LaSalle Insider

At our last council meeting dated 9/21 we once again discussed the topic of promotional advertising being done by the city of LaSalle.  I am referring to only those radio and newspaper ads you see and hear which are paid for with YOUR TAX DOLLARS.  These newspaper ads contain either the whole lineup of elected officials names or just the Mayor’s name with or without a picture.

The radio ad usually is the Mayor talking about an event or the beginning of school or wishing you a happy holiday season.  Again its paid for with YOUR TAX DOLLARS.

I have no problem with the newspaper or radio stations selling these ads.  Its their job and it generates revenue for their companies.  I have a problem with those that spend your money in this fashion and think its OK or is helping  some charitable organization.   These are nothing more than POLITICAL ADS PAID BY THE TAXPAYER AND BORDER ON BEING UNCONSTITUTIONAL!

I have spoke about these ads since I took office over ten years ago. The past year we have spent almost $26,000 on newspaper ads alone!  At the same time we have curtailed charitable donations due to the poor economy.  This makes absolutely no sense!  Our Mayor harps on the fact that he has cut back on these ads compared to the previous Mayor.  He’s correct but we need to totally STOP this WASTEFUL SPENDING OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS!

If an elected official wants to sponsor an ad for someone or some organization he or she should use their own MONEY!!!  NOT YOURS!

Please help me by letting your aldermen or mayor know how you feel.

If you don’t know how to contact your alderman call 815-223-3755 and the Mayor’s secretary will give you their contact numbers.  Its time to end this waste of funds.  Let me ask you the simple question that seems to confuse some of your alderman……does a charitable organization benefit when the city places and ad in support of that organization or would the organization be better served by getting the cost of the ad given directly to them?

Here’s an example of what you are paying for.  Under the heading of school sports we spent over $3,200.00.  You are already giving money to schools in the form of property taxes. Do we really need to place ads saying we support our school’s sports teams?   Don’t they already know that?  Aren’t we really only supporting the bottom line of the newspaper when we do that?

Wouldn’t the school’s sports programs benefit more with a check for $3,200 than ads saying how the city supports them?

Please take a moment to let me know how you feel.  If you disagree  with me tell me where I went wrong….if you agree  let me and the other aldermen and mayor know….after all its your money!

On Saturday October 10th between the hours of 11 am and 3 pm you are invited to an open house at our new park site.  We plan on having shuttle service from the parking area to a pick up site and from there  you will board a hay rack and get a tour of the proposed Rotary Park site.  Bring the kids and come see what will ultimately be our premier park in the area.  We will have plenty of parking as well as tents and seating.  Don’t forget your cameras as you will get a chance to see the most scenic terrain in the Illinois Valley.

And when your done at the park take the opportunity to go to downtown LaSalle for Jazz’n the Street 2009.  It will feature live music from 1pm to 10pm.   Enjoy fireworks after the music and have a glass of wine or a fine micro brew available all day!

It’s shaping up to be a great day in the City of LaSalle, so come and join us and see what ‘s happening !

Eight years since it happened is hard to believe.  Time passes quickly but the memory of this date will be with me as long as I live.  Only one other event in my life has had such a lasting impact.  That was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy when I was in the fourth grade.  I think the reaction of the people around me…my parents,teachers and other adults..is what makes me never forget that day.  But 9-11 was different.  As an adult I could take in what was happening in a different way.  It was real but at the same time unbelievable. Something like this, an attack on our country by a foreign enemy, was unimaginable.  My sense of protection and safety was shattered. Never again would I believe that we were not in harms way if someone chooses to attack us.  I felt for my safety and that of my family like never before.  The enemy had come into my house and I was unable to stop them!

Eventually some sense of normalcy returned but there is always the thought in the back of my head that we all must be vigilant, that if it could happen to the 3000 people just going to work as they usually did, it could happen to any of us, anywhere.

On this day there can only be one thought as to what government’s job is…to protect us and our shores from all enemies, foreign and domestic.  It seems that a national health-care debate isn’t really that important.  We should never take our freedom and safety for granted again…we will never forget…..9-11..

