Utica to celebrate Mardi Gras Saturday night

If the snow and freezing temperatures have given you cabin fever, the revelers in Utica could be your cure. The annual Mardi Gras parade is Saturday night. The annual parade is inspired by the festivities in New Orleans but is much more family friendly.

The parade begins at 6pm near the village hall and will head north on Clark Street and on to Mill Street. If you plan on riding in the parade, lineup is a 5pm.

If you go, you can look for Rob Edwards and Sean Turner of 96.5 the Wolf. They’ll be riding in the parade.

Learn more about it by listening to an interview that’s up at the Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO news page.

Many show interest in Utica village president and board

In Utica, there will be races for village president and village board.

Richard Maltas, Bill Ciccone, Mike Brown, Jim Schrader, Kevin ‘Chops’ Stewart, and Matthew Jereb are running for village president, a position held by Gloria Alvarado. It’s only a two-year term.

Three four-year village board seats are up for grabs. R.P. Pawlak, David Stewart, Shawn Zavsza, and John Schweickert are seeking those seats.
One two-year trustee seat is being sought by John Pappas and Robert Smith.

Sand mine developments helping to keep taxes down in Utica

Love it or hate it, there’s no debating the sand mining boom is helping Utica’s revenues.

According to the NewsTribune, property taxes in Utica will stay the same thanks in large part to sand mines adding over $3 million to the villages tax base. Trustees hope to use the extra cash coming in from sand mines for infrastructure improvements including sewers.

Village Attorney Herb Klein says Utica’s tax base has tripled since 2002 thanks to developments like sand mines, Love’s Travel Stop and Grand Bear Lodge. This has enabled Utica to have the lowest tax rate in La Salle County according to Klein.

Annual Veteran’s Day Parade and Air Show returning to Utica

Have you thanked a veteran lately? There will be plenty of chances to this Sunday in Utica.

The village is hosting its 8th annual Veteran’s Day Parade and Air Show starting at 1pm. On the ground there will be an army band, Chicago Police bagpipe group, military vehicles, veteran’s groups and floats. In the air above Utica will be a World War Two bomber and Lima Lima Air Show.

Correction:  There will not be activities at the park following the parade.

It’s Burgoo week in Utica

Come for the stew and stay for the music and crafts. You’ll find a little bit of everything cooking and on sale at annual Burgoo Festival in downtown Utica this weekend.

On Saturday, there’s a Canal Market with over 60 vendors selling from 10am until 7pm. A car show starts at 1pm with live entertainment starting at 3pm.

On Sunday, you can taste the famous Burgoo stew from 9am until 5pm near the La Salle County Historical Society Museum. There will also be over 300 vendors lining the streets of Utica with live music and children’s games.
Burgoo is a fundraiser for the La Salle County Historical Society and Museum.

Petition drive to clean up I&M Canal in Utica

Do you think online petitions are effective? The latest attempt to have something done with Utica’s stretch of the I&M Canal involves a petition.

Chris Miller with the Utica Business Association didn’t think a simple letter to Senator Sue Rezin or State Representative Frank Mautino would do much to draw attention to what he calls an eyesore. He thinks the algae-filled, canal should be dredged and towpath repaired to look like it does at Lock 14 in La Salle and other spots along the canal. He admits the work will probably cost a lot but thinks the first step is getting people together to get a plan in place.

If you want to sign the petition to clean up Utica’s part of the canal and towpath, click http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/illinois-michigan-canal-reparations-in-utica-illinois.html

Sand company near Utica clears big hurdle

After nearly three hours of questions and confusion, the La Salle County Board Tuesday night awarded a special use permit for a pipeline and sand drying facility west of Ottawa.

All but five board members gave Northern White Sand the go ahead to build a pipeline from their sand pit near Utica south of Route 6 to the proposed drying facility close to the county landfill. The board put in some stipulations like the sand company having to install at least three dust monitors on their property.

Despite a letter turned in just before the meeting by nearby landowners, the board didn’t approve a request that they get property protection agreements in case the sand devalues their property. Most board members said they were concerned about loss in property values but the letter from homeowners was pushed on them at the last minute.

The last piece to the puzzle for Northern White Sand is to work out a lease with the county board to ship out their sand on barges near the county nursing home.

More canyons and trails reopen at Starved Rock

A lot more parts of Starved Rock State Park have reopened.

As of Monday, trails to French, La Salle and Wildcat Canyons had reopened to hikers. Places like the boat ramp, Starved Rock Lodge, Lover’s Leap, Ottawa Canyon and Council Overhang are also open.  St. Louis Canyon and the walking bridge from the lodge remain closed.

A company out of the Quad Cities was hired to remove downed trees at Starved Rock following storm damage that happened June 30.

Outdoor dining a go in Utica

Outdoor dining is a go in downtown Utica.

Businesses on Mill Street will be allowed to serve food and alcohol at tables on the sidewalk after the Utica Board of Trustees agreed to it Wednesday night according to the NewsTribune. Restaurants with outdoor dining will have to pay a yearly fee of $15.

While the outdoor food idea was unanimously supported, Mayor Gloria Alvarado had to break a tie vote to allow liquor service at outdoor tables. The drinks will only be served in plastic cups.
Alvarado says if outdoor dining with alcohol works in the suburbs it shouldn’t be a problem in Utica.

New ambulance in service at Utica

A $180,000 ambulance is in service barely 24 hours after it arrived at the Utica Fire Department.  During the ice cream social Saturday night, Chief Ben Brown laid a plaque inside the vehicle. 

The plaque honors the late Shelba Bimm who died in April 2013.  Bimm was a 30-year department veteran, started the ambulance service and oversaw fundraising for the new ambulance.  Brown told Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO the ambulance is state of the art and even includes airbags for the patient and personnel in case of an accident.

Brown says the next project is replacing extrication tools used in accidents along I-39 and 80.  The ambulance arrived Friday.