Investigation continues into widespread criminal damage

The broken glass has been cleaned up and a lot of windows taped or covered with boards after someone went on a multi-town shooting spree with a BB or pellet gun. Police began finding shot-out windows early Tuesday morning. Dozens of reports have been taken but the person responsible hasn’t been caught, yet.

 Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei says they’re working on it with the La Salle Police Department. He was happy there wasn’t another round of vandalism the following night.  If you know anything you think would help their investigation call Illinois Valley Crimestoppers.

 

Lostant Elementary to benefit from country music concert

Reading was the magic word for “Concerts for a Cause” organizer Merry Noonan. The annual summer concert series doubles as a fundraiser for area schools and charities. Noonan announced Wednesday that chose Lostant Elementary to benefit from a country music show July 13.

Noonan says Lostant’s letter asking for money to buy books for low-income students tugged at her heart. Nearly half of Lostant’s enrollment is at or below the poverty level. School administrators also want to buy novels for classrooms and school supplies for needy children.

Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, Drew Baldridge and Brushville are booked to play July 13 at Illinois Valley Regional Airport. Tickets are $38 each and on sale at Lou’s LaGrotto and Wyanet Carpet, or by phone. It’s sponsored by 96.5 The Wolf.

Man accused of forged drug prescription in Spring Valley

Some people will do anything to get a fix including forging a signature.

Brian Beggs of Amboy was arrested Tuesday outside of Thompson’s Drug Store in Spring Valley for forgery and attempted unlawful acquisition of a controlled substance. He’s accused of attempting to fill a forged prescription.

Beggs was taken to the Bureau County Jail.

Handful of couples taking advantage of same-sex marriage in La Salle County

People aren’t beating down the doors in La Salle County but there are couples taking advantage of the new same-sex marriage law.

The county clerk’s office has converted five civil union licenses to marriage licenses since Monday morning. The first couple to convert their civil union into a marriage license was Laura Imes and Kathleen Haralson of Seneca. They were at the office in Ottawa just minutes after it opened Monday morning.

The first same-sex couple to get a marriage license that weren’t already in a civil union was two men from Chicago.

Celebrate La Salle back for another year

The softball diamond lights will be shining bright in La Salle. Celebrate La Salle begins Wednesday evening along with a four-day softball tournament at Hegeler Park.

The softball tournament is a new feature for the festival that includes food, live music and a beer garden. Also new this year is a corn on the cob eating contest. It starts at 6:30pm. The softball, food stands and beer tent open at 5pm.

Back again Friday night is Dreamwave Wrestling. If you’re more of a runner than a wrestler, new this year is a 5K Run/Walk. Check-in is at 5:30pm with the race leaving at 6:30pm.

Hear about more activities by listening to an interview that’s up at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Ottawa expands city limits to include a forest preserve

Ottawa’s city limits have grown to the northeast by over 250 acres.

The Ottawa City Council has agreed to annex the acreage along the Fox River to create the Dayton Bluffs Preserve. The city will pay the Conservation Foundation a dollar a year to lease the land while the conservation group will help maintain it.

The preserve is along the east side of the Fox River and runs up to Interstate 80. While you can access the preserve now, the Conservation Foundation will spend the next few years marking trails, converting farm land into prairie and getting rid of evasive species.

La Salle hires Pohar for park work

Having a project come in under budget is a good thing especially when half of your funding is a state grant.  The bids for the second phase of La Salle Rotary Park came in with a lower bid that fits the $800,000 budget.

The city council Tuesday hired John Pohar and Sons to excavate, put in a baseball field, and other items in the base bid.  They will also put in a concrete parking lot and a drivable asphalt trail.

The work comes in at about $625,000.  Other features could be added.