Join us on Tuesday, September 29th at 6:00 p.m. when Larry McClellan presents, "Travel America’s Longest Road…Voices from LaSalle Highways, U.S. Route 6"
With the establishment of the federal highway numbering system in 1926, Route 6 was designated in New England. Its eastern point was Providence Town, Massachusetts, out to the tip of Cape Cod. In 1931, LaSalle, Illinois sat on US Route 32, but this changed to Route 6 that year, as the highway and its designation was extended farther west. By 1937, the designation had extended all the way to Long Beach, California, making it the longest federal highway in the country.
Close to home, in LaSalle, the highway was known as Third Street, and at another point, Fifth Street. For folks heading west, it was nicknamed the Sunset Highway. Find out about this familiar, yet fascinating road, and its history as a national reminder of the Americans who fought the American Civil War.
This program is free and open to the public, and is possible through funding from the Alwin C. Carus Trust. The Library is located at 305 Marquette Street, LaSalle, Illinois, and is Americans with Disabilities compliant and welcoming. If you wish to attend the event and have special needs because of a disability, please contact Donna Blomquist at 815-223-2341 to discuss arrangements
SINCE PERU IS ACTIIVELYPROMOTING ROUTE 6 THIS WOULD BE AN INTERESTING PROGRAM TO GO TO.
43 comments:
Peru's elitist officials will cretainly be absent from this presentation. Their Report Cards all have a "Check Mark" next to "Does Not Play Well With Others". If Bobby V and the other Peru phonies can't dominate the dialogue and benefit personally they will not be interested at an "out of towner" event. They do noy like to acknowledge LaSalle for their progressive and hard-working ways if they can help it. Peru Snobs are many.
This won't bring any sales tax or hotel motel tax revenue. The only thing that can possibly save this event is a beer tent.
12:34 PM
That must be why the event is not in Peru. Those who enjoy an educational and informational meeting will be there and believe me they don't want or need a beer tent. Can't believe someone would make such a inane comment.
1:35 - while you are at the Library, please grab a Webster's and look up sarcasm:
sar·casm
/ˈsärˌkazəm/
noun
noun: sarcasm; plural noun: sarcasms
the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.
"his voice, hardened by sarcasm, could not hide his resentment"
synonyms: derision, mockery, ridicule, scorn, sneering, scoffing; irony; cynicism - "well, it's easy to see that she got her biting sarcasm from her mother"
It's ridiculous to read these comments........
Maybe Bobby V will talk Speedway into locating on 4th St.
To describe others with insults and derogatory remarks such as those utilized above are a sign of minute intelligence. The blog offers all of us a service informing the subject, date and place of a very interesting topic.
Some of the above comments offer the thought that the only way to maintain the high standards of the blog is to increase the rules of censorship.
I in no way recommend that a questionable remark or a disagreeing comment is made that it should not be published but I do believe that senseless comments which add nothing but anger and hate to our community be censored.
7:42 PM
Sometimes I will hold a controversial comment for a couple of hours to make sure I am reading into it what the writer meant. Often times I am finding that comments that I initially thought were rude and mean bring out the most thoughtful and intelligent comments from the bloggers. So sometimes it is a 2 way street.
If they are just rude and don't apply to any discussion or to any controversial decision, they are deleted. Some comments may be derogatory but many of us also feel the sting from people who think that no one should ever not agree with decisions made by the city or should not complain about disbursements that are wrong and/or controversial. Taxpayers do not like to see their hard earned money wasted and we see too much of that.
There is way to much bloat at city hall for decosopms that are poorly managed. So many good ideas die for lack of approval by this administration and unwillingness to admit that those who live here have much to contribute.
Lois, I can really tell how sincere you are by reading 6:53's post, give me a break!
