“Bleacher Bums” opens at Stage 212

If the football season has you down so much, you’re already looking forward to spring, Stage 212 has just the play for you.

          “Bleacher Bums” runs Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday afternoon in downtown La Salle.  It’s about fans in the bleachers at a Cubs-Cardinals game.

          It’s directed by Rob Clydesdale and produced by Ellen Marincic.

          Tickets are $14 each.

Area bank names next CEO and President

An area bank has picked its next President and CEO.  Thomas Ogaard will take over the post next February, following the retirement of Tony Sorcic.

          The bank made the announcement Friday.  Ogaard has been with the bank since August, serving on the board of directors.

Graduate students to display downtown Ottawa plans

Designs showing what downtown Ottawa could one day look like are going on display. 

Graduate students of Judson University created the urban designs based on the opinions of city leaders and people who live there.

The students are working towards Masters Degrees in Architecture.

          Their plans will be on display Monday, November 30 from 5:30 until 7:30 in the city council chambers.

Motor City Madman Joins Area Hunters

Watch out for all the men and women wearing bright orange today, including rocker Ted Nugent.

Nugent is kicking off Illinois’ Firearm Deer Season by hunting today in the Starved Rock State Park area.  He’s brought along with him a film crew that’s taping footage for Nugent’s “Spirit of the Wild” program on the Outdoor Channel.

The shotgun season opens today and runs through Sunday.  The second season goes from December 3^rd thru the 6^th.

 

Area Hospitals Get Yearly Grades

The Illinois Department of Public Health has set up a “Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care Web site”.  The site grades hospitals on quality, safety, satisfaction and services.

When it comes to satisfaction, 73 percent of patients at Illinois Valley Community Hospital and Mendota Community Hospital say they’re highly satisfied.  St. Mary’s was next highest at 69 percent followed by St. Margarets at 64 percent and 62 percent satisfaction with Ottawa Regional.  A figure was unavailable for Perry Memorial.

As for what percent of patients would recommend the hospital to family and friends, 75 percent said they would with IVCH.  Mendota Community was next highest with 71 percent, then St. Margaret’s with 68 percent, St. Mary’s 64 percent, Ottawa Regional 62 percent and Perry Memorial again unavailable.

The hospital report card website is www.healthcarereportcard.illinois.gov/.

Area Deer Need To Be Tested For Disease

Deer hunters in La Salle County need to make a stop with their newly shot deer before mounting it on the wall.

The Department of Natural Resources is once again testing all deer brought down in La Salle County for chronic wasting disease.  Hunters should take their deer to a checkpoint station at Buffalo Rock State Park.

DNR Spokesman Tim Schweizer says the disease is by no means a major problem but it did pop up a couple years ago.  Deer in Grundy County also are being tested.  The checkpoint there is at Gebhard Woods State Park in Morris.

Man Considered Armed And Dangerous Caught

A man who caused multiple police departments to search for him yesterday has been caught.

30 year old Jared Williams was apprehended just before six o’clock last evening after the state police sent out a call to area law enforcement at around two o’clock.  He was wanted for an aggravated battery in Princeton.  Williams was said to be on the run with a knife.

No other details have been released.