Homeless man gets the attention of Peru mayor

Do you think there’s a homeless problem in the Illinois Valley? One case in Peru has grabbed the attention of the mayor.

As the Peru City Council meeting was winding down Monday night, Mayor Scott Harl asked Police Chief Doug Bernabei about the “situation at Pulaski Park”. The situation is actually a homeless man who is spending a lot of time at the small park just west of Westclox along Route 6.

Bernabei says they always urge the homeless to take advantage of homeless shelters but they can’t force anyone to stay at one. He says if anyone is in a city park after hours, they’ll get ticketed but not arrested.

Bernabei says they’re keeping an eye on the situation but as long as the homeless aren’t a danger to themselves or others, they’re entitled to be homeless.

Postal Service Business Up Because of Online Shopping

The increase in online shopping over the holiday season has meant a surge in business for a more traditional industry.

La Salle Postmaster Kevin Christiansen says the U-S Postal Service is the exclusive carrier for major retailer Amazon, and as a result they are shipping 27 percent more mail than they did just 2 years ago.

He also said that today is considered “Big Monday” for mail, with about 1.5 million pieces of mail expected to arrive at the postage center in Peoria tonight.

Post Offices are opening on Sundays from 10-2 through the holidays to help accommodate the increased business. Christiansen also said he likes to remind people to keep a clear path to their mailbox this time of year. However, so far, the weather has been taking care of that on its own.

Weekend rainfall amounts across the Illinois Valley

This past weekend will go down in the record books for high temperatures in December. While the rain wasn’t record setting, it still is worth mentioning.

According to the National Weather Service out of Chicago, more than 2 inches fell in the last 48 hours in Sublette, Sandwich and Rockford. More than an inch and a half of rain fell in Ottawa, Mendota and Sheridan.

Just over an inch of rain was measured at the WLPO studios in Oglesby.

Spring Valley man accused of mixing it up with police

Alcohol may have gotten a Spring Valley man in deep trouble.

Spring Valley Police Saturday night were called about a drunken man causing a disturbance. John Leigh was arrested for aggravated battery to a police officer, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and trespassing.

He was taken to the county jail in Princeton.

End of the year shake up with county government in Ottawa

Andy Skoog’s decision to go to Springfield has created a domino effect in La Salle County government.

Someone needs to replace Skoog as the circuit clerk. La Salle County Board member Jim Olson is expected to be appointed this week to replace Skoog. It’ll then be up to county Democrats and Board Chairman Jerry Hicks to find someone to replace Olson. Since Olson is the vice chairman of the county board, someone has to replace him in that role as well.

La Salle County also will soon have a new coroner with Jodi Bernard retiring at year’s end. Her deputy clerk Bill Wujek is expected to be appointed as interim coroner until next year’s election.

Food pantry in Spring Valley looking to feed hundreds this Christmas

Putting their own spin on a Christmas classic, the Hall Township Food Pantry has “12 wishes of Christmas”.

The wish list includes 12 ramen noodles, 11 bottles of water, and ten cans of veggies and so on. Donations can be dropped off at the pantry on North Terry Street in Spring Valley.

The Christmas meal distribution for the Hall Township Food Pantry is this Wednesday.

Less people board Amtrak in the Illinois Valley

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Have you hopped on Amtrak lately in Princeton or Mendota? The train company says its passenger numbers in Illinois fell to about 1.3 million in the latest fiscal year, or a decline of about 4 percent.

Amtrak blames the lower ridership numbers to low gas prices and high-speed rail construction between Chicago and St. Louis. The construction forced periodic use of chartered buses on the route.

The Chicago to Quincy route which goes through Princeton and Mendota saw a 2 percent decline in ridership.