Earlville School Referendum and golf carts approved by voters

Some much needed revenue will be coming into the Earlville School District.

Voters supported raising the education tax rate by a vote count of 423 to 395.  The vote will allow the district to levy over $750,000 more in the education rate according to school officials.

In Grand Ridge voters said yes to allowing the use of golf carts on village streets.  They won’t be allow to go faster than 35 miles per hour.

 

Calbow wins re-election in Putnam County

It wasn’t easy but the chairman of the Putnam County Board stayed alive for re-election.

Democratic voters picked five county board candidates and Duane Calbow had the fifth highest vote total.  The top vote getter was Chauntel Biagi-Bruer followed by William Holmes, Sheila Haage and Jordan Ellena.

Republicans were supposed to pick five county board candidates as well but Steven Malavolti and Matthew Leitch were the only names on the ballot.

More election coverage available at http://www.newstrib.com.

Kinzinger wins 16th Congressional District

“A brand new day for the Illinois Republican Party,” that’s how a freshman congressman is describing his win over a more experienced congressman.

Congressman Adam Kinzinger beat longtime Congressman Don Manzullo in the Republican primary for the 16th Congressional district Tuesday.  Kinzinger celebrated the win with a crowd at Starved Rock Lodge.

Both were incumbents in the recently redrawn district which includes La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam Counties and spans from the Wisconsin border to the Indiana border.  This will be Kinzinger’s second term.  He won in 2010 by defeating incumbent Democrat Debbie Halverson.

Kinzinger is unopposed in the November General Election.

Benson wins Democratic nomination in 38th State Senate District

Streator Elementary Superintendent Christine Benson will face Republican State Senator Sue Rezin in the November General Election.  Benson beat out Putnam County Treasurer Kevin Kunkel and La Salle County Board member Tom Ganiere in 38th district Democratic primary race.

Benson receive 42% of the vote with Kunkel coming in a distant second with 32% and Ganiere trailing with 26%.

You can find more coverage at http://www.newstrib.com.

Romney wins Illinois Republican primary

WASHINGTON (AP) – Mitt Romney has won the Illinois Republican primary over rival Rick Santorum.

In Illinois, as in Michigan and Ohio, Romney enjoyed an enormous advantage in television advertising. His campaign and Restore Our Future, a super PAC that supports him, outspent Santorum and his super PAC by $3.5 million to $500,000, an advantage of 7-1.

Votes are still being counted in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam Counties.  You can hear election coverage at http://www.am1220wlpo.com and read about the results at www.newstrib.com.

Ballots in Bureau County are receiving a trimming

Election workers in Bureau County have this scissors out today and it’s not for arts and crafts.  They’re one of many counties in Illinois dealing with ballots that are too big to fit into the scanning machines.

Bureau County Clerk Kami Hieronymus says only the Democratic ballots weren’t cut to size so election judges are trimming them with scissors before giving them to voters.  Hieronymus says it’s a simple solution for them.  She says voter turn out has been low.

Putnam and Grundy Counties were also having similar ballot problems.

The polls close and the wait for results begins

The votes are being counted across Illinois this evening.  Polls closed at 7pm.

AM 1220 WLPO primary election night coverage is underway.  You’ll find election coverage online at www.AM1220WLPO.com and also with our election coverage partner, www.newstrib.com.

Truck driver ticket after crash that stopped traffic on I-39

Never underestimate the importance of a good night’s rest.  Fatigue is being blamed for a semi truck accident that stopped traffic on Interstate 39 near Rochelle and dumped 300 gallons of diesel fuel into the median.

State Police say Michale Halpin of Mason, Wisconsin blacked out Monday morning, taking out an overhead sign on I-39.  The sign collapsed onto his truck and both lanes of northbound traffic.

Halpin was treated and released from Rochelle Hospital.  He was also given several tickets.

One dead after accident near PawPaw

When you’re on the road, keep your eyes open for road construction and repair work.  A man that was working on the shoulder of Interstate 39 in Lee County is dead after being hit by a truck.

Investigators say 55 year old Keith Jakel of Highland was doing shoulder maintenance near the PawPaw exit late Tuesday morning when he was hit by a truck driven by 76 year old Roger Miller of Grand Ridge.

Police say an arrow truck was directing traffic into the passing lane while blocking the right lane.  Police say Miller saw the arrow truck but couldn’t change lane and drove onto the shoulder hitting Jakel.

The Lee County Coroner’s Office and Illinois State Police District 1 were investigating.

Oglesby Cracking Down On Weeds

Penalties for letting weeds get out of control in Oglesby could get more severe.

The Oglesby City Council put on file a new weed ordinance that City Attorney Jim Andreoni says “has more teeth in it”.  The ordinance says no weeds, grass, plants or underbrush other than trees, bushes, and flowers can be over eight inches.

If they’re over eight inches, the city will send a nuisance letter giving a homeowner seven days to take care of it.  If they don’t, the city can take care of the weeds at the cost of the homeowner and also levy a fine of 100 dollars.  Multiple offenses could get fines up to 500 dollars depending on what a judge decides.