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La Salle City Hall (Shaw Local News Network)
The city of La Salle may have some unique economic development opportunities coming its way following Thursday’s economic committee meeting.
The committee recommended the approval the potential application to the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity for the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Program.
According to the website, RERZ helps revive and redevelop environmentally challenged properties adjacent to rivers in Illinois.
Economic Development Director Curt Bedei said that La Salle was in a unique situation given that the river bends outwards from the city’s rivers edge compared to other communities.
“One of the qualifications was that the river’s edge has to be within 1,500 yards of the proposed area,” he said.
Bedei said after discussing the area with a member of the Illinois Department of Commerce, the city drew up a map for consideration — taking into consideration the coroner edges of the river.
“It mainly encompasses mostly downtown,” he said. “If not all the downtown area which would be most beneficial for this type of programming.”
Bedei said RERZ is a tax incentive for anybody that’s looking to invest or improve their properties that are qualified within the zone that has been indicated through the map.
This is a preliminary map of the River Edge Redevelopment Zone and it may be changed prior to final approval. (Photo provided by City of La Salle)
“So, if you bought a building and it was somewhat blighted and you wanted to improve it and put in offices— this would be an incentive for you to be able to get some tax credits,” he said.
The committee also approved the PACE Program be forwarded to council for further consideration for an ordinance with consideration with additional answers from the committee.
The committee wanted to know the probability of successful projects in other communities, how they operated and the incentives that they were used in the process.
Both recommendations will be sent to the La Salle City Council for final approval.
Bedei said the potential of the two programs within the city if they were to pass would enable people to take advantage of something to improve their properties where they wouldn’t have been able to do so prior.
“This is much more advanced than a facade program,” he said. “This makes our community much more attractive to investors who are looking to relocate or expands their businesses or even the ones who are already here that are looking for some type of advantage to improve their buildings.”
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Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Princeton Police Chief Tom Kammerer makes a phone call Thursday, June 9, 2022, while police gather outside of a home on the 200 block of North Main Street in Princeton. (Scott Anderson)
Princeton Police Chief Tom Kammerer said Friday no charges have been filed against an individual that held police at bay for several hours Thursday afternoon into Friday morning after he fled inside a North Main Street residence.
Kammerer reported at about 4:25 p.m. Thursday officers attempted to serve a protective order in the 300 block of North Main Street when the man they were attempting to speak to ran into a residence and refused to speak to officers. Concerned about the well-being of the man, officers backed away from the residence and began speaking via phone in an effort to safely resolve the situation.
After hours of negotiation with the subject it was determined the police presence would be decreased, Kammerer said, and police will continue to monitor the situation.
“At this point there are no charges related to this incident,” Kammerer said in a Friday news release. “We have no further information to share at this time. We are not releasing the name of the parties involved out of respect for their privacy.”
Bureau County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police and SRT members assisted at the scene. Main Street was closed Thursday night as officers responded to the situation, detouring traffic away from the house.
Princeton Police officer Erik Sorenson and K-9 Gus walk to the back of the residence at 230 North Main Street on Thursday, June 9, 2022 in Princeton. (Scott Anderson)

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Princeton Tigers logo
Princeton 46, E-P 33: Camryn Driscoll scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Tigresses to a clinched share of the Three Rivers East championship, finishing 8-2 along with Kewanee.
Keighley added 14 points for PHS, which improved to 19-9, will take the No. 4 seed into its own regional semifinals on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
PHS also won the JV game 34-22 behind Kiyrra Morris (8 points) and Danika Burden (7), finishing 6-4 in conference.
Newman 47, Hall 37: The Comets spoiled the Hall Senior Night by defeating the Red Devils in Monday’s TRAC East finale in Spring Valley.
Ella Sterling scored 12 points and Charlie Pellegrini added 10 points for Hall.
Bureau Valley 50, ROWVA-Williamsfield 41: The Storm rallied from a 21-10 halftime deficit, outscoring R-W 26-11 in third quarter and 14-9 in fourth quarter and 40-20 over the second half to claim the Lincoln Trail Conference Tournament victory at Wethersfield.
Leading scorers for the Storm were Libby Endress with 19 points, Brynley Doty with 11, and Brooke Helms with 9.
The Storm (12-19) will host Somonauk-Leland at 3 p.m. Saturday in regional quarterfinal play.
LaMoille 57, Alden-Hebron 51: The Lions made the long trip Hebron a successful one with a nonconference win over the Giants.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
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Logan M. Petre (Photo provided by La Salle County Jail)
A Marseilles man will be detained until at least next week on a newly filed murder charge. Prosecutors said Logan Petre struck his father in the head and strangled him early Saturday.
Petre, 21, appeared Monday in La Salle County Circuit Court and was charged formally with first-degree murder. If convicted of killing Leo Petre, Logan Petre could be sentenced to 20 to 60 years in prison with no possibility of probation.
Logan Petre has three open cases and, under a wrinkle in the Illinois murder statute, he could face back-to-back prison sentences for up to 90 years if also convicted of home invasion charge from a summer 2023 break-in.
Public Defender Ryan Hamer appeared with Petre and asked for additional time to review evidence in Leo Petre’s death before arguing over whether Logan Petre should remain in custody while awaiting trial for murder.
La Salle County Circuit Judge Cynthia M. Raccuglia agreed and scheduled a detention hearing at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 26.
Petre, who sat heavily manacled in court Monday, looked away a few times as La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro read aloud the emerging facts behind Leo Petre’s death early Saturday.
