Fireworks part of special night at Grand Bear Lodge

You’re used to fireworks on the Fourth of July but why not on the 13^th of July?  You can watch fireworks during a special La Salle County Broadcasting Fireworks night Saturday at Grand Bear Lodge in Utica.

          Jon Shap from 99.3 WAJK will be broadcasting from the Enchanted Forest from 7-9pm.  The indoor amusement park includes mini-golf, laser tag, and a zip line.

La Salle County Broadcasting includes WLPO AM and FM, 99.3 WAJK, and 96.5 The Wolf.

Accident on I-80 causes traffic backups

Just when you were trying to get home Friday evening, an accident involving a truck pulling a trailer stopped traffic on westbound Interstate 80.

          It happened around 4:30pm Friday near the Interstate 39 interchange.  Traffic was backed up beyond the Utica Route 178 exit.

          Shortly after that a minor accident on eastbound I-80 east of I-39 apparently caused a car to start on fire. 

          Illinois State Police and La Salle Fire and Ambulance were at the crash.  No one was hurt but traffic was backed up for more than 30 minutes on I-80 and Route 6 in Utica.

Craig Campbell added to “Concert for a Cause” line-up

          An up and coming country musician will be warming up the crowd during the next “Concert for a Cause.”  Craig Campbell will be opening for Brantley Gilbert Saturday, August 3 at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru.

          Tickets are $43 if you buy them at Lou’s La Grotto in Peru or Wyanet Carpet in Princeton.  More ticket information is available by visiting www.20inarowcountry.com.

          A portion of the proceeds will go to Peru Little League baseball and softball.

La Salle County Sales Tax Numbers Plummet

Have you shopped local lately?  Sales tax numbers are down for the third month in a row for La Salle County.

The La Salle County Public Safety Sales Tax brought in 210 thousand dollars in April, a 3 percent drop from April of 2012.  Dating back to November, the county’s sales tax revenues have went down five of the last six months.

So far this year the county has brought in around 32 thousand dollars less in sales tax revenue.

Wrecking Ball Coming To Buildings In La Salle

A longtime eyesore will soon be gone in La Salle.

Heavy machinery has gathered at the vacant Clark gas station along Route 6 and Bucklin Street.  The vacant gas station along with a few neighboring properties are being torn down to make way for a new Beck’s convenience store.

Construction barricades surround the property.