Sorry I mean't 7:53
To you "squeamish" and "sensitive" readers of this blog who are so upset about sarcastic and insulting comments I say, GROW UP and OPEN YOUR EYES. I've got news for you people. There's a big, diverse, free, open, and sometimes harsh and tough world out there beyond the Illinois Valley. If your simplistic and sheltered "sensibilities" are offended by free speech in the form of sarcasm and criticism of Peru's public figures you need to stop reading this blog and stick your heads back into the nearest sandbox. These people being criticized and lampooned are public figures who choose to accept taxpayer dollars for whatever phony purpose they try to justify. That makes them subject to just about anything I or anybody else wants to say about them. I know much about most of Peru's phony officials and how they operate and they actually deserve most of what they get on this blog. So stop being silly and sentimental trying to protect a large number of people who are at the very least ethically challenged and at most outright corrupt. GROW UP you Sissys.
There are a couple of generations of people that grew up believing that government officials are somehow more important or better than the average citizen. These people think that you should genuflect before approaching or speaking to somebody that has any kind of government title. It is time that these officials come to the realization that they are no better than any other citizen and deserve no special consideration just because they hold an elected office. While they do deserve the same respect that any individual should be given - the elected ones in particular need to be constantly reminded that they are not special, what they are doing is not special, and they are actually subservient to the average citizen. In order to do this, some degree of contempt from the citizenry is required just to keep them in their place. It need not be constant, just often enough to keep them in check.
Except for a few short years in the middle of the 20th Century, public ridicule and lampooning of elected officials has been a treasured American tradition. I am happy to see it come back to Peru, IL and hope it will remain. After all - we are not England. We are better than they are. If the Queen where to show up in Peru, I would expect everyone to line up on Fourth Street and show her the moon!
9:00 am.
Your post is a sad commentary and truly explains your contempt for the personalities in Peru. Its dangerous. Democracy gives us the right to discuss, disagree and point out flaws with any decisions that your elected officials decide. I don't think anybody has a problem with that, most expect it. The problem is that you and a very few others have taken any decisions by the Mayor and council members to a personal attack. Personal attacks may be subject to free speech, but not effective in getting any point across. My advice is to stick to the issues and provide solutions. Stop acting like a jilted bride.
9:00 am.
I like your post. It's in your face and direct, just like me.
I will stop criticizing Peru's elected officials when they openly bid the water treatment contract instead of pushing it thru with a super majority vote. That issue is stuck in my craw, and will always be stuck until that contract is bid the way it is supposed to be bid. Shame on the mayor! That was one of the BIG things he campaigned about the first time he got elected, giving contracts without bids. Now since he sees what he gets (campaign donations and free meals plus Christmas and birthday gifts), he decides bidding is not necessary. It turns my stomach.
10:11, you would be advised to read the 9:50 post. In order to keep government in check, the elected officials need to be ridiculed and held in contempt at time. If they insist on putting themselves on a pedestal, the people should do everything they can to nock them off of it. If they waste taxpayer money by buying an official parade float - then people should moon them as they wave from the back of it.
11:14
I don't know if your post is true or not. I would think most of it is exaggeration. I do hear he will be moving up in government. You need campaign funds to do that.
8:16 and 8:17...Speedway IS coming to Peru and it would be a great addition to 4th St. (Rt. 6)
12:26 PM I can assure you every word in my 11:14 post is true.
After reading comments made in the blog would you run for public office in Peru? I wouldn't, no matter how interesting being a public official can be.
3:23 PM
Not while the people who presently are in control of the city continue to hold office. I have seen 2 elections that were down right dirty and politically motivated, so until the residents are able to elect honest and fair officials, you must be aware that every dirty trick in the book will be used against those the current office holders do not want to work with but on the other side of the coin, if you are their friend, you will will suely be elected because they will be out in force to make sure you are elected even if it means going door to door on your behave.
12:44, just curious about the source for your information. We had two Marathon stores go out of business on Route 6 in Peru. Speedway and Marathon are owned by the same company. Why would they put another one, particularly when Casey's has opened a full service store?
"I like your post. It's in your face and direct, just like me."
Well if you define "in your face and direct" as anonymous. Man you are really direct. Lol
3:37 listen to what you said "I have seen 2 elections that were down right dirty and politically motivated."
An election that was politically motivated? Really? That might be the funniest thing I've heard in a long time and if the irony of your statement is not understood then there is no hope.
