Millions Gambled On Video Gaming

As expected, more money went into video gaming machines last month in the Illinois Valley then came back out to gamblers.

Adding up video gaming wagers in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam County equals $8.2 million dollars wagered in May with $7.8 million won.  $6.3 million was wagered last month in video gaming in La Salle County, an increase of about 400 thousand dollars the month before.  Video gamers in Bureau County wagered $1.7 million in May, up from $1.5 million in April.  In Putnam County, 241 thousand dollars was wagered in May, about 70 thousand more than in April.

The most action in the area continues to be at Road Ranger truck stops in Mendota, Princeton and rural Ottawa with nearly two million dollars played between the three businesses.

Stabbing In Marseilles

A weekend stabbing has a Marseilles man in jail.

Justin Seibert was arrested for allegedly stabbing a man Saturday in the 700 block of Colorado Street in Marseilles.  The victim was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.  His name hasn’t been released.

Seibert was arrested for aggravated battery with a weapon.  He’s at the La Salle County Jail on 30 thousand dollars bond.

La Salle firefighters called to rubbish fire

Black smoke rising from the northeast side of La Salle was from a rubbish fire.  La Salle firefighters went to the old M & H Zinc factory after receiving numerous 911 calls early Monday evening.

Old railroad ties somehow caught fire in an area that looked like it used to be a building.  Firefighters were there for two hours.

Peru hires companies for road and sewer work

Street repairs and storm sewer separation work are what you can expect in Peru.
Len Trovero Construction will be doing the Motor Fuel Tax Street program for $261,000. The city council accepted their bid Monday night. It was the only bid that met the specs.

Opperman Construction will be separation the storm and sanitary sewer in the part of town engineers call area one. The area goes from Route 251 to Grant Street and from the river north to the library.
They had the lowest bid out of eight or nine bidders at $493,000.
Sewer separation work will likely start in mid July and take three months.

Ottawa Kmart Sold?

Is there finally a buyer for the old Kmart in Ottawa?

While rumors are swirling that RP Lumber has bought the property south of Interstate 80, Ottawa Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Boyd Palmer won’t confirm or deny the purchase.  He does hope there’s a sale announcement within weeks.

Palmer also says the old Hardees has been sold but won’t say who bought it.  He says the empty Walmart building isn’t on the market because an owner wants to sell that property along with 30 others all at one time.

WLPO News did leave a message with RP Lumber about the potential Kmart purchase.

Online Petition Against Mississippi Sand Mine

Even though his mind is on pensions, local opponents to a sand mine want Governor Pat Quinn to step in.

A petition has well over 15 hundred signatures asking the governor to stop the Mississippi Sand Mine near Starved Rock State Park.  The petition says the frac sand mine will have “long-term repercussions for Starved Rock State Park’s tourism and people and animal’s health.

The sand mine proposal has met heavy resistance since it was first proposed in 2011.  The Sierra Club of Illinois has been an outspoken opponent.

You can find the petition at http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/governor-quinn-stop-the-1.fb28?source=s.fb&r_by=5580412

Fatal Motorcycle Numbers Up In Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – State figures show fatal motorcycle accidents are up 13 percent in Illinois.

There were 131 fatal motorcycle fatalities in 2010. That figure rose to 148 accidents in 2012.

Illinois State Police says it’s hard to find a single reason for the increase, especially since overall motorcycle collisions are declining. Still, more people are riding as gas prices climb. In the past decade, there’s been a 57 percent increase in the number of registered motorcyclists in Illinois. Some experts say new riders may not be getting proper training.

Illinois is one of three states that doesn’t have a helmet law.

New Dog Park Planned In La Salle

Looking for a place to take your dog so they can burn off some energy?  How about a dog park?

A new dog park is set to open July 6^th on the far east end of La Salle.  It’s part of the ongoing Rotary Park project.  Organizers plan to have two fenced in areas separating small and large dogs.

Rotary Park is off the Troy Grove blacktop west of Interstate 39.  Besides the dog park, it’ll include a fishing pond, playground equipment, ball diamonds and a soccer field.

Resurfacing Work Between Ottawa And Marseilles

If you normally drive Route 6 between Ottawa and Marseilles, be prepared to learn a new route.

Starting today, construction crews are resurfacing Route 6 from Route 71 in Ottawa to the east end of Marseilles.  Workers will also rebuild some sidewalk ramps, make minor bridge repairs and work on traffic signals.

All this work between Ottawa and Marseilles should be done by mid-September.