August 31 concert planned for IV Regional Aiport

If Kid Rock isn’t your style of music, maybe you’ll prefer the concert scheduled for August 31.  Merry Noonan of Lou’s LaGrotto, organizer of “Concerts for a Cause” has worked out a deal with the City of Peru to hold a second performance at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport this summer.

The city council approved a contract Monday night that would give the city a one-dollar cut of each ticket sold for the July 13 Kid Rock concert and the August show.  An earlier agreement had the city receiving only 50 cents from each ticket.

Alderman Dave Potthoff was happy with the changes saying they’re making steps in recouping their costs.

The city is loosing money because land that was normally planted for crops was planted with grass to be used for parking.

Noonan hasn’t announced who’ll be headlining the August concert.

Two Cooling Centers Open To Escape The Heat

Need an escape from the heat?  The state has opened up cooling centers.

There are two cooling centers in the listening area, both inside Department of Human Services’ offices.  You can cool off at the DHS office on Backbone Road in Princeton or on First Avenue in Ottawa.

The cooling centers are open from 8:30 until 5, Monday thru Friday.

Man dies following medical call on the Fox River

A call for help from the Fox River in La Salle County got a man to an area hospital but it apparently wasn’t enough.

Conservation Police Sgt. Robert Fraizer says rescuers were called to Ayer’s Landing around 6:30pm Saturday for a 33 year old man from Bradford man who was having a medical problem.

The man was taken by boat to the landing and then by ambulance to St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Ottawa where he died.  His named hasn’t been released.

Girl accused of stealing from the register after store closed

Before you close up shop for the day, make sure nobody’s left in the store.  That’s the lesson they’ve learned at Upscale Resale in Spring Valley.

A 15 year old girl is accused of hiding in the store around closing time and taking money from the cash register after the employees went home Friday.  The girl was taken to the La Salle County Juvenile Detention Center.

Reward increased for Quesse vandalism

The reward for prosecuting and convicting the person responsible for vandalism done to the president of the LP High School Board has been increased thanks to some concerned people.

Jim Quesse had a brick thrown through his bedroom window last week and a tire slashed the month before.  Both could be related to a school board decision to remove coaches Bill Booker and Jake Burke from their coaching positions.

Illinois Valley Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward while an extra $1,350 has been added by a group of people wanting to remain anonymous.

Lawsuit claims Illinois jail denied man HIV drugs

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) – A Chicago man has filed a lawsuit claiming an Illinois jail prevented him from taking his prescribed HIV medications for a week, harming his health and violating his rights.

Arick (AYR’-ik) Buckles filed the lawsuit Monday in federal court in Peoria. He says he asked for his medications repeatedly while in the Bureau County jail in Princeton.

American Civil Liberties Union attorney John Knight says the county was more concerned about the cost of providing Buckles’ HIV drugs than about his health.

Knight says he’s been waiting a year for a response from Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson on the matter. Thompson hasn’t returned a phone call seeking comment from The Associated Press.

The lawsuit claims unspecified damages for Buckles’ immediate symptoms including vomiting and his mental and emotional distress.

Starved Rock Wins State Tourism Contest

The people have spoken and Starved Rock State Park is the favorite tourist attraction in Illinois.

Voting ended last night in the Enjoy Illinois’ Facebook contest with Starved Rock getting well over 60 percent of the vote to beat the Museum of Science and Industry.  The online voting contest put 64 top tourist attractions in a tournament with Starved Rock coming out on top at the end.

Besides bragging rights for Starved Rock, you had the chance to win weekend getaways to Chicago, Galena and Springfield if you voted.