IDNR is making improvements to the La Salle Lake entrance road and parking lot

          A local spot for fishing is being spruced up.  The entrance road and parking lot at La Salle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is being paved.  The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says the project is underway.

The entrance and parking lot might be temporarily closed while they’re working.  You should call the Illini State Park office to make sure it’s open.

The lake is open Wednesday through Sunday in October and closes for the season on October 13.  The work should be completed by the end of October.

Alleged Peru Cellphone Store Robber Awaiting Trip To Ottawa

The man accused of robbing a cellphone store in Peru will be in Ottawa court next Friday.

Dennis Clark Jr. of Chicago is doing time right now at the DuPage County Jail for a separate armed robbery charge in Naperville.  He will be arraigned in La Salle County next Friday for allegedly robbing the Verizon Wireless store along Route 251 in Peru on August 3^rd.  After arraignment, Clark Jr. will be sent back to DuPage County.

While responding to the armed robbery call, Peru K-9 Kali was killed in an accident.  La Salle County States Attorney Brian Towne says Kali’s death can be used as an aggravated factor against Clark Jr. during sentencing if he’s convicted.  However Clark won’t face an additional charge related to the dog’s death.

Clark was already on parole for a 2009 residential burglary conviction in Cook County.

Fight Against Sand Mines Continues In La Salle County

The Sierra Club of Illinois is trying to rally its troops to push for an extension of the moratorium on sand mines in La Salle County.

The environmentalist group plans to have a presence at a meeting next Thursday night where the La Salle County Development Committee will seek public input on updating the county comprehensive plan.  A big part of the comprehensive or land use plan is future of sand mining.

The current moratorium on new mining development in La Salle County ends October 1^st.  Despite some mining opponents claiming dozens of sand mines are itching to open in La Salle County, Environmental Service and Land Use Director Mike Harsted says he hasn’t received any new sand mine requests since Mississippi Sand submitted their plans.

Next Thursday night’s open house is at the Brookfield Township Hall and starts at 7.