Horizon House prepares to light the Tree of Hope

It’s good to remember all of your neighbors at Christmas, including the people who are clients of Horizon House in Peru.  Approximately 200 adults with disabilities receive services through Horizon House and some live in homes maintained by the non-profit.

Horizon House is preparing to light their “Tree of Hope” Friday afternoon.  The tree has long been a symbol of their annual fundraiser according to Carol Fesco.

The money they raise this season is going to maintain their 12 houses.

A tree lighting ceremony is at 4:15pm Friday.  A bulb will be lit for every $50 they receive so the tree likely won’t be completely lit on Friday.  They want to raise at least $40,000.

You can donate money to their cause by sending it by mail or dropping it off at their office on Plank Road just north of Shooting Park Road.

You can learn more by listening to an interview available at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Ice skating rink opens in Oglesby

Though it might need shoveling, Oglesby’s skating rink is ready.  A group of people were using the ice rink Sunday afternoon.  You’ll find it on the north side of Walnut Street a few store fronts east of City Hall. Skating is free.

If you have a pair of skates you’re no longer using, you can give them to Oglesby City Hall so someone else can use them.

The skating rink in Peru is expected to be ready later this week.  It will be set up at McKinley Park on the girl’s softball field.

La Salle County Deputy Crashes While Responding To A Call

You know driving conditions are tough when an officer responding to a weather-related crash also goes off the road.

The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office says one of their deputies was responding to a crash on Interstate 80 Sunday when he ended up in a ditch.  The deputy wasn’t hurt.

State Police are investigating the accident.

Electrical Upgrades Will Close Driver’s License Office In Mendota

It’s hard to do much of anything without electricity.

The Mendota Secretary of State’s office will be closed this Saturday and next Monday because the building won’t have power.  ComEd crews are replacing a transformer.

The Mendota office will reopen next Tuesday.  In the meantime you can always go to DMV offices in Ottawa or La Salle.

An Inch Or Two Of Snow Blankets The Illinois Valley

How much snow did you get Sunday?

According to the National Weather Service, two inches fell in rural Ottawa with just under two inches in Princeton.  Weather spotters in Marseilles and Sheridan measured just over an inch.  About an inch fell at the WLPO AM and FM studios in Oglesby.

Looking outside the Illinois Valley, places like Gurnee and Palatine had over four inches of snow while DeKalb had 2.5 inches.

Last year’s first measurable snow didn’t fall in Chicago until December 20th.

Fire damages an apartment in La Salle

A fire on the east end of La Salle has some people displaced.

La Salle and Peru Fire Departments responded to an apartment fire just after 2:30am Sunday at 1104 First Street.  La Salle Fire Captain Dean Tieman says two rooms and the kitchen of an apartment were on fire.  The property damage estimate was put at 30 thousand dollars.

No one was hurt in the fire.  The cause is under investigation but it’s not believed to be suspicious.

The apartment is next to “Club 55” in La Salle.

Dog Attack Victim Released From A Hospital

A rural Wenona man attacked by his own dog is out of the hospital.

24-year old Thomas Miller was taken St. Mary’s Hospital Saturday morning after La Salle County deputies say his Labrador retriever severly injured him.  The dog was killed at the house.

Deputies aren’t sure why the dog attacked Miller.  The La Salle County Animal Control office is investigating.

Ottawa “Plunge” Benefits Make-A-Wish Foundation

Are you ready to take the plunge for a good cause?

Sign ups and fundraising is underway for the 2014 edition of the “Penguin Plunge” at Heritage Harbor Marina in Ottawa.  Each “plunger” is asked to raise 100 dollars to jump or run into the chilly Illinois River on behalf of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Sign-up sheets are available at Centrue Bank locations, at the marina office or online at http://www.questwatersports.com/penguin-plunge.htm.