Celebrate La Salle ready to go for a third year

You’ll hear music and smell food cooking in Hegeler Park this weekend.  The festival “Celebrate La Salle” begins Thursday and runs through Sunday.

It’s the third year for the fest.  Food stands will be serving tacos, hamburgers, brats and sweets like cotton candy and lemon shake-ups.  Kids games will be set up Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  There will also be live music and a beer garden.

Friday night features a free Dream Wave Wrestling event from 6-9pm.

La Salle residents should expect electric service related letter

You’ve been hearing about electric aggregation and you’ve probably received things in the mail trying to get you to change power companies.  If you live in La Salle you’ll be receiving another letter.  This one will be on City of La Salle letterhead.

Mayor Jeff Grove says they were mailed out Tuesday.  You’ll only need to respond to the letter or taken action if you want to opt out of the new electricity program.  You’re expected to save money on power since the city has gone out looking for the best electric rate.  You’ll still be billed by Ameren.

LPHS approves TIF agreement with Peru

TIF Districts are used to spur development.  A TIF that includes the old motels and truck stops and the new Holiday Inn Express in Peru hasn’t seen much development, just a lawsuit.

Still, the boards at LP High School, Illinois Valley Community College and Peru Elementary District have reached an agreement for the commercial TIF district.  The city council approved it Monday night.

Dimmick School District and La Salle County oppose it and are fighting it in court.

Peru Mayor Scott Harl says Peru provides one-third of La Salle County’s sales taxes.  He just doesn’t understand why they would be against the TIF.

Marseilles Man Dies In Crash

A man from Marseilles a has died after a crash on the Morris Blacktop.

A representative of Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove says 23-year old William Shelton of Marseilles died after being flown to the hospital Monday afternoon.  La Salle County Sheriff’s Deputies think Shelton was south on East 22^nd Road just before noon Monday when he pulled in front of a car driven by Brandon Jensen of Ottawa.

Jensen was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

Why Is Gas More Expensive In Mendota?

How can gas prices be a quarter cheaper just 15 minutes down the road?  That’s what a former alderman is asking in Mendota.

According to the NewsTribune, John Pierson brought the discrepancy up to the Mendota City Council last night.  He says he knows the council can’t really lower prices but could put pressure on service station operators.  Mayor David Boelk agreed with Pierson and said he would like to talk to Greg Gromann who runs two gas stations and convenience stores in Mendota.

Right now, unleaded gas is 14 to 20 cents more expensive in Mendota than in most other places in the valley.

Potential Kinzinger Challenger Turns In Needed Signatures

An Ottawa woman looks like she’s done all that’s required of her to run for Congress.

Democrat Wanda Rohl turned in well more than the 600 signatures needed to be on the November ballot.  Last month, she received unanimous support from county chairpersons in the 16^th Congressional District.

Rohl admits she doesn’t have political experience but thinks she can overcome that against incumbent Republican Adam Kinzinger.  She was injured in an ATV crash nine years ago which has left her paraplegic.  She says safety net programs like Medicare and Medicaid helped keep her alive and keeping these programs funded is one of her top issues.

Cement Factory Shows No Signs Of Bouncing Back In Oglesby

If you were holding out hope that Buzzi Unicem would someday return to full production in Oglesby, you were dealt another setback.

The Oglesby City Council and cement maker have reached an agreement on what infrastructure around the plant belongs to the city.  Buzzi is dismantling electric service and as part of the agreement, acknowledge some lines and transformers belong to the city.

Only a handful of people still work at the plant that began major layoffs in 2008.

La Salle House Fire Quickly Put Out

A small house fire had La Salle and Peru fire departments busy.

The firefighters were sent to a home in the 1100 block of Canal Street in La Salle just after five Monday evening.  Smoke was showing from the house when crews arrived but they had it out in about a half hour.

No one was hurt.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.