Landlord ticketed for a home in La Salle

There’s a renewed effort in La Salle to make property owners take better care of their homes.  A landlord with a rental house 1740 Cleveland Avenue was ticketed Monday after police say they received numerous complaints about the house.  Susan Skiles of Peru is accused of breaking the public nuisance ordinance and was given a court date.

Volunteers needed for La Salle Rotary Park playground

If the phrase “some assembly required” doesn’t scare you, La Salle Rotary could use you as they build the new playground for La Salle Rotary Park.

A new handicap-accessible playground will be ready for assembly Saturday September 22 and Sunday September 23.  Volunteers are needed to put it together.

If you would like to help, be at the park at 7am that Saturday.  Use the entrance off of the Troy Grove Blacktop.

Utica Fire Chief Reveals Cause Of Large Wildfire

Despite rumors, a cigarette did not start the large brush fire between Utica and Ottawa.

Utica Fire Chief Gary Gbur says a property owner on the south side of Dee Bennett Road was doing an open burn of landscape waste when it got out of control.  Gbur says the fire quickly spread because of gusty winds and a large area of Prairie Land Grass and nature habitats like brush and cattails.  A total of 200 acres of private and state land was destroyed.  The fire chief says they were able to protect homes near the fire.

One firefighter was treated and released at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa for heat exhaustion.  There were no other injuries.

Gbur says the fire is still under investigation.  Firefighters were on scene for nearly 11 hours.  Nearly 20 fire departments fought the brush fire.

Teacher Strike Hits Third Day

CHICAGO (AP) – The teachers strike that has halted classwork and upset family routines across Chicago is grinding into a third day with no sign of an imminent deal.

Union leaders say they will meet Wednesday morning to review a new proposal from school board negotiators that addresses all the issues still on the table. The board has requested either a written response or a comprehensive counterproposal from the union.

But the teachers are lowering expectations for an agreement, buoyed by energetic rallies in which even parents inconvenienced by the strike were waving placards in support.

Among the biggest remaining issues are a new teacher evaluation system and a process for deciding which laid-off teachers can be rehired.