Door left open for state politicians to get pay raises

Do you get a cost of living increase at your job? Republican State Senator Sue Rezin doesn’t want one.

Lawmakers left Springfield this weekend without voting on a proposed bill that would’ve stopped them from getting a cost of living increase this year. Rezin co-sponsored the idea that didn’t even make it to the Senate or House floor.

Rezin says “when our state is facing a more than six billion dollar deficit, this legislation is the least we can do to lead by example”. The Republican blames Democrats for not bringing the idea up for a vote.

Kentucky man accused creating a scene at Grand Bear Lodge

A ruckus at Grand Bear Lodge in Utica was allegedly caused by a Kentuckian.

La Salle County deputies went out to the lodge Sunday morning and arrested Richard Wilson of Lexington, Kentucky. He was arrested for domestic battery and resisting arrest.

Wilson was taken to the La Salle County Jail.

Oglesby woman hurt after crash along the Illinois River

Drugs may have caused a crash that hurt an Oglesby woman.

Brianna Mancini was on Dee Bennett Road Sunday morning near the Starved Rock Lock & Dam when she drove into the ditch. She was arrested for DUI of alcohol and/or drugs, failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident and driving uninsured.

She was taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru and given a court date.

Earlville man facing charge of cruelty to an animal

If you’re going to be mean to a dog, you may just get bit.

Deputies from DeKalb County were called out Saturday night to a home in Earlville about a dog bite.  Dyrald Rickman of Earlville was bitten because he was hitting the dog.

Rickman was arrested for cruel treatment of an animal.  He posted bond and was released.

Oglesby Fun Fest opens Thursday

Thursday’s “Hairbangers Ball” and Kiss Tribute starts a new season of town festivals. The live bands kick off the 2015 Oglesby Summer Fun Fest. Two nights of Country music follow with “The Buddy Holly Experience” closing out “Fun Fest” Sunday evening. Fireworks will be heard overhead late Sunday night.

A live Reptile show is part of the “Kids Party in the Park” Saturday afternoon. The carnival and Midway will operate each day. Wristbands are $23

LP Class of 1975 gathering

Are you a member of the LP High School “Class of ’75”? If you like to re-hash your high school memories, set aside September 19th. Dave Kasprowicz is organizing the gathering at the LaSalle Knights of Columbus. Fliers have been mailed. Alumni will get a tour of the school then go to the K of C for a beer and wine tasting, a “Stone Jug” BBQ dinner, “70’s music” and a “photo booth”.
Dress casual. Tickets are $25 each. Reservations are due by August 19 to Dave Kasprowicz in Peru. Orders are also being taken for “Class Reunion” sweatshirts with or without a hood.

Safer cancer treatments paying off

New research shows that the move to make cancer treatments gentler for children has paid a double dividend. More kids are surviving than ever before, and without the long-term complications that doomed many of their peers a generation ago.

Radiation and chemotherapy have saved countless children from cancers but some treatments can damage the heart or other organs, problems that prove fatal years later.  In the 1990s, a push began to try to prevent these “late effects” by giving smaller, more targeted doses of radiation, avoiding certain drugs and changing the way chemo is given.

The new study, which tracked more than 34,000 childhood cancer survivors over several decades, shows that despite the easier treatments, survival continued to improve. Results were discussed Sunday at a cancer conference in Chicago.

Supports distance themselves from Hastert

A Christian college in suburban Chicago has removed the name of former House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert from an academic research center. Wheaton College announced Sunday what had been known as the J. Dennis Hastert Center for Economics, Government and Public Policy is now just named after the school.

Hastert resigned from the center’s board Friday, one day after the release of a federal indictment accusing him of paying hush money to keep someone silent about “prior misconduct.”

Supporters ponder Hastert scandal

Before Dennis Hastert was U.S. House speaker and second in line to the president, he was known around Yorkville as Denny the coach. Hastert was a beloved mentor to athletes on the high school wrestling team and in Scouting groups. This week’s indictment accuses Hastert of manipulating bank accounts and lying to the FBI to allegedly cover up past “misconduct.” It has left hometown admirers searching back through fond memories and struggling to understand how a case of alleged sexual abuse and extortion could have emerged from that period.

Streator teacher arrested Friday

A 25-year old Streator High School teacher knows already how he’ll spend his summer vacation.
Rylee VanMelkebeke was arrested Friday afternoon at the high school for aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He’s accused of committing an act of sexual penetration with a victim between the ages of 13 and 17 years of age. VanMelkebeke was taken to the County jail. Streator police say the case is still an ongoing investigation. VanMelkebeke is an A.P.E. And Driver’s Ed instructor.