Unique showing of “Phantom of the Opera” planned for Matthiessen Auditorium

Taking your seat under the gold leafing and the ornate chandeliers immediately makes any performance at LP High School’s Matthiessen Auditorium special. But an upcoming showing of the original “Phantom of the Opera” will be like nothing you’ve experienced.

The silent film is nearly as old as the auditorium and the Aeolian pipe organ built into its walls. You’ll be able to watch the film with an organ accompaniment. The performance is to raise awareness and to let you enjoy the sounds of the organ that’s slowly being restored.

The viewing is Saturday, October 25. Admission is free. The evening will begin at 6:15 with an explanation of the organ’s history by Jeff Weiler, an organ expert. Superintendent Steve Wrobleski will also talk about the efforts to have the organ restored. The film will start at 7:15.

Heroin blamed for the death of a Morris woman

When somebody you love dies from a drug overdose, there is often a desire to keep the circumstances of their death secret. That’s not the feeling of a Morris mother that lost a daughter.

25-year-old Rebecca Smith was found dead at 5:30am Wednesday in her mother’s home according to Grundy County Coroner John Callahan. Smith’s death appears to have been from a heroin overdose.

Callahan says Smith’s mother asked that the overdose be reported “in hopes that no other parent suffers the loss of a child due to heroin or any other drug.”

Callahan says he appreciates and respects the mother’s cooperation and willingness to support the release of information.

Crash leads to a car fire on Route 18

Driving in a pouring rain is different than driving on a dry day. A woman from Peoria will be shopping for a new car after hers was destroyed in a crash Tuesday evening in Putnam County.

Police say Sreyoneel Biwas was on Route 18 near Route 26 when she lost controlled. Her car went down a hill and overturned. She was able to get out before it caught fire. She wasn’t hurt, but the car was a total loss.

IVCIL to oversee mobile meals program

When you can’t leave the house, a knock on the door followed by a friendly hello and something to eat is priceless. People who rely on a mobile meals service now offered through the Illinois Valley Chapter of the Red Cross won’t lose the much appreciated interaction and dinner.

The Red Cross announced last month that they would no longer be involved. Wednesday the Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living announced they would be taking over the program January 1.

IVCIL Executive Director Rachael Mellen says clients receiving the meals and the volunteers delivering the meals shouldn’t notice any changes.

The food will continue to be prepared at Illinois Valley Community Hospital. About 55 people receive the cold and hot meals.  The meals cost clients $4.

Sales tax question returning to Spring Valley ballots

The economy overall seems to be rebounding. But are things good enough for you to say yes in Spring Valley to raising taxes?

For the second time this year, Spring Valley voters are being asked to vote yes or no to raising the city’s sales tax by half of a percent. The extra money would be used to fix roads and other infrastructure.

The sales tax referendum failed in March by getting only 44 percent of the vote.

Exhaust fan issues leads to early call for Peru firefighters

Exhaust fans are a great addition to any bathroom until they start smoking.

Peru firefighters were called just after four Wednesday morning for a minor fire at a house split into apartments in the 1000 block of Plain Street. Firefighters disconnected the exhaust fan, aired out the bathroom and were done with the call in about 40 minutes.

La Salle firefighters were initially called to help but were sent back once everyone realized it was a minor fire.

Popular electronics drop-off events come at a cost

If you live in Putnam County and have old electronics to get rid of, mark down November 22nd on your calendar.

According to the NewsTribune, Hennepin will host an electronics recycling pickup that day but the village’s mayor is concerned of the cost of hosting. Kevin Coleman says subsidies from recycling companies expired this summer so Hennepin will be paying 4-cents a pound to recycle electronics that get dropped off next month.

Coleman explained all this to the Putnam County Board last night in hopes the county starts hosting countywide recycling drop-offs to ease the costs to small villages.