Plans unveiled to open mini golf course and driving range in La Salle

Do warmer temperatures make you want to swing a golf club?  An old miniature golf course and driving range along Route 6 in La Salle is getting a second life.

Starved Rock Family Fun is the project of Debbie Pohar and Don Baldin.  They’re renovating the old T and B Amusement Park to have a driving range, miniature golf course, and an area for parties.

They’re rehabbing what they can with old mini golf course and building.  Sod will have to be planted for the driving range.

They want to be open for business in time for Memorial Day weekend.

Teen receives five years probation and community service for Westclox arson

The younger of the two teens accused of starting the fire at Westclox in Peru will spend the next five years on probation and will be kept busy with 240 hours of community service.  The 15 year old from Peru was in juvenile court Tuesday where he was given his punishment by Judge Dan Bute.

The prosecution had wanted the boy to 90 days in juvenile detention, but Bute says he was impressed with the apology letters the teen sent the fire department and a firefighter that was injured at the fire.  Bute says the purpose of juvenile court is to rehab the teen.

The boy was allowed to go home with his mother and family.  He’ll return to court in May to testify against 17-year old Steven Gallacher of La Salle.  Gallacher is charged as an adult with aggravated arson.

Fire damages La Salle Home, Red Cross helps the family

Fire forced a family out of their home in La Salle.  Firefighters from La Salle and Peru went to the two-story home on Linden Avenue around 8:30pm Monday.

Jerry Jasick with the La Salle Fire Department says the cause looks to have been accidental.  Crews were on the scene for about an hour and a half.

Volunteers from the Illinois Valley Red Cross were able to provide the adult and child that lived there with food, clothing and few nights at a hotel.

Ottawa Company Expands To The Czech Republic

Business is going good for an electronics company based in Ottawa.

B&B Electronics announced today they’ve bought a Czech Republic-based wireless network company called Conel.  Like B&B Electronics, Conel makes wireless communications routers and other connectors.  The Czech company has 73 employees.

B&B Electronics hasn’t disclosed how much they’re paying for the new company.  Last year they bought another wireless communications company in Ohio state for over $10 million dollars.

Sand Mine Talk Has County Looking For Bigger Meeting Room

Want to know how to get more people at a public meeting?  Just say the two magic words….sand mine.

Monday night’s meeting of the La Salle County Board has been moved from the Etna Road board room to Festivities Unlimited Banquet Hall on Route 6 in Ottawa.  A large crowd is expected since the board will be talking about proposed sand mines near Starved Rock State Park and the Osage curves in rural Utica.

The board is trying to decide if they want to have public hearings to talk about the sand company’s reclamation plans.  These plans are what happens to the pit once the company is done mining for sand.

If the county decides to have hearings, the Department of Natural Resources would likely run the hearings.  It’s doubtful they would have an affect on the state approving the mine proposals.

Monday’s county board meeting starts at 6.

Oglesby Struggles With Electric Costs

The closing of Buzzi Unicem has hurt Oglesby in a number of ways including electricity bills.

The city buys its electricity from the state and then tries to generate revenue by selling the electricity to businesses and homes.  When Buzzi Unicem stopped, the city’s revenues from electricity sales went down yet the price for getting power from the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency has gone up.

Electric Commissioner Dom Rivara says the city “keeps kicking the can down the road” but has to make cuts and raise sewer rates.  He wouldn’t say how much he wants to raise sewer bills but says cuts need to be made before anything else.

Sentencing Today For Westclox Arsonist

The younger of the two teens charged with setting the old Westclox on fire will find out his punishment today.

The 15 year old from Peru entered a guilty plea in January to arson.  He will be sentenced today at 1:30 in front of Judge Dan Bute. The teen could get probation, more time in the La Salle County Detention Home or a sentence to be in a state juvenile prison until he turns 21.

His co-defendant Steven Gallacher of La Salle has not agreed to a plea and has a May trial date.

U.S. Airforce band to perform in Oglesby

Add a little swing to your Saturday night by paying a visit to Oglesby.

The United States Air Force musical group, Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble are giving a free performing at Oglesby Washington School.

The 18-piece band will play a variety of jazz and patriotic numbers.  And while the concert is free you’ll need a ticket to attend.

You can get at Oglesby City Hall or by going to the band’s website.  The concert starts at 7pm.