Truck Vs. Combine Fatal
Rev 0
10/22

A Mendota man was killed in a fatal crash with a combine late Wednesday morning. The Illinois State Police reports James Hampton died as a result of the wreck, after troopers say 55 year-old Dennis McConnville of Peru struck the 58 year-old’s pickup truck north of Utica, at the intersection of of North 33rd and East 8th Roads.   Hampton was pronounced dead at the scene.  Troopers say McConnville was charged with failure to yield at a stop intersection.  (Contributed by Brent Brown, The Radio Group)

MRSA alert
Rev 0
10/22/10
 
An antibiotic resistant bug has found its way to LaSalle-Peru High School.  Superintendent Doctor Craig Carter says an alert regarding M-R-S-A was issued to parents by the school Wednesday after a student was diagnosed.  According to the Center for Disease Control’s website, M-R-S-A, is spread by close contact to someone’s skin infection, or personal items, and it commonly occurs at the sites of cuts.  Doctor Carter says they have taken all of the necessary precautions to deter the bacteria, and keep it from spreading.  Among them, workers are increasing their cleaning efforts regarding those surfaces in the school that are commonly touched.   Dr. Carter also asks students to refrain from sharing personal items with each other.  The C-D-C suggests that you keep affected skin abrasions covered, and remember to use good hygiene.  (Contributed by Brent Brown, The Radio Group)

Streator Wal-Mart
Rev 0
10/22

In the near future you very well could see work underway at the site of the future Streator Wal-Mart.  City Manager Paul Nicholson says officials have gotten word from the retail giant that it’s received bids from prospective contractors to build the super center on the city’s north side… 

NS102210NICHOLSON  Paul Nicholson  oq: “…of contract.”  :13.7 — {bite}

Nicholson adds that, while the retailer hasn’t confirmed the information, city leaders have seen the retailer’s program for construction, which suggests that site work could begin yet this month.  It’s the latest sign that the project is continuing to move forward… 

NS102210NICHOLSON2  Paul Nicholson 2  oq: “…to happen.”  :13.5 — {bite}

Once built, the city would join the ranks of similar-sized communities across northern Illinois, which have a super center. 

New Ameren Substation
Rev 0
10/22/10
 
A new electrical substation is being constructed by Ameren in Utica.  Spokesman Leigh Morris says the substation is estimated to cost 56-million dollars, spread out over several years, and is expecting it to be fully completed by the end of 2012, or early 2013.  Morris says the project has the support of the community, and been in the works for a number of years.  He also stated the project is important for reliability and growth, due to increased demand in LaSalle County.  The substation will produce 138-thousand volts and will eventually be tied with the transmission line that runs from La Salle to Fox River in Wedron.  (Contributed by Brent Brown, The Radio Group)

TC - LOSTANT TIF QUESTIONED
10/22/2010
START 6:00 A.M.

The LaSalle County Board last week held off on approving a TIF for Lostant.  A motion to approve the TIF for the small town was tabled.  Mendota Democrat Stephen Abel, a member of the TIF Committee, says Lostant’s TIF is a little different than the usual TIFs…

(NS102210SABEL :14.4 …the intergovernmental agreements.) — {bite}

Abel says some of those costs include doing a study of the TIF, along with paperwork to establish the TIF.  The main point of debate amongst the county board members was the amount of the up-front costs, which was unknown at the time.  (Contributed by T-J Carson, The Radio Group)

First Midwest 3Q
Rev 0
10/22

A Chicago-area bank, with branches in Seneca and Morris has released its third quarter figures.  First Midwest Bancorp, which operates as First Midwest, reports its net income for the period ending September 30th was two-point-six million dollars.  First Midwest President and C-E-O Michael Scudder says the figures show core operating earnings remained strong.  Over the summer First Midwest acquired the assets and loans of Palos Bank and Trust from the F-D-I-C.  How do the figures compare with a year ago?  The banking chain reports core earnings were up 16-percent over the same period a year ago.

Vehicle Vs. Building
Rev 0
10/21/10

 
A house in Sandwich blew up as the result of a car crashing into it early Wednesday morning.  The Sandwich Police Department reports that shortly after locating the vehicle, officers smelled a strong odor of natural gas, and requested Nicor and the Sandwich Fire Department to the scene in the 700th block of East Church Street.   While officers were outside a nearby residence, trying to vacate residents, the house that was struck blew up, and was engulfed in flames.  The Sandwich Fire Department arrived and put the fire out, there were no injuries, and at this time the cause of the accident is still under investigation.  (Contributed by Brent Brown, The Radio Group)

TC - CATLIN PARK HORSES
10/21/2010
START 6:00 A.M.

