Peru prepares for pickleball

Some say that pickleball is the fasting growing sport in the USA, whether or not that’s true, it’s probably the fastest growing sport in Peru.

With the upcoming resurfacing of the tennis courts at the 28^th Street Park, the Peru Recreation Department is rolling out a pickleball program.

They’ll have plastic paddles and balls for up to 20 players on five courts.  Adult clinics and round robin games are being created.  To sign up or learn more you should call the City of Peru Pickleball Message Center at 830-3102.

Whooping Cough In Streator

There’s a health issue at Streator Elementary School District.

A letter sent to parents says three students from the same family have tested positive for the whooping cough.  The kids will stay home from school until their doctor says it’s okay to go back.

School officials sent parents a letter telling them what symptoms to look out for in their kids.

Score One For Gun Owners

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Gun rights advocates score a victory with the Illinois Supreme Court allowing a challenge to a Cook County assault weapons ban to proceed.

The court today ruled that lower courts were wrong to throw out the challenge. The Supreme Court says it wants the trial court to hear evidence on whether assault weapons get the same Second Amendment protections as handguns.

The county imposed the ban back in 1993. It had been upheld by trial courts and appeals courts.

Hundreds Show Support In Keeping Dwight Prison Open

An estimated crowd of around 500 showed up at a hearing to talk about the potential closure of the Dwight Correctional Center.

More than 50 people testified in front the bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability who will make a non-binding recommendation to Governor Pat Quinn about whether or not to close the prison.  The governor wants to close it saying it’ll save the state $37 million dollars.

Several people including Streator Mayor Jimmie Lansford testified that the savings would be far outweighed by a loss of over 400 jobs.  Dwight Mayor Bill Wilkey says among the workforce is an estimated 70 people commuting from La Salle County.

The state commission is expected to make a recommendation within a month.

Turn The Furnace Back On

Hopefully you haven’t gone too overboard with spring planting.

A Freeze Watch is in effect from late tonight through Friday morning.  Temperatures are expected to fall in the upper 20s and low 30s by early Friday morning.  With the record warm March bringing vegetation growth way ahead of schedule, sensitive vegetation may be killed off tonight.

Friday night’s low temperature is also expected to be in the 30s.

Excessive Drinking Hurting La Salle County Health Ranking

Things like excessive drinking and a high unemployment rate has La Salle County in the bottom half of healthiest counties in Illinois.

A new report out of the University of Wisconsin lists La Salle County as the 66^th healthiest county in Illinois, down from 65^th a year ago.  La Salle County is ranked 97^th out of 102 counties in the category of Health Behaviors.  This includes 29% of adults saying they smoke, a 30% adult obesity rate and 24% of people in the county considered to drink excessively.  The county is also rated low in Economic Factors thanks to a 13 percent unemployment rate and 18% percent of children in poverty.

The health outlook is much better in Bureau and Putnam Counties.  Bureau County is ranked the 25^th healthiest county in the state while Putnam County is 37^th.