The Wizzard has left the building

Over 30 years of radio,  it became very real to listeners – though it had no physical address. And, Saturday night, “The Rock and Roll Wizzard”,  whose name is Tim Moritz, closed the doors of the “Juke Joint” for the last time on radio.
In 3 decades, Moritz took his show to several stations. Better than a decade was spent on 99-3 WAJK and 96-5 WKOT – now 96-5 The Wolf. The show featured top hits and forgotten ones – added by the host or his fans.
Saturday night’s 5 hour show featured Moritz’s favorites only. He took time to acknowledge his fans and what the show meant to him. It may not be the end though, as Moritz hinted the show could continue in podcast form.  He will continue to operate a dry cleaning and laundry business in Oglesby.

Peru church seeks shoeboxes

A church in Peru is opening its doors to try and help children in need across the globe. Grace Bible Fellowship is a collection site for “Operation Christmas Child”. It’s a charity that asks for your help in filling shoeboxes with toys, school supplies and notes of encouragement. The worldwide goal for “Operation Christmas Child” is to help 10-million children.
You can drop donations off at Grace Bible Fellowship in Peru between 1 -3 Sunday and 9 – Noon Monday. The charity has set up a way for you to track what country eventually receives your shoebox donation.

Flight wreckage recovered

Workers have recovered all of the wreckage of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, more than four months after the passenger jet was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people aboard. The recovered fragments were loaded onto a train Sunday and shipped to the Ukrainian government-held city of Kharkiv under the supervision of Dutch investigators and European security officials. The recovery operation had been delayed because of continued fighting between government troops and separatists.

“Fill the Mayflower” a success

A little under 5,500 pounds of food was turned over to the Illinois Valley Food Pantry Saturday.
During the annual Fill the Mayflower food drive at the Peru Hy-Vee,  366 sacks were loaded into a trailer provided by Stevenson Transfer.  Shoppers also donated two turkeys and $190.
The food drive was sponsored by La Salle County Broadcasting and the Illinois Valley Y.

Cold weather will return

The weather – as unpredictable as ever. Don’t get too accustom to the 60 degree weather Sunday. The National Weather Service says 1 to 3 inches could accumulate Monday. Even Sunday, it could rain 3 /4 of an inch. There’s opportunities for snow this week with daytime temperatures hovering above and below freezing. Thanksgiving could see snow showers and a high of 28 degrees.

Gutierrez urging registration

Democratic politicians gathered in Chicago Saturday to encourage Illinois’ immigrant population to register with the federal government under President Obama’s immigration action announced Thursday. Congressman Luis Gutierrez on Saturday challenged Chicago’s immigrant community to “set the standard” for registration under the act.

Record snow becomes a flood problem

The National Weather Service has now issued flood warnings for areas in and around Buffalo, New York hit last week by several feet of snow.  The warning covers parts of 5 counties and forecasters say significant snowmelt is already starting, with temperatures forecast to hit 50 Sunday and 60 Monday.
Forecasters say several creeks could slowly reach flood stage while clogged storm drains could push several feet of water onto streets and into basements.