Ottawa Council tackles blighted properties

The Ottawa City Council is apparently read to take action on blighted property at the Tuesday meeting. The agenda says the council will vote to take legal action against the owners of property at 1845 LaSalle, 1886 Canal Road and 806 Fulton. Commissioners will vote on software licensing and employment agreement for NCAT bus drivers.

They’ll vote on authorizing Renwick and Associates on the Field’s Hill Sanitary Sewer extension and the Columbus Street streetscape. The council will also address the work by Marseilles Sheet Metal for the Police and Fire Station. The council meeting is at 7 in the Council Chambers at 301 West Madison Street.

Fire Safety campaigns a success

Locally, 2 fire departments can claim success in their “Holiday Fire Safety” campaigns this season. Lonnie Eisenberg, member of the Mendota Fire Department said their “Keep the Wreath Red” campaign was successful because no red bulbs were replaced with white ones.  Firemen, did however,  have 2 fires during the month – one a barn and another a garage. Those, Eisenberg said, did not apply to the campaign which encourages fire safety around Christmas candles, lights and extension cords.

Eisenberg credits the results to the public being careful, but also their education efforts in Mendota pre and grade schools. Eisbenberg thinks decorations and their wiring are better made than 25 years ago.

Princeton Fire Department also told “Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO” news that their same campaign had no holiday related blazes this year.

Moderate flooding at LaSalle to continue

Moderate flooding on the Illinois River at LaSalle will continue for a few days. The reading at 10:45am Sunday was 27.4 feet, about 7.5 feet above flood stage. The river is expected to drop about a foot by Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

At Ottawa, the reading is about 462 feet, 1 foot below flood stage. The Dayton and Vermillion Rivers are well below flood stage at this time.

Job seekers sought for Fair

If you’re unemployed and looking, the “Industrial, Manufacturing, Healthcare and more Job Fair” may help you. Hours are 9 – 2 at the Bureau County Metro Center on January 12. It’s free and open to all job seekers, but bring a resume and dress professionally.

Candidates of all ages, experience levels and industries are encouraged to attend. Most importantly, be able to communicate why you are the right person for job. Princeton Chamber of Commerce can answer any questions regarding the Fair.

Police investigating NIU burning death

Not surprisingly, the police and the survivors of a 25-year old Northern Illinois University student can’t agree on why he was killed. Hasan Gill’s uncle said his nephew was found dead in some campus bushes last Tuesday morning. Burns covered his entire body. CBS Chicago says police and the Dekalb County Coroner have started an investigation.

The university has said the police don’t believe there was foul play and the death was a suicide. Gill’s uncle, Dr. Mohammed Arain says the family believes Gill might have been set on fire to cover something up, including possibly being drugged. Arain said a container with a flammable liquid in it was found near the body.Arain said the family is convinced there’s a cover-up. According to the Dekalb County Coroner’s office, an autopsy will follow further forensic testing.

Illinois flood victim’s body recovered

Authorities have recovered the body of a second teenager who was in a truck that was pulled from floodwaters in central Illinois. The Christian County Coroner’s Office says that the body of 18-year-old Brandon M. Mann of Taylorville was spotted and recovered this morning less than 200 feet from where the truck was found last week. That brings the state’s death toll from the flooding to 10.

“Country of Origin” labeling gone

It’s now harder to find out where your beef or pork was born, raised and slaughtered. Congress repealed a labeling law last month that required retailers to include the animal’s country of origin on packages of red meat. It’s a major victory for the meat industry, which has fought the law in Congress and the courts since the early 2000s.

Lawmakers say they had no choice but to get rid of the labels after repeated rulings from the World Trade Organization. The WTO recently authorized Canada and Mexico to begin more than $1 billion in economic retaliation against the United States.

Consumer groups say the repeal is a disappointment just as consumers are asking for more information on their food packages.

President heads back to work

President Barack Obama is returning to the rancor of the nation’s capital after 2 weeks of vacation in his native Hawaii. He says he’s “fired up” for his final year in office and ready to tackle unfinished business. At the top of his priority list is executive action that is expected to expand when background checks are required for gun purchases. Obama meets with Attorney General Loretta Lynch Monday to discuss a 3-month review of what actions he could take to reduce gun violence.

Police shooting stats out in Chicago

Chicago police shot fewer people in 2015 than recent years despite police-involved shootings that have drawn national headlines. The Chicago Tribune reports officers shot 22 people last year, eight of them fatally. That’s a 40 percent dip in the total number compared with 2014 when 37 people were shot and 16 killed.

Charred body raises questions

    Police and the Dekalb County Coroner are investigating the death of a 25-year old Northern Illinois University student whose charred body was found on campus earlier last week. CBS Chicago reports that Hasan Gill’s uncle, Dr. \Mohammed Arain, said his nephew was found dead in some bushes Tuesday morning. Burns covered his entire body.

    The University has said police don’t believe there was foul play and that the death was likely a suicide; but Arain said the family believes Gill might have been set on fire to cover something up, including possibly being drugged. Arain said a container with flammable liquid in it was found near the body.