Pink fire truck visits Peru to show support for a retired firefighter

Traffic stopped as a line of fire trucks and ambulances rolled down Route 251 in Peru but there wasn’t an emergency; it was a visit from the Pink Heals fire truck.

The organization made up of firefighters and paramedics tours the country to raise support for people with cancer and they visited the Peru fire station Sunday. They came to town in an old fire truck and an SUV painted pink.

Joel Mains of Crystal Lake was one of the firefighters.  He says they planned a trip to Peru to show support for retired Peru Firefighter Gary Eccles who has cancer.

Mains says he gets an emotional high from letting people know he supports them.

A drive-thru dinner for Eccles is being planned for Saturday, September 28.  On the menu- pork chop sandwiches and burgers.

Anhydrous Ammonia Leak In McNabb

If you noticed a foul smell last evening in and around McNabb, it was from an anhydrous ammonia leak.

Fire and police in Putnam County got a 911 call around 8 o’clock for a large leak at an agricultural plant along route 89.  A stretch of the road was closed while crews dealt with the leak.

Most of the emergency crews had left the call by 8:15.

Injured L-P Teacher Released From ICU

The long road to recovery continues for L-P math teacher Matt Makeever.

According to family members, the 25-year old was released from the intensive care unit last Thursday at St. Francis Medical Center.  He continues with physical therapy, he’s able to read now and mess around with a cellphone.  Makeever is also completely off a ventilator.

He’s been at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria since July 20^th when he was hit in the left side of his head by part of a train along 1^st Street in La Salle.  Makeever underwent successful facial reconstruction surgery last Monday.

A substitute teacher has taken over Makeever’s duties at L-P.

Headline Acts Announced For Sandwich Fair

A man who once co-headlined a “Concerts for a Cause” show is headlining this year’s Sandwich Fair.

Chris Cagle will play in Sandwich Friday, September 6^th.  His opening act will be rising country star Dustin Lynch.  Lynch’s song “Cowboys and Angels” was nominated for CMT and ACM awards this past year and reached number 2 on the country charts.  Cagle had a number 1 hit in 2000 with “I Breathe In, I Breathe Out”.

Cagle co-headlined a 2007 “Concerts for a Cause” show with Jason Aldean.  Tickets to see Cagle and Lynch at the Sandwich Fair are on sale now.  They cost between 10 to 20 dollars.

Esteemed Peru Businessman Dies

A big business name in the Illinois Valley has died.

89-year old Anthony Mertel died Saturday.  Mertel along with his brothers owned Mertel Gravel Company until he retired.  He was also at one time the director of the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and former director of La Salle National Bank.

Service information for Anthony Mertel can be heard during In Memoriam on WLPO AM and FM.

2 killed this weekend in Chicago

Gun violence has claimed the lives of two men and wounded at least nine others in Chicago this weekend. The Sun-Times reports that 18-year-old Kenneth Barbour was shot Friday evening while arguing with another man in the Woodlawn neighborhood and died several hours later at Stroger Hospital. The other fatal shooting took place around 4 a.m. yesterday in the South Shore neighborhood. Twenty-one-year-old Jacoby Herron was shot multiple times.

IVAR Store 1st Birthday

Your pet’s best friend is celebrating its first anniversary today with all kinds of things to see and do. The IVAR STORE in Peru is open from 10 –2 and will welcome SCOOBY-DOO, Scentsy, Discovery Dog Training LLC and Pepper Pals. Kids games, temporary tattoos and food will be available. The IVAR STORE is at 1727 8^{th Street.}

Hy-Vee helps Operation Promise

Hy-Vee in Peru is stepping up to help “Operation Promise” next (this) Thursday through Saturday. The store will pay a portion of all purchases made with a special Hy-Vee receipt to “Operation Prom-ise”. The receipt will be availabe in the store, from “Operation Prom-ise” facebook page or at LP, St. Bede, Hall or Putnam County High Schools. “Operation Prom-ise” is overseen by Peru second ward alderman and fireman, Rodney Perez. Students from area high schools participate in the filming of a short movie about the dangers of driving drunk. The films are produced every two years and the current one is now in production.

Sweet Corn Festival last day

You can have sweet corn for breakfast, lunch and dinner today in Mendota. Sweet corn is for breakfast at Zion United Methodist, free Del Monte Corn available after the parade and a corn eating contest at 4:30pm. The 66^th Annual Sweet Corn festival starts its last day today with “Right Track Christian Outreach” performing at 9am in Veterans Park and VH1 Reality Stars – “Grand River Singers” perform at 11 in the Elks parking lot. A lot of regulars return – “Jesse White Tumblers”at Noon, Blue Saints Drum Corp and Golden Knights Drill Team at mid-afternoon. The high school hosts an adult singles tennis tourney all day.