Small Increase Coming To Ottawa Property Taxpayers

If you live in Ottawa, your city taxes are going up but it shouldn’t be enough to break the bank.

The Ottawa City Council put on file a tax levy that raises your tax bill about a nickel per $100 assessed valuation.

The city is looking to collect just over $4.9 million in taxes, or about $46,000 more than last tax season.  Treasurer Don Harris expects Ottawa’s Equalized Assessed Valuation to drop over 4%.

How Did Your Politician Vote On Pension Reform?

Republican lawmakers in the Illinois Valley stood united in voting for the pension reform bill Tuesday.

State Senators Sue Rezin and Darin LaHood along with State Representative John Anthony all voted yes to the controversial pension solution. Democratic State Representative Frank Mautino voted against.

Conservative-leaning groups like the Illinois Chamber of Commerce support the pension bill while liberal-leaning groups like unions came out against it.

Pension Deal Finally Done

Gov. Pat Quinn says the people of Illinois have won after lawmakers approved a major overhaul aimed at solving the state’s $100 billion pension crisis.

Quinn calls it “landmark legislation” that will ensure retirement security.  The governor has made pension reform a top priority for two years, but efforts had been unsuccessfully including previous special sessions and his social media campaign. More recently, Quinn had refused to take a paycheck until lawmakers came up with a comprehensive solution.

The Illinois House and Senate approved a bill that’s estimated to save roughly $160 billion over the next three decades.  However, unions were opposed to the measure, calling it unfair and questioning its legality.

Clues Sought Into Spring Valley Break-In

Your help is needed in finding out who broke into the Spring Valley Mini-Market.

An alarm sounded just after four Monday morning.  When officers arrived they found the front door glass was broken out.  Two cash registers were stolen from the mini-market but there was no cash inside.

Spring Valley and Illinois State Police are working together in the investigation.  If you have information call the Spring Valley Police or Illinois Valley Crime Stoppers.  You could get a cash reward.

Heroin Bust In Peru

Two men from the Illinois Valley are accused of dealing heroin just a few blocks away from the Peru police station.

Robert Eklund was arrested at his home on Rock Street this morning along with Frederick Ralrick of La Salle for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.  Investigators say Eklund and Ralrick sold heroin on multiple occasions.

Both Eklund and Ralrick were taken to the La Salle County Jail with bond at 750 thousand dollars.

Cold Weather Killed Bloomington Woman

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) – An autopsy shows a 72-year-old Bloomington woman likely died from cold exposure.

Marlene Brewer’s body was found Sunday in a drainage ditch near her home in rural Bloomington.
McLean County Coroner Beth Kimmerling says she’s not sure whether Brewer became disoriented or “intentionally wandered away” from her home.

Investigators didn’t say how long she had been outside.

Pearl Harbor Day Parade And Memorial Plans For Peru

The day that will live in infamy will be remembered with a parade and memorial in Peru.

The Peru Veterans Memorial Group is having its 34th annual Pearl Harbor Day Parade and Memorial this Saturday at 11:30 along Water Street in Peru.  Four Pearl Harbor survivors will attend the ceremony and one will throw a wreath into the Illinois River.

This is the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Filing Deadline Creates Primary Race For La Salle County Treasurer

The final day of filing papers did create one contested race for La Salle County Democrats.

Jared Hicks of Marseilles is running for county treasurer against Edward McConville of Peru.  The winner of the primary will go on to face Republican James Spelich of Peru.

Rodney Hampton of rural Sheridan will run for county sheriff.  It’ll be a general election rematch since Hampton lost to Tom Templeton in the last election.

County Clerk Joanne Caretto is running unopposed.