La Salle increases fees for grass mowing

You would not hire someone to mow your lawn if they were charging $95 an hour.   That’s why La Salle has increased the fee for mowing overgrown lawns.

A new fee structure approved by by the city council Tuesday night charges $95 an hour plus $60 for equipment and $35 for a truck to bring the mower.  That totals $190, an amount ridiculously expensive enough to make property owners maintain their yards.

Alderman Diz Demes was pushing for the increase.  Most aldermen agree city employees should not have to mow private property.

Alderman Jim Bacidore and Boo Herndon were against the increases.  The new fees will apply as soon as the changes are published.

Peru to build addition to electrical building

For the same reason you would build a garage or a shed, Peru is putting an addition onto the electrical building on Plank Road. The 4500 square foot addition will house stuff that they have been keeping outside.

Alderman Jim Lukosus says it will be cold storage without heat or insulation. The addition will look like the rest of the building.  D.J Sickley Construction is building it for $194,000.

Power restored to Ameren Illinois customers

The air conditioners were off at hundreds of homes in Bureau and Putnam Counties. A power outage that was reported around 1:40pm Tuesday affected hundreds of  Ameren Illinois customers in Putnam and Bureau Counties.

Stacey Shangraw with Ameren says the outage was caused by a broken cross arm outside of a substation. Service was restored shortly after 4pm.

Corn Belt Energy customers were also affected by the outage but their service was mostly restored by 3pm.

Power outage causes problems for St. Margaret’s Hospital

If you were wondering why the fire department was at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley, it all began with a power outage.

Spring Valley Fire Chief Todd Bogatitius says they were called to the hospital Tuesday afternoon after a computer server went down and created a burning smell. He says a backup generator kicked on and created hot spots along a vent leading from the generator to the roof. He says the west side of the hospital had to be evacuated and the walls opened up to reach the hot spots.

Spring Valley fire received assistance from Peru and Ladd Fire Departments, 10/33 Ambulance and the Spring Valley Police Department.

The power outage also affected the hospital’s telephone service. A hospital official says patients were relocated to an area served by a second generator.

Motorcyclist in serious condition after accident on Route 23

A crash between a truck and motorcycle has left the rider is in serious condition.  La Salle County deputies say Jake Fulk was heading south on Route 23 east of Earlville Monday afternoon when he tried to pass a truck that had slowed to turn. The two collided.

Fulk was flown to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove where he was in serious condition Tuesday afternoon.

Public meeting scheduled for Ottawa medical marijuana proposal

Companies are swarming the Illinois Valley in hopes of opening a medical marijuana cultivation center. Do you know what would go on in a cultivation center or how it could affect your town?

You can hear more about PharmaCann, LLC’s proposal during a public meeting at 6pm Thursday. The company wants to build a medical marijuana cultivation center and dispensary in Ottawa. The meeting is at City Hall.

Chinese buffets under fire for worker abuse

Do you enjoy a Chinese buffet? Your attorney general is looking at immigrant worker abuse at Chinese buffets in Illinois.

Lisa Madigan says she is looking into allegations of minimum wage violations and immigrants having to work 13 hours a day without breaks, six days a week. Some workers have also complained of being put in crowded houses with substandard conditions. No specific restaurants have been named by Madigan.

She’s urging any current or former workers of a Chinese buffet-style restaurant to contact her office.

Movie theater hope’s new “challenge” can raise money

The “Ice Bucket Challenge” has helped ALS get millions in donations. Can the “Popcorn Bucket Challenge” help raise thousands for the Majestic Theatre in Streator?

Facebook videos are popping up of supporters of the Majestic having popcorn dumped on their heads as they make a donation to the theater and challenge others to do the same.

Katie Trocolli with the Majestic says the idea came up after the owner put the theater up for sale. Trocolli is hoping to get a loan to buy the building.

To donate, click http://www.gofundme.com/6e0h4w

Water pump problem in Lostant affecting schools

Water issues and not the heat has school closed Tuesday and Wednesday in Lostant.

Classes were let out early Monday because of a problem with a village water pump. The problem hasn’t been fixed so school is canceled Tuesday and Wednesday.

If you live in Lostant you should get a phone call from the school and or village with updates.  There’s a boil order until further notice.

Family safe after small fire

A quiet neighborhood in Peru was up late due to a small basement fire.  Firefighters were called to the house at Ninth and Walnut Streets at 11:30pm Monday.

The family was home and made it out safely.   The fire was small and considered accidental.  Firefighters were gone in less than an hour.