Plenty Of Development Activity Along Route 6 In La Salle

An eyesore in La Salle will soon be no more.

The old JJ’s Dog, Beef, Chicken & More at the intersection of Creve Couer Street and Route 6 is supposed to be torn down Thursday. American Nickeloid Employee Credit Union is going to move from their 1st street location into the old JJ’s property.

Just a little east of that the old Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce building on Bucklin Street has been sold. Economic Development Director Don Aleksy says an insurance agent bought the building.

Also on Route 6 in La Salle the new Becks and Casey’s stations are still on schedule for construction this year.

Deactivation and transition processes have begun at Cherry and Dimmick Schools

When the students from Cherry walk into Dimmick Grade School next August they’ll be familiar with the building and their classmates. Officials in both school districts are transitioning Cherry’s 45 students into Dimmick.

Fourth through eighth grade students will visit Dimmick April 10th to get a feel for the classes and students according to Dimmick Superintendent Ryan Linnig. On another occasion Cherry students will be introduced to Dimmick’s engineering lab.
The Cherry Grade School District will remain open with a superintendent, bookkeeper and secretary according to Cherry Superintendent James Boyle.

The district has a two-year agreement to pay Dimmick $290,000 tuition for Cherry’s students.  Boyle says in two years there will likely be referendums held to consolidate the districts. A referendum to deactivate the Cherry District was easily approved last week.

Peru hires company for landscaping duties

A colorful flower bed is better looking than a slowly melting pile of dirty snow. Peru is preparing for warmer months. Specialty Landscaping was hired Monday night to plant and maintain the city’s flower beds for $19,000. It was the lower of two bids.
The round planters on Fourth and Water Streets and the hanging baskets downtown will be planted by volunteers and watered by the city’s summer help.

More water lines have thawed in La Salle

A few warm and sunny afternoons were what it took to thaw the water lines in La Salle. People in the 1200 block of Lafayette Street noticed running water yesterday. They had been without since approximately February 11 because the water main froze under the street. There’s a boil order until further notice for that block.
Many other homes were without running water because the line from the main to their house froze. City employees and several plumbers tried to thaw the lines with little success. Those homes are not included in the boil order.

Not all of the lines of thawed and some homes are still without water.

Marshall County man in serious condition after crash

A Varna driver is on the mend after rolling his car near Magnolia.

Todd Toliver is in serious condition at St. Francis Medical Center. He was taken there Sunday morning after Putnam County deputies say he drove off Route 89 and overturned several times.

His passenger, Kelsi Toliver of Henry was taken to St. Margaret’s Hospital.

Todd Toliver is accused of driving drunk and not having a seatbelt on at the time of the crash.

Organizational Meeting Tonight For Streator Parents Upset At Their School Board

While the protest scene in Ottawa has quieted down, a group opposing school board decisions in Streator are trying to ramp up support.

Organizers of the group “Streator District 44 Parents & Community Unite” are having an informational meeting tonight a 6 inside the Silver Fox banquet hall in Streator. The group sprung up after the Streator Elementary School Board voted to cut four teachers while giving contract extensions and raises to administrators. The group’s page on Facebook has over 700 “likes”.

A few people in the group have picketed outside the Streator Elementary administration building. They’re also planning to circulate petitions asking for a “no-confidence” vote against Superintendent Matt Wilkinson.

Police and fire chiefs to oversee Peru Electric Department

Add the Electric Department to the list of things Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei and Fire Chief Jeff King have to oversee.  They have been Co-superintendents of Public Works since the start of the year and soon they will be in charge of the electrical department because superintendent Jim Potthoff is retiring.  The decision to add to their responsibilities came Monday night.

Aldermen Dave Potthoff thinks someone working in the electrical department could handle it until a permanent supervisor is hired. 

The vote passed even with Potthoff, Mike Radtke and Rodney Perez voting no.

The city is advertising the opening.

Peru pool friends want to apply for a state grant

An Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grant is making La Salle Rotary Park possible.  One town over, Friends for Peru Pool is hoping an OSLAD grant could build a splash pad.

Pool supporter Gina Martin presented plans for a splash pad and parking lot to the city council Monday night. They want to place a splash pad near the old pool location at Washington Park and build a parking lot on the northwest corner of the park.  They have had drawings designed by Chamlin and Associates and have met with Nora Fesco of North Central Illinois Council of Governments.

The grant they want would pay up to $400,000 with a 50% match from the city. The application is due July 1.

 

The amount of the grant has been corrected.  Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO News apologies.