Fire At The Oglesby Taco Bell

A new sign is needed at the Taco Bell in Oglesby.

Oglesby firefighters were called to the Taco Bell/KFC building around 8:30 last night.  The main damage was done to the Taco Bell sign above the restaurants main entrance.  The Taco Bell lettering melted.

The cause of the fire is thought to be electrical.  The restaurants closed down at the fire departments suggestion.

Oglesby firefighters were on the scene for about an hour.

Peru hires waste hauler to collect yard waste bags

          Yard waste bags go out on your normal garbage day in Peru but that will be changing this summer.  Instead of city employees collecting yard waste bags, the city is hiring Illinois Valley Waste Services for the collection.  It’s the same company that picks up trash and recyclables.

          Alderman Dave Waldorf says it will cost the city $1 per household but save them money because they’ll no longer be paying for gas and landfill fees.  It will also make city workers available for other projects.

          You’ll still have to have a paper yard waste bag and city sticker only all yard waste bags will be collected on Mondays.  The change isn’t expected to happen until mid June.

Peru alderman says volunteers will maintain gardens

If you like planting and maintaining gardens, Peru could use you.

Alderman Rodney Perez would like to see volunteers maintain the gardens at Rotary Park, the airport and police and fire departments.  He says they would also maintain planters downtown and on Water Street.

Perez managed to get the blessings of other council members last night, though the city still plans to hire a landscaping company for other properties.

Perez thinks the volunteers could get things started for $5,000- a price lower than the $18,000 bid they had received from the Peru Greenhouse for maintenance.

Alleged Credit Card Schemer In Spring Valley

A woman from Spring Valley is accused of treating herself using phony credit cards.

Angela Steinz was arrested yesterday on a warrant for identity theft.  Spring Valley Police say Steinz got credit cards in other people’s names and used them to buy things.

Steinz was taken to the Bureau County Jail on 20 thousand dollars bond.  She was unable to come up with bond money.

Peru Chief Wants Tasers

Get aggressive with a police officer and you could get tasered, that’s if the officer has one.

Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei wants to have every officer equipped with a taser.  He thinks it could prevent officers from being injured by unruly people.  He explained his reasoning to the city council last night.

Bernabei says it’s something their insurance company wants them to do and it wouldn’t be paid for with tax dollars.  La Salle and Oglesby Police Departments have them.

Applebees Boss Says Restaurant Staying In Peru

Despite rumors you may have heard, Applebee’s in Peru isn’t closing.

General Manager of the restaurant Greg Shelton says as part of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, 25 Applebee’s stores including Peru have sales pending.  Shelton says legal notices of potential closures have been filed for these stores but he’s told the Peru store is staying open largely due to “strong revenues”.  He says the new owner is renegotiating the lease for the Peru Applebee’s.

Eight Applebee’s in the suburbs including Streamwood and Romeoville are closing.  AppleIllinois, LLC filed for bankruptcy last month.

Recovery Efforts Continue In Marseilles

If you were one of many displaced by flooding in Marseilles, chances are you don’t have internet access to fill out paperwork for federal assistance.

Computers with internet access and a link to flood assistance forms are available for public use at Marseilles City Hall and the Marseilles Public Library.  You’ll need to provide things like your current and pre-flood address, insurance information, a phone number, total household income and bank information if you want flooding assistance directly deposited.

Once you fill out the paperwork, a FEMA representative will call you in a few days to set up a visit.

Alleged Drunken Limo Driver Fired From His Job

GLEN ELLYN, Ill. (AP) – A limousine driver who erratically drove more than 20 suburban Chicago teenagers to a prom had an alcohol level nearly three-times the legal limit.

Richard Madison says he wasn’t intoxicated and that mechanical problems caused his erratic driving Saturday as he took the teenagers from Oswego East High School to their prom at a banquet hall near Glen Ellyn. But a DuPage County sheriff’s report says a Breathalyzer test indicated Madison’s blood-alcohol level was 0.22 percent. The legal limit for driving is 0.08 percent.

The 54-year-old Palos Hills man is charged with drunken driving and reckless conduct.

Madison has been fired from his job.