Doyle and Beaber win respective nominations in sheriff races

Only 18 votes separated the winner from the runner-up in the Bureau County Republican race for sheriff.

Retired Princeton police officer Allan Beaber narrowly defeated Bureau County Sheriff’s Office Commander James Shipp for the republican nomination on Tuesday.  Alexander Arauza and former sheriff William Rosenow were both almost 800 votes behind Beaber.  Beaber will face Democrat James Reed in November.  Current Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson is retiring.

In Putnam County, Sheriff Kevin Doyle will almost certainly win re-election in November.  Doyle easily defeated Granville Police Chief Kevin Moore during a democratic primary vote, capturing 82% of the vote.  There is no Republican candidate for Putnam County sheriff, so unless there is a write-in candidate, Doyle will be uncontested in November.

Peru alderman at-large referendum fails

Eight aldermen are better than six, at least that’s what the majority of voters in Peru said with a referendum vote.  A push to reduce the size of the city council from eight aldermen to six with two aldermen elected at-large failed at the polls Tuesday, 1182 to 845.

Supporter of the referendum, Travis Nelson, says you will likely see a similar referendum on the November General Election ballot.

Hicks wins nomination for LC Treasurer’s race

La Salle County is one election away from having a father and son duo holding countywide seats.  Democrat Jared Hicks of Marseilles beat his primary opponent Ed McConville of Peru by 75 votes.  Hicks is the son of La Salle County Board Chairman Jerry Hicks.  Hicks will face Republican James Spelich of Peru in the November election.

Republican Joanne McNally will keep her seat on the La Salle County Board.  She defeated her challenger Stephen Carlson by 150 votes.

Peru voters say no to a pool referendum

There are hundreds of people in Peru who would like to have a new city swimming pool, but not enough to pass an advisory referendum.  Voters were asked Tuesday if they would support a property tax increase to pay for a pool.  The referendum failed 1,195 to 826.

Claudia Mikyska of Friends for Peru Pool says the defeat won’t stop their efforts.  She says they are working on plans for a splash pad which would be the first phase of a new pool.

The old pool was closed after the 2009 season and was torn down a few years later.  The property tax increase would have cost about $37 a year for someone with a house valued at $100,000.

Kinzinger and Oberweis to be on the November ballot

Congressman Adam Kinzinger easily beat his challenger in the race for the Republican nomination for the 16^th Congressional District. 

Kinzinger is serving his second term in Congress.  He’ll face Democrat Randall Wayne Olsen in the November General Election.

A name you’re probably familiar with is Jim Oberweis.  He beat Doug Truax in the race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.  Oberweis will challenge longtime Senator Dick Durbin, a democrat, in the General Election. 

Spring Valley alderman dies

Spring Valley has lost an alderman.  58-year-old Mark Actis Senior died Sunday at St. Margaret’s Hospital.  Actis was elected onto the council in April 2013.  He represented the third ward.  You can find information about his services by visiting WLPO AM and FM obituaries page.

Students protest at Ottawa High School

The morning after the Ottawa High School Board decided to cut their building trades teacher, the students staged a protest.  A sit-in was held this morning.  Students were upset that board members decided Monday night to end the building trades program by not rehiring teacher David Keely.

School board members say they district can no longer afford the classes.

Keely expressed his frustration on Facebook, saying “taxpayers should not be satisfied with an administration whose actions are dictated by testing and number crunching”.

Handful Of Contested Races On County Ballots

Whether or not they’re enough to get you to vote, there are some contested races in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties.

In La Salle County, Democrats Jared Hicks and Ed McConville are running for county treasurer.  In Mendota, Republicans Joanne McNally and Stephen Carlson are vying for the District 2 county board seat.

In Bureau County, Republicans Courtney Milby and Derek Whited are running for treasurer while Alan Beaber, William Rosenow, Alex Arauza and James Shipp all want to be sheriff.

In Putnam County, Democrats Kevin Doyle and Kevin Moore face off for sheriff while Democrats Daniel Kuhn and Chauntelle Biagi-Bruer are running for county clerk/recorder.

Polls are open for the Primary Election

Polls are open Tuesday until 7pm.  By state law, if you’re in line at your polling place at 7pm, you should be allowed to vote.  If you’re unsure of where you’re supposed to vote, the La Salle County Clerk’s office has a polling place locator on its website.  A polling place locator is here.

Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO Election Night coverage begins at 8pm.