Hall Township Food Pantry benefits from unique gift ideas

What do you buy someone who has everything they need?  A few local families have turned their birthday gifts into food pantry donations.

Jan Martin of the Hall Township Food Pantry says they recently received much needed food from the family of Fred Penick of Ladd.  The 85 year old and his family celebrated his birthday by donating 433 pounds of food to the pantry. 

Geri Gillan of Ladd celebrated her 50^th birthday last month by donating 44 pounds of food and $170 to the pantry. 

Martin says they’ve also received food donations from people who have asked party guests to donate a food item.

The Hall Food Pantry is in great need of donations.

La Salle Rotary Park is ready for a grand opening

          A park that was once expected to take years to develop is ready for your picnics, kids and dogs.  A grand opening is Saturday for La Salle Rotary Park. 

          The park was started by the La Salle Rotary Club and has received help and donations from other local Rotary Clubs and the Operating Engineers 150.  And La Salle is paying for its share after applying for and receiving two state grants.

          Gary Gearhart of the La Salle Rotary Club says the landscape of the park, much of it a reclaimed mine, will make it valuable year-round.

 The park features a playground that’s wheelchair accessible, a dog park, shelters, and a lake.  There will also be a soccer field and eventually a disc golf course.

Ribbon cutting ceremonies for the different features in the park will begin at 11am Saturday.  The LP High School band will perform at 11:30am.  You’ll find the park off of the Troy Grove Blacktop.     

La Salle hires a new building inspector

          Adding on to your house?  A new man has been hired to inspect buildings in La Salle.  Chris Covert is the new building inspector.  He was approved by the City Council Tuesday. 

          Mayor Jeff Grove says Covert will work part-time for 120 days before being reviewed.  Covert’s first day is Wednesday.  He’ll make $21 per hour.

People and dog safe after canoe overturned

          One second you’re upright and the next you’re in the water- that’s what it’s like being in a canoe.  Everyone, including a dog, is okay after their canoe overturned on the Illinois River near the Starved Rock dam.

          It happened minutes before 1pm Friday.  The people on the canoe and their dog were helped out of the water by someone in a pontoon boat.  Utica Firefighters and area water rescues were called out to help but weren’t needed.

Tim McGraw Just Hours Away At Peru Airport

If you were waiting on the weather before buying Tim McGraw tickets, no need to wait around any longer.

Tomorrows forecast still calls for no rain, a day time high in the mid-80s and nighttime low in the upper-60s.  If you like to save a buck, tickets cost 60 dollars through midnight tonight but go up to 70 dollars the day of the concert.  Tickets are available at Lou’s La Grotto in Peru and Wyanet Carpet in Princeton.  You can also order them by calling Lou’s.

A portion of the proceeds from the Tim McGraw “Concerts for a Cause” show go to the March of Dimes.

School Supply Assistance Available For The Needy

It’s never too early to start planning how you’re paying for your child’s education.

The Salvation Army in Ottawa is taking applications for people who can use assistance in buying school supplies.  Families in need can apply through next Friday.  The school assistance help is for kids in 1^st through 8^th grade.

To get assistance you have to be in La Salle County and meet certain income requirements.

Streator Runaway Comes Home

After a month away from family, a teenage girl is back with them.

14-year old Daley Flynn was considered an endangered runaway after being declared missing since June 2^nd.  She’s now back with relatives.

Streator Police had put out fliers with Flynn’s picture believing she was still in Streator or Ottawa and maybe with a man in his 20s.

Utica Celebrates The 4th On The 5th

Haven’t had enough fireworks yet?  Then be in Utica tonight.

The village’s annual fireworks display will center around Carey Memorial Park.  Besides the fireworks there will also be food and drinks.

Feel free to bring your lawn chairs and or blankets.