Peru mayoral candidates participate in a second forum

Swimming pools, roundabouts, and development- some of the topics Peru voters wanted to know about just days before the election.

The four candidates answered questions before an audience of 110 Sunday during a forum moderated by the League of Women Voters at the Peru Public Library.

Former Mayor Don Baker reminded people of what he was able to do during the 40 plus years he spent in office including the Illinois Valley Regional Airport and the hydroelectric plant.

Newcomer Mike Hart made his case by running the numbers from the city’s budget stressing the importance of funding police pensions and keeping a watchful eye on department spending.

Mayor Scott Harl says he found the office in good shape but thinks he would be leaving it in better shape and he has added business and industry to town.  His other challenger, Jim Giordano says he’s worked in both the public and private sectors and understands infrastructure funding and development and the process for grant funding.

One question early in the forum stumped them all- it was about work to the columbarium at cemetery- none of the candidates say that coming.

Peru Bound Singer Wins Big Country Music Honor

When Brantley Gilbert hits Peru August 3^rd he’ll be the reigning New Male Vocalist of the Year.

Gilbert won the ACM award last night and also performed on the awards show.  He was also nominated for Best New Artist.  Gilbert is booked for the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in August as part of the Concerts for a Cause series organized by Lou’s La Grotto.

Tim McGraw is also coming to the Peru airport July 6^th.  His opening act Love and Theft was nominated for both Vocal Duo of the Year and best New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year.

Past performers at Concerts for a Cause like Eric Church, Jason Aldean and Little Big Town all won ACM awards last night.

Illinois woman killed in Afghanistan

An Illinois woman has been identified as one of six Americans killed in an attack in southern Afghanistan.   Anne Smedinghoff, a foreign service officer with the U.S. State Department, died Saturday during a mission to donate books to students in southern Zabul province.  The 25-year-old from the Chicago area is the first American diplomat to die on the job since last year’s attack on the U.S. diplomatic installation in Benghazi, Libya. She aided Secretary of State John Kerry on a visit to Afghanistan last month. On Sunday, Kerry described Smedinghoff as “vivacious, smart” and “capable.”
 Smedinghoff’s parents said in an emailed statement to The Washington Post that their daughter “particularly enjoyed the opportunity to work directly with the Afghan people.”   Smedinghoff previously served in Venezuela.

Catholicism and same sex marriage

Will the Catholic Church approve of same-sex marriage? A former University of Illinois professor says “no” and will explain the Church’s stance in a series of programs the weekend of April 19 in Peru. Dr. Kenneth Howell, a former Presbyterian who converted to Catholicism will speak in St. Joseph’s Hall in Peru at 7pm Friday on “The Papacy and the Crisis of Christianity in Western Culture. At 9am Saturday, his topic will be “Same Sex Marriage – Is it about Equality”? Later he’ll speak of his conversion to Catholicism. Howell was fired from the University of Illinois for teaching the Church’s stance on Homosexuality. Howell is in great demand as a speaker and his programs are free.

someone’s fire got away

On a windy day….someone somewhere is going to try and burn something with it getting out of control. Such a call came to Princeton Fire Department’s about 12:30pm Saturday. Eight firemen were called to a ravine with burning timber logs three and a half miles Southeast of Princeton. Princeton firefighters asked for help from four other departments to extinguish the fire which burned about 13 acres. Firemen returned to the station about 5:15pm. No injuries. Depue, Bureau, Malden Tiskilwa and 10-33 ambulance assisted.

Record crowd for IVAR auction

Grand Bear Lodge in Utica hosted a record crowd for the IVAR Building and Care Fund Auction Saturday night. IVAR’s Heidi Milner said four hundred fifty people attended and bid approximately 45-thousand dollars on hundreds of donated items. Milner told AM 1220 WLPO the totals are not final and will get close to last year’s numbers. Miller Group Charitable Trust made a donation to the event. Milner says IVAR is ecstatic with the results and says once again our community comes through in donations and attendance. IVAR has a book sale coming June 9. Their store in Peru is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 1 – 6 and Saturday 10 – 4.

computers vs crashers

 In Normal, teams of high school students from central Illinois have taken part in a contest to see how well they can fend off computer hacking attacks. Their opponents, operating from a separate room at Illinois State University, were ISU computer science students and alumni. The contest was sponsored by the Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship program, which is administered by the National Security Agency.

 

election decision

Township, Mayoral and school board candidates will likely be on edge Tuesday night as the votes are counted. Perhaps the voters, too. A question for LaSalle County is whether low voter turnout may make for easier passage for referendums on electrical aggregation and the “1% sales tax for LaSalle County Kids”. The latter is returning as proponents thought they didn’t make their case clear enough in November. Also to be watched is the Peru Mayoral race which could be a “confidence” vote on current Mayor Scott Harl. We’ll be watching to see if past Mayor Don Baker can return to office or if challengers Jim Giordano or Mike Hart win. Likewise, the City of Spring Valley mayoral race should be interesting with Mayor Cliff Banks opposed by current alderman, Walt Marini and Jack Narczewski. It should be fascinating to see if the “Reform Peru Township” movement, coming to light with past News Tribune articles, can unseat the current officeholders. AM 1220 WLPO will have election updates every 15 minutes Tuesday night.

weather damage?

How did you fare with the high winds yesterday? According to the Chicago office of the National Weather Service, a Mendota observer reported quarter inch hail shortly after 10pm. About thirty minutes later, the same observer noted a 51 mph wind gust. Our highest wind gust Saturday was 56 mph around 1:30pm.