Wreathes laid at Forest Lawn

Not everyone was indoors Saturday,  Toni Lucas and eight volunteers were laying fresh wreathes at the graves of military veterans. Lucas is the local coordinator for what’s known as “Wreathes Across America” – a national effort to adorn veterans’ graves across the country. In the snow and cold of today, Lucas and her helpers displayed three hundred fifty wreathes at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens on Route 6 in east LaSalle. Lucas is looking for corporate financial help to get materials for more wreath stands. If you’d like to help, call her at (270) 703- 9799.

Garage burns in Peru

Though his house was saved, the owner still suffered significant losses from a garage fire in Peru Saturday. Peru Assistant Fire Chief, Jim Duncan says a fishing boat inside and a car outside were destroyed with the garage. Duncan said the structure was fully engulfed when firemen arrived around 3:30pm. Duncan said there were no problems in battling the fire and it’s not considered suspicious. Firemen returned shortly after 6pm. LaSalle firemen manned the Peru department for mutual aid.  Structural damage is estimated at 15 thousand dollars and thirty thousand for the car and boat.

La Salle receives nearly five inches of snow

The forecast called for 2 to 4 inches to fall on the Illinois Valley and many places in La Salle County received that and more.

National Weather Service snow observers measured 4.8 inches in La Salle Saturday morning.   Around the area, the south end of Streator received 7 inches; Ottawa received 4 inches, and Mendota received and 3.5 inches.

The highest snowfall amounts were in western Illinois.

Ice skating, bowling and carriage rides in Oglesby Sunday

Learn a few ice skating tips from a former professional hockey player in Oglesby Sunday.  An ice skating party at the ice rink will feature former hockey player Anthony Anniballi.  The skating party is from 12 to 3pm Sunday and includes hot dogs and hot cocoa.

Afterwards take your family bowling and for a carriage ride in Oglesby.  Stop by the Dickinson House between 3 and 6:30pm and you’ll find cookies and free bowling for kids.  Santa will also be available for pictures.

There will also be carriage rides and music.  Admission is free.

Peru city engineer is leaving at the end of December

Update your résumés if you are looking for an engineering job.   Peru’s city engineer and public works superintendent Sean Mikos turned in a letter of resignation this week.

Mikos took over the position of public works superintendent in August and was the first in-house engineer the city has had in years.  He will be leaving at the end of December.

A call to Mayor Scott Harl regarding the resignation and the future of the position was not returned.

Bus accident amoung many minor accidents Saturday

Friday night’s snowfall complicated driving Saturday.  Police departments were busy Saturday morning with mostly minor injuries.  The most significant accident involved a school bus that went into a ditch along Route 18 in Putnam County.  Several students had minor injuries but because it was a bus accident ambulances from as far as Mendota responded.

An ambulance was also called out to a minor accident on Interstate 39 north of La Salle.

You can find statewide road conditions at www.gettingaroundillinois.com.  Cancellations are also available by clicking on the red banner on the WLPO home page.