Peru house fire keeps area departments busy Wednesday afternoon

Fire and smoke have damaged a home in Peru. The fire at the two-story house on Fifth Street not far from Peru Catholic School was reported just before 1pm Wednesday.

Peru Firefighters received assistance from La Salle, Spring Valley and Oglesby Fire Departments. They were able to pack up and leave by 3pm.

Think small business when shopping Saturday

You don’t have to leave the dinner table early on Thanksgiving to go Christmas shopping at a small business. Small Business Saturday has been growing in popularity in the past few years.

It has definitely caught on in La Salle where it’s something that’s promoted by the La Salle Business Association. Leah Inman of Inman Electric says about 30 businesses are participating, mostly stores and services you’ll find downtown. Many of the businesses have planned 10 or 20 percent off sales for Saturday.

Inman say when you spend money with a local business, more of your money stays in the community.

Numbers released for the first weekend of firearm deer season

Are deer getting smarter or are there fewer hunters looking for the big prize in the Illinois Valley?

Whatever the reason, numbers are down in the Illinois Valley during the first part of the firearm deer season. Hunters brought down 540 deer last weekend in La Salle County, almost 50 less than a year ago.

In Bureau County, 676 deer were shot down compared to 730 last year. Hunters in Putnam County brought down 240 deer last weekend compared to 278 last year.

The second part of the firearm deer season begins next Thursday.

Gas going down, not up ahead of busy holiday travel days

Good news if you’re hitting the road for the holiday. Gas prices in the Illinois Valley continue to go down.

According to GasBuddy.com, prices in La Salle and Peru have fallen to $2.57 a gallon at some stations. Prices are still higher in Ottawa with gas going for $2.73 a gallon. Prices in Streator have jumped up to $2.87 a gallon. Earlier this month Streator had the lowest gas prices in all of Illinois.

The average price for gas in Illinois right now is $2.89 a gallon, down eight cents from a week ago.

A former employee is accused of stealing $1,000,000 from a La Salle business

A crucial part of running a business is having employees you can trust. A former employee of J.B. Contracting in La Salle is accused of stealing more than $1,000,000 over the course of six years.

Connie Steinbach of Oglesby turned herself in at La Salle County Sheriff’s Department Tuesday afternoon.  The investigation began on October 27 after someone from the construction company went to the La Salle Police. Investigators believe between January 2008 to October 2014, Steinbach wrote company checks for personal use and changed company records to make it seem as if the money went to legitimate customers.

Steinbach was charged with two counts of Class X felony theft and was released after posting bond.

Police say their investigation isn’t over because they’re trying to determine where the money was spent.