Kitchen fire damages Wyanet home

Fire damaged a home in Wyanet. While the fire didn’t spread beyond the kitchen, Wyanet Fire Chief Aaron Elmore says the single-family home was left with smoke, water and fire damage.

The fire was noticed around 12pm Monday. Elmore says they quickly had it under control. Princeton and Buda departments helped. Nobody was home when the fire started. The cause is under investigation.

Voter discrimination question included on the November ballot

When you vote Tuesday, you’ll see a ballot amendment about voter rights.  A Voter Discrimination constitution amendment would forbid any new election law in Illinois from stopping a person’s right to vote based on their race, ethnicity, sex or religion. Some states have passed photo-ID laws that tends to hinder the poor and minorities from voting.

The amendment wouldn’t change the fact that voters need to be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years old. To pass, the constitutional amendment needs at least 60% approval or at least a majority of those who vote in the election.

Dry, breezy conditions keeping fire fighters busy Monday

If you were following the story of the field fire near Arlington, firefighters were able to prevent it from reaching a couple of homes and outbuildings.  The fire was reported just after 11am Monday. Arlington Fire Chief Nick Drummer says they believe it started after someone stirred up a nearby debris pile that didn’t appear to be burning.

Drummer says they were concerned that the fire would burn through a row of brush and pine trees near a couple of homes and outbuildings. LaMoille and Cherry Fire Departments helped.

Grand Ridge also handled a field fire Monday afternoon.

Princeton house fire blamed on a candle

One candle can cause a lot of damage. A second floor bedroom of a house on Park Avenue East in Princeton was left scorched after an unattended candle caught the wall on fire Sunday afternoon.

Princeton Fire Chief Chuck Woolley says two men that were home were able to safely get out and call for help. Firefighters were able to get to the fire before it spread to another room. Still, the fire caused enough damage that the people living there were not able to stay the night. They received help from the Bureau County Red Cross.

Controversial hog farm near Wenona gets green light

WENONA, Ill. (AP) -The state has given the go ahead for a hog farm to go up outside Wenona.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture sent the Iowa-based developer a letter last week saying that provisions of Illinois livestock law had “more likely than not” been met. A state spokesman says Sandy Creek Lane developers are looking forward to construction.

Opponents argue the hog farm will affect their quality of life and property values. Marshall County Board members had said they were “adamantly opposed” to the project.

Midterm election features new polling places in La Salle County

Do you know where your supposed to vote? There are a handful of new polling places in La Salle County.

The Ottawa Pavilion is the new voting place for you if you live in South Ottawa precinct’s 1 or 2. If you live in Sheridan, you’ll likely be voting in the Sheridan Fire Station.

The north end of Ottawa also has a new voting place. Heritage Woods housing development is the new polling place for Dayton precinct 2 while in Somonauk WDC Management is a new polling place.

You can find where your polling place is by clicking http://polling.lasalle.il.bhamaps.com

Streator still with cheapest gas in all of Illinois

Streator is starting off the new month with the state’s lowest gas prices.

According to GasBuddy.com Monday, stations in Streator are selling unleaded for $2.65 a gallon. Just up the road in Ottawa prices are at least 30 cents more a gallon. Gas in La Salle, Peru and Oglesby is between $2.81 and $2.89 a gallon.

The statewide average for gas is $3.04 a gallon, down a dime from a week ago. The national average cost of gas is $2.96 a gallon.

Spring semester registration starts this week at Illinois Valley Community College

It’s not too early to start thinking about next semester at Illinois Valley Community College.

Registration for spring classes starts Tuesday. You can register online starting at 8 in the morning; in-person at noon and by phone or fax starting at two.

The spring semester starts Monday, January 12th.

Red Cross looking to stock up on blood for the holidays

The holidays are a few weeks away but the American Red Cross is already trying to stock up on blood to cover the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.

There are three blood drives happening Monday in the Illinois Valley. You can donate between noon and 5 at Mendota Community Hospital. In Streator, Teleperformance is having a blood drive from 1:30 until 5:30. The other blood drive is at Ohio High School from one until six.

The Red Cross says all blood types are needed.

La Salle City Council to meet Monday night

So you can have your election night open, the La Salle City Council is meeting Monday night instead of Tuesday night. They plan to talk about repairing the Ninth Street water tower, which was expected to be a costly project.

They also plan to talk about increasing the number of Class B liquor licenses from 10 to 20. Presumably that would be to accommodate gaming businesses wishing to serve alcohol.  The meeting will start at 7pm.