Applications being accepted for summer help in Oglesby

If you have a teenager that’s looking for a summer job the City of Oglesby is hiring.   The Parks and Rec Department needs instructors for youth tennis, volleyball, baseball and cheerleading clinics and the arts and crafts classes.

Workers are also needed for park maintenance and umpires are needed for men’s softball. The swimming pool needs certified lifeguards.

Job applications are available at the Oglesby City Clerk’s office and the city’s website. Applications are being accepted through April 2.

Oglesby man found guilty in animal cruelty case

Guilty was the verdict for a man accused of abandoning a dog that was found seriously injured along a highway. Steven Bottoms of Oglesby was convicted Friday of cruel treatment to an animal, a misdemeanor charge.

Bottoms and his wife Tiffany Bottoms were arrested last May after an injured pitbull was found near Interstate 39 and Route 6. The dog had been hit by a car and required surgery.

The couple was accused of deserting the dog though Tiffany Bottoms told Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO last May that the dog had actually been given to a new owner a couple of weeks prior to being injured.

Steven Bottoms’ bench trial was heard by La Salle County Circuit Judge Cynthia Raccuglia. He’ll be sentenced on March 27. Tiffany Bottoms is scheduled to go to trial in March.

Oglesby site one of 18 given medical marijuana permits by Gov. Rauner

The wait to find out which companies will be allowed to grow and sell medical marijuana in Illinois is over.

Governor Bruce Rauner Monday awarded the permits to cultivation centers and dispensaries after taking steps to fix what his aides said were legal flaws in the license award process under former Governor Pat Quinn.

GTI Clinic Holding, LLC received the one permit being issued for a cultivation center in State Police District 17. The company plans to build near the Love’s Travel Stop in Oglesby.

Oglesby Mayor Don Finley spoke with GTI officials shortly after the permits were announced. Finley says he’s happy to see the area getting new jobs. The cultivation center is expected to use a lot of electricity, which Finley says is also good for the city since they lost their biggest electric customer several years ago.

The one dispensary being allowed in District 17, Pharmacann, LLC plans to open in Ottawa.

In all, 18 businesses were given cultivate center permits, but three applications are being reviewed. 52 businesses were awarded licenses for dispensaries while five applications are being reviewed.

Oglesby man turns himself in for sexual abuse charges

Accusations of sexual contact with a person younger than 18 have a man in Oglesby facing criminal sexual abuse charges.

Marshall Brennen the 3^rd of Oglesby turned himself into the police Thursday afternoon. Brennen was wanted on a La Salle County warrant for three counts of criminal aggravated sexual abuse.

Brennen posted $75,000 for bond and is free and awaiting a court date.

Peru man arrested for allegedly claiming to have a bomb

Claim you have a bomb and it will be taken seriously. A student at Illinois Valley Community College was arrested Thursday morning after allegedly making a statement Wednesday evening that he had a bomb in his book bag.

Oglesby Police Chief Jim Knoblauch says Robert Jasper of Peru was searched by campus security Wednesday evening. No bomb was found. The investigation was given to the Oglesby Police Thursday morning.

Jasper faces a charge of felony disorderly conduct and is being held in the La Salle County Jail.

Oglesby newcomers exlpain their reasons for mayoral runs

The April election presents options for voters in Oglesby. Voters can chose from incumbent Mayor Don Finley and challengers David Blair and Tod Misener.

Blair says lowering Oglesby’s high property taxes is his top priority. Being so close to Starved Rock State Park, he thinks the city can do a better job of attracting tourists and increasing sales tax revenue.  Blair has never held a political office and considers himself to be the underdog.

Tod Misener is running out of his concern of taxes. He was upset with the city council for increasing property taxes after voters approved a sales tax increase.  Misener says the mayor and council are failing in most areas.

Misener is on the Oglesby Ambulance Board.

Learn more about the candidates by listening to interviews available at the Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO news page.

Wrecking ball coming soon to abandoned building in downtown Oglesby

A downtown eyesore in Oglesby should be gone in a couple weeks.

According to the NewsTribune, the Oglesby City Council approved a $41,000 bid from C&H Excavating out of Earlville to tear down a rundown building in the 200 block of East Walnut Street west of the Shields Funeral Chapel.

Tearing down the building has long been a priority of the council. Commissioner Tom Porter is against the demolition though because he doesn’t like using taxpayer dollars to tear down private property.

Oglesby mayor getting antsy over lack of medical marijuana announcement

Is there a chance that Governor-elect Bruce Rauner slows down medical marijuana even more in Illinois? Oglesby’s mayor is fearful of that happening.

In talking with the cultivation center applicant in Oglesby, Don Finley says he gets the sense that Governor Pat Quinn may not announce cultivation center licenses before he hands things over to Bruce Rauner on Monday. While Quinn has supported medical marijuana, Rauner’s been opposed to the idea.

Through Oglesby’s city Facebook page, Finley is asking you to call the governor’s office and urge him to take action on medical marijuana. Finley says even if Oglesby isn’t picked to grow medical marijuana, someone in the Illinois Valley will be fortunate enough to offer up new jobs.

Citywide boil order lifted in Oglesby just in time for another break to occure

It was a cold day to be working outside but City of Oglesby crews were out fixing a major water main break Monday afternoon. It happened in the 300 block of east Walnut Street. Water had to be shut off from east of Field Avenue to Elm Street. Other areas may have experienced low water pressure.

If your water was shut off, you’ll be under a boil order until further notice. If you just had low water pressure you water should be fine.  This was the third water main break since Saturday.

Finley will face competition in race for Oglesby mayor

Three people want to be the mayor of Oglesby. Monday is the final day to file petitions for the April 7 election.

Mayor Don Finley is running for re-election and he’ll be facing competition from newcomers David Blair and Tod Misener.

Quite a few people are interested in becoming commissioners. Dom Rivara, Tom Porter, and Dennis Yborra are running for re-election. They face challengers from Randy Popurella Jr., Austin Cullinan, Todd Misener, Shelley Cooke, Carrie Lijewski and James Girton.