Erlenborn death – a loss for Peru

The City of Peru will be mourning the loss of 99-year old Harry Erlenborn. He passed away in Manor court in Peru Thursday.

Erlenborn started with American Nickeloid as an accountant in 1937. The Peru man entered the U.S. Army and became office manager of a base PX exchange serving 60-thousand men in Okinawa preparing for the final invasion of Japan in World War II. After his discharge, he returned to Nickeloid and retired as General Manager in 1985, but remained on the board till 2012. As a member of People’s Hospital, He served as President during its transition to the current Illinois Valley Community Hospital. He was a board membe there 45 years. Erlenborn was on the board of First National Bank of Peru, a 71-year member of the American Legion and held an LP basketball season ticket holder for almost 50 years.

Full obituary information will be posted shortly at “Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO dot com. You can also hear obituary information on “In Memorium” tommorrow at 9:35am.

Widespread power outage Saturday morning in Bureau County

A substation issue appears to be the cause of over a thousand outages in Bureau County.

An Ameren spokeswoman says the outage began around 9:10 Saturday morning. She called the problem a “quick outage or interruption”, saying the exact cause is still under investigation. Corn Belt Energy officials say their part of the outage at least was due to an upstream transmission issue impacting the Princeton substation.

At the height of the outage, nearly 800 customers were without power in Princeton with over a hundred outages also in Malden and Tiskilwa.

St. Bede and Marquette listed among top private schools in Illinois

If you and or your children have gone the Catholic school route, would you give glowing reviews of St. Bede and Marquette Academy? A national website has put both schools in its list of “Best Private High Schools in Illinois”.

Niche.com is a website that put together lists of best places to live. Part of that is ranking quality of schools.

According to the website, St. Bede Academy is rated 58th in the state for best private high schools. Marquette Academy checks in at 77. The criteria included student and parent reviews, test scores, and student-teacher ratio. The Latin School of Chicago is ranked number one.

You can see the rankings by clicking Private School Rankings

Latest on fatal head-on crash near Tonica

One of two women involved in a head-on crash north of Tonica looks like she will overcome her injuries.

Twenty-five-year-old Kylie Lewis of La Salle was listed in good condition as of Friday while being treated at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. She was taken there Thursday night after she passed a car on Route 251 near Tonica and collided with 25-year-old Carlo Ballerine of La Salle.

While Ballerine was treated and released at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru, his 27-year-old passenger Lauren Dimond of Spring Valley was killed in the crash.

You can hear funeral service details for Dimond on Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO’s In Memoriam and read about the services at Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO.com

New firefighter wanted in La Salle

Have you always dreamed of being a firefighter?

The La Salle Fire Department is taking applications for a firefighter opening. Some of the qualifications include being a licensed paramedic, between 21 to 35 years old and live within the city limits of La Salle within a year of being hired. Veterans and anyone with a degree will have a leg up on other applicants.

For an application, click La Salle Firefighter Application

Fatal rollover crash outside of Earlville

Another life has been lost on a La Salle County road.

Just before three Saturday morning, police and paramedics were called out to a rollover crash on East 1553rd Road south of Earlville. One victim was pronounced dead by the county coroner.  The 31-year old man was later identified by the Sheriff’s office as Jason Fowler of Brighton, Illinois.  An autopsy was scheduled for Saturday.

Deputies say the rollover involved a single car.

Tobacco compliance check in Oglesby gets one business in trouble

Not everyone passed the tobacco compliance check in Oglesby.

Oglesby Police on Tuesday checked out Shell, BP, Becks, Caseys and Loves Travel Stop to see if they would sell tobacco products to someone underage. Four out of the five businesses did not sell.

Kenneth Williams, a clerk at Love’s was ticketed for unlawful sale of tobacco to a minor. He was released with a court date.

Heads shaved for a good cause at Seneca High School

Students at Seneca High School have gotten the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser off to a good start in La Salle County.

Eight shavees went under the razor Friday at the high school to benefit childhood cancer research. Donations for the Seneca event are over a thousand dollars.

Nearly 70 people have signed up so far to have their heads shaved at the annual St. Baldrick’s event at Jeremiah Joe’s in downtown Ottawa. That fundraiser is on Saturday, March 12th.