Update- investigators release names of drowning victims

If you were following the story about the men who drowned in Marshall County, they were 33-year-old Mario Jackson and 23-year-old Anthony Grays of Memphis, Tennessee.

The two were last seen swimming in a pond Monday afternoon on a property in rural Washburn.  The pair had apparently finished a painting job at the property and decided to go for a swim.

Their bodies were found several hours later by members of a dive team.  Autopsies were performed Tuesday.  An investigation continues.

Peru hires lobbyist

Peru will be paying someone to put in a good word for it in Springfield.  Lobbyist Tim McAnarney has been brought in to push for the City of Peru. 

The city council with the backing of Mayor Scott Harl Monday night agreed to hire McAnarney for 24 thousand dollars for one year.  Earlier in the day, Harl showed McAnarney around town.

Aldermen Dave Potthoff and Ryan Radtke say they agree with Harl’s thinking that they need to have someone representing them if they want to receive state money for infrastructure work.

Alderman Rodney Perez wasn’t convinced and was the lone no vote. 

McAnarney says he’s worked for Springfield, Peoria, and Chatham along with doing dealings involving the McCommick Place in Chicago.

The council didn’t actually approve a contract nor did they outline their expectations for McAnarney. 

New Video Gaming Numbers Are Out

The latest video gaming numbers are in and truck stops and bowling alleys continue to be the most popular places to gamble in the Illinois Valley.

Between Road Ranger’s in Ottawa, Princeton and Mendota, over $1.6 million dollars was wagered in June on video gaming with over $1.4 million dollars won.  When it comes to bowling alleys, Bowl-Rite Lanes in Marseilles leads the way with 351 thousand dollars wagered.  Gamblers dropped in 298 thousand dollars at the Illinois Valley Super Bowl in Peru.

As far as local bars go, Shaker’s Lounge in Ottawa leads the way with 428 thousand dollars played on video gaming.  The top video gaming spot in La Salle is the 9^th Street Pub while the most money wagered at a bar in Peru was at Flo’s.

Video gamblers in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam County wagered $8.5 million dollars in June and won $7.9 million.

Madigan to seek re-election, not run for governor

     CHICAGO (AP) – Attorney General Lisa Madigan says she’ll seek another term instead of running for Illinois governor next year.

     In a Monday statement, the Chicago Democrat says she’s been considering the decision for months but she enjoys her current job.  She says mulled the gubernatorial run because of the “need for effective management.”

     However, she says one factor is in her decision is that her father is House Speaker Michael Madigan. She says the state wouldn’t be well-served with a governor and speaker from the same family. 

     Lisa Madigan hadn’t given any hints about her decision, telling reporters earlier Monday that she was still thinking it over. But over the months she’d raised big money and been vague on her plans, fueling talk that she would challenge Gov. Pat Quinn next year.

Several people hurt after crash on Route 6

          A crash that injured several people briefly closed a stretch Route 6 near Utica.  The accident happened around 4:15pm Monday, about one mile east of Route 178.

          A car went off the road and into a cornfield.  One person was taken by Lifeflight from the scene.  Others were taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru.

          The La Salle County Sheriff’s Department is investigating.

Mautino explains concealed carry rules

Would you like to carry a concealed weapon?  Illinois became the final state in the nation to approve concealed carry legislation last week, but you’ll need to go through training courses according to one of the lawmakers who negotiated the bill.

Democrat State Representative Frank Mautino expects $300,000 people to apply for concealed carry permits.  If you’re one of them you’ll have to take so many hours of training.

Mautino says the class will basically be the National Rifle Association class and one about Illinois laws, including the 23 places you’re not allowed to take a gun.

Permit applications will be handled through the Illinois State Police.  You will need to take the training courses, get finger-printed, and undergo a mental-health background check.

Mautino thinks getting a permit will take longer during the first year.  You can learn more about the process by listening to an interview with Representative Mautino at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Major Construction Project Underway In Ottawa

Let the headache begin in Ottawa.

Illinois Railway workers are rebuilding a crossing on Route 23 and Fremont Street in Ottawa.  The project will last a week and will close Route 23 to traffic near Jefferson School just north of Route 6.

The official detour from the Illinois Department of Transportation takes northbound traffic to Route 6 then to Route 71 and onto Interstate 80.  The southbound detour will take traffic onto Interstate 80 to Route 71 onto Route 6 and then back onto Route 23.

Ottawa Police plan to help with traffic control at the Route 6 and 23 intersection south of the railroad crossing.

Mendota Relay for Life Surpasses Fundraising Goal

The fourth annual Relay for Life of the Upper Illinois Valley was a rousing success.

Just over 154 thousand dollars was raised at the Mendota relay for the American Cancer Society.  Nearly 60 teams stayed up all night Saturday into Sunday morning at Lake Mendota.

In just four years, the Relay for Life of the Upper Illinois Valley has grown by over 40 teams and 100 thousand dollars.

West Nile Found In Bureau And Putnam Counties

How have the mosquitoes been around your house?  The number of West Nile cases is starting to add up in Illinois.

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, a mosquito batch last Tuesday in Mark tested positive for West Nile Virus.  Back on June 25^th, mosquitoes in Bureau tested positive for the virus.

West Nile can be given to humans if bitten by infected mosquitoes.  Common symptoms are a slight fever and headache.  Health officials also test dead birds for the virus.

La Salle County hasn’t had any positive cases of West Nile this year.

Race To Be Illinois Governor Grows By One

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Republican state Sen. Kirk Dillard is set to announce his 2014 gubernatorial bid.

The former chief of staff to Gov. Jim Edgar will begin a two-day statewide fly-around today. Dillard’s two-day campaign includes stops Monday in Chicago, Moline and Decatur. On Tuesday, he’ll be in Peoria, Lombard, Murphysboro and Rockford.

Dillard lost in the 2010 GOP gubernatorial primary by only 193 votes. But he contends this time he’s the Republican who can win the general election.

Dillard is the fourth Republican to announce a challenge to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn since June. He joins state Treasurer Dan Rutherford, state Sen. Bill Brady and venture capitalist Bruce Rauner.