Two Arrested After Domestic Dispute in Ottawa

A man and woman were both arrested after things got heated at an Ottawa home.

John Budach Jr was arrested around 8 o’clock Wednesday night for domestic battery after he allegedly punched someone three times in the back. During the same police call, Ottawa Police arrested 74-year old Barbara Budach-Stone for assault after she allegedly wagged her finger in the face of a different person while threatening to punch them.

Barbara was released on $120 bond. John has been taken to LaSalle County Jail.

Retail theft prompts Peru Police to ask for help

Your help is needed in nabbing a couple of alleged thieves.

The Peru Police Department is looking for a man and woman who allegedly stole from the Peru Walmart Wednesday morning. Investigators think they were driving a black or grey extended cab Ford F250 pickup with a fuel tank in the rear bed of the truck.

Pictures of the wanted pair are up on the Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO Facebook page. If you have any information call the Peru P.D. or Illinois Valley Crime Stoppers.

Updated comprehensive plan causes debate in Utica

As history has shown, if you want a big public turnout for a meeting, just bring up sand mining.

According to the NewsTribune, a crowd of about 50 calling themselves CORE, or Conserve Our Rural Ecosystem protested at Tuesday night’s Utica Planning Commission meeting. They’re upset that the proposed new Utica comprehensive plan includes the possibility of additional sand mining.

A consultant who put the new comprehensive plan together says the parts of Utica’s map that say mining just refers to current quarries. It doesn’t mean the land will always be for mining. The consultant agreed to change the term mining on the maps to industry.

CORE member and La Salle County Farm Bureau President Monty Whipple says the comprehensive plan doesn’t preserve or protect land in Waltham Township. He says agricultural land “will be lost forever.”

Despite Whipple and others protests, the planning commission unanimously voted to send the comprehensive plan to the full village board.

P.R. firm handling all media calls for Frank Mautino

It looks like any statements from Auditor General Frank Mautino will come through a P.R. firm for the foreseeable future.

Ryan Keith with RK PR Solutions out of Lincoln told Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO that he is handling media interactions from now on. Keith says “we’re sticking to the statement for now but we’ll have more to get into as this develops”.

Keith sent out a response on behalf of Mautino Tuesday morning denying any wrongdoing with campaign fundraising and spending.

A call to Mautino’s cellphone led to a recording saying the phone was out of service.

Jerry Long receives endorsement in 76th District race

Do endorsements play a factor in who you vote for? Republican State Representative John Anthony of Joliet is backing Streator truck driver Jerry Long in the 76th District State Representative race.

Anthony calls Long an effective leader and one of the hardest working people he’s met. He says Long like himself is committed to bringing prosperity to Illinois while limiting big government. Anthony represents the 75th State Representative District which includes parts of La Salle and Grundy County.

Long will face a primary challenge in March from Jacob Bramel of Marseilles. If he wins that race, he’ll face off with Democrat Andy Skoog in November to hold the seat that was recently given up by Auditor General Frank Mautino.

Streator native training for a spot in the Olympics

How cool would it be to have an athlete from the Illinois Valley compete in the Olympics?

2010 Streator High School graduate Logan Pflibsen has a legitimate shot at competing in the pole vault competition at the 2016 games in Rio. Pflibsen finished his time at New Mexico University as an All-American with a personal best vault of 17 feet, 8 and a half inches. To qualify for the Olympic Trials, he needs to clear another 10 inches.

To help him live his dream, Logan’s sister Tori has set up a GoFundMe page. She says now that he’s out of college, he’s has to foot the bill for equipment and travel expenses for training and competitions.

In less than a week, over $1,800 has been raised towards the $3,000 goal. To donate, click Pflibsen Go Fund Me

Shopper clipped by a car in the Hy-Vee parking lot

With as busy of a parking lot Hy-Vee in Peru is, it’s a wonder this doesn’t happen more often.

69-year-old Anna Makarewicz of Peru was taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru after getting hit in the grocery store parking lot late Monday morning. 77-year-old Socorro Barnes of Spring Valley says he looked away for a moment and next thing he knew Makarewicz was walking in front of his Chrysler Concorde.

Due to conflicting reports of how the crash happened, no tickets were issued.