Peru Maid-Rite Closes

The end of 2012 means the end of the road for Maid-Rite in Peru.

The throwback-style restaurant closed its doors Monday afternoon after over 20 years in the mall.  A waitress says they were told about the closure last week but weren’t really given the scoop on why they were closing.

Other Maid-Rites have closed recently in places like Normal and Rockford.

State Cracks Down On DePue Cosmetologist

When you see your doctor or dentist’s license and diplomas on the wall, be thankful they have the needed paperwork for their job.

State regulators say a cosmetologist in Depue was working without an official license.  David Scholle had his cosmetologist license suspended indefinitely for practicing while unlicensed.

He was also fined a thousand dollars.

Search Still Going For Escaped Chicago Convict

CHICAGO (AP) – The FBI says has broadened the search nationally for a convicted bank robber who escaped from a high-rise prison in downtown Chicago.

FBI Special Agent Joan Hyde says the agency has no recent reports of Kenneth Conley sightings. Conley escaped December 18th with Joseph “Jose” Banks, who was captured two days later.

Hyde says Conley may have traveled outside the Chicago area and has “been known to travel in the past.” The FBI is circulating a poster of Conley with a devil tattoo on his upper right arm. Hyde says the tattoo “would be very hard to remove or disguise.”

The men made a daring escape, apparently scaling down about 20 stories using a makeshift rope tied to the bars in a cell window.

New Year Brings New Swimming Pool Fees

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Fees are going up for operators of Illinois public swimming pools for the first time in almost 40 years.

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck says the higher fees will allow more inspections and quicker responses to complaints, injuries and outbreaks of illness. The new fees take effect with the start of the new year. They result from legislation enacted in August.

Fees depend on the size of the pool. Schools and cities pay nothing unless their pools have features such as water slides and spray pools. Non-profit organizations such as YMCAs pay minimal fees.