Oktoberfest to return to Bureau County Fairgrounds

If you can’t make it to Munich this weekend, how about a ride to Princeton instead?  Oktoberfest is being celebrated Saturday at the Bureau County Fairgrounds.

You’ll be greeted with authentic German music and the smells of traditional German food according to Kathy Costerisan, one of the people putting it together.  There will be costume and polka contests.

Oktoberfest at the fairgrounds will cost you $5 at the door plus $10 for dinner.  Drinks, which will include a variety of German beers, are extra.  The doors open at 4pm.  The food will be served from 5-8p,.  The music will go until 10pm.  It’s a fundraiser for the fairgrounds.

You can learn more about it by listening to an interview that’s available at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Madigan waiting on pension vote to be scheduled

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan says he’s waiting for a vote to be scheduled on a pension overhaul.

      But the Chicago Democrat says any pension plan must be “meaningful” in order for him to call it for a vote. He didn’t elaborate. 

      Madigan spoke to reporters Sunday following a slating of Democratic candidates. He serves as the state party’s chairman. 

      Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton had each backed competing pension plans earlier in the year. An impasse led to the formation of a committee tasked with finding a solution to the $100 billion shortfall.

      Madigan and Cullerton sued Gov. Pat Quinn for halting lawmakers’ pay over pension inaction. A judge is expected to rule soon. Madigan says they’ll likely appeal the case if the ruling doesn’t go their way.

Robber faces trial in LaSalle County

A Chicago man is now doing time for an armed robbery in Naperville, but he’ll be in Ottawa court in November. Dennis Clark Jr. was officially charged with armed robbery Friday in LaSalle County Court. His trial date is November 11 before Judge H. Chris Ryan. Clark is accused of robbing the Verizon Store on Route 251 in Peru on August 3. While responding to that call, Peru’s K-9 , Kali was killed in a traffic accident. The dog’s death can be considered during the sentencing phase assuming Clark is found guilty.

　

Fundraiser for bloodied Civil War flag

The “Poundstone Civil War” flag needs a cleaning, but its blood stains will stay. The flag – representing LaSalle county’s first regiment – got stained as a rural Grand Ridge resident, Sgt. George Poundstone, lead a charge against Jackson, Mississippi. Poundstone fell wounded and placed the flag inside his uniform. The South later returned it after the war. David Reed, president of the Streator Historical Society, says tonite’s dinner at the Streator VFW will help raise a portion of the funds to have the flag put under special UV glass. If enough money is raised, a Streator resident will offer matching funds. The chicken spagetti dinner is from 4 – 7:30 in the VFW just south of Streator City park.

Grease fire heavily damages Ottawa home

An Ottawa house is uninhabitable, but the residents and pets are safe after a grease fire heavily damaged a kichen and living room this morning (Sunday). Ottawa Fire Department’s Captain Haywood said his men were at 1517 West Madison in three and half minutes. Just before 11am, firemen removed a kitchen window to allow them to extinguish the fire in a short time. Firemen then focused on “hot spots” and clearing smoke out. The rental house is owned by a Marseilles man. The four residents and pets are okay, though the pets did go to the vet. Haywood said the structure received 30-thousand dollars damge and 15-thousand in contents were destroyed.