La Salle may designate two weekends for burning yard waste

For two weekends this year, you may want to steer clear of La Salle if you have respiratory problems.

Alderman Jim Bacidore says people have approached him about having designated burn weekends. The city doesn’t allow open burning at any time right now.

Bacidore and the city’s public health committee will take up the idea of having burn weekends in April and October when they meet in a couple weeks.

Masked Man “Rummaged” through Office of Serena Business before Fleeing

LaSalle County Deputies are looking for your help finding a man involved in an incident that happened Monday afternoon.

Someone went into the Nelson Brother’s Auto Repair Shop in Serena wearing a ski mask shortly before 1:00 pm. According to police, the person then “rummaged through the office.” When an employee tried to confront the suspect, the employee was hit and the suspect ran from the business.

Police did not know which way the person went. They’re asking anyone with information to call the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office.

Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources Lures Fishermen to Online Sign-Ups

You might not think something as nature-oriented as fishing would be trying to be more digitally convenient. But, that’s just what the state Department of Natural Resources is trying to do.

A new online application system will allow tournament organizers and fishing clubs to apply for permits online. The site will also allow organizers to report the fish harvest data from tournaments online. That feature may be used in the Illinois Valley soon, as the annual Cabela’s Masters Walleye Circuit stop in Spring Valley is this weekend.

If you’re an avid fisherman or you just want to find out more about the sport in the Illinois Valley, you can check out more at www.ifishillinois.org.

Kansas derailment impacts Mendota and Princeton train service

If you’ve been following the story of an Amtrak derailment in western Kansas, that train was bound for Princeton and Mendota.

Just after midnight Monday, the Southwest Chief train derailed on its way to Chicago from Los Angeles. Eventually the train was supposed to stop in Princeton and Mendota Monday afternoon and take passengers to Union Station in Chicago.

The train never made it to Princeton and Mendota prompting a message saying “status currently unavailable due to a service disruption.” The morning and evening Amtrak trains in Princeton and Mendota were not affected by the Kansas derailment.

Food pantry ready to provide over a thousand holiday meals

Easter will be here before you know it and the Illinois Valley Food Pantry is already thinking about handing out holiday meals.

The pantry’s annual Easter meal distribution is this Saturday at their office on Marquette Street in downtown La Salle. Donna Hess with the pantry says they’re expecting to help around 500 families or roughly 1,500 individuals this Easter.

You can get a meal if you live in La Salle, Peru, Oglesby, Utica, Cedar Point, Tonica, Lostant, Leonore or Lowell. To get a meal you need to register with the pantry by Wednesday.

As always, monetary and food donations are more than welcome on behalf of the pantry.

Video gaming numbers go up in February

What did you spend your tax return on? Despite having less days in the month, $29 million more dollars was wagered in video gaming machines in Illinois in February than was in January.

In the Illinois Valley, Ottawa just barely edged Streator having the most video gaming action last month. According to state numbers, $1.72 million was wagered in Ottawa compared to $1.71 million in Streator.

Peru and La Salle also are in the million dollar club when it comes to video gambling. In Peru, $1.3 million was wagered last month in gaming machines compared to just over a million dollars in La Salle.

State senator not endorsing Republican representative candidate

Many groups like endorsing a specific candidate in a primary race, others will simply endorse their party as a whole.

State Senator Sue Rezin said she isn’t officially backing Jerry Long or Jacob Bramel for the Republican nomination for 76th District Representative. While she has worked with one candidate in the past, she says her support will go to whoever wins the nomination:

The 76th District Representative had been Frank Mautino, until he left the office to become the State Auditor General. Now, the Republican nominee will face Mautino’s replacement, Democrat Andy Skoog, in November.

Thousands raised in Ottawa for St. Baldrick’s Foundation

The generosity of the Illinois Valley has shown through again.

Over $40,000 was collected this past weekend at the annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser in Ottawa. Organizer Rita Chovan says more donations are expected to come in.

Upwards of 80 men and women in the Illinois Valley raised money and shaved their heads for the cause. Rob and Sean from The Wolf Wake Up Show shaved their heads and were able to raise over two thousand dollars.

Money raised goes to support childhood cancer research.

Modest voter turnout expected despite presidential politics

Will the presidential race energize the Illinois Valley enough to have a high voter turnout?

La Salle County Clerk JoAnne Caretto is staying conservative thinking the turnout could be between 25 to 30 percent. The voter turnout for the March 2012 presidential primary was 20 percent.

Polls open statewide tomorrow at 6 in the morning and stay open until 7 in the evening.