Peru removes building inspector and gives the job to the fire chief

Whether you’re replacing your garage or your garage is on fire, it will most likely involve Fire Chief Jeff King.  His duties, job titles and pay have changed to make him a full-time and salaried fire chief and the building and zoning inspector.

The city council agreed to the changes Monday night.  King had been working as a part-time chief, fire marshall and safety director earning an estimated $15,000 to $16,000 annually.  As a full-time chief, fire marshall, safety director and inspector he’ll earn approximately $84,000 a year.

Alderman Rodney Perez says most towns the size of Peru have full-time fire chiefs.

As for being the inspector, the previous inspector, Frank Taylor, was removed from the job October 9.  Mayor Scott Harl won’t say that Taylor was fired.  Neither will the city’s human resource director, instead she says Taylor was given a letter and says his removal was involuntary.

Taylor was considered part-time and earned $27 an hour.

Longtime member of the IVCH board retires

          It’s not unusual to get involved in a community group by serving on a committee or board of directors, though it is unusual to be on the board for 45 years. 

          97-year-old Harry Erlenborn spent 45 years on the Illinois Valley Community Hospital board of directors before retiring this month.  At the time he joined the board, IVCH was still known as People’s Hospital.     

 

Expo to focus on careers in manufacturing

          Chances are good at some point you’ll have a change of career.  Have you considered manufacturing?  Learn about jobs in manufacturing at an expo Wednesday in La Salle.

The North Central Regional Betterment Coalition has invited regional and local companies to participate in the North Central Illinois Discover Manufacturing Career Expo.

While the expo will be hosting area high school students in the morning, it’s open to adults from 1:30 until 3:30pm.  You’ll find it at Celebrations 150.

Wenona man hospitalized following motorcycle crash

          An evening motorcycle ride turned bad quickly for a man from Wenona.  Police say Ryan Healy was riding on Route 6 near the La Salle Speedway Sunday night when he went off the road and hit a utility box.

          Healy is being treated at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria where he was in serious condition.  Charges are pending.

Services Announced For Former Peru Fire Chief

One of Peru’s most popular fire chiefs will be remembered with a public service at the city’s fire station.

Visitation for Gary Eccles will be this Saturday at the fire station from 10 until 2.  Eccles died Saturday after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Draped outside the fire station is black bunting in memory of Eccles who retired from the department earlier this year.

You can hear full service announcements for Gary Eccles during WLPO AM and FM’s In Memoriam.

Three Hurt In Crash At Busy Peru Intersection

Three people were taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru after a crash this morning.

Peru Police say a pickup and SUV collided at the Shooting Park Road and Route 251 intersection just after 8 o’clock.  Three people were taken to IVCH after the crash.  Listeners to WLPO AM and FM also say one person was handcuffed at the accident scene.

The crash scene was cleared up in under an hour.   

Streator Man Killed In Rollover

Funeral services are today for a 30-year old Streator man killed in a rollover.

Matthew Dunning was pronounced dead late Wednesday night after his pickup ended up in a cornfield in rural Livingston County.  Dunning was pinned beneath his truck in the crash.

The crash is still under investigation by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.

Snow In October?

Are you prepared for snow in October?  Depending on where you live it could happen this week.

The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities currently says there’s a chance of snow mixing with rain tomorrow across Bureau County.  If snow does fall in parts of Bureau County its expected to an inch at most and not stick to roads.

The forecast is just for rain in La Salle County tomorrow.

Veto Session Starts Tuesday In Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Your state representative and senator head back to Springfield tomorrow.

Some of the top issues confronting Rep. Frank Mautino and Sen. Sue Rezin Illinois lawmakers are  pension reform and same-sex marriage.

Lawmakers will also vote on a proposed tax incentives plan aimed at keeping the global headquarters of Archer Daniels Midland in Illinois. Mautino and Rezin could also vote on expanding gambling.

Rita Garman to take chief justice post this week

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) – Outgoing Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Kilbride is being remembered for his push to bring cameras into courtrooms and lobbying for a pilot project to allow electronic filing of documents.

Kilbride’s three-year term expires this week. He’ll be replaced by Justice Rita Garman and resume his associate justice post.

The Democrat was first elected to the high court in 2000. He practiced law for two decades in Rock Island.

Even with his push to modernize the courts, he told the Quad Cities-Times for a story published Sunday that some things haven’t changed since the days of Abraham Lincoln.

Kilbride started the cameras pilot project a year ago. It opens trial courtrooms to news photographers and electronic news media to cover cases. More than two dozen counties have participated.