Proposed La Salle County medical marijuana cultivation center request receives a second change

While Governor Pat Quinn puts off issuing licenses for medical marijuana cultivation centers, the La Salle County Board is delaying a vote for a proposed cultivation center on Route 34.

Medmen of Illinois, LLC wants to put a cultivation center near Leland, but a request for a zoning change was shot down by the La Salle County Zoning Board of Appeals. The zoning board says a cultivation center doesn’t fit into the county’s comprehensive plan.

The supporters of the proposal were able to convince the county board Thursday to sent the zoning change request back to the zoning board.

The state could announce cultivation center license recipients at any time.

Cold weather wipes out Special Olympics Winter Games

Mother Nature has wiped out the Starved Rock Area Special Olympics Winter Games.

The games were supposed to happen Saturday at the Bureau County Fairgrounds but Area Director Allison Nichols says its too cold. Over 100 athletes were expected to compete in sports like snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Nichols says athletes will be drawn to compete in next month’s state games in Galena.

Interstates and two-lane roads dealing with blowing and drifting snow

Drifting and blowing snow has left Interstate 39 between Tonica and Minonk a dangerous drive. Police have handled multiple accidents involving semi-trucks near Minonk.

Emergency responders were called to an accident on the Wyanet-Walnut Blacktop in Bureau County. The road was also affected by drifting.

If you’re traveling today, make sure you are dressed for the weather and have a charged cellphone. Slow down and allow yourself extra time.

Familiar face rejoins the La Salle County Board

Despite opposition from his own party, Republican Jerry Myers is back on the La Salle County Board representing Streator.

The board Thursday picked Myers to fill the remaining two years of Mike Sheridan’s term. Sheridan resigned from the board because of health issues.

Four Republican board members voted against Myers’ appointment. Board member Randy Freeman says its nothing against Myers, he just thinks the process is “tainted”. The chairman of the Republican Party in La Salle County Don Jensen had other choices but Chairman Jerry Hicks used his position to suggest an appointee.

Fellow Republican Russell Boe defended his vote for Myers saying he’s a solid Republican and brings quality and experience. Myers told Boe and the others he missed being on the board.

Myers is a former state trooper who has already spent ten years on the county board.

Gas prices in eastern La Salle County

Gas prices are starting to inch back up in a few spots around the Illinois Valley.

According to GasBuddy.com, the price of unleaded in Streator now ranges from $1.77 to a $1.99 a gallon. Last Friday, Streator had the lowest gas in the state at $1.55. Some Ottawa stations have gone back up over two dollars a gallon, making a jump of over 20 cents from last week.

La Salle and Peru stations have went down a little to as low as $1.85 a gallon. You can get gas in Princeton for $1.79 while Mendota stations are sitting at $1.99 a gallon.

The average gallon of unleaded in Illinois right now is $2.12 a gallon, down 5 cents from last week.