Smashing Pumpkins lead singer visits La Salle

A famous rocker was taking in the sites in La Salle.

Smashing Pumpkins lead man Billy Corgan along with some friends stopped by the Hegeler Carus Mansion Thursday for a tour. The mansion’s Executive Director Kelly Klobucher says he called ahead of time saying that he was coming to visit. He apparently has an interest in preserving buildings.

Corgan also dined at Social Kitchen in downtown La Salle. He lives in Chicago.

Flood control could play a big part in Utica’s future

If you were to put together a wish list for the future of your town, what all would it include? A meeting last night in Utica started the process of a new comprehensive plan, or road map for the future.

According to the NewsTribune, the top themes brought up by village officials and those who call Utica home are flood control, restoration of the I&M Canal and more tourism and river access. Some other suggestions were trail improvements, a hardware store, more hotel rooms, and expanded parking, including designated parking for motorcycles on weekends.

The village is paying a consultant out of Plainfield to take all these suggestions and put together at least a draft of a new comprehensive plan by December.

Internet survey site gives positive grade to IVCC

How’s your experience been with Illinois Valley Community College? A national survey ranks IVCC as one of the best community colleges in Illinois.

Wallethub.com ranked the “best and worst” community colleges based on things like cost, classroom experience, education outcomes, and student-faculty ratio. IVCC finished 10th out of 48 Illinois community colleges.

Shawnee Community College was the top-rated Illinois community college.

Heroes at a downtown Utica fire will be honored

An ice cream social this weekend in Utica will also be a time to thank heroes.

Firefighters Robbyn Travis and Andy Brown will receive the department’s “Medal of Valor Award” after they rushed into a burning downtown apartment this past Mother’s Day. Utica paramedics Bonnie Lucas and Debbie Bierbom will get “Lifesaving Awards” for reviving the 60-year-old fire victim. The victim survived the fire and is now recovering with his family in Colorado.

Besides the awards ceremony, Saturday’s ice cream social will also include fire truck rides and a chance to check out the life flight helicopter. The social runs from 4 until 8 at the Utica fire station.

There’s no cost but donations are accepted.

Gas prices in the Illinois Valley knocking on the door of two dollars a gallon

Gas prices continue to head back down towards two dollars a gallon.

According to GasBuddy.com, you can fill up in Peru for as low as $2.11 a gallon. Gas in Princeton, Oglesby, La Salle, Ottawa, Streator and Utica all is under $2.20 a gallon. In Ottawa, stations in town are charging 20 cents more a gallon than the stations at the Interstate 80 and Route 71 intersection.

Several stations in Normal are now offering under two-dollar gas. The average price of gas statewide is $2.53 a gallon, down about 13 cents from last week.