How much would a new swimming pool cost Peru?

A week from today you’ll know how badly the people of Peru want a new swimming pool.  One of the questions on the ballot Tuesday in Peru is if the city should raise real estate taxes to build a new pool. 

City Treasurer Gary Hylla estimates the pool to add $37 on to your property tax bill if your home is valued at $100,000.  He includes the cost of a pool along side the costs for other taxing bodies including the schools and library in a document on the city’s website.

The information was made available online after former alderwoman Sherry Mayszak spoke up at last Monday’s city council meeting. 

Peoria man critical after crash in Putnam County

If you thought you heard a helicopter in Putnam County Tuesday morning, you did.  A man was flown to St. Francis Medical Center after crashing into a tree near the Marshall-Putnam County line.

Police say it happened just after 7am Tuesday on Route 29.  Joshua Foster of Peoria was heading south and for whatever reason went off the road and hit the tree.  Foster was listed in critical condition.

Decision Handed Down On Seized Beagles And Horses In Bureau County

The beagles and horses taken from a rural Arlington property won’t be returning to their owner.

Saying that Dan Labounty long neglected over a dozen beagles and seven horses and was unlikely to change given the chance, Judge Jack Price ruled that the animals will remain with animal control officials.  Price says the 67-year old is mentally and physically incapable of taking care of the animals because of a heart attack and two strokes.

Several people testified at a hearing last week that the dogs and horses were without food and water, had no vaccination records, were living in rundown kennels, and many were suffering from health problems.

Coyote hunters will compete for cash prizes in Leonore

It’s march madness hunter style.  Smitty’s Bar and Grill in Leonore is hosting their 1st Annual Coyote Tournament this Friday and Saturday.  For $50, teams of two can take down as many coyotes as they can between 12:01am Friday and 6pm Saturday.  All of them have to be checked in by seven Saturday night at Smitty’s.

The more coyotes you check in the better chance you have to get the $400 grand prize.  Second place pays 200.

Randy Schmitt of Smitty’s says with all the coyote sightings, it should be a fun way for hunters to trim the population.  Schmitt says a full moon is expected during the hunt which should help hunters track the coyotes down.

Teams are supposed to sign in for the tournament no later than Wednesday.  The $50 fee includes a pork chop dinner and live entertainment.

Electronic Recycling Drop-Offs Huge Success In La Salle County

Have you dropped anything off in the past year at an electronics recycling event?  Based on the amount of stuff dumped off in 2013 many of you have taken advantage.

Counting 15 different electronics drop-off spots, over 470,000 pounds of electronics were recycled in the county last year.  That includes over 292,000 pounds of televisions, 42,000 thousand pounds of monitors, 30,000 pounds of computers and 27,000 pounds worth of recycled printers.

Mendota had the single-most successful electronics drop-off with over 68,000 pounds of electronics recycled.

The electronic drop-offs are getting more popular since the state passed a law where you can no longer put out TV’s or computers in your regular garbage pickup.

Another snowstorm to bear down on the Illinois Valley

How would you like another three to five inches of snow?  That’s what the National Weather Service is predicting for the Illinois Valley Tuesday tonight.

A Winter Storm Warning goes into place at 10pm Tuesday and lasts through Wednesday afternoon. They’re predicting blustery conditions with blowing snow Wednesday morning.  Temperatures will be in the 20’s.

End of the season for Peru ice rink

It’s time to hang up your ice skates.

The skating rink at McKinley Park in Peru has closed. Employees started draining it Monday.

The rink was set up on the girl’s softball field.

Peru turns to outside help for mowing

Grass mowing isn’t on your to-do list yet but it is something they are planning in Peru.  The city has hired D & M Landscaping for mowing and trimming at several parks and Pulaski Square.

Police Chief and Public Works Co-superintendent Doug Bernabei says hiring a company to do what city workers traditionally have done will save time and money.  He estimates it will cost $34,000 if the parks are mowed 27 times this summer.

City workers will still mow Baker Lake, the airport and the cemetery along with many smaller city properties.