L-P students pay respect to first responders ahead of 9-11 anniversary

With the fifteenth anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks approaching, you’ll hear a lot of stories about the bravery of first responders. Students at L-P who are too young to even remember the tragic day still took it upon themselves to thank police and firefighters.

Members of the student council travelled around Friday morning delivering cookies to police, fire and ambulance personnel in the Illinois Valley. It’s an effort called “Cookies for Courage.”

A message on the L-P Facebook page said the treats were a way to say thank you for all they do and to remember those who gave their lives on September 11th.

Volunteers needed to help child advocate agency

You’ve probably checked out their chocolate festival, but have you ever thought about volunteering for a group that helps represent kids in the court system?

The Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA for short, fall training series starts Monday and continues over 8 classes this month. In the class you’ll learn everything you’ll need to serve the best interests of abused and neglected children in the LaSalle County Court System.

If you want to volunteer, you need to be: over the age of 21, free of any felony, sex, or drug offenses, and pass a government background check as part of the screening process. The first meeting is at 6:00 Monday evening in the CASA office which is located in the basement of the Etna Road Government Complex in Ottawa.

IVCC reaches scholarship campaign goal

Started in January of last year, a scholarship campaign at Illinois Valley Community College has surpassed its goal.

More than $512,000 has been raised through the school’s scholarship endowment which had a $500,000 goal. IVCC President Jerry Corcoran says 106 supporters gave to the campaign. A campaign donor wall will be installed near the main entrance.

Around 80 students have received help from the endowment.

Gas prices hold steady for another week

There are still gas stations with less than two-dollar a gallon gas but none of those are in the Illinois Valley.

According to GasBuddy.com, you can find unleaded for $2.04 a gallon in Peru. Streator has gas for $2.08 while you can fill up for $2.09 in La Salle. Stations in Marseilles and Oglesby are at the high end at $2.19 a gallon.

The statewide average for unleaded is $2.29 a gallon, the same as it was a week ago.

Large cocaine bust made in Ottawa

By working together, local law enforcement has taken down another alleged drug dealer.

Detectives from the Peru and Ottawa Police Departments Friday raided the Ottawa home of 43-year-old Louie Shaw. Shaw was arrested for unlawful possession of cocaine with the intent to deliver. Officers allegedly found $30,000 worth of cocaine in the home.

Shaw was hauled off to the La Salle County Jail.