INDR issues suggestions for avoiding bears

Bald eagles perched in a tree and wild turkeys walking along a road are common occurrences in the Illinois Valley. Black bears frolicking in a field not so much.

Sightings of black bear are happening more frequently in northwest Illinois. The sighting nearest to the Illinois Valley was in northern Dekalb County.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Marc Miller says the bears usually aren’t aggressive, but you shouldn’t approach one. He says they would like to keep the bears from being accustomed to people.

If you would like to avoid having bears and other wild animals in your yard remove food sources like bird feeders, garbage and grills.

Black bears and other wild animals will become protected animals starting January 1.

Man arrested after allegedly trespassing at a La Salle home

Where do you go when you don’t have a home? Apparently not to a particular house on Third Street in La Salle. Police officers were twice called to a house on Third Street for a trespasser.  Richard Klopcic of La Salle was ticketed Tuesday night for trespassing, obstructing police and resisting police last night and was given a notice to appear.
A couple of hours later, the police were called back. Klopcic was again ticketed for trespassing and obstructing police and was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Maternity ward to close at St. Mary’s Hospital

The days of having a baby at St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator are coming to an end. The hospital is doing away with its maternity unit next month. Hospital CEO John Flanders made the announcement Tuesday.

Flanders says the decision was based on limited access to doctors who deliver babies. He says they are working with area hospitals to make sure expectant mothers in Streator can receive care some place else.

The hospital will also be ending its home health services. 25 employees will lose their jobs.

New businesses taking shape at old Kmart property in Peru

The old Kmart parking lot has turned into a construction site. Work is underway for an Advanced Auto Parts store. What you can’t see is the work taking place inside the old box-store.

Peru Economic Development Director Bob Vickery says Dunham Sports still plans to open later this year in the old Kmart. The store was announced the in February. Vickery says J.B. Contracting has been doing electrical work inside the building that’s split into two storefronts. It is being divided into more units to accommodate more businesses.

Building Inspector Jeff King says he doesn’t believe Dunham’s has applied for a building permit yet.

La Salle County Board gets ready for medical marijuana

Whether you agree with it or not, medical marijuana is coming to Illinois. The La Salle County Board wants to be ready in case they’re picked to have a place to grow and sell the marijuana.

The board put on file amendments to their zoning ordinance which adds special uses for cannabis cultivation centers and dispensaries. According to Environmental Services and Land Use Director Mike Harsted, each state police district can have one cultivation center, or place to grow medical marijuana and two dispensaries, or places to sell the pot.

Getting into the medical marijuana business isn’t cheap. The non-refundable, application fee for cultivation centers is $25,000. If you get a license for a cultivation center, you’ll have to pay another $200,000 to get the license.

The non-refundable fee for a marijuana dispensary center is $5,000. If you get a dispensary license, it’ll cost another $30,000 to the state.

Relay for Life of La Salle County quickly approaching

Have you organized your team yet for the annual Relay for Life of La Salle County?

The relay to benefit the American Cancer Society is once again in Streator this year at the high school track. Already 40 teams have registered and online fundraising is nearing $140,000. Coordinator Cheryl Canale say this year’s relay fundraising goal is $217,000.

The relay starts at six Friday night and ends at six Saturday morning. There will be survivor and caregiver laps, a fight back ceremony and plenty of games throughout the night.

For more information, click http://relay.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=58040