Repairs Continue At Marseilles Dam

Nearly a month since the Marseilles Dam was damaged by seven barges, three of the barges remain at the site.

The Army Corps of Engineers believe it’ll take another two weeks before they completely remove the last three submerged barges.  In the meantime, crews were able to finish a temporary rock dike earlier this week to reduce river flows and to speed along repairs to the actual dam.

The new dike is over 300 feet long and is made from around 42 thousand tons of rock.

No More Chocolate Milk At L-P?

He may be an orthopedic surgeon but that doesn’t mean Dr. Peter Meier of the L-P School Board isn’t worried about obesity issues.

When awarding a 25 thousand dollar bid for milk next school year Meier suggested looking at dropping chocolate milk from the menu.  Meier said “chocolate milk isn’t exactly the healthiest thing in the world and they’re not doing students a favor by providing it.”  Meier pointed to obesity issues.

If the L-P board were to eventually stop offering chocolate milk it would be a cost savings.  Of the 25 thousand dollars the district will pay for milk next school year, 20 thousand of that is for chocolate milk.

No other board member said yes or no to Meier’s suggestion.

Fishing expo returns to Baker Lake Saturday

          Learning to fish is something you might have learned from you father or grandfather but for many kids in the Illinois Valley it’s a lesson taught by volunteers at the annual Kids’ Fishing Expo.

Bob Huber says he learned how to fish from his father and now he’s teaching his grandson.  He’s one of the people organizing the expo Saturday at Baker Lake in Peru.  He says they’ll teach kids how to bait a hook, catch a fish and clean it.

          It’s free and open to kids of all ages.  Younger children should be supervised by a parent.  Bait will be provide along with poles of you don’t have one.  Kids will also get a hot dog for lunch.

Registration begins at 9am.  The expo lasts until about 2om.  Kids will have a chance to win prizes.  It’s presented by the Better Fishing Association.

Learn more by listening to an interview available at the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

Grocery chain buying land in Oglesby

It’s been more than 10 years since you could shop at a grocery store in Oglesby, but officials with County Market plan to change that.

Company owner Rich Niemann visited Oglesby City Hall Wednesday to announce they’re in the process of buying land on West Walnut Street, west of Eureka Savings Bank.

Niemann says the sale is expected to close in November. He’s not sure when construction would be.  The land is included in TIF district and an enterprise zone.  How that could benefit the developments still has to be negotiated.

Niemanns says the store would have about 70 people on staff.

The grocery store would include what you find in most of their stores such as a pharmacy.  The nearest County Market is in Pontiac.

Streator Teen Sits In Jail After Fatal Motorcycle Crash

A Streator teen is still in jail for his alleged involvement in a crash that killed a motorcyclist.

19-year old Mason Erschen was arrested Saturday night and was officially charged this week with hit and run along with driving with a suspended license.  Deputies say 41-year old William Zadkovich of Streator was on his motorcycle Saturday night on South Bloomington Street in south Streator when he was hit by a car driven by Erschen.  Zadkovich was rushed to St. Mary’s Hospital where he died.  Deputies say Erschen fled the crash scene and was later tracked down by Streator Police.

He’s in the Livingston County Jail on 150 thousand dollars bond.

Hall Referendum Recount Starts Thursday

The saga surrounding the Hall Referendum vote continues tomorrow with a recount.

Eight people from Spring Valley filed a petition for a discovery recount after the final vote difference was only three.  They will be allowed to double check ballots in four of the 16 precincts by counting them by hand and sending them back thru a machine starting at 9 Thursday morning in the Bureau County Clerk’s office.

County Clerk Kami Hieronymus says no matter what the find, it doesn’t change things. Opponents have to file a motion with the courts to try and change the election result. The petitioners have until the end of the month to file an election challenge in the courts.

Thursday mornings recount is costing the petitioners 10 dollars per precinct.  The precincts they’re recounting are Hall 1, 2, 3 and 6.

The eight people who asked for the Hall Referendum recount are: Mary Alice Mueller; Dr. Silvio DaVito; Joe and Sharon Pyszka; Scott Stanke; Frank Koeppel; and Dr. Robert and Meg Kinsella.

Heat Settles In Over The Valley

Did you give in and turn on the air conditioning?

According to the National Weather Service, the high temperature reached 91 in Peru Tuesday.  Morris hit 92 with places like Pontiac and Rochelle hitting 93. 

Tuesday’s high temperatures were around 60 degrees warmer than the temperature in the Illinois Valley Monday morning when there was a freeze warning in effect. 

Botanical Market Coming To Ottawa

Has the warmer weather given you a case of “garden fever”?

Ottawa is hosting a Botanical Arts Market this Saturday from 8 until 2.  It’ll be near the Farmer’s Market along La Salle Street in the downtown.  A number of vendors will be offering a selection of live plants for sale.  If you want to sell plants at the market, call the Ottawa Visitor’s Center.

The market is part of Ottawa’s entry into a national competition called “America in Bloom.”