Home Sales Up In The Valley

Home sales are up for most of the Illinois Valley.

According to numbers from the Illinois Association of REALTORS, 63 homes were sold in La Salle County last month, a 9 percent increase from the month before.  In Bureau County, 18 homes went off the market last month, an 80 percent increase from the month before.  Putnam County had two homes sell last month, same as January.

The median sale price of homes sold in La Salle County was 65 thousand, an 8 percent decrease from the month before.  The median price of Bureau County homes in February was 93 thousand dollars, 36 percent jump from January.  Homes sold last month in Putnam County cost 39 thousand dollars, 64 percent less than January.

County Clerk tries to avoid using schools as polling places

As schools try to ramp up security, do you think polling places should be in schools?

Every now and then talks in Springfield center on banning polling places in schools because of safety concerns.  When the April 9^th election arrives, La Salle County will have three polling places in schools: Dimmick, Rutland and Wallace Townships.

La Salle County Clerk JoAnne Caretto says her hands are tied in some precincts.

Caretto says when she started in the early 1980’s, the majority of polling places were in schools.

She says one option that’s been mentioned is for school’s to have an institute day on Election Day.

IV Food Pantry helps families prepare for Easter

          Have you made plans for Easter?  Nearly 500 families in the La Salle-Peru area will have something to eat because of the Illinois Valley Food Pantry. 

477 families were part of this year’s Easter distribution on Saturday.  Pantry director Donna Hess says the Waltham Presbyterian Church provided bunny-milk cartons with candy. 

Candidate Forums Lined Up Before Election

If you still think you need to be more informed before casting a ballot, AM 1220 WLPO is your place to hear from the candidates.

Tomorrow night, Mayor Scott Harl, Don Baker, Jim Giordano and Mike Hart will be on the air for a Peru Mayoral Forum.  Wednesday night it’ll be Spring Valley’s turn with Mayor Cliff Banks, Walt Marini and Jack Narczewski.  Finally on Thursday night candidates for the L-P School Board will be on AM 1220 WLPO including Jim Quesse, Al Cherpeske, Dr. Rose Marie Lynch and Rick Sipovic.

The forums all start at 6:05 and will all be streamed online at AM 1220 WLPO.com.  Call-in questions will not be taken.

Couple Inches Of Fresh Snow

Was the weekend snow the last winter blast?  In the rare occasion that the farther south you went the more snow you ran into, spots in the Illinois Valley got just a few inches yesterday.

Two inches was the going rate in most places in the listening area including Oglesby, Marseilles and Princeton.  A weather spotter in Pontiac measured 3 inches.

There is no snow in the forecast this entire week.

Medical Marijuana Bill Alive In Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The sponsor of a bill that would allow marijuana use for medical purposes in Illinois says the measure is just “one or two” votes short of passage in the House.

Rep. Lou Lang says he’s close to getting the support he needs for the four-year pilot program. The Skokie Democrat’s measure would allow patients with specific medical conditions to obtain marijuana.

Patients would be limited to 2.5 ounces every two weeks. Supporters say marijuana can relieve pain without the side effects of some prescription drugs.

Anita Bedell is with the Illinois Church Action on Alcohol and Addiction Problems. She says 2.5 ounces is “a huge amount” that would give patients an opportunity to sell what they don’t use.