Peru closer to owning nuisance property

Boards cover a few windows of a vacant house at 1124 Buffalo Street in Peru.  City workers will be returning to the house to board up a couple of more before the nuisance rental property can be torn down.

After many complaints and a search for the owner, the city is about $6,000 away from owning the house so they can have it torn down.

The homeowners are dead.  The property taxes went on paid for several years until recently.  It’s been taken over by tax scavenger who’s expected to      sign over the deed to the city.

It will be an available corner lot when it’s all said and done.

Out of the Darkness Community Walk earns national recognition

Hundreds of people in matching shirts and some carrying signs participated in the first Out of the Darkness Community Walk at Baker Lake in Peru last September.  They were there to raise awareness and money for suicide prevention.  Little did they know they were making history for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

April Jervis with AFSP says the Illinois Valley walk raised more than $109,000 making it the eighth most successful walk in the country and the most successful first time event.

Jervis says since the first walk was held in Chicago in 2004 and it has taken a long time for the fundraiser to gain traction because there is stigma attached to mental illness.  She says that’s why it was so impressive that the La Salle-Peru community came out the first year it was held.

The walk was sponsored by the Miller Group Charitable Trust.

More Endorsements For Kinzinger

Local and state republican politicians are throwing their support behind Adam Kinzinger.

Kinzinger’s camp announced today that State Senators Sue Rezin and Darrin LaHood along with State Representative Pam Roth all endorse the first-term congressman over Don Manzullo.  Former state senator Gary Dahl is also backing Kinzinger in the March 20^th primary.

On the county level, Bureau County Board President Dale Anderson is endorsing Kinzinger along with La Salle County Sheriff Tom Templeton and Treasurer Don Lamps.

Deaths Under Investigation In Hennepin

Two people were found dead last evening in Hennepin.

According to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, they got a call just after six Sunday evening about an unresponsive person in the 100 block of 11^th Street.  When they arrived, they found two people dead.  Their names haven’t been released.

The investigation is ongoing with the sheriff’s office, State Police Crime Scene Investigators and Putnam County Coroner.  Sheriff Kevin Doyle is calling the deaths an “isolated incident”.

Autopsies were done this morning.

Cole Hall Museum Unveiled

DEKALB, Ill. (AP) – The public is getting its first look at a new museum at Northern Illinois University’s Cole Hall.

The building was the site of a deadly 2008 shooting and reopened last month after four years. The building was given a $6 million renovation and has a new high-tech classroom, dozens of computer stations and the museum. An open house at the Anthropology Museum was held Sunday.

On Feb. 14, 2008, a former NIU student stepped onto a lecture stage during a geology class in Cole Hall and began shooting. Five students were killed including Julianna Gehant of Mendota.

Snow Expected Today

Roads could get a little messy later on.

Light snow is expected in the listening area this afternoon and tonight with a couple inches possible.  There’s also a chance of freezing drizzle towards tomorrow morning.

There are no weather watches or warnings in effect.

Big Name In La Salle Firefighting Dies

The former fire chief in La Salle has died.

William Bacidore died yesterday at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  He retired from the department after nearly 50 years.  His son Andy is the current La Salle Fire Chief while another son Jeff went on to become deputy fire chief in Elmhurst.

Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle is handling arrangements.  You can hear service details for William Bacidore during AM 1220 WLPO’s In Memoriam.

Seneca Murder Trial Takes Day Off

Testimony will take a break today in the double murder trial of Keith Mackowiak.

La Salle County courts are closed in observance of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.  The trial will start again tomorrow morning at 9 in Ottawa.

On Friday, the two people Keith Mackowiak blames for the murders of Al and Catherine Twardowski testified they had nothing to do with the brutal beatings.  Mackowiak’s next door neighbor David Dulabhan and ex-girlfriend Jennifer Bartlett said they weren’t at the Twardowski house when the elderly couple was murdered in July of 2007.

The Mackowiak trial could last another two weeks.

Steak ‘n Shake Fire

If you wanted dinner at Steak ‘n Shake in Peru, you were out of luck.

The store off Route 251 was closed Sunday after a small grease fire Saturday night.  A note on the restaurant’s door mentioned a small fire and that they hope to be back open for lunch today.

The fire was put out Saturday evening by time Peru firefighters arrived.