Gun Club shed and contents burn Sunday

With the wind blowing like it was over the weekend, you have to give props to firefighters limiting the damage west of Spring Valley.

Early Sunday afternoon, firefighters from Granville, Standard, Magnolia and Hennepin responded to a structure fire four miles west of Route 89. Welder sparks got leaves burning which then started a shed on fire. The shed belongs to the “West End Gun Club”. A small timber fire also started on the gun club property.

The shed was gutted but a clubhouse and smaller building were saved from the blaze. Nobody was hurt.

Firemen leave charity event briefly for…..a fire.

Utica Firemen and other firefighters were at a St. Baldrick’s headshaving Sunday afternoon when they had to step away.   For what, you ask?  A fire, of course.

According to a station fireman,  personnel brought equipment to Starved Rock State Park, shortly after 2:30pm,  to extinguish a small brush fire behind a cabin.  They were there about 20 minutes before returning to their charity event at Senica’s Oak Ridge that included departments from LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby and Ladd.

 

Library presents ID theft program Friday

You’ve been warned about how easy identity theft can happen. Do you need some tips to protect your own identity? Jason Laviska of the state’s comptroller office will have prevention tips this Friday afternoon in the Peru Public Library.

Laviska’s free program will explain how adults of all ages can learn ways to reduce their chances of financial and personal identities being stolen. The 2 hour program starts at 1:30pm.

Bingo Hall may open near Shabbona

A federal agency is reviewing a proposal to put a Native American electronic bingo hall on the outskirts of a northern Illinois village.

The plan from the Kansas-based Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation would put a 24-hour bingo hall near the DeKalb County village of Shabbona. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is reviewing the proposal. It collected public comments on the casino’s environmental impact in January and February.

Department of Interior spokeswoman Nedra Darling says a preliminary report on that impact is expected in October.

The Chicago Tribune reports the plan has reignited emotions since public comments were gathered. Some see the plan as economic salvation, while others see it as ruining peaceful rural culture.

Vet Hospital schedules area visits

Maybe the Veterans Administration is reaching out to vets in our area. The Edward Hines Junior Veterans Affairs Hospital Mobile Medical unit certainly is. The Mobile Medical Unit will be on LaSalle County’s east side on the 4^th Wednesday of each month. If it’s an odd-numbered month, the unit will be on Jackson Street in Ottawa west of LaSalle street from 10am – 1pm. If it’s an even-numbered month, the MMU will be at the Marseilles Lions Club.

The traveling unit will offer flu shots, physicals, check-ups, medication management, preventive care, primary care, connection to specialty services and women’s health care. In addition, enrollment specialists will be present to answer questions about health care benefits and services through the Hines Hospital. Veterans can enroll by calling 708-202-8838 or hines.va.gov/patients.

Ed Hand bridge closure coming April 18

Construction season is upon us. The LaSalle County Highway Department has at least 1 bridge scheduled for replacement. According to Larry Kinzer, County Engineer, the Ed Hand bridge on County Highway 23, northeast of Oglesby, will be closed for replacement the rest of the year starting April 18.

Kinzer’s release says it should be completed sometime in early 2017. Public access to the Vermillion River will be ONLY from Lehigh Park. There will be no access from the bridge’s north side. A detour will not be posted. Motorists will have to use an alternative route.