“Bash for Babies” to help keep children healthy

If you don’t already have dinner plans, head out to the Right Spice Supper Club in Peru.

Fatten up on Fat Tuesday while raising money for the March of Dimes. There will be local “celebrity waiters” working at the Right Spice tonight to raise money and awareness for the annual March for Babies April 24th in Peru.

You’re asked to call 220-5113 for reservations.

National discount tool store coming to Peru

Have you ever heard the business slogan “quality tools at ridiculously low prices”? It belongs to Harbor Freight Tools and they’re brining their discount tools and equipment to Peru.

The California-based company is leasing the east part of what used to be the Kmart building. Harbor Freight will use over 17,000 square feet leaving space for another store to move in next to Dunham’s Sporting Goods.

The new business will mean parking improvements along with demolition of the old garden and automotive centers. Harbor Freight’s main entrance will be on the east side facing Route 251.

Peru Economic Development Director Bob Vickrey says the company rakes in over $2 billion in revenues a year. He’s not sure how many jobs it’ll mean for Peru.

Peoria woman killed in Bureau County crash

If you’ve been following the story of a rollover near Tiskilwa, the woman in that crash has died.

Twenty-eight-year-old Sowmya Sridhar of Peoria died shortly after rolling her car on Route 29 just south of the interchange with Interstate 180. Sridhar had to be pulled out of her car by paramedics after she ended up rolling into bushes and trees.

The fatal crash happened around 7:45 Monday morning. Sridhar was the only person involved in the rollover.

Peru Police Arrest a Spring Valley Woman as They Hunt Heroin Sellers

A Spring Valley woman has been busted as part of a special investigation aimed at heroin sales in Peru.

Annette Jones was arrested by Peru Police shortly after noon today. The city’s Special Investigations Unit says Jones allegedly delivered heroin to undercover cops.

Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei says his department has “committed many resources to fighting the heroin epidemic in our area.” He also called it the “top priority” of the city’s drug unit.

As for Jones, she’s at LaSalle County Jail on $500,000 bond.

Skydivers headed to Ottawa need places to stay

Did you hear the stories about people renting out their homes for thousands of dollars to Super Bowl spectators? You have a chance to make some rent money later this year with visiting skydivers.

Skydive Chicago is hosting the World Parachuting Championships in September. With many hotels already booked for the week long event, Skydive Chicago wants to hear from you if you have rental property, an apartment, room, trailer or even couch you could rent out to a skydiver. The championships are September 10th thru 21st.

If you’re interested in helping out a skydiver, call Skydive Chicago in Ottawa.

Amtrak routes in the Illinois Valley unchanged despite state budget impasse

Good news if you’re a frequent rider of the rails.

Despite the budget mess in Springfield, Amtrak and the state have been able to reach a deal where the rail line won’t be cutting back on routes despite state funding issues. So for the foreseeable future, you should have a train morning, noon and night that you can catch in Princeton or Mendota that takes you to Union Station in Chicago.

The new deal between the state and Amtrak is actually expected to save taxpayers about four million dollars.

Sandwich Public Library closes after car crashes into it

You won’t be able to hop on the computer or relax and read a book today at the Sandwich Public Library.

The library is closed for clean up and to assess the damage after a driver plowed into the library Saturday morning. Thankfully no one was inside the library at the time of the crash.

Sandwich Police were called just before one Saturday morning to the library. They arrived to find a car partially inside the library.

Twenty-five-year-old Cassondra Zimbelman of Sandwich is accused of driving drunk. Officers think she hit the median in the parking lot, eventually jumped a curb and then hit the library.

Zimbelman was arrested for DUI and taken to Valley West Hospital. A passenger along for the wild ride didn’t need medical attention.