Ottawa Council Lifts Alcohol Ban South Of The River

For the first time since World War Two, buying and selling alcohol south of the Illinois River in Ottawa is okay.

The Ottawa City Council last night lifted the ban on alcohol sales in south Ottawa.  Mayor Bob Eschbach called the ban “archaic” and says people are pretending if they think no one is drinking south of the river.

Krogers led the push to get rid of the alcohol ban on the south side.  Eschbach says he’s only gotten one letter and one anonymous call against lifting the alcohol ban.

CUB offers money saving advice ahead of the winter

          When you can feel a cold breeze coming through the front door and the door is closed you have problem.  The drafty door and your favorite recliner that’s parked in front of the heat vent will make your furnace run longer this winter. 

          Natural gas prices in the Midwest are predicted to increase up to 13% over 2012. Jim Chilsen of the Citizen Utility Board says you can lessen the financial impact by winter-proofing your home.

          Chilsen says you can also look for energy-saving rebates through you electricity and gas providers.  Ameren is offering a $50 home energy audit.  And if your furnace hasn’t been checked or cleaned recently, it might be worth the cost of having it done.

          Learn more about winter energy savings by visiting CUB’s website.

Bureau County Health Department offers workshops for new health insurance marketplace

If you don’t have health insurance, a new online marketplace is the place to go.  If you want to learn more about Illinois’s official health insurance marketplace, Get Covered Illinois, be at one of the workshops next week in Spring Valley.

The workshops are sponsored by the Bureau County Health Department.  They’ll go over who is eligible for coverage in the marketplace and how you can apply.

Workshops are being held next Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am-12pm and Wednesday 5-7pm at the Hall Township Food Pantry.

Seneca family donates to Tech Center campaign

          A family that’s familiar with education and agriculture added $10,000 to the collection jar at Illinois Valley Community College.  The money from Sherwood and Lorraine Jackson of Seneca was for the IVCC Peter Miller Community Technology Center capital campaign.  Sherwood Jackson taught agriculture at Seneca High School for 34 years and as a sheep farmer.

         The capital campaign is to pay for the items in the new building.  A formal opening for the Peter Miller Community Technology Center is November 1.

Man Dead In Streator After Being Hit By Train

A 29 year old is dead after being hit by a train in Streator.

Michael Eggers of Streator was pronounced dead at the scene yesterday afternoon near the 1^st Street overpass.  He was hit by a BNSF train.  A railroad worker is the person who called 911.

The death is under investigation with the Streator Police, railroad police and the La Salle County Coroner.  Foul play isn’t suspected.

Gas Prices Falling Towards Three Dollar Mark

Could gas fall below 3 dollars soon in the Illinois Valley?

According to GasBuddy.com, Shell and Casey’s stations in Mendota are now selling unleaded for $3.09 a gallon, the cheapest in the Illinois Valley.  The price at the pump has dropped to $3.14 a gallon in Ottawa while it’s still in the $3.22 to $3.25 a gallon range in La Salle-Peru.

The price of gas has dropped by at least 30 cents since Labor Day.

Alcohol Blamed In Crash That Injured A Woman In Mendota

A crash sending a woman to the hospital in Mendota is blamed on a drunken driver.

Mendota Police got a call just after 5 yesterday morning about a two car crash on Route 251 just south of Mendota near the viaduct.  Karen Ruppert of Mendota was arrested for DUI, driving in the wrong lane and driving uninsured.  She was released with a court date.

Officers say another woman was taken to Mendota Community Hospital.