Few Show Up To Countywide Sales Tax Forum

Do you have enough information to cast an educated vote on the proposed one-cent school sales tax?  If the low turnout at a forum about the referendum is any indication, most minds are made up or you just don’t care.

About 25 people showed up at L-P’s Matthiessen Auditorium last night to talk about the sales tax proposal.  Only two people asked questions of a panel that included superintendents, parents and school board members.

Those who did show up watched a ten minute video where city and school officials talked about how the sales tax has helped their area.  Eleven counties in Illinois have already passed a one-cent sales tax increase for schools.

A committee called “1 Cent For Kids” will be going door-to-door in the coming weeks to ask for your yes vote in November.  They also plan to put up signage around the county.

“Buckets of Love” collection drive to help abuse vicitims

Starting over can be hard especially when you have limited resources.  You can help people forced from their homes because of domestic violence rebuild by donating items as common as mops and laundry detergents.

“Buckets of Love” is a collection drive sponsored by area Zonta Clubs.  Saturday they’ll be collecting household cleaners, paper products and brooms at area grocery stores including Illinois Valley Food and Deli and Save-a-Lot in La Salle, Spring Valley Supermarket, and Kroger’s in Streator.

The items will be given to families that have to start over.  October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Teen found guilty of Westclox arson

A fire that burned for weeks at the old Westclox building in Peru will have a teen from La Salle spending time in prison.

17-year old Steven Gallacher was convicted Wednesday of aggravated arson for the New Year’s Eve fire that injured a La Salle firefighter.  The trial was a bench trial heard by Judge H. Chris Ryan.

Gallacher’s defense attorney, Louis Bertrand argued that the teen wasn’t guilty of aggravated arson because it was the firefighter’s fault, not Gallacher’s that he was injured.  Had the firefighter not been hurt Gallacher would have been charged with arson.

Gallacher will be sentenced on November 29.  He faces six to 30 years and would have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence.  He could receive credit for the nearly 10 months he’s spent in the La Salle County Jail.

A 15-year-old boy from Peru also arrested for the blaze pleaded guilty in March and received five years of probation and 240 hours of community service.  He was charged as a juvenile while Gallacher was charged as an adult.

Electronics recycling drop-off today in La Salle

Here’s another chance to get rid of the old stereo system, computer or TV taking up space in your closet- an electronics recycling drop-off Wednesday in La Salle.

You can bring electronic waste to the Park and Rec building on 9^th Street near Mattheissen Park between 4-8pm Wednesday.