Random Act of Culture returns to the Illinois Valley

You can add a little song to someone’s holiday season.

Singers are needed for the fifth annual “Random Act of Culture”. The random act will actually be a live performance of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”. The performance will be at a yet to be named Peru business on Saturday, December 5th. Last year’s performance was at Hy-Vee.

The chorus is open to adult and high school-age seniors as well as full choirs. Rehearsal will be Monday, November 30th at 7 o’clock at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby.

For more information, click Random Act Facebook Page

Another house fire breaks out in Streator

An unoccupied home caught fire Thursday morning on the southeast side of Streator.

Firefighters were called just after 5 o’clock about a house fire at 516 South Illinois Street. They arrived to find heavy smoke. Firefighters had the fire out in about 15 minutes. One bedroom took the heaviest fire damage while the rest of the home took on smoke and heat damage.

Nobody was hurt. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Drug alliance forming in the Illinois Valley on the heels of successful community forum

Hundreds of you showed you care by showing up to Tuesday’s heroin forum at L-P High School. With an open dialogue now established, what’s next?

Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei says the next step is to create the Illinois Valley Alliance Against Drugs. Bernabei says it must be a community led organization for it to be successful. The core group already includes police officers, clergy, ex-addicts and parents of heroin victims.

If you want to become a member of the alliance against drugs, call Bernabei at the Peru Police Department or email him at chiefbernabei@perupolice.org

Bernabei hope’s the group can report positive results back to the community early next year.

Beards are growing to stay warm and raise money for charity in Peru

Vote early and vote often for this year’s Maze Lumber “Beards for Christmas”.

Maze employees have been growing out beards for charity since November 2nd. You can pick the winner of the best beard by donating a dollar per vote. The voting deadline is December 18th. You can cast a vote at Maze Lumber along Peru’s riverfront.

Proceeds are going to the Illinois Valley Marine Corps League’s Christmas for kids. The beard contest has raised over $8,000 in its first four years.