La Salle man accused of hitting a police officer and a neighbor

Sometimes your temper rises and you feel like taking it out on someone- don’t.  A man living at the high rise in La Salle is accused of hitting a neighbor and then a police officer.

Police were called to the apartments on Second Street late Tuesday night for a man hitting another person on the 7^th floor.  They say they found Marc Rowley in a hallway but as they tried to arrest him, they say he got out of hand and started hitting an officer.

Rowley was eventually arrested for aggravated battery to a police officer, battery, and obstructing and resisting police.  He was being held at the La Salle County Jail.

Eye-sore property closer to being torn down in Peru

Normally if you put $18,000 into a house you end up with a better home.  In Peru, they’ll end up with an empty lot and that’s considered to be an improvement over the house that’s been deteriorating at 1124 Buffalo Street.

The city spent about two years trying to have something done with the home that was chronically in poor shape and littered with garbage and broken windows.  Two companies have been hired to remove asbestos and demolish the home for about $17,730.

This after the city spent money on legal fees and to buy it from a tax scavenger.

The city council approved the spending Wednesday night.  Alderman Dave Potthoff suggested that they start budgeting for that type of project so they’ll know how much they have to spend.

Heat rises for Ill. legislators as deadline nears

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois lawmakers hope to end their spring session Thursday night, but they still have a long way to go.

A dispute over pensions has delayed action in the House and threatens to complicate the state budget.

Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan has proposed shifting some pension costs to schools, which Republicans oppose. That split is carrying over to what had been a cooperative approach to the budget.

Meanwhile, the Senate has its own pension plan to consider. One committee spent hours discussing it Wednesday, only to postpone action.

And some senators may want to vote on a major gambling expansion that has already passed the House.

Sewing and craft store moving to the Peru Mall

For decades Jo-Ann Fabric has been in the same building as the K-Mart in Peru but that’s about to change.  With the closing of K-Mart Sunday, the sewing and crafts store is moving across the road to the Peru Mall.

You’ll find it near Sears.  The new spot will be larger then than their current location.

Area Regional Office of Education could be consolidated

Regional offices of education continue to be a target of state budget cuts.

After ROE superintendents worked without pay several months last year, ten of them could lose their jobs because of consolidation.  The Illinois Senate has unanimously approved a bill that cuts the number of regional education offices from 45 to 35.

If a regional office of education has a population of less than 61 thousand by July of 2015, they will be consolidated into another office.  With the population based on the 2010 Census, the Marshall-Putnam-Woodford County ROE office would consolidate.  The three counties have a total population of 57,000.

La Salle Teen Gets Second Word Correct At National Spelling Bee

Another correct spelling for a La Salle boy competing at The Scripps National Spelling Bee.  13 year old Grant Innis correctly spelled the word “keest” during round three Wednesday.  Earlier he nailed the word “remand”.

Innis recently graduated from Lincoln Junior High in La Salle.  If Innis advances to the semifinal round, it will be shown on TV Thursday on ESPN 2.

Man Pulled From Lake Thunderbird Is Identified

A man reported missing has been found dead in Lake Thunderbird.

Conservation Police members pulled the body of 56-year old Gary Gillen out of Lake Thunderbird yesterday.  He was reported missing the day before to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.

Autopsy and toxicology results for Gillen are still pending.  The sheriff’s office hasn’t mentioned anything about foul play.

Hope For Dwight Correctional Center

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois prisons at Tamms and Dwight would stay open in at least one version of the state budget
circulating in Springfield.

Rep. Luis Arroyo says Tamms would be retooled and no longer used as a “super-maximum” security lockup for troublesome and violent inmates. Arroyo told The Associated  Press there’s about $58 million to keep Dwight and Tamms open.

Around 400 jobs are at stake with the Dwight women’s prison. An estimated 70 workers commute to Dwight from La Salle County.

Ex-Streator Dispatcher Gets Prison For Rape

A former dispatcher with the Streator Police Department is headed to prison in Wisconsin.

45 year old Kevin Yuhas was sentenced to 5 and a half years in prison yesterday in Juneau County, Wisconsin.  According to the Juneau County Star Times, Yuhas pled guilty to one count of child enticement and two counts of possession of child pornography.

He was arrested in July of 2009 near Wisconsin Dells for raping a 14-year old boy in a campground.  The victim lived next door to a seasonal trailer owned by Yuhas.

Ottawa Teen Accused Of Selling Ecstasy

A teen from Ottawa is among a few dozen people accused of selling drugs at this year’s Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe.

18 year old Julian Ochoa appeared in Peoria County Court yesterday and was charged with delivery of Ecstasy.  His bond was set at 10 thousand dollars.

Over 30 people face felony drug charges while well over 200 more were arrested for misdemeanors at the Memorial Day weekend music festival.