Stop crying about dirty politics. The voters overwhelmingly voted for who they wanted and there were alliances on both sides. Please stop. Most of the city council has been turned over in the last three elections and they were not secret insiders. They just won.
Not all of my favorites won either but those who lost either need to run a better campaign or need to come up with better ideas that speak to the voters. Of course if you think "politics" lost an election, then this might be difficult for you to understand.
Dear Lois/ blog administrator @ 9:20. What is a decosopms? I am somewhat computer savvy, but have never run across that acronym. Please edify.
Sincerely,
Check My Work
5:56 you are clueless!
No offense 8:49 but 5:56 is spot on. Clueless is not understating how politics works.
8:49, you seem to be the clueless one, 5:56 is spot on, your so paranoid everything is a conspiracy to you.
Has it ever dawned on people that many items that are complained about on the blog are known and accepted practices in most other areas? Some of the reasons being that they are unimportant in comparison to other important issues or to take expansive action becomes to expensive and harms the community. For example to pay a person extra upon receiving a promotion is accepted everywhere else besides Peru where a alderman notified the FBI.
The average U.S. citizen knows and accepts the fact that most times one in a leadership position must adjust and improvise to be fair to all but no expects or deserves to have their decision to be carried further than their own level. A level that exposes the Monday morning wash to national exposure. The maximum extra had been done when the highly respected retired judge had been employed by the council to investigate further than the already local investigation. To carry on until a few who will not accept a decision do unneeded harm is senseless and harms a community as well as the person they have attacked only because of a vindictive attitude.
Hopefully Mayor Harl will be granted Frank's state position where he can follow the path set of representing the local area in a excellent manner.
8:52 A.M.
Have a second cup of coffee, you are living in fantasy land. Being and accepting of dishonesty is delusional and leads to having the the leadership we currently have on the local and national level. And that is very bad for the good people of this country.Self interest is not a reason to go into politics unless you live in ........(name the place)
Excuse me 8:52 a.m., but I just threw up in my mouth a little. If you think giving an employee a raise without following the proper procedures that every other employee has to follow, without contacting the union that represents this employee, and telling the employee to falsify his timesheet is an accepted practice everywhere but in Peru, Lord help us. One in a leadership position must adjust and improvise to be fair to all? Puleeeze??? How come then this same mayor tried to get one employee's wages to decrease? Is that fair? OMG, your comment has made me ill.
8:52 Your interpretation of the incident that occurred with regards to the giving of an unapproved increase in salary has left many loopholes opened. While giving raises for promotions is indeed a normal procedure it still needs to be done in the appropriate manner and according to the rules and regulations established for the process. This incident is over, it's old news, and adults should put it to rest and concentrate their energy on doing their job and not on revenge. No Monday morning wash has been exposed nationally!!!
8:56, they did not get a promotion at that time. The boss gave them some extra work and said put in a false overtime report. The expanded job description was not approved nor where any new positions created - both of which take council approval. At the time, there was a hiring freeze and wage freeze. So, our "Right and Honorable" Mayor used a tried and true corrupt practice of falsifying pay records to reward his chosen minions. You are correct in the sense that it does happen all the time - but it happens in Cook County Illinois and is a common practice of the Illinois Democrat Party, were corruption is so common that it has become a way of life.
Concerning Judge Balestri. He simply stated that the Mayor broke the law with good intentions and that the incident should be swept under the rug.
The bakers and shakers have invested their money in land north of Shooting Park Road and could care less about Route 6 in downtown Peru. As for the appearance of Northern Peru it appears to be done as a development without any planning. This scatter gun technique was done years ago under the Baker Regime. Maybe it was done this way so that outside money would not become interested in Peru.Every time their is a land sale with favorable TIF enticements it is always the same names who own the property.
