Distillery planned in Mendota moves closer to becoming reality

With the new brewery in Ottawa being all the rage, a new distillery is still in the works for Mendota.

According to the NewsTribune, the Mendota City Council has approved a special use permit for retired police officer Ken Haun and his son to open a vodka and whiskey distillery near the Amtrak station. The council also approved a new class of liquor license specifically for a micro-distillery or micro-brewery.

The next step for the Hauns is to get building permits.

Oglesby Police test tobacco sellers

Not everyone passed the latest tobacco compliance check in Oglesby.

Oglesby Police on Monday 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.

Karen Meglich of Oglesby and clerk at Becks was ticketed for unlawful sale of tobacco to a minor. She was released with a court date.

State senator meets with Illinois Valley school superintendents

Even though they’re in charge of entire school districts, school superintendents in the Illinois Valley took advantage of the chance to be the ones learning Monday morning.

At a roundtable meeting in Morris , State Senator Sue Rezin and educational leaders met with Tony Smith, the State Superintendent of Education. Rezin said some of the challenges that were constantly mentioned were school funding and over testing. She explained some of the challenges she faces as a legislator:

The administrators met with Rezin and the State Superintendent for over an hour. Rezin said there is a bill which would fully fund schools for next year, but that her opposition in Springfield plans to block the bill until it does more for Chicago Public Schools.

Democrats win the ballot lottery in La Salle County

There was a lottery drawing Monday in Ottawa. Only the winners didn’t get money, they got higher spots on the November ballot.

La Salle County Clerk JoAnn Carretto had a drawing to determine party positioning on the General Election ballot and the Democratic Party won the lottery so their candidates will be listed first. The thought is you have a better chance of getting votes if you’re listed on top or first in your election.

The General Election is Tuesday, November 8th.