Diners watch “smash and grab”

Delaney’s doesn’t provide entertainment, but some diners this evening got some anyway. Witnesses told police they saw a “smash and grab” about 25 feet outside their restaurant window just before 6:30.

Oglesby Assistant Police Chief Mike Margis believes the thieves were trying to grab 40 thousand dollars in jewelry in a Springfield couple’s van, but all they got was a bag of medicines and dirty laundry. The thieves, Margis said, may have followed the couple from a Kane County flea market today.

Margis described the thieves as possibly hispanic. One was older and heavy set and another younger and thin. They drove off westbound in a dull blue minivan. Names are not being released. It may not be over for the victims either. Their address was on the medicines the thieves stole.

New Wildlife Sanctuary at Amboy

The Illinois Audubon Society is preparing to open its newest wildlife sanctuary.    A welcome celebration is scheduled for Oct. 13 at the Amboy Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary in Amboy.   The celebration will mark the official opening of the trails for public use. Visitors also can see a new herbarium and wetlands and learn about turtle nesting and sandhill cranes.   Deb Carey is director of the Dixon Park District. She calls the wildlife sanctuary an “incredible piece of land.”

County Comprehensive Plan open house

It won’t be comprehensive without your input. LaSalle County government officials are touring with the draft of a “comprehensive plan for the county”. It will be on display and open for comment tommorrow night at the Otter Creek Township Hall at 1607 East Main in Streator. Comments and concerns are accepted in writing at the open house. They can also be sent to the county’s environmental services and land use office in Ottawa.

Quinn visit offers road money

Governor Quinn was in town yesterday with money for local roads. Standing before an airplane and local politicians, Quinn announced cities, counties and townships across Illinois would be receiving 100-million dollars for extra road work. The money is from the Illinois Jobs Now program. Peru is receiving about 43-thousand dollars. How much a county or town gets is dependent on its population and the amount of roads.

Burgoo Festival adds new things

How do you plan an annual event drawing thousands people to a small village? You might put Mark Shafer in charge. Shafer is an experienced events planner who has developed projects at NIU in Dekalb that easily outdrew the 20-thousand expected in Utica next weekend. Shafer is at the helm of next weekend’s “Burgoo Festival” and says the County Historical Society is planning for more vendors with the addition of “Canal Market” – a former lumbershed just south of the canal. Shafer has kids games and even a train planned for the south end of town. “Burgoo stew” and other fare are served. Just about all the Historical Society campus will be open. One building on the south side of the canal is still undergoing renovations.

Charges upgraded in grandmother’s death

 A northern Illinois woman accused of shoving her grandmother during an argument has been charged with first-degree murder after the victim died of her injuries. Thirty-three-year-old Lynn Bingaman of Des Plaines was initially charged with aggravated domestic battery. But prosecutors accused her of the more serious offense Friday after the Cook County medical examiner determined that the woman’s grandmother died of blunt trauma and ruled her death a homicide. Bingaman has been denied bond and remains in custody.

Cavs Concert Saturday

The LP Cavaliers will play football Friday and throw a concert Saturday. The “Cavs concert for Cops 4 Cancer” will have “Dewey Oxburger” performing with Special Guest, “Cody Calkins”. The concert is a “go” – rain or shine” at Cedar Creek Ranch on Route 71, just outside Cedar Point. It starts at 5 and costs $5. Raffles, 50/50 drawings. Tickets on sale at the football game Friday and at the door Saturday night. Proceeds help “Cops for Cancer”, who assists families dealing with cancer issues and trying to make utility payments or put food on the table.

Focusing on domestic violence Wednesday

Is society raising enough awareness of domestic violence. No one knows for sure what goes on behind the walls of any house. ADV and SAS are asking you to join them for a walk and short program on the subject of domestic violence Wednesday at 6:30. They will gather in Plum Pavillion in Streator City park first then walk to “Park Place”, behind “Park Presbyterian Church”.

Council votes Monday to create pool referendum

Do you want to have a say at the ballot box about a new Peru Pool? Peru City Council will vote Monday night on putting an advisory referendum before voters asking if they want an increase in real estate taxes to pay for a new pool. On Facebook, “Friends of Peru Pool” has been vocal saying the city and Mayor Harl could come up with money without raising taxes. Mayor Harl believes “Friends of Peru Pool” deserve an answer and the referendum would give that. Aldermen Rodney Perez and Mike Radtke say they can’t see people voting to raise taxes and would rather poll the people by including surveys in the monthly utility bills. The advisory referendum would still give the council the final say on a new pool.