The lights are on in La Salle Rotary Park

The once dark La Salle Rotary Park is lit up for Christmas. The park is decorated for Christmas using lighted displays sponsored by area businesses. The “Celebration of Lights” started Friday night.

The displays will be lit daily between 5-10pm through the end of the year. You’ll find the park off of the Troy Grove Blacktop. Enter at the main entrance and follow the rope lights. There’s no need to leave your car.

New pastor to be installed at Oglesby church

New leadership is being greeted at a church in Oglesby. Reverend Adam Wolfgang is being installed at Oglesby Union Church during a ceremony Saturday.

Wolfgang takes over for Pastor Jack McConaghie who has retired after many years at the church. Wolfgang has been preaching in Oglesby since the first Sunday in October.

The ceremony begins at 6:30pm and will be followed by a reception.

Firefighters hope wreath is a reminder to be safe during the holidays

One of the more fun times of the holidays can also be one of the most dangerous. Putting up decorations that can catch fire.

For the 15th year, Mendota firefighters are asking for your help in “Keeping the Wreath Red”. A wreath is up outside the Mendota Fire Station monument wrapped in red decorative lighting. If Mendota firefighters respond to a holiday related fire or a holiday related accident, a red bulb is replaced by a white bulb. Firefighters hope the bulbs are a reminder to be safe this holiday season.

“Keeping the Wreath Red” goes through Sunday, January 4th.

Rare Saturday meeting to announce state’s attorney in Putnam County

HENNEPIN, Ill. (AP) – Knowing the importance of having a state’s attorney, the Putnam County Board will have a rare Saturday meeting.

The board needs to appoint someone to replace State’s Attorney Jim Mack, who was elected as a judge earlier this month and will be sworn in on Monday. Saturday’s meeting originally was scheduled for Wednesday, but rescheduled after a newspaper objected that the board did not give the required 48-hour notice under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

Board Vice Chairman Chauntelle Biagi-Bruer says the board rescheduled because “we wanted to make sure that everyone knew about it.”

Fundraiser will benefit families of crash victims in Streator

“Black Friday by Day, Red and White by Night” is the theme of a fundraiser Friday night in Streator.

The Streator High School Moms Club is hosting the benefit to help families of the four SHS students who were in a fatal crash November 5th. The fundraiser starts at 6 inside the Streator K of C Hall and will include a DJ, 50/50 drawing, raffles, door prizes and dinner, drinks and dessert. Tickets are 10 dollars.

Benjamin Newton was killed in a crash November 5th north of Streator. Three of his classmates were hurt.