Nonpartisan Ballots Available For Some Voters

Are you planning to sit out the primary election because you don’t want to declare a party?  There is the option of a nonpartisan ballot.

If you live somewhere with a referendum question, you can get a ballot with just that question on it and no candidates.  Even with this option, primary elections tend to have lower turnouts than November elections.

The last two primary elections in La Salle County have had turnouts of 20 and 21 percent.  La Salle County Clerk JoAnn Carretto thinks Tuesday’s turnout will be about the same.

You can hear election results on Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO.

Oglesby Mayor Looking To Attract Convention Center

It doesn’t cost anything to dream and Oglesby Mayor Don Finley is still dreaming big.

Finley says he talked to potential investors of a convention center last week and hopes to talk to them again soon.  Oglesby City Clerk Becky Clinard was part of a group of Illinois Valley leaders that visited Tinley Park last month seeing how that suburb developed a convention center.

Finley says the plan includes a large hotel as part of a second phase of development.  If Oglesby were to be picked for the development, it would be along Interstate 39.

Asbestos abatement to begin Tuesday at old Peru motel

A security fence is up around what was once a Holiday Inn in Peru.  Demolition of the old hotel, most recently known as the King’s Inn, is scheduled to begin April 7.  Workers placed a security fence around it on Monday.

Fire Chief and Building Inspector Jeff King says removal of asbestos begins Tuesday.  Asbestos abatement had started under the building’s previous owner, but was never completed.  The old hotel is the city’s property now.  It was purchased in late 2012 for $26,000.

King says demolition of the King’s Inn and the old Econo Lodge are part of the mayor’s plan to redevelop that entrance to the city.

Asbestos abatement, demolition, and site restoration are estimated to cost $448,000.

Domestic Spat In Ottawa Allegedly Involves A Knife

Even just threatening someone with a weapon can get you a felony charge.

Craig Monroe was arrested at his home in Ottawa Saturday for aggravated assault.  He’s accused of threatening a family member with a knife.  Monroe is accused of pushing the victim so he was also picked up for domestic battery.

He was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Sand Mining Shows Up On Some La Salle County Ballots

While some have complained the Peru referendum question about cutting two aldermen is confusing, an advisory question in Waltham is straight forward.

The question simply asks Waltham Township voters, “Should mining be allowed within the boundaries of Waltham Township?”

Just last month, Utica approved a new sand mine in Waltham Township after annexing land into the village.

Special DUI Patrols Lead To Zero Alcohol Arrests

Did you run into any police over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend?

State Police ramped up patrols Saturday night looking for drunk drivers in La Salle County.  While troopers say they made no DUI arrests Saturday, they did arrest two people for drugs.  They also handed out nine speeding tickets.

A total of 44 written warnings were issued during the ramped up patrols.