No Pay Raises For City Employees In Ottawa

For the third year in a row, the city of Ottawa’s appointed workers will go without pay raises.

The pay freeze affects around 30 appointed personnel including administrative positions like the fire and police chief and city clerk.  The contract is backdated to May 1^st.

Mayor Bob Eschbach says times are difficult and he appreciates the workers understanding.   The city also negotiated pay freezes AFSCME workers and their telecommunication and fire unions.  They’re still negotiating with the police union.

Bike rodeo added to the annual Walk, Run, Bike

You don’t have to be an athlete to walk, run or bike around Baker Lake in Peru, just a supporter of the Red Cross.  The Illinois Valley Red Cross holds their annual Walk, Run, Bike Sunday in Peru.

You can raise money for the Red Cross by circling the lake solo or in a team.

For kids, they’re offering a family bike rodeo where kids will learn the importance of bike safety and wearing a helmet.  The first 100 kids will be given free helmets and T-shirts.

Registration for the Walk, Run, Bike and Family Bike Rodeo is from 12pm-1pm.

Learn more about the event by listening to an interview at the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

Tonica Company Recognized Nationally

A local company is on a list of America’s fastest growing private businesses.

Inc. Magazine ranked the 5,000 fastest growing companies and on the list is Town & Country Services in Tonica.  Town & Country is ranked 2,954^th, up nearly a thousand spots from last year.

According to the list, Town & Country has 75 percent growth in the past three years.  The company added on job in the past year and raised yearly revenues from 2.3 to 2.5 million dollars.

Carus Corporation in Peru and Clover Technologies in Ottawa made the business list last year but failed to make the cut this year.

Armed Robbery Reported In Mendota

Investigators are looking into a robbery at a knifepoint.

A 17-year old boy called 911 yesterday morning saying there was an armed robbery with a knife west of Mendota on North 43^rd Road.

The sheriff’s office and Mendota Police continue to investigate.

Garage Fire On West End Of Princeton

Fire departments from across Bureau County responded to a garage fire in Princeton.

The call came in right after 10 this morning about an attached garage on fire at 1104 West Clark Street.  Princeton firefighters had the fire knocked down in about 20 minutes.

Malden, Bureau, Wyanet, Hennepin, Ohio and Spring Valley emergency crews were called for mutual aid.

Hitman Theory Allowed In Peterson Trial

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) – A judge at Drew Peterson’s murder trial says prosecutors can introduce potentially powerful testimony that the former suburban Chicago police officer once took steps to hire a hit man to kill his third wife.

Judge Edward Burmila handed prosecutors the legal victory Tuesday as testimony entered its fourth week. Prosecutors contend Peterson asked a one-time co-worker to find someone to kill Kathleen Savio for $25,000. Prosecutors allege that Peterson killed Savio himself but want to show he plotted her murder for weeks.

Prosecutors didn’t list the hit-man allegation on the appropriate pre-trial documents, and defense attorneys say they shouldn’t be allowed to correct that mistake now.

Ottawa Teacher Dead After Riding With Alleged Drunk Driver

A crash that killed an Ottawa grade school teacher allegedly involved alcohol.

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office says Chad Marks of Morris was driving drunk when he hit two trees Sunday morning on Route 6 between Seneca and Morris.  His passenger and girlfriend, 26-year old Brittany Judy of Ottawa was killed in the crash.

Judy was pronounced dead at the scene just before 2:30 Sunday morning.  Deputies say after the couple’s car hit the trees, it came back on Route 6 and was hit by a semi.

Marks was flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria where he’s listed in fair condition.  He faces a DUI charge once out of the hospital.

No Vote On Oglesby Ambulance Issue

No action was taken by the Oglesby City Council on changes to the ambulance department.

Mayor Don Finley says they’re amending or adding some things to the original ordinance that both sides have negotiated since the August 6^th meeting.  He says both sides have made concessions.  He expects the council to vote on the wage and salary ordinance next month.

One thing Finley isn’t budging on is scaling back pay and hours for the ambulance director.  Since she has claimed to work over 100 hours in a week, the ambulance board and Finley are suggesting hiring an assistant for the director who would get benefits.

Despite opposition to change, the Oglesby Ambulance Board wrote a letter supporting the council’s actions calling them “in the best interest of the city”.