9/9/09

LASALLE – The more things change, the more they stay the same. Summer is concluding, school is back in session, but one constant remains, and that is DREAMWAVE Wrestling returns to LaSalle at the Knights of Columbus with “Hart Attack”! This event follows the extremely successful DREAMWAVE “Summer of Legends” tour. The three show series, which took place over a two-week period and featured several WWE Legends, drew over 1,200 fans. “Hart Attack” takes place on September 12^th and has doors opening at 6:30 and a bell time of 7:00PM.

“By far, this has been the most fun I have had in the wrestling business” said DREAMWAVE owner Jay Repsel. “Doing three shows in two weeks was a big risk but it worked out extremely well. The fans came out in droves to support us and we very much appreciate that. We take risks. I think in this business you have to stand out and continually look to improve. Over the last month, several Midwest independents had to shut down and we feel very blessed to have the support of the people of the Illinois Valley to continue to bring our brand of entertainment to them.”

The card for “Hart Attack” is highlighted by a battle between “Silent Intensity” Austin Roberts and Prince Mustafa Ali to decide the DREAMWAVE Championship, the 20-man “Good as Gold” Royal Rumble style match and WWE Legend Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart takes on “Hollywood” Hades of the A-List. Neidhart, known for his famous goatee and his “Hart Foundation” tag team with WWE Hall of Famer Bret “Hitman” Hart, promises to be a huge draw for DREAMWAVE.

DREAMWAVE has proven to not be your standard wrestling company. Along with bringing in well-known wrestling Superstars from the past, they have also become very innovative. The “Good as Gold” match at “Hart Attack” is a combination of two highly recognizable WWE events, the Royal Rumble and the Money in the Bank match. The winner on Saturday night will receive a title shot of his choosing any time over the next twelve months. “This match has never been attempted on an Indy level and if these concepts work for Vince McMahon, why not us? We just want to take it up a notch.” said Repsel.

With the excitement building, you don’t want to miss DREAMWAVE Wrestling: “Hart Attack” September 12th!

For additional information or tickets, please go to www.dreamwavewrestling.com . Any questions or comments can be sent by e-mail to dreamwavewrestling@gmail.com .

About DREAMWAVE Wrestling

DREAMWAVE Wrestling is the Midwest’s premier independent professional wrestling organization and offers the most economical entertainment value in the Illinois Valley. The company is owned and operated by DREAMWAVE Entertainment, LLC. and headquartered in Oglesby Illinois. For more information, please visit www.dreamwavewrestling.com or send questions or comments to dreamwavewrestling@gmail.com.

DREAMWAVE Wrestling is a trademark used exclusively by DREAMWAVE Entertainment, LLC. in the United States and other jurisdictions.

Once again the paper gets it wrong in their coverage of the council.  Last Tuesday WE DID NOT DECIDE TO RAISE THE WATER RATES!  The sewer rates were raised effective next month (October).  We decided to do this in two steps , a portion in October and again in May of next year.  These increases were mandated by the EPA with regards to the construction of our new east end waste water treatment facility (read sewer and sanitary waste).  The sewer rate is a factor of the water you use.  We have water meters not sewer meters.  The sewer bill you pay is BASED on your water usage.  The theory being that if you use  so much water it has to go somewhere and eventually its going down the drain!  I can’t understand why the paper does such a poor job in reporting even the basic issues.  Its as if they don’t want to be there and can’t wait to leave after they arrive. I will cut Matt some slack in this item because its my understanding that the editor normally comes up with the headline.  I believe that responsibility is Craig Sterrett, the news editor at the NT.  There was a piece of good news on Tuesday however…Jennifer Nagle arrived early for our meeting!  Thanks Jen glad you could make it on time.

I have noticed that due to the lineup changes on WLPO we don’t get the amount of local news we previously were getting.  I’m guessing its because the station has a smaller window for commercial spots between segments of the syndicated shows they are running.   Soon there will be no local news, just national news and nationally syndicated shows.  So much for a “local” radio station!

