August unemployment figures show little relief

Unemployment in Putnam County edged near 15% in August. The latest figures released Thursday from the Illinois Department of Employment Security show that Putnam County’s unemployment has more than doubled since the same time last year. The closing of Mittal Steel is mostly to blame. Mittal recently hired by 31 employees to removed machinery from the plant in Hennepin.
August unemployment in La Salle County was just over 12% and Bureau County unemployment was just over 10%.
In the Ottawa-Streator area the loss of manufacturing and construction jobs has driven up unemployment by nearly 8% since last summer.

Catholic Schools In Ottawa Merging

A letter signed by pastors at St. Columba and St. Patrick was sent out this month to parishioners to say they’re working towards having one school on three different campuses instead of the current set up of a separate high school and two grade schools. This was recommended from a consultant who studied all schools in the Peoria Diocese.

The pastors say they’re spending over 70 percent of their Sunday offerings on the grade schools and high school with the costs outgrowing income. Church officials don’t want to raise tuition because it may keep financially struggling families from enrolling in their schools.

Former Regional Superintendent of Schools in La Salle County William Novotney has been picked to lead the consolidation effort. Church officials say the consolidation won’t close any of the three buildings.

L-P Homecoming Parade

Time to show your Cavalier Pride.

The 2009 L-P Homecoming Parade starts at 4 o’clock sharp today at Rotary Park in Peru. From the park, floats will travel east on Route 6 to Bucklin Street in La Salle, turn onto 1st street and end up going east on Crosat Street.

The homecoming football game is tomorrow night against Dixon. The dance is Saturday night.

Mautino Pushing To Reopen Vermilion

State Representative Frank Mautino says the Department of Natural Resources is willing to approach Buzzi Unicem and assume the liability for their stretch of the river. Mautino says the state does this all the time with lakes. Its part of a state statute called the “Recreational Use of Private Lands Act”.

If this doesn’t work, Mautino says he could always propose a bill to make Buzzi’s stretch of the Vermilion River a navigable waterway. Right now the stretch isn’t considered a navigable waterway.

Mautino says a bill could come up in January.

Ottawa High Fighting The Flu

The school board this week agreed to foot the bill for teachers wanting to get a flu shot and also open up the high school as a location for swine flu vaccinations.

Superintendent John Harrison says they’ve annually been paying the 25 dollar charge for teachers who get a flu shot. He thinks it’ll keep them healthier and cut down on absenteeism by not having to miss work because of the flu.

As for swine flu, Harrison says the clinic at Ottawa High will be only open to the school’s students and staff. Swine flu vaccines are expected next month.

Consumer Rights Group Hitting Ottawa

Think you’re being ripped off by your telephone provider? Find out for sure on October 2nd in Ottawa.

The Citizen’s Utility Board or CUB is hosting a “phone-bill clinic” at the Etna Road Complex on the 2nd from 10 until 2. CUB launched a campaign after a report showed that Illinois callers are overpaying on their phone bills by about 1.5 billion dollars a year. They think they have ways to possibly cut your local and long-distance bills by an average of 200 dollars a year.

The phone bill analysis is free.