Should horse riding be allowed at Catlin Park during the bow hunting seasons? One woman says yes. Toni Spires, co-chairman of a committee for multi-use trails, spoke to LaSalle County Board members at last week’s meeting about opening up horse trails to riding during the hunting seasons at Catlin Park.  Spires says would like to see a sharing of parks in general in which people can hunt and ride in parks at the same time, along with other uses.  She says it has been done in other parks for decades, and says she does not have any concerns about liability…

(NS102110TONIS :22.8 …entities from lawsuits.) — {bite}

Spires says she has made herself available to the county board to help work out agreements on the matter.  (Contributed by T-J Carson, The Radio Group)

Fast Care
Rev 0
10/21/10

The Fast Care walk-in clinic is now open for residents.  I-V-C-H spokesman Gene Vogelgesang says the cost is a flat rate of $57 per visit, which includes basic lab services that can be done on site.  Vogelgesang says Fast Care is all about convenience…

NP102110Gene          : 11      OC: see you. — {bite}

The clinic, located at the Peru Wal-Mart, is open to the public seven-days a week, including all holidays, except Christmas.  (Contributed by Brent Brown, The Radio Group)

289 SB Meeting
Rev 0
10/21/10

The Mendota Elementary School Board is getting good marks on their report card.  Based on the data from the School Improvement process, Blackstone, Lincoln, and Northridge schools for the most part met their respected Annual Yearly Progress goals, but Superintendent School stated that improvements still need to be made.  The Board also reviewed and approved the fiscal year 2010 auditor’s report, of which there were no findings.  The auditor told the Board they spent more than they took in, but expenditures were in-line with the budget, and that the state still owes the district money.   In other matters…the Board awarded the bid for snow removal to Mauch Carpentry at 48-dollars per hour-per unit, and approved Life Safety Levy Amendment number-18 to get funds to replace the roof at the district office because the shingles are bad, hence their class action lawsuit.  School says the lawsuit, once settled, would most likely only garner 75-hundred dollars, and according to the district’s architect…they will need 48-thousand dollars.

Relay for Life Breakfast
Rev 0
10/21/10
 
Relay for life is holding a breakfast kick-off this morning from 7-to-7:45 am at saint John’s Lutheran Church for anyone interested in finding out more about how to get involved with this summer’s overnight event at Lake Mendota.  If you cannot attend this morning, but would like to be involved…visit the event website at www.relayforlifeupperillinoisvalley.com.

Sexual Abuse
Rev 1
10/20/10 

 
A LaSalle man is accused of sexually assaulting three girls.  The LaSalle Police department reports 41 year old Andrew Vela was arrested Monday in Ottawa, and at last check was being held on a 200-thousand dollar bond.  He is charged with two-counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and one-count of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, all class-two felonies.  Investigators say the alleged victims ages 11, 14, and 16 all reported sexual abuse by the suspect, but at different times.  (Contributed by Brent Brown, The Radio Group)

Wind Power
Rev 0
10/20

I-V-C-C’s Wind Technician Program is generating a following.  The college reports the new offering attracted 24 students when it started up in August.  School president Doctor Jerry Corcoran says they’re pleased with the figures and believe enrollment will remain steady.  In related news, last night the college’s board of trustees approved spending over 144-thousand dollars for two mobile workstations to troubleshoot turbine problems.  They’ll spend close to 23-thousand dollars on a virtual instrumentation suite.  The good news is that the school will use National Science Foundation grant funding to make the buys.  Dr. Corcoran points out there are 500 turbines across the district and another 400 are in the works. 

TC - BURNS IN STREATOR
10/20/2010
START 6:00 A.M.

The Inspector General for the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office wants lobbyists in the state to be more transparent.  Jim Burns visited Streator and LaSalle County yesterday to tote public acts that are aimed to reform ethics in Illinois.  In regards to lobbyists, Burns says they must now report all lobbying expenses more often, along with registering with the Secretary of State Index Department.  He adds lobbyists are only part of the problem, but it could lead to bigger problems.

