REO Speedwagon booked for “Concert for a Cause”

A second “Concert for a Cause” will headline a band with roots in central Illinois.  REO Speedwagon is coming to the Cedar Point Sportsman’s Club in La Salle.

Merry Noonan with Lou’s LaGrotto’s says she booked the show Monday.  As for who will benefit from the show, she hopes to know by the end of the week.  She says tickets will go on sale at the end of the month.

Another concert she’s lined up is Lady Antebellum on Saturday, August 14^th.  Proceeds will go to buy new laptops for JFK School in Spring Valley.  The concert is sponsored in part by 96-5 The Wolf.  Tickets have been on sale since last Friday.

Peru burglaries could be work of pair from Lockport

Burglaries at three businesses in Peru look to be the work of a couple of men from the suburbs. 

          Anthony Esco Jr and Andre Nash Jr of Lockport are accused of taking things from Big Lots, Rental Pros and Napa Auto Supply on February 11.  Nash is charged with felony burglary and Esco with burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle.

          Investigators think the two burglarized more businesses in the southwest suburbs.  They’re being held in the Will County Jail.

State senator and school officials talk with IVCC students

With area schools cutting staff, some education students at Illinois Valley Community College are wondering if they’re pursuing the right career.  Should I go into teaching was one of the questions students in Tina Hardie’s Intro to Education class had for a panel of education officials Monday.

Longtime LP High School board member and retired IVCC instructor Rose Marie Lynch advised students not to go into teaching because they think they’ll get a job, but because it’s what they want to do for the next 40 years.

Another student wanted to know if they thought changes should be made to No Child Left Behind.  Jim Carlson with the Regional Office of Education says absolutely.  He says he doesn’t think one test on one day is a good way to measure a district or school’s performance.

State Senator Gary Dahl gave students his opinion on the situation with state funding.  He thinks Governor Pat Quinn picked education because it creates a fire storm.  He doesn’t think it will be cut as severely as the governor is saying.

About 40 students listened to the panel.  Another group of students will hear a similar panel Wednesday.

Bid awarded in Plank Road sewer and water extension

Work to extend water and sewer lines north along Plank Road in Peru is a step closer to beginning.

          The city council Monday night hired Merryman Excavating for $1,030,478.  They were the lowest bidder.

          Engineer Roger Chamlin says they’ll start once they have the necessary easements, which could be two to three weeks away.  He says the council needed to approve the bid last night so the contractor could order materials.

          The work will span from near the Army Reserves armory to Interstate 80.  Chamlin believes it will take the entire construction season to complete.

          The project is being paid for using federal Recovery Zone Bonds.  The federal government will reimburse the city up to 45% of the interest.