Appointments at LaSalle County Health Department to Help Navigate Open Enrollment

If the thought of navigating the process to sign up for healthcare has you worried sick, you’ll want to make plans to be at the LaSalle County Health Department later this month.

A Licensed Independent Insurance Agent is accepting free appointments to help you with questions about the Marketplace, Medicare, and Medicare Prescription Plans. You do have to make an appointment beforehand, and you’ll need to bring the following: Your most recent tax returns, Social Security Numbers and birthdays of everyone applying, your hospital of choice, and a medication list.

If you’d like an appointment you can call 433-3366. The deadline for enrollment for 2017 coverage is December 15^th.

Illinois Governor Declares Nearly $188 Million in 2015 Income

If you were making more than $100 million dollars every year, what are the odds you’d still be going to work?

That was the case for Governor Bruce Rauner, who released his 2015 tax returns Friday morning. In them, the Republican Rauner claimed a taxable income of almost $188 million.

Of course, that translated to quite the large tax bill for the governor. Rauner paid more than $43 million in federal income tax for 2015, and a little under $7 million in state income tax.

Rauner also released the charitable contributions both he and his family’s foundation made last year. Those contributions totaled $11.6 million

Peru City Vehicles Join Funeral Procession for 44-Year Mayor

You may have seen quite the procession if you passed through downtown Peru Friday morning. It was in honor of one of the longest serving mayors in Illinois’ history.

According to the NewsTribune, at least one vehicle from each department in Peru joined in the funeral procession for 87-year old Don Baker. Baker’s funeral service was this morning at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Peru

Baker was mayor in Peru from 1965 to 2009.  During his time in office retail boomed in Peru and the city also saw a mall, airport and hydroelectric plant get built.  Baker Lake is named in his honor.

The Peru city vehicles went from the church to Peru City Cemetery. Baker passed away back on Monday.

Kinzinger Speaks about Personal Growth, Election at Illinois Valley Community College

A day after winning reelection in an uncontested race, an Illinois Valley congressman was back in the valley.

U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger was at IVCC speaking to students from high schools across his 16^th District. Kinzinger spoke about overcoming personal failures during his address to the students.

According to the NewsTribune, he also answered questions on a number of issues. He spoke positively of the election, saying “I’m actually really excited about new leadership, about the opportunity to do big things.”

When asked about higher political aspirations, Kinzinger simply said he’d “take it a day at a time.” He also said he’s happy to go get “some big things done in D.C.”

Smoke at Oak State Products in Wenona leads to an evacuation

There were some anxious moments Friday morning at Oak State Products in Wenona.

A 9-1-1 call went out to the Wenona Fire Department a little after 10:30 after smoke inside the factory. While there were no visible flames, the plant was evacuated.

The first firefighter who got to the factory reported back there was no fire. Firefighters still looked over Oak States using a thermal imaging camera.

The Lostant Fire Department was called to provide mutual aid.

Alleged Peru burglar ends lengthy hunger strike

A homeless man has ended his hunger strike while awaiting a trial in La Salle County for burglary.

Prosecutors had asked for a court order to force 72-year-old Roy Cope to use a feeding tube at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa. Cope was hospitalized after 44 days of not eating.

He was arrested back in July in Peru for allegedly stealing a vehicle from a Peru dealership. Cope is due back in court December 1st.

Gas prices are down heading into holiday weekend

Apparently the election of Donald Trump isn’t a negative for gas prices.

You can find gas for less than two dollars a gallon throughout the Illinois Valley. According to GasBuddy.com, gas in Streator has fallen to $1.89. Unleaded in Peru, La Salle, Ottawa, Mendota and Princeton ranges from $1.93 to $1.99 a gallon.

The cheapest gas in the state is in Chillicothe at $1.69 while the most expensive place to fill up is in Chicago at $3.39 a gallon. The statewide average for unleaded is $2.13, seven cents cheaper than a week ago and 14 cents less than a year ago.

Tickets still on sale for Taste of Home

Don’t miss out on your last chance to see Culinary Specialist Guy Klinzing in the Illinois Valley.

Guy’s appearance at the Taste of Home Saturday at L-P High School is supposed to be his last. You’ll be able to learn new recipes while watching them prepared on stage by Klinzing. Before the show, you’ll have a chance to meet people selling home items and get lunch.

You can buy tickets online at http://www.815life.com, at the Peru Hy-Vee, any Financial Plus location, or at the NewsTribune office in LaSalle. If you order tickets online, you can pick them up at a “will call window” at L-P.

Plans moving forward with L-P renovations

Now that enough voters said yes to a $38 million referendum, administrators at L-P High School are moving ahead with renovation plans.

Superintendent Steve Wrobleski says since the election he’s been meeting with architects and a construction manager to go over renovation plans and put together bid packages. If everything goes as planned the first construction would begin immediately after school lets out in the spring. As far as taxpayers funding the work, Wrobleski says that will happen over time.

Wrobleski says the first improvements will be replacing windows and the roof. Once construction starts in the spring it will go year round. Wrobleski says they will do their best to limit disruptions to classrooms.

Crashed semi snarls Interstate 39 traffic

A semi crash snarled traffic for several hours near Wenona.

The semi ended up on its side around 5:30 Friday morning on Interstate 39 between Wenona and Lostant.  Traffic was immediately at a standstill in the southbound lanes.

State troopers, Wenona paramedics and IDOT workers were all called to the scene.  The driver was taken to an Illinois Valley hospital for treatment.