“Spelling Bee” coming to Stage 212 in La Salle

Junior high spelling bees can get intense especially when a trip to the national spelling bee is at stake.  Luckily you just have to sit back and laugh at Stage 212’s production of the “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”.  Scot Smigel is the director.  He says it’s always fun when you have adults portraying kids on stage.

The cast includes Andy Decker, Megan Cullinan, and Phil Grant.  It runs January 24-26 and the following weekend.  Tickets are $20 and are on sale at the Stage 212 box office.  An interview with Smigel is available at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Peru investigation findings coming soon

The findings of an investigation into Peru city employees receiving overtime pay for hours they didn’t work will be know in less than 48 hours.
At least Peru aldermen will receive sealed copies of retired Judge William Balestri’s investigation according to City Clerk Dave Bartley.  He told the city council Monday night the report would be ready in 48 hours.

The council in November hired Balestri after the allegations came to light. The aldermen want to find out who authorized the pay, how many employees were involved and how much it cost.

City officials have given no indication as to when the report will be made public.

Amtrak Back On Track After Week’s Worth Of Disruptions

Amtrak trains are back on their normal schedules in Illinois after snow and frigid weather caused major service disruptions.

Normal service resumed Monday after more than a week of delays and cancellations that began Jan. 4 when snow began falling across the state. Two trains with about 300 passengers got stuck last week west of Mendota. People on the train were stuck for about 14 hours before getting bused to Chicago.

An Amtrak spokesman says rail cars and locomotives were damaged by the storm.

Ottawa Man Wins Big In Lotto

Winning the lotto can sometimes be as good as a retirement plan.  A big winner in Ottawa was already retired when he cashed in his ticket.

William Jansen won $300,000 in the Lucky Day Lotto game in Illinois.  He bought the ticket at the Phillips 66 station in Morris late last year and cashed it in January 2nd.

Jansen says he usually plays the Lucky Lotto when the pot gets over $200,000.  He also buys a couple instant game tickets a week.

Plans announced for a new Peru CVS

A Peru intersection that you probably drive by often is getting a new building and look.  A developer bought the shopping center at the southeast corner of Route 251 and Shooting Park Road with the plans of building a new CVS Pharmacy.

Peru Economic Director Bob Vickery announced the plans during Monday’s city council meeting.  He thinks the developer will demolish the part of the shopping plaza that was Jewel.  He thinks it will be an improvement to the intersection.