Another brush fire keeps area departments busy

Conditions have been good for brush fires.

A fire north of Dee Bennett Road kept firefighters from Utica, Wallace and Oglesby busy Sunday afternoon. Much like a brush fire several days ago, firefighters set up at the parking lot across from the Buffalo Rock entrance.

The fire Sunday was out before a storm system bringing rain reached the Illinois Valley.

Farmer’s market opens up a busy week in La Salle

What is growing in your garden?  The first farmer’s market of the season for La Salle is Tuesday at Hegeler Park.  You’ll find the sale set up on the northwest corner of the park.  It will be open from 3-6pm.

The market it one of many events this week in La Salle.  A traveling NASA exhibit opens Wednesday at the La Salle Public Library.  Celebrate La Salle is Wednesday through Saturday at Hegeler Park.  Citywide garage sales are Thursday and Friday.

Peru reconsidering digital signs

Digital signs are flashy and bright and can advertise everything from energy drinks to houses for sale.  The new popular signage style has Peru rethinking its sign ordinance.  The city council Monday could approve a digital sign moratorium.

The council could also hire a deputy building and zoning inspector.  Fire Chief Jeff King has been the building inspector since the previous inspector was fire last year.

The Peru City Council meeting starts at 7:30pm Monday.

Bond set for Earlville man

An Earlville man is in the county jail for allegedly leaving an accident that critically injured a man. The La Salle County Sheriff’s office says Josh Bushland ran from a rollover accident near Leland around 2am Saturday. He was found and brought to Ottawa on a felony charge of leaving the scene of an injury accident.  His bond was set at $100,000.

Nathan Vesely of Leland was in the critical care unit of Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.  Dayton Brown of Leland was stable at St. Anthony’s in Rockford. The crash is still being investigated.

Railcars start Ottawa grass fires

Careless burning or a lit cigarette or match can start fires. If you think that’s the only causes…you’d be wrong. Ottawa Fire Department had three trucks out for four grass fires – all around 1pm yesterday – started by sparks from passing railroad cars.
Captain Steve Haywood said it doesn’t happen often…but, yesterday it did. Trucks and personnel went to Chestnut, Polk, 1900 Columbus and Walnut and Deleon – locations all next to Illinois Railnet for grass fires started from sparks off railcars. There were no problems for firemen and no significant damage.

LPHS welcomes back track athletes

La Salle Peru High School is mighty proud of the track and field athletes including a state champion. The school paraded the talented students through Oglesby, La Salle and Peru Saturday night before stopping at the high school.
Among the honorees, was the state champion in High Jump, Logan Zeman. His winning jump was 6’ 8”. He was joined by Brett Kowalczyk who placed 8th in the shot put. Also along for the ride was Lesly Rocha and Megan Krolak, who, last weekend, finished in 7 and 8 place, respectivelyl, in the 3200 meters event.

Denise Flower benefit successful

Tonica Fire station had the most company its ever had in quite some time. The station hosted a fundraiser for Denise Flower for about 7 hours Saturday. Flower has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon cancer.
Friends organized the benefit which, around early evening had about 400 people on site enjoying music and beverages. Greg Sell, Denise’s brother-in-law, estimated a thousand people already had passed through the event. Over a hundred items were being auctioned off from ladies jewelry to some hunters firearms.

Con-man sentenced for defrauding Amish

A man who told Illinois Amish families he could cure ailments by applying what he called a “wellness vibrator” to their necks is headed to prison.
The Decatur Herald and Review reports that Lonnie Lynch Junior of Florida will serve a one-year sentence for tax evasion and operating a medical device not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.