Unemployment numbers slightly down from August 2011

If unemployment is any indicator of how the economy is doing, locally it hasn’t changed much since last summer.  Numbers released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security show that area unemployment levels were slightly better in August than they were last August.

Unemployment in La Salle County last month was 11.1%, in Bureau County it was 10% and in Putnam County was 9.2%.

For the Ottawa-Streator area it was 10.8%.  Over the past year jobs were added in construction and professional-business services but many were lost in manufacturing and retail.

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Peru will have a 9th alderman following April 2013 election

A change in ward boundaries will create a ninth alderman seat in Peru.  The new boundaries become effective with the April 2013 election and will put First Ward Alderman Mike Radtke in ward two.

According to a written opinion from Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office, Radtke will keep his seat on the council as an alderman at-large and a position will be on the April ballot for a two-year term in ward one along with the seat that would have been up for grabs anyway.  The city received the information Wednesday.

Every two years a council seat from each ward is up for re-election.

You can get a petition to run for the April election by visiting the city clerk’s office or going online to the Illinois State Board of Elections site.

Motorcyclicst From Ladd In Serious Condition After Crash

A local biker is in serious condition after crashing trying to get onto Interstate 80.

William Moore of Ladd was thrown from his motorcycle Wednesday morning while going down the on-ramp from Route 251 to I-80.  Troopers say he went off the left side of the ramp into a grassy area.  He overturned his motorcycle.

Moore was taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital and then flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  He wasn’t wearing a helmet.

Big Pot Bust Near Peru

Two out of staters are accused of hauling a lot of pot thru the Illinois Valley.

State Police say they stopped a Chevy Suburban driven by Thomas McHale of Michigan yesterday morning on Interstate 80 near Peru.  The La Salle drug dog searched the SUV and allegedly found 62 pounds of cannabis.

McHale and his passenger Timothy July of Indiana were both arrested for possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.  Both were taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Weger Parole Decision Delayed

Whether Chester Weger is released from prison after 51 years won’t be known until November.

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board was supposed to decide today if Weger would be released after his 17^th parole hearing.  However a parole board member asked for and received a delay in the decision.

The 73 year old Weger was convicted in 1961 of killing a woman from Riverside at Starved Rock State Park.  Prosecutors think he killed two other women at the park but was only tried for one murder.

The vote to deny parole was 8 to 5 last year after being unanimous against the year before.  La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne continues to argue against Weger’s release.

Weger is at the Pinckneyville Correctional Center.