Ottawa Using Grants To Tear Down Homes And Old School

Ottawa isn’t on a coast but is still getting money to clean up after a hurricane.

The city received a $914,000 grant from FEMA to buy and tear down eight flood damaged homes along the Fox River and a $2 million grant to tear down the old Central School along the Illinois River.  Both spots had record flooding because of Hurricane Ike.

Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach says they’ll use the space from the torn down homes to expand Fox River Park.  He’s not sure what they’ll do with the old Central School property but thinks it’ll probably become park space.

Eschbach hoped to get a few more million dollars in grants to buy the school property from the Ottawa Elementary School District.  He says they still continue to work towards a sale.

New TIF district proposed for north end of La Salle

Will another tax increment financing district spur development in La Salle?  It’s something the city council is willing to try.  The council Tuesday night took the first steps to creating a TIF district that would include parts of the northwest corner of La Salle.

Included would be a mix of farm, light industrial and commercial properties, but no residential.

The city is preparing to annex land owned by Ron Witek and Carus Corporation.  Jacob and Klein and The Economic Development Group have been hired to administer the TIF.  They’ll earn an annual base fee of $4,500 plus other fees.

You can learn more about the city’s plans during a meeting at 6pm Tuesday, July 17.

Quinn closing prisons against lawmakers’ wishes

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Gov. Pat Quinn is going forward with his plan to close several adult and juvenile prisons, even though legislators put money in the new state budget to keep them open.

The Democratic governor’s office said Tuesday he will close prisons in Dwight and Tamms, along with some halfway houses and two youth camps.

Quinn’s office did not explain his decision or make an official announcement.

The Tamms prison is a “supermax” facility for the state’s most dangerous inmates. Dwight is a prison for women.

Closing them will mean squeezing more inmates into the remaining prisons, which are already seriously overcrowded.

Peru firefighters given Medal of Valor for apartment fire rescue

When you put your safety on the line to save someone else’s life you deserve a thank you.  Several Peru Police officers, firefighters and paramedics with the Peru Volunteer Ambulance Service were recognized Monday night for their response to an apartment fire early the morning of June 9^th in Peru.

A man living in the building had lost consciousness and had to be rescued through a window.  He survived.

Firefighter Ryan Rynkewicz and Fire Chief Jeff King were award the Medal of Valor.  Police officers Ben Bentley and Adam Conness, and Sgt. Scott DeGroot were recognized for their efforts to save them.

PVAS staff was given Certificates of Appreciation for giving oxygen to a cat.

Tennessee group to open for Kid Rock

The opening act for Kid Rock’s July 13^th concert in Peru has been announced.

With the show in Illinois, it seems fitting that the opening band is called The Dirty Guv’nahs.  The rock n’ roll group has six guys based in Knoxville, Tennessee.  They’ve opened for big names like Wilco, Zac Brown Band and Train.

Tickets for the “Concerts for a Cause” at the airport in Peru are available at Lou’s La Grotto and Wyanet Carpet.  You can also call Lou’s to order them.

Documentary On Bullying Playing Streator

Have you been bullied? Know anyone who has?  If yes, you’d probably relate to a movie being shown in Streator.

Majestic Theatre is showing the controversial documentary “Bully” the next three nights at 7:15.  The film follows students and their families that deal with bullying.  Two of the students eventually kill themselves.

Katie Troccoli runs Majestic.  She says it’s not a fun watch but is a must watch.

Majestic’s version of Bully is non-rated.  The movie initially was given an R rating because of language but some of that has been taken out so more kids can watch it.

Troccoli says anyone 12 and up should be okay watching the movie.

Windy Day Causes Power Outage In Ottawa

Power was knocked out for hundreds of people on the west side of Ottawa.

A power pole at the intersection of Ottawa Avenue and Boyce Memorial Drive came down just before four yesterday afternoon.  The intersection was blocked to traffic for around seven hours as Ameren worked to take care of the problem.

Over 400 customers were without power at one point.