Ongoing Talks About Oglesby Ambulance Service

Negotiations are apparently happening to change a proposed plan that cuts hours of some Oglesby ambulance workers.

Public Safety Commissioner Tom Porter posted on Facebook that Finance Commissioner Paul Danekas reached out to him about the proposed changes to the ambulance department.  Porter calls the discussions productive and asks for patience to work towards an agreement that all sides can endorse.

Last week the Oglesby City Council put on file a plan that would cut back the pay and hours of Ambulance Director Cathie Edens and reduce hours for around a half dozen ambulance workers so that they wouldn’t be eligible any more for a pension.

Porter and Streets Commissioner Dennis Yborra voted against the proposed changes.

Fundraising Continues For La Salle Girl Battling Cancer

Two thousand dollars raised in four hours work definitely can be deemed a success.

That’s how Saturday’s “Car wash for Lily” went at the Illinois Valley YMCA.  Several people gave donations while getting a car wash to help 3-year old Lily Rosploch of La Salle.  She’s been diagnosed Neuroblastoma, a form of cancer.  Lily is getting treatment at Children’s Hospital in Peoria.

The next fundraiser for the La Salle girl is this Saturday night with a benefit Dreamwave Wrestling show at the Knights of Columbus in La Salle.

Peru Elementary Will Vote On Sales Tax Increase Idea

A ballot question asking to raise taxes is getting closer to happening.

Eight La Salle County school districts have passed resolutions to ask whether you’re okay paying one percent more sales tax to pay for school construction.  La Salle, Mendota and Waltham Elementary School District boards are among the eight who’ve already approved the idea.  Peru’s elementary school board will vote on the idea Wednesday night.

At least 51 percent of the entire school enrollment must pass a resolution for the sales to be on the November ballot.  As of last weekend, around 35 percent of the population had approved the question.

They shoot….and SCORE

Today’s victory by the U.S. men’s basketball team has given the United States its 46th and final gold medal at the London Games. That’s the most ever by Americans in an Olympics not being held on U.S. soil. Chinese athletes also won the most golds ever for their country in a road Olympics with 38. And home-field support has helped Britain to 29 golds and 65 medals overall, its best Olympics in more than a century.

Democrats, Romney and Paul

Democrats are saying Mitt Romney’s selection of House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan to be his running mate should trouble the middle class, seniors and students. Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod tells CNN that the pick is “meant to thrill the most strident voices in the Republican Party.” But, the Republicans’ campaign team says Ryan is signing on to Romney’s vision. The two have been making campaign stops together today, before splitting up to cover more ground starting tomorrow.

buy a brick?

Will you buy a brick today? If you don’t, you’re skipping a chance to assist in an anniversary project at a familiar Peru landmark. First Congregational Church in Peru is commemorating its 175th anniversary by selling engraved bricks that will become part of a memorial garden by late Summer or early Fall. Donors will be invited to the dedication ceremony when work is completed. An 8 X 4 inch engraved brick is $30 and an 8 X 8 inch brick is $70. The message on the brick can say anything the donor wants it to say. Orders and payments are due by August 24.

DOT regs meeting

It’s likely that recent US-DOT regulations are not fully understood by farmers. With that in mind, LaSalle County Farm Bureau is inviting farmers to their Ottawa auditorium Monday night for clarification. Kevin Rund, Farm Bureau specialist in farm transportation issues will head the two hour program about new weight laws, Federal Motor Carriers Safety regulations and explaining what regulations may affect them. It starts at 7pm Monday night in the auditorium just north of Farm and Fleet. The program is free. Call the Farm Bureau if you have questions.

Washington’s drought response

President Barack Obama is pledging a wide-ranging response to a nationwide drought that has hit Illinois and Indiana hard this summer. In his weekly radio and Internet address this weekend, Obama says his administration is giving farmers and ranchers access to low-interest emergency loans, and is distributing $30 million to help get water to livestock.

President and campaign staff

President Barack Obama met with his campaign team in Chicago on Saturday, a few hours after likely Republican rival Mitt Romney named his running mate – Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan. The president is holding a series of fundraisers today related to his 51st birthday, including one at his South Side home.

shot fired in Chicago

Chicago police say 10 people have been shot and wounded this weekend on the city’s South and West sides. Some of the shootings appeared to involve gang members. One 27-year-old who’s been arrested 63 times was wounded. An 18-year-old remains hospitalized in critical condition after a drive-by shooting in the Pilsen neighborhood Friday.