Reggae will be the flavor for next Lou’s LaGrotto concert

From country to hard rock, Lou’s LaGrotto in Peru has brought a variety of bands to town.  Get ready for reggae.

Bob Marley’s former band, The Wailers, will be the headlining act during Lou’s LaGrotto’s Jamaican Jam Sunday August 26.

The all-day block party will also feature local performers, contests and a chance to win a trip for two to Jamaica.

LaGrotto manager Merry Noonan says with this concert they’re trying to do something nice and affordable for their customers.  Tickets are $5 and go on sale Friday.  The concert will be set up in front of the restaurant.

La Salle Elementary expecting more student and less space for new school year

When you were a child, a new school year meant new teachers and classes and sometimes new students.  The children in La Salle Elementary Schools will see some new faces when they go back to class later this month.

Superintendent Dan Marenda says preliminary numbers show they’ll have more students this year than last year, including more than 120 students registered for kindergarten.

Space is a problem for the district.  Marenda says they’re busting at the seams.  The district has applied for a preschool construction grant that could give them $5 million to build a new place for early childhood education.  They’ve also applied for a general school construction grant that could fund construction for fourth, fifth and six grade classrooms.

In the neighboring Peru Public Schools District, Superintendent Mark Cross says they expect enrollment to be the same or slightly down from last school year.

Autopsy Scheduled For Hall Football Player

An autopsy for 17-year old Daniel Lule will be done Friday.

Bureau County Coroner Janice Wamhoff says Lule didn’t have any outward injuries when he was pronounced dead Wednesday afternoon at St. Margaret’s Hospital.  He was rushed there after collapsing during practice at Hall High School.

Wamhoff wouldn’t give any preliminary thoughts on Lule’s cause of death.

Drew Peterson Judge Gets Weird Letter From Inmate

CHICAGO (AP) – Abraham Lincoln has made cameo appearance at the Drew Peterson trial.

As proceedings began today, the judge announced in court that he’s received a letter from an inmate in Illinois who claims to have information about a link between Peterson’s murder trial and the 16th president’s assassination. The judge says the unnamed inmate wrote that the judge should communicate with him if he wants more details. The judge prompted laughter as he deadpanned, “I won’t be communicating with him.”

The trial is going on in Joliet.

No Official Cause Of Death For Hall Football Player

The excitement of opening practice for the new football season at Hall High School quickly turned tragic.

Near the start of the second round of practice yesterday, 17-year old Daniel Lule collapsed while doing non-contact conditioning drills.  Both Hall’s training staff and EMT’s tried resuscitating Lule before he was taken to St. Margaret’s Hospital.  He was pronounced dead at the hospital a little over an hour after collapsing.

The official cause of Lule’s death is under investigation by the Bureau County Coroner.

Grief Counseling Available Following Tragedy At Hall

Grief, shock, and anger are no doubt some of the emotions going through the Hall High School community today.

17-year old junior Daniel Lule collapsed and died yesterday afternoon during the first official practice of the new football season.  A message posted on the Hall school website says “thoughts and prayers of the entire Hall High School community go out to the Lule family”.  The message goes on to say “Daniel was a wonderful young man who was a Red Devil through and through”.  “He will be greatly missed by the entire Hall High School family, especially his friends and teammates”.

To help people cope with the sudden and unexpected loss, grief counselors will be at the school this morning at 10 in the auditorium and again Friday at 8 in the school library.

Hall Coach Reacts To Player’s Death

Before even coaching his first varsity game at Hall High School, football coach Randy Tieman is facing adversity no one could’ve predicted.

Tieman rode in the ambulance along side 17-year old player Daniel Lule after he collapsed during the team’s opening day of practice.  Tieman wrote on his Facebook page, “R.I.P “Dirty” Dan Lule, you were always one of my favorites, you worked your butt off and always had a great smile, you were always there to help a friend”.  Tieman goes on to say about Lule, “you will be missed by more people than you could ever imagine”.

Funeral services for Daniel Lule have not been announced.

Alleged Sexual Assault In Sandwich Involves Fake Police Officer

A horrific story out of Sandwich.

A woman from Sandwich says she was pulled over Tuesday night by a Crown Victoria with flashing red and blue lights.  When a man wearing a police type uniform approached the woman, he allegedly pulled down a mask, pointed a gun at her and told her to walk to a nearby cornfield.  That’s where he allegedly beat her up and sexually assaulted her before taking off running.

The woman was taken to Valley West Hospital for injuries.  She describes her attacker as being a white man with a tan or light skinned Hispanic who is around 5’8 and 180 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Kendall County Crime Stoppers.