La Salle Family Needs Goods After Fire

Thank goodness for friends and relatives- a family of eight that lost their home to a fire has been receiving help from the community.  Mike and Margie Johnson of La Salle and their six children have been staying with family since a fire Tuesday night.

While everyone was able safely leave the burning house, they lost most of their things.  They family could use bunk beds or twin beds; blankets, sheets, and pillows.

If interested in donating, call 815-343-8651.

Gas Hike In La Salle And Peru

If you drive in La Salle or Peru, you’ll notice an overnight jump at the gas pump.

Many stations in La Salle and Peru went from selling unleaded gas for $3.09 a gallon Friday to $3.29 a gallon today.  According to GasBuddy.com, prices at the pump at some stations in Ottawa has fallen back down to $2.99 a gallon.  That’s the cheapest gas listed in all of Illinois.

The statewide average price of unleaded gas in Illinois is $3.30 a gallon.

Wrongful Death Suit In Ottawa Gets Thrown Out

A wrongful death lawsuit against an Ottawa firefighter has been tossed out of La Salle County Court.

Kenneth Cusick was sued by relatives of his wife Tracy Cusick who was found dead in the Cusick’s Ottawa home in 2006.    However during a hearing yesterday, Judge Eugene Daugherity threw out the suit because a new family attorney hasn’t taken up the case.

For years, Tracy Cusick’s death was listed as an accidental drowning after she was found dead in her home’s bathroom.  Her body was exhumed and new tests were done showing she was a victim of foul play.  Her husband Ken was the only adult around when she died.

Kenneth Cusick has never been criminally charged in his wife’s death.

Springfield Gives Okay For Hall High School Borrowing Plan

Governor Pat Quinn has signed off on allowing Hall High School to borrow 32 million dollars for a new school.

The governor signed a bill sponsored by State Senator Sue Rezin and State Representative Frank Mautino that gives Hall the okay to issue bonds not to exceed 32 million dollars.  Taxpayers in the school district will have the final say by voting in April whether or not to issue the bonds.

According to school officials, a Hall taxpayer with a 100 thousand dollar home will pay over 23 dollars more per month in property taxes for 30 years if the referendum passes.  School board members are going after grant money which could lessen the tax burden.

If the April referendum fails, Hall officials say they’ll renovate the current high school for 18 million dollars.