Auction clears space for the Peru Public Works Department

A 1975 fuel truck sold for $1,700 while a 1985 van sold for $400 during an auction held by the Peru’s Public Works Department.

The auction held last week was a way for the public works department to clean house and make a few dollars.

Police Chief and Public Works Administrator Doug Bernabei was happy with the results. He says most of the items were sold and picked up. They made an estimated $13,000. The most valuable item was a 1999 one-ton pickup that sold for $6,100.

Pair indicted for Cedar Point robbery

Two men accused of a robbery at a house in Cedar Point have been indicted. Michael Gadd and Austin McAdams of La Salle are charged with aggravated robbery and residential burglary. The grand jury met Tuesday.

Gadd and McAdams are accused of breaking into the house during the early morning hours of December 18 and using airsoft guns to rob the people that were home.

Both remain in the La Salle County Jail with their bond set at $500,000.

Garbage man thanked for putting out a fire in Peru

You never know who could be your hero. For Marian Cichy of Peru, her hero was the garbage man.

Jamie Levi of Illinois Valley Waste Services was on his route near Cichy’s house on December 16. While he went from house-to-house collecting trash, flames began to shoot out from Cichy’s gas stove.

Cichy was able to get Levi’s attention. Using two fire extinguishers, Levi was able to put out the fire before the fire department arrived. Levi was thanked by Peru Fire Chief Jeff King and the city council Monday night.

Going beyond the normal job duties wasn’t new for Levi. Cichy says Levi always carries her garbage cans back to the house because he knows it would be difficult for her to do while using a wheelchair. Cichy says Levi is her angel.

La Salle County trying to target rundown buildings for demolition

Know any rundown, abandoned homes in rural La Salle County? They may soon be demolished.

The La Salle County Board has passed a vacant building ordinance that could pave the way for them to buy vacant homes and tear them down. Director of Environmental Services and Land Use Mike Harsted says a home in Dayton and one west of Streator should be the first to come down. He says they’ve tried fining the property owners but nothing has worked.

Property owners of buildings that are picked to be torn down will have the chance to appeal. Harsted says the only reason for the new approach is constant complaints about the rundown homes.

The county plans to use money from fees collected at the county landfill to help buy and demolish homes.

La Salle County Board asking for a little more property tax money in 2015

It takes a lot of money to run a county, even one with a smaller population like La Salle County.

The La Salle County Board has passed its tax levy for 2015. They’re asking for nearly $24 million in property taxes. That’s about $640,000 more than they asked for this past year.

What this mean’s for the county’s part of your tax bill is that you’ll pay $11 more for a home valued at $100,000.

2014 going out with a serious chill

For the first time in awhile, the forecast in the Illinois Valley includes the wind chill.

Thanks to a northwest wind, it could feel like five below Tuesday night with the wind chill. New Years Eve the wind is expected to gust up to 25 miles per hour which could make it feel like eight below during the day with the wind chill.

New Years Day will bring a slight warm up with the winds expected to calm down and the high temperature to reach the 30s.

Peru to buy Vactor truck

Peru is getting its own Vactor truck. For years the city has hired Michelini when they needed to flush or look inside of their sewer lines, but many aldermen believe having a truck on hand will allow them to save money and take better care of their sewers.

Steve Michelini spoke to the city council Monday night before they agreed to buy a $405,000 truck.   He says the truck Peru is buying won’t have all of the capabilities that his has but the city is welcome to use his equipment when needed.

Alderman Tony Ferrari says he thinks they should buy it but wants to see it being used.

City Finance Director Justin Miller estimates the truck will pay for itself in five years.