Peru committee to meet with PSI ambulance service

Call for an ambulance in Peru and you’ll get a crew from the Peru Volunteer Ambulance Service, the non-profit service that’s supposed to be independent of the City of Peru.

They used to cover La Salle as well, but that changed last March when La Salle signed on with Paramedic Services of Illinois.  Now a representative from PSI will be making their pitch to the Peru Public Health and Safety committee.

Alderman Rodney Perez says they will be meeting Tuesday, December 6 at 6:30pm in the committee room.  He’s invited people from PVAS to be there.

Gold store allowed to open in Peru but a city ordinance is likely to follow

Sell your gold, invest in gold, whatever the ads say, you’ve heard it.  Gold buying businesses are the latest fad and it’s caught the City of Peru of guard.

A gold and silver buying business is ready to open downtown, even as the chief of police is working on an ordinance that would regulate gold stores and secondhand shops.

Khalid Jibawi and Samantha Bruce told say they checked with the city clerk months ago but only recently have ran into to trouble with city officials as they prepare to open.  They explained their situation to the city council Wednesday night.

Part of the snag is zoning.  That type of business is specifically allowed or forbidden for that location, so building inspector Frank is treating it as a jewelry store which is allowed.  Not every agrees.

Jibawi says he checks IDs, keeps of recording of sales and makes his books open to the police, many of the things that would be required in the ordinance.

He says he wants to open before he misses the busy Christmas season.  Legally he can and if an ordinance is passed, he’ll have to follow it.

Earlier in the evening, regulations for pawn stores were approved by the council.

Teen caught with shotgun in Princeton High School

After a school day that ended with an evacuation complete with police officers, students of Princeton High School can expect increased security when they arrive Thursday morning.

School officials are reacting after police say an 18 year old with a shotgun walked into the school just about the time classes were to dismiss Wednesday.

Police say they found Blake Schmidt of Princeton with a gun near the lower level classrooms.  Schmidt was eventually taken into custody without anyone being hurt.  Charges are pending.

Meanwhile, a crisis team will be available for students who need support.  Students will also be required to enter through the main doors or the north doors.

White powder arrives by mail at LC Circuit Clerk’s office

Whatever the white powder that arrived by mail at the La Salle County Circuit Clerk’s office was, it wasn’t harmful.

The office at the downtown Ottawa courthouse was closed after an envelope containing a white powder was opened late Wednesday morning.

The sheriff’s department was called then the Ottawa Fire Department and the La Salle County Emergency Management Agency.

Sheriff Tom Templeton hasn’t said what the powder was, only that no one was hurt.

Area Schools Step Up For Food Pantry

In the latest competition between Hall High School and St. Bede Academy, the winner was the Hall Township Food Pantry.

The two school’s students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered 17,612 pounds of food for the Hall Township Food Pantry.  The friendly competition ended in a tie according to pantry officials.

The pantry will distribute its Thanksgiving boxes today from 10 until noon and this evening from 5 until 7.

IVCC Board Says Tax Rate Won’t Go Up

Here’s a happy thought.  The part of your tax bill that’s paid to Illinois Valley Community College shouldn’t go up from last year’s cost.

The proposed new tax rate is just over 34 dollars per 100 dollars assessed valuation, which is about 43 cents lower than last year’s tax rate.  The IVCC Board is banking on their EAV going up by one percent.

The trustees will officially approve the new tax rate December 20^th.