Gas prices throughout the area are quite varied, but the cheapest can be found in Streator. According to Illinoisgasprices.com, most stations in the city are holding at an average of $3.64 a gallon for unleaded gas, which is five cents under the national average of $3.69. Meanwhile, seven miles up the road in Grand Ridge, gas is holding at $3.98 a gallon, which is closer to the statewide average of $4.07. Marseilles has the second cheapest gas coming in at $3.77. Most stations in La Salle-Peru, Ottawa and Mendota are holding around $3.89 a gallon. The most expensive gas is found south in Wenona and Minonk, where prices are as high as $4.02.
Marseilles Graduation Location
After being forced out of their own school building because of last month’s flood, 8th grade students in Marseilles will be graduating from a different location this year. The school’s website says Marseilles 8th graders will be collecting their diplomas tomorrow evening at 7pm at the Illinois Valley Cellular Parking Lot. A stage will be erected with hundreds of seat underneath a tent for those in attendance.
Clinton Calls for Legalization
Former President Bill Clinton is calling on Illinois lawmakers to legalize same-sex marriage. Clinton says Illinois has stood for the notion that "all citizens should be treated equally under the law" since the days of Abraham Lincoln. The state Senate approved a law legalizing gay marriage in February.
Smart Grid Technology Voted Down
The Senate has voted to override Governor Pat Quinn's veto of so-called Smart Grid technology. Quinn vetoed the bill earlier this month, claiming it undermined oversight and would force automatic rate hikes. Senate President John Cullerton disputed those claims. The bill now heads to the House.
Three Area Men Arrested for Heroin Charges
Three area men face felony heroin related charges. Tri-dent reports that this past Monday, 21 year old Frank Stove of Streator and 34 year old Kyle Kearfott of Streator were arrested for allegedly selling the drug to someone working with Tri-dent in the city Streator. On May 9th, authorities arrested 28 year old Nathan Benavidez of Princeton following a traffic stop in Spring Valley for allegedly having heroin in his possession. Each man was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to deliver.
Oglesby Opens McPhedran Park
Oglesby is pretty well known for its park’s, and this past Saturday Mayor Don Finley cut the ribbon on the new McPhedran Park located on Oakwood Avenue. Becky Clinard, Oglesby City Clerk, says the park features a large fishing pond, a 1/3 mile track, 6 workout stations around the park, and a playground for kids. Clinard says that the park has been well received thus far in the community, largely due to the fact that it is Oglesby’s first dog friendly park. The Park itself costed between 1.2 and 1.3 million dollars to build, part of which came from an Open Land Acquisition Grant, and it took a year and a half to construct.
NIU Executive Retiring
A Northern Illinois University administrator who went on leave after an FBI investigation will retire at the end of the month. Eddie Williams, NIU's executive vice president of finance and chief of operations, will retire on May 31st. Williams took a leave in March after the FBI started investigating police records concerning a housing development he owns.
Traffic Flashers Coming for Two Schools
Safer crosswalk areas are coming in for two Streator schools. At yesterday’s school board meeting, board members approved having updated crosswalk traffic controls and road markings at Centennial and Northlawn schools. Currently there are traffic control signals set up on Bloomington Street that stop traffic when the crosswalk is activated. Board President David Conner said he would like to see the same flashers that are set up at two crosswalks at Streator High School on Morrell Street and Lincoln Avenue. Conner says if flashers are up, it may enforce drivers to practice safer driving, including coming around the curve on Bloomington approaching Northlawn. Summer projects for the Streator Elementary District are estimated at $123,000.
May is Being Recognized as Motorcycle Awareness Month
The month of May in Illinois is known as Motorcycle Awarenss Month. Illinois’ Starved Rock Chapter of A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education has been working towards getting local town and counties to recognize this month. Dan Kleckner, Public Relations and State Board Representative for the Starved Rock ABATE Chapter, says they sent over 30 proclamations to counties and towns around the Starved Rock area. Of those 30 Streator, Peru, Marseilles, Oglesby, Ottawa and LaSalle, Putnam and Bureau Counties are a few that have all signed the proclamation promoting motorcycle safety.
Oglesby Announces Top Performances for Summer Fest
The City of Oglesby will be holding its own Summer Fun Fest in the downtown area in late June. According to Becky Clinard, Oglesby City Clerk, Summer Fun Fest will take place Thursday June 27th through Sunday June 30th, and will feature tons of free events, a car show, a craft show, carnival and free music shows.
