Plans announced for Christmas meals at the Illinois Valley Food Pantry

Time is running out if you want to get a Christmas meal from the Illinois Valley Food Pantry.

Wednesday is the last day to register for a food order with the pantry in La Salle. Nearly 2,000 individuals or roughly 550 families are expected to reach out to the pantry this Christmas. Meals will be handed out next Saturday.

The pantry always is looking for donations both with cash and food. Donations can be dropped off Monday thru Friday at the pantry in downtown La Salle.

New representative chosen for the Illinois Valley

It’s no longer just a rumor. Andy Skoog of La Salle is officially replacing Frank Mautino in Springfield.

Democratic leaders in La Salle, Bureau, Putnam and Livingston Counties voted unanimously Thursday night to have Skoog serve out the rest of Mautino’s term in the 76th District. Skoog plans to run for a full term in the House next year.

His appointment creates a vacancy in La Salle County for circuit clerk.

IVCC trustees approve tax increase

It takes millions of dollars to run a community college. A big chunk of that money comes from property taxes.

The Illinois Valley Community College Board wants to collect $11.3 million in property taxes next year. That’s a jump of about 3 percent from this past year.

If your home is worth $150,000, the part of your property tax bill that goes to IVCC will be around $188.

Albany Man Charged in Knox County Deer Poaching Case

Charges have been filed against a Whiteside County man following an investigation into unlawful taking of deer that spanned 2 months and 3 counties.

Wesley Dauen from Whiteside County allegedly unlawfully killed an 11- and 7-point buck in northern Knox County. According to Conservation Police Officers, Dauen took the deer while using permits that belonged to another hunter; and those permits were only for antlerless deer. In addition, Dauen supposedly did not check the deer in, which is a requirement of hunters statewide.

Dauen also allegedly allowed a minor to kill an 11-point and a 9-point buck. The minor didn’t have any deer permits and also lacked an Illinois hunting license. CPOs say neither of the deer were checked in and one of them was tagged with a landowner archery permit that belonged to another hunter.

The buck that Dauen did check in only added to his charges, as he is accused of falsifying state deer check-in records because the landowner firearm deer permit he used allegedly belonged to another hunter.

Dauen was released and given a January 6^th court date in Knox County. CPOs also filed charges against Douglas Roberts from Mercer County for improper use of deer permits.

Two killed in Streator house fire

A tragedy played out near St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator Thursday morning.

A 9-1-1 call went out just before 8:30 about three people trapped inside a house that had caught fire at 511 South Monroe Street. Streator and Grand Ridge firefighters rushed to the scene. They were unable to save two victims who were trapped in the single-story home’s basement. Mary Jane Klein, 66, and Marvin L. Bradford, 78, were both pronounced dead at the scene. One man was able to get out of the burning house.

The incident is currently under investigation.

Cherry woman killed in Princeton collision

If you’ve been following the story of a near head-on crash in Princeton, one of the driver’s has died.

Paramedics were called out to the 1600 block of North 6th Street of Princeton just after 1 o’clock Tuesday afternoon for a crash between an SUV and a box truck. The driver of the SUV, Shannon Caba of Cherry was flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria where she was later pronounced dead. Her passengers were treated and released. The driver of the truck, Charles Tucker of Wisconsin was taken to Perry Memorial Hospital and released.

The crash is still under investigation.

Frustrated teachers planning an informational picket in Streator

You couldn’t ask for better weather to form a picket line.

Teachers with the Streator Elementary School District are planning an informational picket starting at 3:45 Thursday afternoon to show their displeasure of working with an expired contract. The teacher’s union and the school board are expected to meet at 5 o’clock to restart contract negotiations. A mediator will be at Thursday’s meeting trying to bring the sides together.

Teachers have already voted in support of a strike but they haven’t officially filed an intent to strike.

Deer harvest up locally and statewide during firearm season

There could be a lot of venison consumed before the year is over in the Illinois Valley.

Hunters in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam Counties gunned down more deer during the 2015 firearm season than they did last season. Bureau County’s 2015 kill count is 1,127, about 100 more deer than last year. The death toll in La Salle County is 863, up by nearly 70 from a year ago. In Putnam County, 399 deer were shot down this year, 40 more than last year.

Statewide, nearly 87,000 deer met their maker during the 7-day firearm season. That’s 10,000 more than last year.

Divided Utica Village Board says no to downtown gaming parlor

Utica has one of the more unique downtowns in the Illinois Valley. Do you think a video gaming parlor would enhance or hurt the look?

According to the NewsTribune, Utica Trustees aren’t in favor of businesswoman Kelly Waters relocating her gaming parlor from the Route 178 strip mall to downtown Utica. Village President Matt Jereb was the deciding no vote saying he wants to put off any gaming parlor downtown until the village finishes updating its comprehensive plan.

Trustee Joe Bernardoni argued for the gaming parlor saying “I think something in there is better than nothing”.

Ameren gets the green light to raise rates

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Ameren, the company is raising your bill.

The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved Ameren’s request to charge more for delivering natural gas. The rate increase means $2 to $6 more a month for a typical home’s gas bill and $2 to $7 more a month for a home’s electric bill. You’ll have to fork out more money starting with your January bill.

Ameren expects to get about $45 million dollars more in revenue from charging higher delivery rates. They asked the state for $55 million in additional revenue.

The Citizen’s Utility Board plans to challenge the rate increases.