Christmas Care toy drive is collecting gifts for children

You still have time to Christmas shop for your family and community.  The Christmas Care toy drive will supply toys to children mostly in La Salle and Peru. 

The toy drive is being overseen by Ax Church of La Salle and Harvest Community Church of the Nazarene of Peru.  Toys are needed for children up to 13-years-old according to Ax Church Pastor Cameron Graper.  Donations can be dropped off at one of collection sites around town and there’s no need to gift wrap. 

Drop-off sites include Curve’s in Peru, Debo’s Ace Hardware in Peru, La Salle City Hall, the Peru Mall, and many local banks.

Parents will pickup the toys next Friday and Saturday at Harvest Community Church in downtown Peru.

Graper says they would like every child to receive a toy or two. 

Animal found dead in La Salle County was possibly a wolf

It’s common to see foxes, deer and coyotes in the Illinois Valley, especially when you’re driving.  A large animal found dead along Interstate 39 appears to be a wolf, something rare for Illinois, let alone La Salle County.

IDOT workers found the large animal Thursday afternoon in the median by Tonica.  It had been hit and killed by a car.  It appears to be a wolf but Sgt. Hank Frazier says that will have to be confirmed through testing by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Frazier says Illinois doesn’t have a wolf population.

Ottawa Man Sent To Prison For Second Sex Abuse Conviction

Despite only being 23-years-old, an Ottawa man is going to prison for the second time in his life for sexually abusing a child.

Cody Duchala was sentenced to five years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to aggravated sexual abuse.

Duchala was arrested in September, nearly three years after being sentenced to prison for sexual abuse.  With the latest conviction, Duchala admits to having sex with an underage girl that prosecutors say he was dating.

He’ll be on home confinement for two years once he’s released from prison.

Extended Post Office Hours For Holiday Rush

Do you fear long lines at the post office this time of the year?  This should help ease the wait.

The La Salle Post Office will be open the next two Sundays from 1 until 5.  You can drop off packages or mail but it still won’t be delivered until Monday.

La Salle Postmaster Kevin Christiansen says having Sunday hours helps lighten the load during the week which should mean less waiting in line.  He says the idea of opening on Sundays came from customer feedback.

State Hiring Drivers To Plow Snow

Snow will eventually fall in the Illinois Valley and the state needs a few good snow plow drivers.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is hiring snow plow drivers for La Salle, Bureau and Grundy Counties.  The job is as needed between October and April with the pay just over 20 dollars an hour.  You’ll need a valid Commercial Drivers’ License and pass a drug test.

Applications for snow plow drivers are available at the IDOT office on East Norris Drive in Ottawa.