No Pay Raise For Oglesby Cops

Seven Oglesby police officers won’t be getting raises this year.

The officer’s union and the Oglesby City Council agreed to a new one-year contract that includes a pay freeze and no longevity pay increases.  Officers could get a new perk in that the city will reimburse their Y membership if they pass a one-time a year physical fitness test.

The five patrolman and two sergeants covered by union had been without a new contract since April.

Large, impressive fireworks display planned in Hennepin

You’ll find more than a fireworks show in Hennepin Thursday.  The town is going all out for their 37^th annual July 4 celebration.  Independence Day will start early with a 5K run/walk at the Hennepin Pool.

          If you’re not a runner there will be bocce ball, bags, and BINGO.  Kids will be able to play in the jump houses.

          Even with all that planned, Village Board member Quentin Buffington says the fireworks will be impressive, featuring some 10-inch shells.  He thinks it will be the best display in the area.

          The family of former mayor Jack Grant has donated money for the fireworks along with Marquis Energy.  The fireworks will start at dusk. 

          Buffington says the fireworks are launched on the riverfront.  He says Front Street will be a popular place for watching the display along with a river-front park.

          Learn more about the events in Hennepin by listening to the interview at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Sewer monitors could prevent future backups in Peru

It only takes one unusually heavy rain to cause sewage to backup into basements.  Peru officials are hoping a special sanitary sewer flow monitor will let them know when sanitary sewers are reaching capacity.

The city has bought a cell phone link package that would attach to a sewer monitor and sound an alarm at the police department whenever the sanitary sewer is full.

The city council agreed to buy the package for $5,979 Monday night.  Alderman Dave Waldorf says if the alarm rings at the police department, someone at the station would page out the public works department.  Public works employees would then set up pumps to move water from the sanitary sewer to the storm sewer, hopefully preventing the water from getting into your basement.

Waldorf says the detectors will be in place on the south end of Marquette Road, 31^st Street, and the field north of Liberty Village.  It is one of several steps the city has taken to prevent backups after a number of basements took-on sewage in April.

Adopt-a-thon a huge success for IVAR

More than 20 local families are enjoying a new pet.  Illinois Valley Animal Rescue’s “Adopt-a-Thon” sent 17 dogs and 10 cats home with new owners Saturday and Sunday.

Chris Ellberg with IVAR was happy with the results especially since it was raining Saturday.  She says a few more adoptions are in the works.

During the “Adopt-a-Thon” you can take home a pet at a reduced cost.

Rafting Rescue Near Oglesby

The hazardous low head dam on the Vermilion River in Oglesby is still dangerous despite safety improvements.

Conservation Police Sgt. Hank Frazier says a 10-year old boy and his dad from Arlington Heights rented a raft Friday afternoon and got stuck at the dam near Buzzi Unicem.  After about 40 minutes, a second raft came by.  Frazier says those rafters were able to pull the boy to their raft just before it also got stuck in the dam.  A few minutes later, the dad’s raft broke free and two kayakers used ropes to pull the second raft to safety.

The boy was treated and released at the scene for hypothermia.  No tickets were issued.

Facebook Post About Oglesby Concert Whips Some People Into Frenzy

A performance by a Blues Brothers tribute band got plenty of publicity last night for Oglesby.  Some was positive publicity some was negative.

About an hour before “Jake and Elwood & The Big Fun Band” were scheduled to take the Oglesby Fun Fest stage Sunday night, a message went up on Oglesby’s Facebook page saying “ALERT: Two Joliet prison escapees last spotted on I-80 heading west, believed to be headed to Oglesby.”  The post was in reference to the Blues Brothers characters from the movie but not everyone got the reference.

Over 30 comments and 170 “shares” of the post quickly popped up with some taking the alert so serious they locked their doors in fear.

Gas Prices Dropping

The new month brings some relief at the gas pump.

After prices topped four bucks a gallon a few weeks ago, the price at the pump in Princeton and Utica is selling for $3.39 a gallon.  At Sapp Brothers in Peru the price is down to $3.41 a gallon.  Stations in Ottawa are at the high end charging $3.55 a gallon.

The lowest gas prices in the state according gasbuddy.com are at $3.11 a gallon in Normal.

Plans Announced For DePue Boat Races

With the calendar switching to July, there are only a few weeks before the DePue Boat Races return to Lake DePue.

Organizers hope for a lot less drama this year than last when race organizers had to scramble and pump water into the lake so that the water level was high enough for boats.  This year there is no drought so that shouldn’t be an issue.

Races will start July 26^th.  There will also be live music each night of the races plus a beer garden, raffles and a 5K Walk-Run.

Construction On New Love’s Travel Stop Starting Up

Construction on the area’s newest truck stop should start today.

According to the NewsTribune, a groundbreaking is planned today for a Love’s Travel Stop in Oglesby.  Company officials hope to be open by Thanksgiving.

The Oglesby Loves will be just west of Interstate 39 and also include a Hardees.  It’ll be larger than the Love’s in Utica.