According to open-court statements, Marseilles police were dispatched twice to the Petre residence. The first time, Navarro said, was shortly before 10 p.m. Friday when police said Logan was intoxicated and creating a ruckus outside the home. Leo Petre persuaded his son to go inside and Marseilles police left without filing charges, Navarro said.
Police were back less than four hours later after being alerted Leo was found unresponsive and had numerous injuries to his head, face and neck, Navarro said.
Logan Petre was interviewed and admitted there had been a verbal argument, Navarro said. He acknowledged striking and choking his father, Navarro said, and provided statements.
“I did what I did, but you have no proof,” Petre told police, according to Navarro. Later in the interview, he he told police, “If he was going to die, I’m glad I did it,” according to Navarro.
Navarro said after Monday’s hearing the evidence showed Logan beat his father with his fists, not with a bludgeoning instrument, although an autopsy showed Leo Petre died by strangulation. The autopsy, Navarro said, showed prolonged choking and in a duration that precluded accidental death.
Trial dates are pending and won’t be addressed until after detention is settled on June 26. Petre might appear sooner. His case is assigned to Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. and prosecutors have filed a motion for substitution of judge, citing a statutory provision that lets prosecutors ask to switch judges without explanation.
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Andrew Gotch (left) is sworn in Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, as the newest officer of the Streator Police Department by Deputy Chief Robert Wood during a ceremony at Streator City Hall. (Photo provided by John Franklin)
The Streator Police Department swore in Andrew Gotch on Monday as its newest officer.
Gotch is a graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in criminal justice. He grew up and has ties in the community, having attended Streator Elementary Schools and Streator High School.
He is set to be a second-generation officer, following in the footsteps of his father, Deon Gotch, a former Streator police officer.
“We’re excited to welcome Andrew to our department,” said Deputy Chief Robert Wood. “He brings with him the skills and background to have a long, successful career here. His ties to Streator and his education in criminal justice make him a great fit for our team.”
Gotch’s hiring fills the vacancy left by Officer Chris Osborn, who recently was reassigned as a school resource officer.
Wood said the department expects to be at full staffing levels once Gotch graduates from the Sauk Valley Community College Police Academy in the spring, barring any unforeseen departures.
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
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Liz Bishop announced her candidacy for La Salle city clerk.
Got a news tip? Email ntnewsroom@shawmedia.com
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Liz Bishop announced her candidacy for La Salle city clerk.
Got a news tip? Email ntnewsroom@shawmedia.com
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network

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Princeton’s Noah LaPorte scores the game-winning basket to lift the Tigers to a 53-51 win over Byron Saturday at Prouty Gym. The basket also broke the PHS all-time scoring record with 1,470 career points. (Mike Vaughn)
Princeton senior Noah LaPorte set the Tigers’ all-time scoring record with the game-winning basket in Saturday’s 53-51 win over Byron. He broke the record of 1,468 set by former teammate Grady Thompson in 2022-23. Here’s all the Tigers’ 1,000-point scorers:
Note: Tiah Romagnoli (1996-99) is Princeton’s girls scoring leader with 1,506 points
Grady Thompson (Mike Vaughn)
Princeton great Joe Ruklick displays one of his famous hook shots for the Tigers’ 1954-55 state squad. He set the Princeton school scoring record with 1,306 career points and became a collegiate All-American for Northwestern and played in the NBA. (BCR file photo/Bill Lamb)
Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network
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The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved multiple projects to improve highway-rail safety in the Peoria Metro Area, including six crossings in Bureau and Marshall counties. (Gary Middendorf – gmiddendorf@shawmedia/Gary Middendorf)
The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved multiple projects to improve highway-rail safety in the Peoria metropolitan area, including six crossings in Bureau and Marshall counties.
The projects will include flashing light signals and gate installations at County Line Road near Bureau; Lincoln Street and Main Street in Henry; and Edmund Street, Williams Street and Western Avenue in Marshall County.
“Updating Illinois’ existing infrastructure around railroad tracks makes it easier and safer for anyone in the Peoria metro area to get to where they need to be,” ICC Commissioner Michael T. Carrigan said. “The projects like the ones in Marshall and Peoria counties are an important investment toward keeping our railways safe for all who use them.”
The total estimated cost for the warning devices and gates at the six Marshall and Bureau county crossings is about $1.95 million. All work is expected to be completed within 18 months from the order date.
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An aerial view of the former Maytag Building on Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in downtown La Salle. The city of La Salle will be performing inspections at two CL Real Estate Development properties in the new year, including the Maytag, after residents asked for an update of the properties. (Scott Anderson)
The city of La Salle will be performing inspections at two CL Real Estate Development properties in the new year, after residents asked for an update of the properties.
The former Kaskaskia Hotel and Maytag building will be toured Wednesday, Jan. 8, by Building Inspector Dennis Hocking, Special Counsel Sheryl Churney, City Engineer Brian Brown and Fire Chief Jerry Janick.
The inspections will begin at the Maytag building, which is the site of a proposed brewpub and apartments, and move to the Kaskaskia.
Hocking provided an update during Monday’s council meeting, saying Churney drafted two letters hand delivered by him to CL demanding inspections of both buildings.
“CL Real Estate rather quickly responded,” he said.
Hocking said once the inspections are completed and everything is documented on the status of the buildings, then the city will respond.
“We do have a new point of contact,” Hocking said. “I believe he responded very quickly to our members so we’re off to a good start.”
Hocking said he believed CL addressed the structural issues they were asked to respond to last time without anything formal.
The aldermen asked Hocking about the sidewalks in front of the Maytag building. Brown said the city had resolved the issue.
La Salle inspected the buildings in the summer of 2022.
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