LP High School closed Friday

It’s a three and a half day weekend for L-P students.

Classes are canceled today at the school after they were cut short yesterday due to the ongoing smoke coming from Westclox.  L-P officials say they’re making this move after talking with Peru and La Salle Fire Departments.

The cancellation means all athletic events are cancelled today because the building is completely closed.  A message on the school website says Saturday activities will go on as planned.

Besides the high school, the area career center at L-P is also closed today.  Mendota Superintendent Jeff Prusator says his students who go to the career center don’t need to report to Mendota High until 4^th hour.

Cannabis trafficking charges for California pair

Two more people from out of state were spending time at the La Salle County Jail.  Mason Russell and Todd Stenhouse of California are accused of having approximately 32 pounds of marijuana in the trunk of a car.

The pair were stopped Wednesday night while entering Interstate 80 in La Salle.  Both are charged with cannabis trafficking.  They were in bond court Thursday.

Man Arrested For Fast Food Bomb Threat

Police say the man accused of a bomb threat in Princeton has done it before.

Kristofer Watson of Princeton was arrested Wednesday night for a Class 3 felony of disorderly conduct, making a bomb threat. He’s accused of calling the Princeton Culver’s and saying a bomb was set to go off at Burger King and McDonalds in six minutes. No bomb was found after the restaurants were evacuated. Officers say he worked at Burger King.

They claim he’s linked to a December 10th bomb threat when he allegedly called the AmericInn in Princeton with another threat towards Burger King.

Accused Westclox arsonist appeared in court Thursday

The older teen accused of setting a part of Westclox on fire had his first official court appearance Thursday morning.

Steven Gallacher will be arraigned January 19th on the Class X felony charge of aggravated arson. He’s being represented by Public Defender Tim Cappellini. After the brief hearing, Gallacher was hauled off back to the La Salle County Jail where he’s being held on $250,000 bond.

His co-defendant, a 15-year old boy from Peru will be in juvenile court January 17th.

Hearing for proposed sand mine continues in Utica

Drainage, ground water, and traffic were the concerns of homeowners hoping their new neighbor won’t be a sand mine.  A couple hundred people returned to Waltham South School in Utica Wednesday evening to express displeasure for a sand mine proposed by Illinois Sand Company.

They were there for the second night of a Utica Planning Commission hearing.  The company is asking the commission and the village board to have land annexed into the village with a special use permit for mining.

Many people who live immediately south of the site wanted to know how the mine would affect drainage and water flowing onto their properties.  Larry Good with Chamlin and Associates, the firm hired by Illinois Sand, explained how they planned to change the way water flowed through the property.

An attorney representing a group of homeowners, George Anderson presented maps and a document he said proved there is coal on the property which could create hazards.

Planning Commission member Warren Munson asked if the land could ever be turned into a landfill.  Illinois Sand’s attorney, Jim Duncan said they could put it in writing it wouldn’t be.

The commission still needs to question more people with the sand company before making a decision on the requests.  The hearing will continue Monday, January 9 at 6pm at the grade school.