Local Oil Company’s Tax Dispute Heads To High Court

When the Illinois Supreme Court reconvenes next month, a case with local ties will be on the high court’s docket.

The suburb of Forest View is challenging an Ottawa appellate court’s decision about where exactly Hartney Fuel Oil Company should pay its sales taxes to.  While Hartney Fuel is based in Forest View, they have a sales office in Mark and because of that lower courts ruled they can pay Mark’s nearly 3 percent lower sales tax rate compared to Forest Views.

The state and Forest View officials have argued the Mark office has one contracted out worker who simply takes a phone call or receives a fax and sends all the information back to Forest View where the actual sales activity is happening.  Forest View and the state believe Hartney owes them 23 million dollars in taxes.

Oral arguments will be heard by the Supreme Court September 11^th.

Ottawa IDES office receives an award

Finding jobs for veterans has been a priority in Illinois.  The American Legion has recognized the Illinois Department of Employment Security’s Ottawa office for how they have help veterans.  The Ottawa office has received the American Legion’s national Employment Service Award.

Office Manager Nancy Curran was at a ceremony in Houston, Texas during the American Legion’s Convention.

The veteran unemployment rate in Illinois was lower than the national rate in 2011 and 2012.

Injured math teacher to be released from the hospital

While he may not be ready to return to the classroom, an LP High School teacher that was seriously injured after getting hit my a train will be released from the hospital this week.

Matt Makeever has been recovering from head injuries at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria since July 20.  LP High School announced Wednesday that Makeever will be released from the hospital Friday.

He’s undergone facial reconstruction surgery and is in physical therapy.

New public works superintendent picked for La Salle

          From the sewage plant to the snow plows- Sam McNeilly has been in charge of public works in La Salle for a while.  With his retirement approaching, the city has hired the former public works director of Flora, Jeff Bumgarner.

          Mayor Jeff Grove says Bumgarner was their top pick after meeting with three candidates Saturday.  Bumgarner will be the interim superintendent, training with McNeilly through December 1.  He’ll earn an annual salary of $72,000.  His first day is September 18.

La Salle hires company to demolish old bank drive-thru

          It’s been a few years since you cashed your paycheck at the old bank drive-thru on Second Street in La Salle.  The former La Salle National Bank drive-thru is being torn down soon.

          The La Salle City Council Tuesday night hired Lyle Trucking of Ladd to demolish the building for about $26,000.  Lyle wasn’t the lowest bidder but included work to protect the lot from sinking in the future.  The aldermen were torn forcing Mayor Jeff Grove to break the tie.

          The drive-thru will be used for parking.

Investigation continues into shooting on the Sandy Ford Bridge

          The Sandy Ford Bridge gunshot victim continues to improve at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

          La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne says Jeremy Wade is responsive and now talking from the hospital.  Towne seems to think Wade could be released from the hospital soon.  He’s being treated for a gunshot wound to his face and a broken hip.

          The man accused of shooting Wade, Richard Felton is still in the La Salle County Jail.  He’ll face indictment and arraignment next month.

          Towne says while the investigation continues, no one else has been arrested involving the shooting. 

La Salle firefighter returns home from wildfires

Seemingly every day in the national news there’s a story about a wildfire out west.  A local firefighter recently saw the destruction first hand.

A group of 20 specialized firefighters from Illinois battled a wildfire in an Oregon national forest for two weeks before coming home earlier this month.  One of the firefighters was Jason Sartin of the La Salle Fire Department.  Sartin and the others spent nine days creating fire line barriers with shovels and chainsaws by clearing brush and fallen trees so they couldn’t fuel the wildfire.

Sartin and the rest of his crew were initially deployed to Salt Lake City but fears of fires there never materialized.