Sand company near Utica clears big hurdle

After nearly three hours of questions and confusion, the La Salle County Board Tuesday night awarded a special use permit for a pipeline and sand drying facility west of Ottawa.

All but five board members gave Northern White Sand the go ahead to build a pipeline from their sand pit near Utica south of Route 6 to the proposed drying facility close to the county landfill. The board put in some stipulations like the sand company having to install at least three dust monitors on their property.

Despite a letter turned in just before the meeting by nearby landowners, the board didn’t approve a request that they get property protection agreements in case the sand devalues their property. Most board members said they were concerned about loss in property values but the letter from homeowners was pushed on them at the last minute.

The last piece to the puzzle for Northern White Sand is to work out a lease with the county board to ship out their sand on barges near the county nursing home.

Stretch of roads in La Salle County named after high-ranking general

Did you know that the first ever woman to be commanding general at Ft. Knox calls Ottawa home? To honor the accomplishment, there’s now a Peggy Combs Way in Marseilles.

The La Salle County Board named stretches of County Highway’s 15 and 30 after Major General Peggy Combs who lives in Ottawa when not serving her country. Her husband Brad is retired from the Army and told the board last night his wife said she had one word to describe the road dedication and it was “wow”. He says it’s fitting that her namesake road leads to the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial.

Normally the county only names stretches of county highway’s after former board chairmen.

Man accused of stabbing another man indicted

A man from Streator is now facing an attempted murder charge after allegedly stabbing a man.

22-year-old Dustin Bennington was indicted Tuesday in La Salle County Court on an attempted murder charge along with aggravated battery. He was arrested in late August in Wisconsin after allegedly stabbing a man several times in Streator on August 16th.

Bennington is in the La Salle County Jail on $500,000 bond.

Promotions made within the Ottawa Fire Department

The new fire chief of Ottawa is promoting from within.  Chief Steve Hawyood announced Monday he has promoted Andy Borkowski from lieutenant to captain. Borkowski has been with the fire department for 21 years.

Taking Borkowski’s spot as lieutenant is firefighter Michael Mills. Mills has been with the Ottawa Fire Department for eight years.

No change in condition for woman involved in fatal crash near Peru

The woman involved in Monday’s fatal crash on Route 251 is still in critical condition.

Margaret Insco of Peru is being treated at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Investigators think she was driving north heading towards Peru when she crossed into oncoming traffic. Officers say she hit Nicholas Boyd of Peru and then hit Kim Parsons of Spring Valley. Boyd was okay but Parsons was pronounced dead at the scene.

If you saw the crash and know anything about what led up to the crash, you’re urged to call the Peru Police Department.

United Way kicks off annual fundraising campaign

You have a lot of groups asking you for money, but do you know how they will use your money?

The local United Way wants to raise $345,000 between now and the end of the year. The money you donate to it will go to another local non-profit according to Juile Sloan the Executive Director. The non-profits include the Illinois Valley Food Pantry, Horizon House, and Lighted Way.

If you’ve donated to United Way before, expect to see a request for another donation in the mail. Local businesses can also have their employees sign up to donate.

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

More sand mine talk in La Salle County

Sand is back on the agenda for the La Salle County Board.

Northern White Sand will be back in front of the board Tuesday night asking for a special use permit to build a sand drying facility between Ottawa and Utica. They’ve picked a new spot after the last one caused some concerns. Northern White Sand operates and a sand mine along the Osage Curves east of Utica.

The sand company also wants to have the board approve a lease agreement where they’ll load and unload sand along the Illinois River using land that the county currently owns.

Tuesday night’s La Salle County Board meeting starts at 6pm inside the Knights of Columbus Hall in Ottawa.

Peru mayor cleared after FBI investigation

Remember when Peru officials hired a retired judge to investigate questionable overtime pay?  Retired Judge William Balestri and La Salle County States Attorney Brian Towne concluded earlier this year that Mayor Scott Harl wasn’t acting criminally when he told the former public works superintendent to sign off on overtime hours that weren’t worked. 

Displeased with the investigation,  Alderman Rodney Perez took it to the FBI in February.   The FBI announced Friday that they also believe Harl didn’t commit a crime. 

Harl brought up the case during Monday night’s council meeting.  He says he and his attorney are considering taking action because of the “defamatory and slanderous” accusations.