Why has the Western section of Peru never been developed as a retail section. Only makes sense to pay sales tax to our own grade schools. The West end and downtown Peru could be designated as a TIF Zone similar to the blighted area of North Peru with multi million dollar buildings located on it.
i do recall the former mayor baker creating a committee to redevelop the downtown. I believe the city spent millions of dollars condemning buildings, turning over the vacant lots to doctors, dentists, maybe a CPA or two. I suppose the city could spend another million, but why aren't the current owners of those downtown buildings making renovations? Is it really your only hope that your local government will tell those owners how to make money on their buildings? As for the development to the north it would appear Peru has more than any other locally. They must be doing something right.
On the overtime pay, I understand the issue was presented to your city council, police chief, retired judge, state's attorney, state police, and FBI. Are you sure Harl has all those in his pocket? If so, your small town mayor is the most powerful person in the country. Maybe the investigation should have been done by a neutral foreign party?
The overtime thing was not worth the cost of prosecuting. It would have cost hundreds of thousands to prosecute something that is essentially a political issue. In this case, a little bit of corruption is OK, as is the norm in Illinois.
School Districts don't normally get a portion of sales tax. Peru has a special temporary sales tax that will be revoked when Parkside bonds are paid.
11:13am
You almost made coffee shoot out my nose......."special temporary sales tax"? That tax will never be removed. After the schools are finished they will find a use for the money. I think it was a smart move having everyone who shops in Peru ever pay to replace the schools....next it will probably be roads. If you think that tax will ever be removed thou your sadly mistaken.
10:30am
You don't have to tear down downtown. Take a slow walk in LaSalle.....another 5 years and Peru will have missed the boat just like LaSalle did when they passed on the mall.
2:07, this is 11:13... I forgot to pub quotes around "temporary". And they do have a sales tax for the roads. Everyone in a 40 mile radius is paying for Peru's roads, school buildings, water and sewer pipes, and who knows what else.
Anon 10:30 AM
The renovation of downtown Peru started at the 2 ends of downtown and worked towards the middle which was never reached. The Maude Powell Statue was located in the middle of Putnam Street shutting off all traffic entering downtown or leaving downtown north of 4th street. Similar is the Schuyler Street closure on 6th which Baker bargained for to get the property which St. Joseph's Hall was built on. In a development would this make sense to you?
Also the millions that you claim were spent 20+ years ago which was a lot of money than considering inflation, where was it spent? Maybe you have the answer I've asked several times and always received a smart ass answer from those who should know. Normal claim is there are no records. One time I asked and was told that every year I ask the same question just like Groundhog Day this was said by the City Treasurer at a meeting. Peru in a lot of ways is like Vegas, what happens in Peru's past stays in Peru's past. The present Mayor has hired a financial staff to make sure this will not happen again, Thank Goodness.
10:30 AM Your background of Peru, Illinois is extremely shallow. What do you think they are doing right? Could it be stretching TIF laws created for blight areas to such a extreme that they are illegal and contested so heavily that they are costing all taxpayers high lawyer fees from constantly being in court.
Downtown Peru which is a blighted area and which TIF's have been created for has never been placed under a TIF. Northern Peru which is the most expensive property in Peru is under a TIF and a new TIF where the Howard Johnson Motel is located and already built has been squabbled back and forth for 7 years or better to be placed within a TIF. Now do you consider the development to Peru's north as doing something right. If you do you are a lawyer or developer.
If this info hasn't convinced you inquire about the tax rebate to the developers of the mall where Wal Mart, Kohls, Pet Smart etc. are located. Most development north has been a shared cost of you, me and others plus the developers. All development in old downtown Peru was financed by the individual businessman without any cost to the city. I'll ask you for your conclusion did the old time businessman make a mistake in financing himself and the new businessman is unethical in his business manipulations or is it vise versa?
If everything is so right why does this area have higher than a 50% poverty level? Are a few paying taxes for the many?
If you want to know what the tax payers money bought.... ask "J".
Development in Downtown Peru will not benefit "J". That should about sum it up.
"J" wants development "up north". That is all prime "J" land. To bad the movie theater deal fell through. That was "J" land also. Taxpayers feed "J".
"J" is the most influential man in the Illinois Valley. Nobody does nothing without clearing it with "J" first.
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