Election Filing Deadline Today

If you want to run for state or county office next year, better get those signatures in.

The deadline to turn in election petitions is today at 5. The petitions need to be turned into your county clerk’s office.

The primary election is on April 10th with the general election happening November 6th.

LaHood Wants To Continue Representing Bureau County

The LaHood name will likely continue on in politics for at least four more years.

While U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is retiring next year his son Darin wants a full term in the Illinois Senate. The younger LaHood has filed papers for the 37th Senate District. So far, the Dunlap Republican doesn’t have a challenger.

LaHood was appointed to the Illinois Senate in 2010 to replace retired Dale Risinger. His district covers Princeton and areas to the south and west.

Wisconsin Inmate May Have Sent Threatening Letters

Envelopes with white powder sent to courthouses in Morris and Ottawa could’ve come from an out of state inmate.

According to the Morris Daily Herald, Bobby Coil sent threatening letters and the white powder envelopes last month to the La Salle and Grundy County courthouses. The letters threatened an area judge.

Coil is currently in prison in Wisconsin. He used to live in Morris and has done prison time in Illinois.

Coil faces several years in prison if found guilty of mailing the threats.

Chicago providing heroin to Iowa?

Authorities say heroin is making a return to Iowa, often with deadly consequences. The Gazette in Cedar Rapids (http://bit.ly/t9pqKF ) says Mexican brown heroin is showing up more and more in the area. The newspaper

says 22 people have died from heroin overdoses in Cedar Rapids, with three deaths in Johnson County this year.

Scott Smith with the Drug Enforcement Administration says heroin is being brought into the area from drug organizations in Chicago that can offer the cheaper, more potent alternative for harder-to-obtain opiates like oxycodone. The 2011 National Threat Assessment, an annual report compiled by the U.S. Justice Department, says Linn and Scott counties among those where heroin-related overdoses increased between 2008 and 2010.

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Hospital helps in November

Employees of Ottawa Regional Hospital collected enough food in November to fill 55 holiday baskets for eastern LaSalle County United Way agencies. Non-perishable food items were put into baskets for the less fortunate. Each of the fifty five baskets included a turkey purchased by Ottawa Regional.

Historical wine tasting

Spring Valley Historic Association doesn’t have a long history itself, but is interested in preserving what it finds. To get money in its coffers, the Association is inviting you to a wine tasting 6pm Monday in Valley Bar and Grill. Beer and soda will be served and if you attend you can purchase bottles of your favorites for the holidays. Tickets are at City Hall, Spring Valley City and Citizens’ banks, Valley Photo and at the door. Proceeds benefit the Historical Museum.

Eagle Rock hope

Eagle Rock Christian Center wants to reach out to the community with hope. The church, at 2930 Meridian Road Peru is offering a free spagetti dinner with worship music this coming Saturday 6 – 9pm. Food, clothes, toys and medical supplies will be given away. The project is called “Hope Rise”.

He will and he won’t

Democratic State Senator Dave Koehler says he won’t seek election to Congress after all and instead will seek re-election to his Peoria-area seat. Koehler announced yesterday he was abandoning his race in Illinois’ 17th District against Congressman Bobby Shilling, a freshman Republican from Colona.

Pearl Harbor remembered

About one hundred people witnesses Peru’s annual Pearl Harbor day ceremonies along Water Street late Saturday morning. Veteran Bob Ankiewicz told AM 1220 WLPO news three Pearl Harbor survivors participated and forty area veterans groups. The TBM Avenger, housed at the Illinois Valley airport made a flyover. A brief parade moved down Water Street to the South Shore Boat Club where a ceremony was held. The annual ceremonies are now in memory of Hank Ellerbrock, who organized the first one in Peru in 1980.

Jingle Bell Run recap

Saturday was a good day for the Arthritis Foundation, Illinois Valley Chapter. Chris Schweikert, director, said the annual run/walk had fifty more runners than 2010 as well as a few more teams. The chapter’s website indicated donations of at least 18-thousand dollars, but Schweikert expects the final tally to be closer to 30-thousand dollars. The Illinois Valley “Y” hosted the event Saturday. Miller Group Media was a presenting sponsor. Miller Group Media is comprised of AM 1220 WLPO, 99-3 WAJK, 96-5 The Wolf, New Tribune, Agri-News and Ottawa Delivered.