Price At Pump Going Down

Did you fill up the gas tank lately?  Prices went down over the weekend.

Most stations in the area dropped at least a nickel per gallon.  According to GasBuddy.com, the cheapest gas in the listening area is 3.39 for unleaded.  Marathon in Peru is selling for that much, so is Love’s in Utica and Road Ranger in Ottawa.

The average price of unleaded in Illinois is 3.59 a gallon.  The national average is 3.45 a gallon.  Both prices are trending down.

Some experts think gas could be three dollars a gallon of less by Halloween.

Fundraising Starts For Peru Fireworks

A 50/50 raffle to pay for fireworks in Peru is underway.

Alderman Rodney Perez spent a few hours selling tickets outside Peru Hy-Vee Sunday and says he raised 345 dollars.  He plans to be back out at Hy-Vee next Sunday from 10 until 3 selling more 50/50 tickets.

Perez wants to raise 20 thousand dollars or so to pay for the entire 2013 fireworks display.  He doesn’t want taxpayers footing the entire bill anymore.

Perez is creating a fund for the fireworks money to go into.  He will have a tent at this year’s July 3^rd fireworks display selling the raffle tickets.

A group called Ottawa First has already been doing fundraisers the past couple years to pay for Ottawa’s July 4^th fireworks.

La Salle Park Gets Huge Grant

Despite all kinds of cuts, the state still is dishing out grant money for parks.

The governor’s office announced over 12 million dollars in grants is being handed out to 42 towns for parks.  La Salle is getting 400 thousand dollars for Phase II of Rotary Park.  The park is along the Troy Grove Blacktop and will include ball diamonds, soccer fields, trails, fishing pond, playground and picnic pavilion.

The 400 thousand dollar grant covers about half the cost of Phase II.

Marseilles Fun Days starts

What’s your favorite summer treat when you’re out socializing? You’ll likely find it this week at Marseilles Fun Days starting Sunday. Rivershores Care Center is hosting a “Sunday on the Lawn Social” with popcorn, lemonade and cookies. A “Bags” tourney at the American Legion starts at one and if You bring some non-perishable food items to the city pool…your family can swim for free starting at 3pm. A water demo and picnic with a paramedic round out the days events. Marseilles Fun Days continues all week with “Cookout with a Cop” and firetruck rides Monday night and a “Teddy Bear” picnic Tuesday.

Circuit Breaker at its end

Low-income seniors and disabled Illinoisans have one week to apply for property tax help through the state’s Circuit Breaker program. The Legislature didn’t approve funds for Circuit Breaker property tax grants for fiscal year 2013. That means they’ll no longer be available after June 30th. Seniors and the disabled can apply online at the Illinois Department on Aging’s website. Mailed applications must be postmarked by June 30th. Illinois residents must be 65 or older or have a disability. Total income for 2011 must be less than $27,610 for a single-person household. Starting July 1st, only the license plate discount, “Seniors Ride Free” and “Disabled Ride Free” benefits will continue to be processed. The property tax grant and Illinois Cares Rx drug assistance program are no longer available.

Brace for impact!!

Illinois smokers are bracing for the $1-a-pack cigarette tax increase that takes effect Sunday, with some stocking up and others vowing to kick the habit. The (Peoria) Journal Star reports that some business owners are doing a brisk business now, but worry that could change once the increase kicks in. The tax on a pack of cigarettes is jumping from 98 cents to $1.98. Lorraine Harvey is assistant manager at Discount Tobacco in Peoria. She says she’ll try to quit smoking rather than pay the tax. But she hears others talking about buying cigarettes from other states. Meanwhile, so many smokers have been stocking up that distributors are having trouble meeting demand. Harvey has limited her customers to two cartons apiece until the tax increase takes effect.

 

Attempted abduction trial Monday

An attempted abduction trial involving a La Salle man is scheduled to start Monday in Ottawa. Robert Myers faces prison time if found guilty of trying to lure a young girl into his home last October. Prosecutors say the girl ran from his home on Crosat Street and was unharmed. Myers could get up to three years in prison.