Changes to allow liquor sales in south Ottawa placed on file

You can drink alcohol on the south side of Ottawa but you cannot buy it there, yet.  The city is one step away from allowing stores and restaurants south of the Illinois River to sell or serve alcohol.

The Kroger store on the south side had asked about selling alcohol but before the city council could change the rules they had their attorney research the ban on booze and if a referendum would be needed to change the rules.

Attorney Keith Leigh told the mayor and city council Tuesday night that the 1941 referendum to keep South Ottawa dry only pertains to unincorporated parts of the township.

Changes to the city’s liquor ordinance were placed on file last night and could be finalized later this month.  The changes would allow stores to apply for a type “C” license to sell packaged liquor and for restaurants to apply for an “R” license to serve it.  Mayor Bob Eschbach says restaurants serving liquor would have to make most of their money from food sales.

Eschbach says he has not heard any complaints about changing the rules.

Ottawa preparing for a potential business

If things work out in Ottawa’s favor you could see a new business on the east end of Champlain Street.  Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach says he cannot say a lot about a company that is considering a site just beyond the city limits.

The city council Tuesday night talked about extending the Interstate 80 Tax Increment Financing District for the potential employer.

Eschbach says if the company agrees to come to Ottawa the land would need to be annexed into town and added to the TIF district.  He would not hint as to what type of business it would be but says there could be more to see in the next few months.

La Salle County Sheriff and staff target of a federal lawsuit

Getting arrested normally isn’t a pleasant experience but a woman from Grundy County claims the La Salle County Sheriff Deputies and officers intentionally degraded and humiliated her while she was being booked.

Dana Holmes of Coal City is suing Sheriff Tom Templeton, two officers and two deputies because she says she was carried into a cell and stripped naked with a only a blanket to cover herself while being processed after a DUI arrest on May 18.

The suit was filed Monday in Chicago.  Holmes is being represented by Ekl, Williams and Provenzale, LLC.

La Salle County Sheriff Tom Templeton says he hasn’t seen the lawsuit.  Todd Martin of the La Salle County States Attorney’s office will represent the county in the case.  He says they haven’t been served yet and that he cannot talk about pending lawsuits.

Ottawa Teen Hurt In Fiery Crash

A fiery crash sent an Ottawa teen to the hospital.

According to the state police, Luke Piercy of Ottawa was on North 30^th Road northwest of Ottawa Sunday morning when he drove off the road and into a ditch.  From there he hit several fence posts and hit a tree causing his car to catch on fire.

Piercy was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.  He was ticketed for DUI and underage drinking.

Rezin Part Of Group Regulating Fracking In Illinois

If you’re passionate about “fracking”, you may want to put a bug in Senator Sue Rezin’s ear.

The Morris Republican has been appointed to Illinois’ Task Force on Hydraulic Fracturing Regulation.  Rezin and other task force members will see if changes are needed to a “fracking” law that passed in June.

Supporters say “fracking” related mining brings jobs while opponents think its harmful to the environment.

Government Shutdown Not Affecting Gas Prices

So far, the government shutdown hasn’t affected what you’re paying for a gallon of gas.

Prices in the Illinois Valley remain between $3.24 and $3.39 a gallon.  Ottawa has several stations selling at $3.24 a gallon.  If you’re driving to Dixon for whatever reason, you should fill up since gas there is $3.04 a gallon in some spots.  Dixon has the cheapest gas in the state.

The average price of unleaded dropped by 28 cents last month in Illinois.

Illinois Goes Forward With Healthcare Changes

CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois is opening its new health insurance marketplace, an online site where you can comparison shop for coverage.

The marketplace is called Get Covered Illinois and it’s a key part of President Barack Obama’s health care law.

You have until Dec. 15 to sign up if you want coverage to start Jan. 1. After that, you can still enroll through the end of March to avoid penalties for 2014.

For more information about the health insurance marketplace, click http://getcoveredillinois.gov/