrical fire that started in a closet area and spread into the attic.  Though they were able to keep the flames to the attic, the house was left with heavy smoke and water damage.

The couple won’t be able to stay there.  No word on if they needed Red Cross assistance.

May Road sewer project takes a step forward

When a storm sewer needs work, it’s better to tackle it sooner than later.  In Peru, they’ve been planning to do storm sewer work along May Road for the past two years, and now they’ve hired a company to do it.

Crystal Sewer and Water came in with the lowest bid at $606,490.   Mayor Scott Harl says business along May Road had been asking about it.  The city council approved the bid Monday night.

Work is expected to start before the end of fall.

State Treasurer Says He’s Not As Generous With Tax Dollars As Story Claims

State Treasurer Dan Rutherford says an Associated Press story saying he gave 16 percent to 19 of his staffers is vague and doesn’t tell the true story.

The Better Government Association analyzed payroll for Rutherford’s office and State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka and criticized them for giving pay raises to staffers during a budget crisis.  The AP turned the criticism and findings into a story Monday.

While in La Salle, Rutherford says when he came into office, there were several vacancies in his office that needed to be filled to make his office run right.  He says the 19 staffers split extra jobs duties and got extra pay that came with the new responsibilities and job titles.

Rutherford says he inherited all the staffers in question and that new staff he’s hired make less then what the previous workers made. He says his payroll and staff is less then what it was with former treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.

Man accused of trying to break into a Spring Valley pawn shop

A suspicious person and a broken window give the idea that something’s amiss.

Police were at Valley Coin and Pawn Sunday night where they say they found Timothy Sexton of Oswego in the back of the store.   After running after him, Sexton was arrested and was charged with attempted burglary, possession of burglary tools and obstructing a peace officer.

He was taken to the Bureau County Jail.

Eakas Corporation expanding Peru plant

A company that paints car parts in Peru is doubling their manufacturing space. And it has the City of Peru spending big bucks to make upgrades to their wastewater and sewer operations.
Eakas wants to break ground soon for the expansion so they can add a new painting line to the plant. The official announcement was made Monday afternoon. Once the line is up and running they would add 25 new jobs.
To accommodate the expansion, Peru will be using a $675,000 CDAP grant to help pay for sewer projects. Mayor Scott Harl says money from the recently approved sales tax increase will also help them pay for the work which is estimated at $1.5 million.

Peru teen accused of having cocaine and marijuana

While you were sleeping in Saturday morning, investigators in Peru say they were finding cocaine and marijuana in a home on Water Street.  A teenager has been arrested.

Kyle Gabehart faces a felony possession of cocaine charge and minor possession of cannabis and drug paraphernalia charges. He was being held in the LaSalle County Jail.

Police Accuse Cousins Of Stealing From School Construction Site

A frustrating summer of five different thefts from the new Central Intermediate School construction site could be coming to an end.

Ottawa Police arrested cousins Brian Reynolds of Ottawa and Troy Reynolds of La Salle Friday for felony theft and residential burglary.  Police say they’ve recovered two generators, six construction nail guns, and other property stolen from the school site.  The stolen property was found at two separate spots on Ottawa’s south side and from two separate spots outside the city.

Detective Dave Gualandri says both men face additional charges as police seek out more stolen property.

Blagojevich Sentencing Delayed

CHICAGO (AP) – A federal judge has delayed the sentencing date for Rod Blagojevich.

A notice posted electronically at the U.S. District Court in Chicago says simply that Blagojevich’s Oct. 6 sentencing date has been “stricken until further order by the court.” It doesn’t offer a reason for the delay.

There had been speculation that the impeached governor’s sentencing could be pushed back because of a scheduling conflict with another trial. The trial of a one-time fundraiser for Blagojevich, William Cellini, is set to start on Oct. 3. U.S. District Judge James Zagel is the judge in both cases.

Major Business Development In Peru

Could Eakas Corporation in Peru be expanding?

Eakas President Tom Mori is among a group of people expected at a press conference today at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport.  Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Warren Ribley will make an announcement at two that’s supposed to create jobs and strengthen the local economy.

State Senator Sue Rezin is also expected at today’s announcement.

Burgoo Lead-In Promotes Organic Lifestyle

It’s time to “go green” in Utica.

The third annual “Green Fete Festival” in La Salle County is happening Saturday, October 8^th on Church Street in Utica.  The previous two festivals were held in Oglesby and Ottawa.

Like the first two years, the festival features workshops on things like organic food, photography and yoga.  There will also be food vendors and kids activities.

Gerard Beech runs Foothill Organics in Utica and is organizing the Green Fete Festival.  Beech says he especially wants to promote the healthy aspects of raw food choices.

There’s no admission to the festival and it’s for all ages.