D Construction hired for Peru airport work

When you’re landing a plane you would like to see the runway.  The Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru has needed to have the electrical circuit for the runway lights separated since the crosswind runway was completed a couple of years ago.

The work to do that will happen no later than this summer.  D Construction has been hired to separate the circuits increasing reliability of the lights.  It’s a $316,000 project that’s being paid for mostly by the Illinois Department of Transportation.  The city will only have to pay $16,000.

D Construction is also working on the apron expansion.

Break-in damages gymnasium of Hegeler Carus Mansion

If you want to see the inside of the Hegeler Carus Mansion take a tour; it’s easier than breaking in.  The historical site on the east side of La Salle was broken into Sunday night.

Someone threw a brick through a ground-floor window trying to get inside the mansion’s gymnasium and couldn’t.  But they were able to get in after using a garbage can to smash open a door.  A motion-detector alarm went off, apparently scaring away the intruder or intruders.

Kelly Klobucher, Executive Director of the Hegeler Carus Foundation says the brick and breaking glass damaged artifacts in the gym, including one which is unique, and possibly the only one of its kind in the world.

If you have information about the break-in, call the La Salle Police Department.   The mansion will re-open for tours Wednesday.

Winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket sold in Ottawa

          While a couple of gas stations in La Salle County were held up over the weekend, something good happened at the Express Lane in Ottawa.

          Somebody bought a winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket Saturday.  The ticket is worth just more than $133,000.

          The winner hasn’t come forward yet.     The store will receive a $1300 bonus.

Minor Train Derailment In Mendota

Part of a train hopped the track overnight in Mendota.

Mendota Police say one car of a Burlington Northern train derailed just before midnight last night.  The minor derailment happened on the southwest side of Mendota.

No one was hurt and everything is cleaned up.

Wild Weather Forecast

Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild ride this week with the weather.

After a day of ice, today’s forecast includes a steady temperature in the mid-40s with a shower and thunderstorm chance.  As the temperature actually rises overnight, tomorrow could produce severe thunderstorms with high temperatures in the mid-60s.

The spring-like weather will be short lived however with Thursday expected to be blustery and with a high around 20.

Grand Ridge Gas Station Robbed

Wintry weather didn’t stop a robber in Grand Ridge.

La Salle County deputies got a call just after 2:30 Sunday afternoon about a robbery at the Shell station in Grand Ridge.  Investigators say a man bought something at the gas station before demanding money out of the cash register.  The robber, who is white, then fled the scene.

No arrests have been made.  The state police are helping in the investigation.

The sheriff’s office has said nothing about a weapon being used or shown in the robbery.

Tuition And Costs Going Up At IVCC?

Could taking classes at Illinois Valley Community College become more costly soon?

The college’s audit/finance committee is meeting today at 5:30 to mainly talk about cash.  They’ll talk about tuition adjustment, course fees, student printing charges and a long-term financial forecast for IVCC.

The audit/finance committee will also talk about the Affordable Health Care Act, or “Obamacare”.

President Continues Gun Control Talks

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama will meet with police chiefs from three cities that have experienced mass shootings, part of his administration’s push to address gun violence.

Obama is drawing attention to the worst shootings of 2012, inviting the police chiefs from: Aurora, Colo., where 12 were killed in July; Oak Creek, Wis., where six died in a Sikh temple assault: and Newtown, Conn., scene of the most recent mass tragedy that left 20 first-graders dead.

A White House official says representatives from the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the Major County Sheriffs Association will also participate in today’s White House meeting.