(NS102010BURNS :17.1 …of that problem.) — {bite}

Burns says lobbyists must report all expenses related to public elected officials twice a month online, instead of the past where it was reported twice a year, along with a summary of those expenses every six months.  (Contributed by T-J Carson, The Radio Group)

LSCO Cert Training
Rev 0
10/20

The LaSalle County Emergency Management Agency is looking for helping hands, should an emergency arise.  The agency’s Connie Brooks says a four-week long Community Emergency Response Training course will begin tonight.  She points out there’s only two workers in the agency’s office, and should a disaster strike—like the June 5th tornado—volunteers are definitely needed…

NS102010BROOKS  Connie Brooks  oq: “…our efforts.”  :18.9 — {bite}

The team was also activated in January during the ice jam flooding on the Fox River.  The 20-hour course will be held Wednesday evenings, and those topics covered include disaster preparedness, fire suppression, light search and rescue and disaster psychology.

Fatal Crash
Rev 0
10/19/10

 
A Spring Valley woman has been killed in a traffic crash.  According to the Bureau County Sheriff’s Departmentf, Donna Miller was travelling east on Angling Road late Thursday afternoon  when her car left the roadway, travelled into a field, throwing the 60 year-old through the vehicle’s sunroof.  Bureau County Coroner Janice Wamhoff says Miller was pronounced dead at the scene due to massive head trauma.  (Contributed by Brent Brown, The Radio Group)

Final Plat Approved
Rev 1
10/19/10

Mendota is getting itself a Senior Housing Subdivision.  The city council approved the final plat Monday evening after receiving the recommendation from the planning commission.  Alderman Joe McConville says it is a good project…

NP101910Joe              : 12      OC: especially, yeah. — {bite}

The 50-unit subdivision is to be located at Plaza drive and Route 34 on the city’s westside.  Once it is completed, the city will repave Plaza Drive and the Stough group has told the council that it would contribute up to 25-percent of that cost.   (Contributed by Brent Brown, The Radio Group)

Plant Fire UPDATE 2
Rev 0
10/19

The hot spots appear to be out at the site of a massive chemical plant fire earlier this month outside of Princeton.  Euclid Chemical Spokesman Joshua Robbins says—as of Friday—the smoldering appeared to have dissipated and he believes the company could get more access to the area this week.  At last check, he said there were no indicators of how or where the fire started.  In the meantime, Robbins says the Cleveland-based company has found temporary work for some employees.  Last week Euclid told its workforce of 15 that it would continue to provide salary and benefits through the end of the year.  As far as possibly rebuilding, Robbins says that’s a decision that will have to be made down the road.  He adds that there still trying to determine damage assessments and the environmental impact. 

TC - LACO BOARD BENEFITS
10/19/2010
START 6:00 A.M.

Future members of the LaSalle County Board may not receive the same benefits package as current members.  Finance Committee Chairman Tom Ganiere says he proposed eliminating the county paying any portion of the premiums for the new members after 2012.  He notes that current premium costs for single are $535 a month, and for family is $1735 per month, and the county pays 83% of the costs.  If the proposal takes effect, new members would pay 100% of the premium…

(NS101910TOMGA :15 …for it now.) — {bite}

Ganiere says current members would continue to keep their benefits package, as is, and they would be grandfathered in.  (Contributed by T-J Carson, The Radio Group)

School Report Card-280
Rev 0
10/19/10
 
Mendota High School is receiving their report card ahead of schedule.  Principal Denise Aughenbaugh says according to “School Digger”, a website that ranks high schools in the state, Mendota ranked 174 out of 650.   Superintendent Jeff Prusator elaborated…

NP101910Prusator    : 25      OC: and students. — {bite}

Principal Aughenbaugh also informed the board that the composite A-C-T score is 20-point-six, which is slightly above the state average.  The district’s overall P-S-A-E score of 54-point-eight percent is also above the state average of 53-percent.  Last year’s graduation rate decreased from 87-point-five percent to 86-point-two, and overall…the white graduation rate is 83-point-two percent and the Hispanic graduation rate is well above the state average at 94-point-seven percent.  It was also mentioned by the Principal that Mendota is considered a school district in corrective action, which means a school improvement coach will be assigned to work with them for 36 days this school year.  (Contributed by Brent Brown, The Radio Group)