Pool referendum decision expected next Monday

How much is a public swimming pool worth to you?  The mayor of Peru is suggesting a new pool would cost homeowners more for property taxes each year.

The pool referendum would ask you if you’re willing to pay higher property taxes to pay for a new pool according to Mayor Scott Harl.  The city council debated the idea Monday night.  The referendum would be advisory.

That worries Aldermen Rodney Perez.  He doesn’t think people will support a referendum that raises their taxes and wants the city to cut more money from the budget to pay for a new pool.

The group Friends for Peru Pool doesn’t want a referendum either.  Group member Debbie Noonan says the city budgeted for a pool for more than 80 years

But Harl says there’s nothing else to cut that would pay for a pool.

The aldermen will have a resolution to vote on next Monday.

Ottawa takes second place at a national gardening competition

          A season of planting, weeding and watering paid off for the green thumbs in Ottawa.  The city took second place their first time competing in the America In Bloom competition. 

          Mayor Bob Eschbach and a few volunteers traveled to awards ceremony in Orlando, Florida over the weekend.  Eschbach says he is proud of their strong showing and is looking forward to reviewing the judges’ recommendations. 

          Ottawa earned a four out of five rating and a Special Mention Award for the transformation of its downtown from “what was once an overwhelming concrete city island.”

          Cleanliness, banners and murals also helped Ottawa to be considered one of the top three communities for Overall Impression.

Earlville Drive-In Falls Short In Digital Projector Vote

The results are in and the Earlville Drive-In unfortunately was not one of the top four vote getters to win a new digital projector.

Honda is donating four digital projectors to the top vote getting drive-ins across the country.  In the latest round of voting that ended Saturday night, theater’s in Tennessee, Missouri, Ohio and South Carolina all won digital projectors.

The movie industry is switching to all digital at the end of the year which has the Earlville Drive-In and other non-digital theaters like the Majestic in Streator frantically trying to find money to make the digital switch.

New digital projectors can cost $80,000.

Grease Fire In Ottawa Leaves Four People Without A Home

Four people are without a home after a kitchen fire in Ottawa.

Ottawa fire crews were called to a one-story house on West Madison Street yesterday morning just before 11.  Captain Steve Haywood says the fire destroyed the homes kitchen and living room.  Two cats were rescued and taken to a local vet.  The renters in the home got out okay.

The home is owned by Denny McGill of Marseilles.

County-wide Flu Clinics Announced

With temperatures cooling off, let it be a reminder to get a flu shot.

The La Salle County Health Department is having the first of six flu shot clinics Thursday at their office in Ottawa.  Flu and pneumonia shots are available from 9am until 6pm.  No appointments are needed.

If you don’t like a shot, you can a flu spray.  Flu vaccines are $25 and pneumonia shots are $70.

For the rest of the health department flu shot schedule, click http://www.lasallecounty.org/hd/ph/fluclinic.htm

Local Man Is Certified Conceal-Carry Instructor

Edward Meine could be a busy man in the coming months.

The Earlville man is one of 55 state-approved conceal-carry firearm instructors in Illinois.  He’s the only approved firearms instructor in the Illinois Valley.

Applications to get a concealed-carry license will be available in January according to the Illinois State Police.  A concealed-carry license is good for five years and costs 150 dollars.

For information on concealed-carry, go to http://www.isp.state.il.us/firearms/ccw/instructor-registry.cfm