Museum Contest Winner Drawn Today

A man from Malden could be ten thousand dollars richer today.

Dale Fiste is one of six finalists for the 2^nd annual Month at the Museum contest at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry.  He’s a retired farmer and works part-time as a maintenance assistant at a retirement home.  He also sings in a barbershop quartet.

Online voting ended Monday.  The winner to stay at the museum for a month will be announced at 10:30 this morning.

The winner stays at the museum from October 19^th thru November 17^th and also gets ten thousand dollars.

Roof At Area Mansion Awaits Repairs

Over two months since lightning damaged the Reddick Mansion, repairs are still waiting to be made.

Public Property Commissioner Dan Aussem says the city and the insurance provider are stuck on how much it’ll cost to replace copper gutters.  Until they agree on this, Aussem says they can’t start replacing the roof.  And he’s worried they’ll run out of time with winter around the corner.

Aussem says they total repair cost is around 65 thousand dollars.  They’ve received 52 thousand dollars from insurance so far.

In case the city and insurance provider come to an agreement, the city council gave the mayor authorization to approve bids for repairs immediately instead of waiting for the next council meeting.

Ash Tree Killer Shows Up In Ottawa

Ash trees in Ottawa are in big trouble.

The Department of Ag says an ash tree on the south side tested positive for the Emerald Ash Borer.  Ottawa Building Official Mike Sutfin says they’re putting together a management plan but that people need to assume all ash trees in town will die.  He says they’ll have a public meeting soon to give more information to the public.

La Salle County is part of a multi-county quarantine for Emerald Ash Borer.

Jazz’n the Street this Saturday in La Salle

Once a year a block of First Street in La Salle is closed off so you can enjoy jazz, drinks and food.  That special day is called Jazz’n Street and it returns Saturday.

First Street will be block off from Marquette to Gooding so you can sample wines and specialty brews under the tent.  You’ll also be able to choose from a handful of food stands serving dishes like grilled pizza, hamburgers, and pork tenderloins.

And while your kids won’t be into the wine and specialty beer tasting, they’re welcome to enjoy the food and music according to  Mike Barrie of the La Salle Downtown Business Association.

The musical lineup includes the Wes Hausken Trio starting things off at four followed by Dave Hoffman and Friends at 6pm and Professor John at 8pm. They’ll close the day with fireworks around 9:30pm.  The drinks and food will cost you but the music and dancing is free.

He says they expect a big turnout if they weather stays nice.

You can learn more by visiting the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

Truck overturns on I-80

There’s a reason your car has side windows and a rearview- so you can see what’s behind you.  Apparently the person driving a black SUV that cut off a semi-truck on I-80 didn’t bother checking.

Victor Humbles of Peoria told the state troopers that he was cut off after entering from I-39 Tuesday morning.  His truck overturned.  The black SUV was nowhere to be found.  At least nobody was hurt.

Kinzinger to launch re-election campaign in Ottawa

An area congressman wants a second term in Washington.

Republican Adam Kinzinger is officially launching his re-election campaign Saturday morning at Pitstick’s Pavilion in Ottawa.  Expected to join Kinzinger at the 11am event is conservative radio commentator Dan Proft.

At this point, Kinzinger isn’t totally sure which district he’ll be running in.  If a lawsuit challenging the new district maps is tossed out, Kinzinger will run in the 16^th congressional district.  If the lawsuit is upheld, he’ll run again in the 11^th district.

Blagojevich Home Hits Market

CHICAGO (AP) – Patti Blagojevich gave a sales pitch for the property she, her children, and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich have called home since 1999.

The couple is asking $1.07 million for the 13-room brick house in Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood. Patti Blagojevich on Monday said the house is unusually solid, with a concrete floor above the basement and concrete walls covered
with plaster.

Blagojevich often stood outside the home to angrily dispute charges against him.