Bureau County added to federal disaster area

          Flood damage is expensive.  People who had flood damage from flooding along the Illinois River last month may try to receive help from the federal government.  Bureau County is among 14 counties added to the list of counties eligible for federal disaster aid. 

Livingston and Marshall Counties were also added.  The federal disaster declaration makes it possible for you to receive grants for temporary housing, home repairs or other disaster-related expenses.

La Salle County was included in the federal disaster area earlier this month.

First Canal Market of the season to include bicycle parade

          It’s not everyday you see a bicycle parade but there will be one in downtown La Salle Saturday.  Kids are encouraged to decorate their bikes, wagons, and big wheels and then parade down First Street.

          Lineup is at 9:30am at First and Wright Streets. 

          While the kids are enjoying the parade, you can see what’s on sale at the Canal Market.  The market will be set up in the La Salle State Bank parking lot.  It’s the first Canal Market of the season.  They’ll be held on the fourth Saturday of the month through the summer.

Hotel owner tells city council he’s still looking for investors

           It’s been years since you could book a room at the Kaskaskia Hotel and it looks like it will be at least a few more.  Blouke Carus owns the property in downtown La Salle.  He’s still looking for people willing to invest in the hotel’s restoration.  He explained the situation to the La Salle City Council Monday night.

          Carus says a four-star hotel is needed for VIPs that visit Carus Corporation and the Hegeler Carus Mansion.  He also believes that tourists want a better place to stay than what’s offered locally.

          His vision for a restored hotel includes 90 guests rooms and suites with deluxe mattresses and linens; banquet space, dinning space and a spa. 

          Carus says he hasn’t been able to find local investors or banks willing to support it and now has his eyes on a program through the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services that would allow foreign investors to put money into American projects while earning them green cards.

          Carus says they plan to pitch the idea in China but first they have to create a regional center in La Salle that would handle the process.  Carus says he needs 30 investors and $15 million.

Barge Company Responds To Marseilles Lawsuits

In response to two lawsuits filed by Marseilles flood victims, a barge company says it’s not their fault.

Ingram Barge Company out of Tennessee released a statement after some of its barges broke free April 18^th and hit the Marseilles Dam.  Company officials say flooding of homes happened because of historic high water.  They claim even before the barges crashed into the dam, city officials were advising people to evacuate because the river was threatening to breach a levee.

Barge officials say the lawsuits are “completely without merit”.  Removal of two remaining barges at the Marseilles Dam is ongoing.

Fatal Interstate Crash Near Sheffield

A man from Rockford is dead after a crash on Interstate 80 near Sheffield.

During thunderstorms Monday night, state troopers say 48-year old Tzantera Bach-Dalton was pulled off onto the shoulder of westbound I-80 when she was hit by Christina Elmers of Albany, Illinois.  Bach-Dalton’s SUV ended up in the ditch.  She was pronounced dead at the scene.  Elmers was taken to Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton.

The fatal crash is still under investigation.

Grand Opening Date Announced For IVCC Technology Center

Two years after the groundbreaking, the Peter Miller Community Technology Center should be ready for classes.

Illinois Valley Community College President Jerry Corcoran says a grand opening of the multi-million dollar building is tentatively planned for November with classes starting in January of 2014.  Corcoran says concrete curbs will be poured soon and second-floor ceiling and floor tile installation is underway.

The new building will house counseling, financial aid and admissions offices along with classes in electronics, drafting, machinery and computer networking.

Miller Group Charitable Trust helped kick start funding for the building with a one million dollar donation.  Miller Group Media includes AM 1220 WLPO, 99.3 WAJK, 96.5 the Wolf, the NewsTribune and AgriNews.

President Clinton Chimes In On Gay Marriage Debate In Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Former President Bill Clinton is calling on Illinois lawmakers to legalize same-sex marriage.

In a statement Tuesday, Clinton says Illinois “has stood for the proposition that all citizens should be treated equally under the law” since the days of Abraham Lincoln. Clinton says Lincoln dedicated his life to ensuring equal opportunity for all citizens and that in the 21st century that should include allowing gay marriage.

The Illinois Senate approved a law legalizing gay marriage in February. The measure is pending in the Illinois House, where supporters and opponents have been heavily lobbying legislators.

Gov. Pat Quinn supports the bill.