Rezin is backing a Do Not Adopt list

A room for cats is what you’ll find at the animal shelter in La Salle.  There’s another area devoted to dogs.  All of those animals need homes but your State Senator doesn’t think every home would be good for a pet.

Republican State Senator Sue Rezin is sponsoring a bill that would add people convicted animal abuse in Illinois to the Do Not Adopt Registry.

Rezin is holding a press conference Wednesday afternoon with a representative of the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

Rotary to face IVCH for 5th annual charity basketball game

The high school basketball season is ending and the NCAA tournament is still several weeks away.  Basketball lovers can fill the void with a charity game that’s turning into a local rivalry- the doctors and staff of Illinois Valley Community Hospital vs men from the local Rotary Clubs.

Gene Vogelgesang is the spokesman for IVCH and a Rotarian so that leaves him with the job of announcer.  It’s put him in a good position to scout both sides.  Vogelgesang says Rotary’s Simon Kampwerth is tall but IVCH’s Tommy Hobbs played basketball in junior college.

The game is Friday, March 14 at 6:30pm at Parkside School in Peru.  It’s open to everyone.  Admission is a donation.  Proceeds will go to the Peru Education Foundation and the IVCH Foundation.

The LP Cavalettes and the “Little Kickers” will be performing at half time and in between quarters.

Learn more about the game by listening to an interview that’s up at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Local Power Company Warns Of Deposit Scam

If you get a call in Mendota asking for a $900 electric deposit, hang up.

According to the NewsTribune, Mendota’s electric provider Constellation Energy says scammers have been calling people saying they need to pay a $900 deposit to Constellation Energy or get their power turned off.  Constellation reps say they would never call people over the phone like that.

Mendota Police Chief Tom Smith says his department is working on warning people about the scam.

Two Iowa Men Involved In Streator Shooting

A shooting in Streator involved two men from Clinton, Iowa.

Streator Police got a call Saturday night about a victim of a shooting on North Park Street.  19-year old Christopher Smith was taken to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria where he is in critical condition.

The alleged shooter, 22-year old Marcus Blodgett was arrested for possession of a weapon by a felon and taken to the La Salle County.  His bond was set at $75,000 and he is due in court March 13th.

More charges are pending.

Petition grows for who whould care ror Bureau County beagles

An online petition to make sure horses and beagles don’t stay with an Arlington man is getting attention from all over the world.

Well over 15,000 people have “signed” the online petition.  Recent petition supporters come from places like France, Belgium, Nicaragua and the Ukraine.

The petition is asking the Illinois Department of Agriculture not to return over a dozen beagles and seven horses to Dan Labounty.  The animals are being cared for by the Bureau County Animal Control Office.  Animal control and rescue officials think Labounty can’t care for all the animals and is violating the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act.

A hearing on the animals is Wednesday in Springfield.  You will find the petition here.

La Salle is stumped when it comes to thawing water lines

A broken water main is common in La Salle but a frozen water main is not. Not until now. The water main in the 1200 block of Lafayette Street is frozen, something city officials only confirmed hours before a special meeting about frozen water lines Monday.

Many of the people living on that block were at the meeting including Edith Simpkins who has been without running water since February 10th. She’s disappointed no one from the city has been to her home.

Public Works Superintendent Jeff Bumgarner fielded questions similar to hers for over an hour. With more than 60 homes affected by frozen lines, he says they’ve tried different techniques for thawing lines but with little success. He doesn’t believe they will have any luck at Simpson’s house but he’s open to new ideas.

One man who is without water suggested a heat exchange concept used at construction sites to thaw ground. Another man sarcastically suggested they be allowed to burn their leaves to thaw the ground.

Mayor Jeff Grove says they may be better off letting nature run its course and putting their resources towards fixing the water main so it doesn’t freeze again. The main running through that block of Lafayette is thought to be fewer than three feet below the road. All of the lines that are frozen are under roads or paved areas not under yards where they would be insulated by the snow.

In the meantime city officials say they want to help. People without water will receive a break on their city bills. They can also fill jugs of water at the fire station and shower at the Illinois Valley Y. If you have water and would like to help a neighbor who doesn’t, it may be possible to run a hose to the next house. Water delivery would be appreciated and as one woman suggested so would dinner.