Railroad crossing replacement to close Chestnut Street in Ottawa

          If Chestnut Street in Ottawa is part of your daily drive, you might need to take a detour.  Starting Wednesday morning Chestnut will be closed between West Superior and West Marquette Streets so the railroad crossing is replaced.

          That stretch of Chestnut is expected to be closed to all traffic until Saturday morning.  Plan on taking a different street instead.

Deadline nears for LPHS gym nominations

You only have a few days left to suggest a name for LP High School’s west gym.  The school will be naming the main gym but before they do, they’re taking your ideas.

Superintendent Steve Wrobleski says the only real criteria are that the namesake should have made a significant, positive impact at L-P.  It doesn’t necessarily even have to be a person.

The last day to submit a suggestion is Friday.  You can find a submission form at the school’s website.

Ottawa neighborhood added to the National Register of Historic Places

When you visit Ottawa’s East Side Historic District you’ll be visiting a place included in the National Register of Historic Places.  The city recently found out from the National Park Service and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency that the area has been approved for the designation.

The historic district stretches from the Fox River and Chapel Street south to East Main Street and the Illinois River and from Shabbona Street and Ottawa High School to Green Street.  In it you’ll find 245 principal buildings including Ottawa High School. 

The designation could bring money for building owners who want to make improvements.  City officials hope it will bring tourists.

Utica Gets New Fire Chief

You would be hard pressed to find a younger fire chief than the one in Utica.

25-year old Ben Brown is the new chief of the Utica Fire Protection District.  The fire board’s trustees unanimously chose Brown to take over for Gary Gbur.  Gbur resigned a couple weeks saying there was “irreconcilable differences” between himself and the fire trustees.

Brown has been a member of the fire protection district since 2003.  He’s also a paramedic for the Peru Ambulance Service.

Spring Valley Making Progress On Demolishing Rundown Buildings

Two eyesores in downtown Spring Valley could soon be torn down.

According to the NewsTribune, city attorney Jim Andreoni says the city can now buy the title of a rundown building at 200 E. St. Paul St. for 647 dollars.  Andreoni says that’s a lot less money then going through court.

This building can’t be torn down though until the city also owns an eyesore next door.  Andreoni hopes ownership of the building at 202 E. St. Paul St. will get resolved in the next couple months.

Dirt Moving On New IVAR Building

Work has started on a new building that will provide Illinois Valley Animal Rescue a little breathing room.

The shelter in La Salle is building a place to have a showroom, office space and clinic.  The new building is going to be next to the existing IVAR shelter on the north side of La Salle.

Chris Ellberg of IVAR has said she hopes the new building up by winter.  It’s costing a little over 100 thousand dollars.

Veteran’s Day Parade Returns To Utica

Have you thanked a veteran lately?  There will be plenty of chances to this Sunday in Utica.

The village is hosting its 7^th annual Veteran’s Day Parade and Air Show Sunday starting at 1.  On the ground there will be an army band, Chicago Police bagpipe group, military vehicles, veteran’s groups and color guards.  In the air above Utica will be an Avenger flyover and Lima Lima Air Show.

Rod Thorson will broadcast from the parade Sunday starting at noon on WLPO AM and FM.

After Further Review, No Kidnapping Attempt In La Salle

A miscommunication is what La Salle Police are saying about an attempted abduction report.

Just after 6 last night, a parent living on O’Conor Avenue reported that a man approached his 3-year old son while he was playing in the yard.  When confronted, the man in the truck allegedly ran back into his truck and sped away.  After unsuccessfully giving chase, the parent called 911.

La Salle Police eventually tracked down the man in the truck and deemed the attempted abduction report to be unfounded.