Oglesby City Council moves ahead with Walnut Street construction plans

Getting through the heart of Oglesby will be tricky this summer.

According to the NewsTribune, the Oglesby City Council moved head with a $700,000 contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation to resurface Walnut Street. The city’s share is $140,000 and they’ll use gas tax money towards the project. Bids will be opened April 24th.

The city council awarded a $269,000 contract to Universal Asphalt & Excavating for water main work on Walnut Street.

Alcohol blamed in crash where driver hit a tree on Dee Bennett Road

An Ottawa man was hurt after crashing into a tree.

La Salle County deputies say Michael Rausch was on Dee Bennett Road Saturday night when he left the road and hit a tree. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.

Rausch was arrested for DUI and failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident. He was given a court date.

IVCH tax-exempt status is reinstated by the IRS

The tax-exempt status of an area hospital, its parent company and its fundraising arm has been reinstated by the Internal Revenue Service.

Illinois Valley Community Hospital, IV Healthcorp, Inc. and the IVCH Foundation lost their tax exempt statuses late last year after necessary forms weren’t filed for several years according to IVCH Public Relations Director Gene Vogelgesang. The hospital though filed the needed forms and the tax-exempt statuses was restored dating back to when it was initially revoked.

Vogelesang says they have created policies and procedures to make sure that the forms oversight doesn’t happen again. He says it hasn’t affected patient care.

CEO Tommy Hobbs has sent out a thanks to patients and donors for their understanding during the reinstatement process.

Alleged drunken driver facing several charges in Peru

An alleged police chase in Peru ends with several charges for the driver.

Peru Police got a call Sunday night about a drunk driver. Once Peter Kamer of Channahon was finally stopped on Shooting Park Road, he was arrested for aggravated fleeing and eluding police along with DUI, reckless driving and a handful of other traffic violations. He was also found to be wanted on a warrant out of Will County.

Kamer was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Winter weather means there’s a shortage in blood donations

Thanks to a brutal February and early March in some places, the American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood donors.

Storms across the country early this month forced over 200 blood drives to be cancelled. The weather should be fine to donate blood this week in Peru, Mendota, Streator and Serena.

The Red Cross is hosting a blood drive tomorrow at the Peru Red Cross office from noon until 5:30. On Thursday there’s a blood drive from 8:45 until 1 at the Streator City Hall. On Friday you can donate from 10 until 3 at either the Mendota Community Hospital or Serena High School.

All blood types are needed for donations.

IVCH doctors will show cooking chops at new fundraiser

You already knew your doctor was good in the exam room but did you know they can also hold their own in the kitchen?

The first annual “Cookin’ with the Doctors” fundraiser is Thursday, March 26th at the Deer Park Country Club. Over a dozen doctors with Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru will cook for you. Money raised from ticket sales, sponsorships, and a silent auction goes to the IVCH Foundation for medical equipment.

“Cookin’ with the Doctors” runs from 6 to 9. Tickets will be $40 at the door. You can get an advanced ticket for $35 at IVCH or by ordering online.

Order online by going to http://ivch.netreturns.biz/Calendar/CalendarItemDetail.aspx?Id=b302fc3e-dd19-4d03-858e-6718aa091005#.VQbJceEerMo

Mendota firefighters join fight against childhood cancer

A few Mendota firefighters will be getting a hair cut this week.

The 9th annual Mendota Firefighters Local 4200 St. Baldrick’s event is Wednesday at Main Street Bar & Grill in downtown Mendota. Head shaving will happen from 4 until 7 with money raised going to St. Baldrick’s efforts in fighting childhood cancer.

The firefighters hope to raise $5,000. Find a link to the Mendota St. Baldrick’s event by going to https://www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/42/2015

Latest video gaming numbers are released

February is the shortest month of the year and yet many video gaming establishments in the Illinois Valley saw more action then they did in January.

According to numbers from the Illinois Gaming Board, Ottawa saw the biggest jump with $4.4 million played in February compared to $3.8 million in January. After $935,000 was played in their video gaming machines during January, Oglesby topped a million dollars in February. Spring Valley, Marseilles, La Salle, and Princeton also had more money played in video gaming in February than January.

While total action was down a bit last month, Streator still leads the way in the Illinois Valley with $4.5 million played in video gaming for February.