Did you know that the first Labor Day was celebrated in Canada in the 1870′s out of a labor dispute?  The U.S. did not have its first celebration until 1882 in New York City due to labor leader Peter J. McGuire’s efforts  to establish it here after witnessing Canada’s holiday.  Okay, okay, before your eyes glaze over let’s talk about what Labor Day means today.  For most its the end of Summer and the beginning of “football season”.  Usually celebrated with a few adult beverages and some work on the outdoor grill!

It has been a relatively cool Summer (I am not complaining!) and as you get older, a rather “quick one at that”.  I hope everyone had some time to kick back and think of what’s happened to them  in the Summer of 09.   On a personal level it marked the first ” empty nest” summer for my wife and I as we moved our youngest daughter to Chicago where she joined her sister, already a veteran of public transportation in the City!

And so it will be a period of change for my daughters and ourselves as we transition to having the home to ourselves for the first time in over 20 plus years.  Well at least I will know where the remotes are and  I can park my car in the garage instead of the driveway.

But I have to admit it will take some time to get use to…

I hope your holiday was a safe and happy one!

I have had inquiries concerning LaSalle building a dog park.  Now if you don’t have a dog or want one, or ever had one you are probably saying we don’t need one.  If you are a dog lover or owner you are probably saying…its about time!

Peru had a dog park at the sight of the new Parkside school but moved it to the park just north of the armoury on Plank Road.  I understand it is well used and appreciated by the dog owning citizens of Peru.  I also know that LaSalle residents take their dogs there as well but find it a bit out of the way for them.

As I was passing Mary Hegeler Memorial  Park on fourth street it hit me that this would be a good location for a dog park in LaSalle.  If you have been by lately you can see a large open area that I think would be great for dogs and their owners.  It doesn’t appear to be well used currently and it would need little in the way of money to convert a portion of it for our four legged friends.  The park board meets this Tuesday at city hall and I have asked one member to bring this up for discussion.  Due to the holiday we will be meeting the same night in council chambers.  I will discuss the issue here as well.  If your interested come down to city hall on Monday..both meetings start at 7pm.

I would love to have your input, pro or con.

PS….The dogs will have to wait outside….

After the News Tribune wrote a follow up article to the school traffic issue I decided to speak with Matt Baker, the author of the story.  He had spoke to me before he wrote the story and I filled him in on what went on at our last city council meeting regarding the school. He had read my online story which prompted him to call.  I appreciated  the fact he read the story   We disagree on what the real issue is regarding the school.

I have no ill will towards the school board, superintendent, or the teachers at Northwest school.  I have concern for the safety of the students!  If the issue is how best to protect the students while they are entering and leaving the school than the answer is not changing the public street traffic directions!

The former principal of Northwest school, Mr. Colbrese, blamed the city’s traffic problem for the need to stagger the dismissal times for students.  Due to this change the school said they have lost valuable education time, up to 4-6 days of classroom time total.  I suggested they stagger the start times as well, to regain this lost school time.  This was not done. I’m guessing the teacher’s union would object to doing that.  It would probably have to be a negotiated item during contract time.  In the latest comment from Superintendent Marenda he said that things are going well and he and the Mayor decided not to make the traffic changes.    WHAT?

Questions…..

1. Why did he and the Mayor request changes from the council before finding out if they were necessary?

2. You need to come back to the Council to change that which was approved  at the last council meeting.  Don’t they both realize they don’t make these decisions on their own?

3. What about the lost school time from the staggered dismissals?

4. No one was present from the school at the time we discussed the traffic changes…isn’t this important enough for them to send a representative?

It appears that the school isn’t concerned about the lost education time of the students or the safety of those who enter and exit their cars in the public streets because no change was made to correct that .

So I ask you the  parents of the school children attending Northwest school…are you happy with the changes made?  Do you feel the children are the number one priority?  Shouldn’t an off street pick up and drop off area be discussed ?  Let me hear from you and I will bring your message to the council.