Police look for stolen pickup truck

You see a lot of Ford pickup trucks but there is one in particular the Peru Police Department wants you to be looking for. A green 1994 F-150 with a toolbox and broken bug screen was stolen from the 1600 block of Pulaski Street late Thursday morning.

They think it was taken by a white man with gray hair wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. If you think you know where the truck is, call the Peru Police.

Peru man’s death under investigation

A welfare call led police to the body of a 77-year-old man in Peru. The call came Wednesday afternoon. Officers went to the home at 2812 Fifth Street and found a man dead inside. What killed him is what they’re trying to figure out.

Sgt. Dennis Hocking says they couldn’t tell how long he had been dead or the manner of the death. He says they hope to have a better understanding after an autopsy Thursday.

The death is also being investigated by the La Salle County Coroner and Illinois State Police.

Heroin arrest made near Ottawa park

When you take the kids to the park, you hope for a safe and crime free experience.

Nathan Tri of Ottawa was arrested Wednesday for allegedly dealing heroin by Rigden Park in Ottawa. He was picked up for unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Tri was on parole after serving time for selling LSD in Ottawa.

Former St. Bede Abbot dies

If you went to St. Bede Academy you probably remember Father Claude Peifer. The former Abbot died Thursday morning according to Abbot Philip Davey.

The 86-year-old Peifer was the seventh Abbott at St. Bede. He stepped down from the position in June 2011 after holding the post for eight years.

Arrangements are being made for Peifer’s services.

Operation Prom-ise premiers at LPHS

You’ve seen the go-to anti-drinking and driving deterrent – a wrecked car with a shattered windshield parked outside the high school. Sure the prop sends a message during prom week but probably not as strong as the one students receive from the short-film, Operation Prom-ise.

The video staring many local students premiered at LP High School Wednesday night.  Danielle Ksiazkiewicz watched it with her son, Kenneth. She recommends it for other families.

The video tells the story of two families that lose children in a prom night crash. Actual police officers, firefighters and nurses are used to make the scenes feel and look as real as possible.

If you couldn’t make it to the premiere, copies of the video are on sale and it will be shown at Putnam County High School next Friday.

Mendota prepares for Cinco De Mayo

Will you be celebrating the anniversary of the Mexican victory over the French at Puebla? You will if you’re making plans for Cinco De Mayo.

Cinco De Mayo is Monday but a celebration will be Friday night at the Mendota Civic Center. Sara Escatel says it’s a big deal even outside of Mexico and has been celebrated in Mendota for the past 15 years.

In addition to folkloric dancers and music, you’ll find information booths, and queen, mini king and queen contests. The Civic Center will also be selling food. There will be a raffle to raise scholarship money for the Illinois Valley Hispanic Partnership Council.

The festival goes from 5-8pm. It’s free to get in.

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

Big mushroom hunt returns to Ottawa

The hunt will be on for morel mushrooms this weekend in Ottawa.

The 4th Annual Midwest Morel Festival runs Friday and Saturday. The festival will include a championship hunt, morel auction, an educational class on the do’s and don’ts of morel hunting, home brewing competition along with a farmers market in downtown Ottawa .

Tom Naumann of Morel Mania says the outlook is good for mushroom hunting. He says they’ve been finding small mushrooms for a week now with the rain helping the crop.

Naumann says there are cash prizes for the top hunters including a $500 prize for finding the largest mushroom. The hunt on Saturday will be at an undisclosed spot outside Ottawa. It’s open to anyone.

To sign up for the morel hunt, call the Ottawa Visitor’s Center. For more information click http://www.morelmania.com/2Championship/MorelFest.html

Report says Illinois food stamp users would go out of their way for soda

CHICAGO (AP) – A new report says banning sugary drinks from the food stamp program in Illinois wouldn’t necessarily prevent obesity.

The nonprofit Illinois Public Health Institute’s report is based on a research review and interviews and focus groups with food stamp participants and store owners.

It finds many people in the food stamp program would switch to using cash for sugary drinks if they couldn’t use food stamps.
About 2 million Illinoisans use food stamps, nearly half of them children. The report recommends testing a policy that would combine a ban with incentives and education.