LPHS students to present a fall play this weekend

Being young and beautiful makes you vulnerable, but being old and wise makes you undesirable. Those are some of the themes of a play being performed at LP High School this weekend.

“Picnic” tells the story of a woman and her young daughters and a strange young man as they enjoy Labor Day weekend.

The cast includes Abbi Colby as Madge and Josh Rinehart as Hal. It’s directed by teacher Rob Clydesdale.

You can catch performances Friday and Saturday nights at 7pm. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for people 18 and younger. Doors open at 6:20pm.

Increased sales tax may not prevent higher property taxes in Oglesby

Even if a sales tax increase passes this election, folks in Oglesby should be ready to see their property taxes go up.

According to the NewsTribune, Finance Commissioner Paul Danekas says after crunching the numbers, the city’s equalized assessed valuation or EAV is going down over $800,000. He says that mean’s everyone’s property taxes are going up, it’s only a question of how much.

The ballot questions mentions raising Oglesby’s sales tax rate by a half of a percent and says the extra revenue would go to property tax relief along with infrastructure needs or other city operations.

Photos of veterans needed ahead of Utica Veteran’s Parade

You can help decorate downtown Utica ahead of their big Veteran’s Day Parade and Air Show.

If you have photos of a veteran no matter what year or branch of service, bring copies to Joy & Ed’s or the Utica Hair Company. The Utica American Legion is looking to fill downtown window displays with pictures of veterans. They don’t need original pictures just copies.

The Utica Parade and Air Show starts this Sunday at one.

State’s attorney won’t drop charges against eaglet handler

Do you think the court system should just leave Steve Patterson of Oglesby alone for handling two injured eaglets?

An online petition has been “signed” by over 57,000 people asking prosecutors to drop charges against Patterson. Despite the apparent support, La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne says there will be a new status hearing Wednesday for Patterson and he hopes a new trial date is set.

A jury deadlocked earlier this month during a trial where Patterson faced charges of illegally handling protected species near the Illinois River. He says he was just helping a couple injured eaglets.

While thousands have “signed” the online petition, Towne points out only a couple hundred supporters are from La Salle County.

Ballot question would change constitution by giving more rights to crime victims

Before you even get to the governor’s race or other elected officials on the ballot, you’ll be asked to vote on five statewide referenda questions including one called Marsy’s Law.

The Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights amendment enforces victim’s rights including letting a victim have the right to speak during court proceedings besides just a sentencing hearing. Prosecutors would also be required to tell victims when a defendant is sentenced, released, or imprisoned. It would also give victims the right to object to a defendant trying to get personal information like mental health records or journals.

La Salle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne supports the amendment. He says often so much attention is paid to giving defendant’s a right to a fair trial that victim’s are overlooked.

Marsy’s Law is named after a California law student who was stalked and killed by an ex-boyfriend. The law covers victims of all violent crimes not just domestic ones.

In order to pass, at least three-fifths of voters must say yes to the question. Changes to the constitution take effect immediately.