All Clear Sounded At Peru Mall

You don’t say bomb on a plane and you probably shouldn’t write it on a note in big red letters and attach it to a package.  The Peru Mall was cleared out and put on lockdown Monday morning after employees of Jo Ann Fabric called 911 shortly after 7am.  A hand-written note included with a shipment said the store was new hadn’t been bombeb.

What they didn’t know is that bomb stood for “Billed Order Maintenance Batching”, apparently an acronym used in shipping.  Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei says they realized this after contacting the out-of-state distribution center.

Bernabei says he finds it mind boggling that a national company would use search a term and he planned on speaking with company officials.

The Peru Police Department, ESDA and the fire chief were called out for the non-threat.  A Secretary of State’s bomb squad was on their way but was told to cancel.

Bernabei says the employees of Jo Ann Fabrics did the right thing.

This story was corrected to replace “build” with “billed”.

Singers Greet Peru Hy-Vee Customers

A trip to the grocery store usually doesn’t pack too many surprises unless your favorite snack happens to be on sale.  Shoppers at Hy-Vee in Peru Saturday were surprised to find themselves with a front-row seat to a performance of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”.

It was a Random Act of Culture organized by Chris Kelsey and Norm Engstrom.  Roughly 100 singers and a sound system squeezed between the produce section and floral department while Engstrom directed.

Store Manager Doug Overlee watched with a smile.  He says the performance was even a surprise to the employees.

Engstrom and Kelsey had done something similar last year at Walmart in Peru.  He says they’ll probably hold a random concert next year.

Food Pantry Looks Towards Christmas

Ready or not, Christmas isn’t far away.

The Illinois Valley Food Pantry is gearing up for its annual Christmas meal distribution.  The pantry will feed over 600 needy families Saturday, December 15th.  To get a pantry meal, you have to sign up by December 12^th.

Food that they could use include: instant potatoes; stuffing; canned veggies; canned fruit and pumpkin; cake mix; frosting; turkey and ham.  The pantry is on Marquette Street in downtown La Salle.

Monetary donations are always accepted as well.