Gas Odor Sends Nearly 20 Students To The Hospital

An art teacher and 19 students at Somonauk High School were taken to the hospital yesterday after a natural gas leak.

Superintendent Susan Workman says the leak happened when a regulator handling a heating and cooling unit over an art room malfunctioned.  The teacher and students in the room were evacuated and taken to Valley West Hospital after complaining of headaches, nausea and dizziness.

The area of the leak was quickly cleared and opened back up for school late yesterday morning.

Flood warning affects Illinois and Fox Rivers

It hasn’t rained since Thursday; still a couple of area rivers remain swollen from recent storms.

A flood warning continues for the Illinois River at La Salle and Fox River at Dayton.

The National Weather Service says the Illinois River is expected to fall below flood stage by Monday morning.  Flooding has been minor.

Flooding along the Fox River at Dayton is minor.  It’s expected to fall below flood stage Saturday evening.

3rd Annual “Dancing with the Stars for Charity” returns Sunday

The spirits of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire will be alive and kicking at Senica’s Oak Ridge Sunday night.

“Dancing with the Stars for Charity” returns for a third year.  The fundraiser takes a person from the community and partner’s them with an experienced dancer and has the pairs compete while raising money for area non-profit groups.  Ten pairs are competing this year.

It’s sponsored by Illinois Valley Cellular.  Tickets are $25 and available at Illinois Valley Cellular Wireless Solution Centers and at the Follies Theatre in Utica.  Doors open at 5pm.  The performance starts at 7pm.

If you can’t be there, you can watch it live online.  Video will be available at Illinois Valley Cellular’s Website.