Big Wheel of Fortune winner from Grand Ridge

If you’re a dedicated “wheel watcher” you saw an Ottawa High School graduate win big bucks on the long running game show.

Molly Bardson was on last night’s Wheel of Fortune and won over $23,000. She answered four puzzles correctly but missed out on winning another $32,000 in the final bonus puzzle. Included in her winnings is a trip to Costa Rica.

Bardson lives in Plainfield now but grew up in Grand Ridge. She’s the general manager of the Romeoville Athletic & Events Center.

Oglesby junior high students to present a comedy

A teacher’s iPod playlist is the plot of a play written by junior high students in Oglesby.

“The Playlist” is about students finding an iPod belonging to a teacher.  Comedy ensues as they try to find out which teacher owns the device.  It’s directed by Christine Adelmann.  The cast includes 35 students.

Tickets are $3 and will be available at Oglesby Washington School. Performances are at 7pm Friday and Saturday.

La Salle man arrested on an immigration warrant

A traffic stop in La Salle led police to a man wanted on an immigration warrant. Heber Borland of La Salle was stopped early Wednesday morning and arrested on the warrant issued by the Department of Homeland Security. He was also ticketed for driving while license suspended and a La Salle County failure to appear warrant.

Borland was being held at the La Salle County Jail before being taken into custody by immigration officials.

Informational kiosks in the works for Utica

There’s usually always something going on in Utica. Kiosks could be coming soon to the village to show you where the action is.

According to the NewsTribune, members of the Utica Business Association want to put up four permanent kiosks at locations scattered throughout Utica including one along the I & M Canal. Each kiosk would have a bulletin board listing events and activities to locals and out-of-town visitors.

Business leaders are expected to come back to the Village Board next month with a more specific plan including costs.

Downtown a major focus of 2015 economic development in La Salle

You’ll find salons, clothing stores and restaurants in downtown. The city has tried to concentrate new retail to First Street and surrounding area and the strategy working.

La Salle Economic Development Director Don Aleksy says 11 focus groups that met while they were updating the comprehensive all mentioned the downtown. Major renovation work is underway at the old Blakely’s building on the northeast corner of First and Marquette Streets. The building will be the new home of a clothing store that’s already in La Salle.

At the other end of the block, a store and nail shop are planning to move into a renovated building that already has a video gaming business and two upstairs condominiums. A few blocks away a new Beck’s gas station is under construction.

Learn more about economic development in La Salle by listening to an interview that’s available at the Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO news page.

Longtime Bureau County State’s Attorney stepping down at end of the month

The top prosecutor in Bureau County is making the transition from public to private practice.

The Bureau County Board Tuesday night officially accepted the resignation of State’s Attorney Pat Herrmann. His last day on the job will be January 31st as he’s going into private practice.

The board now has two months to pick a replacement for Herrmann who still has nearly two years left on his term. He’s suggesting Geno Caffarini who works with Anthony Raccuglia & Associates in Peru.

Herrmann’s replacement has to also be a Democrat.

La Salle and Peru Fire Departments plan shared training site

A small building that was once part of an Illinois Cement quarry is getting a new purpose.

Plans are underway to turn the old electric control room for the rock crusher into a firefighter training area. The building is on land that was given to La Salle for a new wastewater plant and Rotary Park.

La Salle Fire Chief Andy Bacidore thinks it would be a good space for them and the Peru Fire Department to use for training. Bacidore says they will combine the building with intermodal cargo containers to create buildings for different training scenarios. He also thinks the police department could use it when training their dogs.

Both La Salle and Peru City Councils have approved an agreement for the site.

Tuition not expected to go up at the U of I

CHICAGO (AP) – For the first time in awhile, tuition won’t be going up at the University of Illinois for students who live in the state.

Trustees are meeting Thursday and will vote on a plan to freeze tuition for the coming school year at current rates. President Robert Easter said last week the university wants to make affordability a top priority.

The plan would freeze tuition at $12,036 a year in Urbana-Champaign. Tuition would increase by 2 percent for out of state students.