LP officials get 3-D view of proposed athletic complex

The track circling the practice football field at LP High School is hardly what a school needs to host a track meet.  A track complete with a high jump, discus rings and more would be one of the first things you see when driving up to the school’s new athletic complex.

The proposed complex came to life with a 3-D presentation Wednesday night.  Steve Nelson with Studio CG showed school officials how the complex could be laid out.  Nelson broke the project into three phases.

It would begin with the track and two soccer fields.  The next phase would add 10 tennis courts.  The third and final phase would bring a baseball field, two softball fields, and a walking path.  It would be developed on 39 acres off of Chartres Street, north of the Hygienic Institute.

Nelson says if they built it in phases it would cost $10.5 million.

The school board still has the chance to tweak the plans.  Neslon wants to be ready to bid it out in January, begin construction in March and have it completed next September.

J.C. Whitney issues layoff notices

70 jobs are being cut as the call center at J.C. Whitney Automotive in La Salle is closing.  Employees were told Wednesday they would be loosing their jobs.

Aaron Coleman, Chief Operating Officer of their parent company, U.S. Auto Parts, says call volume has dropped so they’re closing the call center in La Salle and calls will be handled at their two other locations.  The last day of work is scheduled for October 14.

Coleman says they look to continue growing the distribution center part of the La Salle location.  Those jobs aren’t being affected.

Swimming In Area Lake Makes Over A Dozen People Sick

A recreational lake near Leland is closed to swimming after several people got sick.

The La Salle County Health Department says 17 people got sick after swimming in the Hi-Tide Recreation campground late last month.  They all complained of high fever, muscle aches, sore throat, and severe headaches.  After talking with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 people were diagnosed with Adenovirus.

Adenovirus is an infection of the upper respiratory tract.  Health officials say there have been several similar outbreaks in other states related to recreational swimming.  The virus spreads person to person.

The lake was closed down August 10^th and remains closed to swimming.  Health officials say they’re still trying to find the cause of the virus.

If you feel sick after swimming at Hi-Tide campground, call your doctor and health department.

La Salle ambulance working on transfer agreement with Vitas

Transferring people from their home and to the hospital is a way for ambulance services to make money.  The La Salle Fire Department’s ambulance service could have an agreement to transport patients of Vitas, a hospice service.
Mayor Jeff Grove says they’re fortunate to have Vitas in town and are in talks to provide transfers.  Grove, Fire Chief Andy Bacidore and the city’s attorney have been working on it.
Grove also says they continue to talk with the Illinois Valley Community Hospital Board to be able to provide transfers for IVCH patients.  Typically those transfers are handled by Peru Volunteer Ambulance Service.

Magnolia Firefighter Burned In Tonica Explosion

While no firefighters in uniform were hurt during the explosion and fire at Dauber Company in Tonica, a firefighter who works at Dauber was injured.

Joseph Smith of Magnolia is one of two men suffering from severe burns after Monday’s explosion and fire.  Smith works at Dauber and is also the assistant fire chief in Magnolia.

To help Smith and his family, the Magnolia Fire Department is hosting water fights this Sunday at the Magnolia fire station.  The fights start at 1 with the cost being five dollars a person.

All proceeds will benefit Joseph Smith.

More Details On Beer Truck Crash

A mess on Interstate 39 near Tonica involved trucks carrying carnival equipment and beer.

State troopers say Randy Dean of Missouri was hauling the carnival equipment when he merged back onto Interstate 39 from the shoulder.  He merged into the path of a semi hauling beer driven by Donald Loberg of Wisconsin.  The semis collided, causing Loberg’s trailer to rip open and send beer all over the northbound lanes of I-39.

Loberg was taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital.  Dean wasn’t hurt but was ticketed for improper lane use.

The stretch of interstate south of Tonica was closed over five hours to cleanup all the spilled beer.

Peterson Drops Request For Mistrial

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) – Lawyers for Drew Peterson have withdrawn a motion for a mistrial, allowing the murder trial to go ahead.

The defense attorneys’ move follows several blunders by prosecutors seeking to prove that the 58-year-old Peterson killed his third wife, Kathleen Savio, in 2004. He’s also a suspect in the 2007 disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, but never has been charged in her case. Peterson told the judge Wednesday he does not want a mistrial.

Peterson’s judge laid into prosecutors Tuesday for violating his order not to discuss whether Savio asked for an order of protection against Peterson. The lawyer who mentioned the order apologized to the judge.

Man Robbed And Beaten In Broad Daylight

Typically you feel safe walking in La Salle and Peru at 11 in the morning, but that wasn’t the case for a man who was mugged along the city-limits.

Police have arrested two teens they say robbed a 39 year old man on July 7^th near 7^th and Chicago Streets.  Peru Police accuse 17 year old Jeffery Hankerson of Ottawa of attacking the man while a 16 year old boy from Peru watched.  The man was left with injuries to his head and face but didn’t want to go to the hospital.

The younger boy was arrested on a youth warrant for robbery while Hankerson was arrested for felony robbery.

Peru and La Salle Police Departments worked on the investigation.