LPHS board and teachers reach contract agreement

There won’t be a teachers’ strike anytime soon at LP High School.  The school board and teachers’ union have agreed on a four year contract that includes much lower salary increases than past agreements.

Teachers will receive a one-half percent increase in year one, a three-quarter percent raise in year two, a one percent raise in year three, and a one and a quarter percent raise in the final year.

Jim Quesse is the school board president.  He says everyone knows the situation the district and the state are in.  He says teachers are paying a fair share of their health insurance.  The district will also begin to fully fund the Teachers Retirement System in the fourth year, something they haven’t been doing.

Quesse says they’re cognizant of retaining staff and staying competitive with other districts.

Tentative LPHS budget very tentative

Budgeting with unknowns- that’s the situation LP High School Superintendent Craig Carter describes while explaining a tentative budget for this school year.

The school board placed it on filed Monday night.  Carter says it’s tentative with a capital “T”.  It’s unclear how much funding they’ll receive from the state.  They’re already owed $250,000.

The anticipated sale of working cash bonds next month will give them a $3.9 million boost in the education fund.  They plan on formally approving a budget next month.

Oglesby Man Drowns

A man from Oglesby drowned over the weekend at Clinton Lake.

According to the Bloomington Pantagraph, 58-year old Robert Swartz drowned Sunday south of Bloomington.  He apparently fell from his boat after spending the day boating with his wife.

The search for Swartz started at one o’clock Sunday afternoon.  With the use of sonar, his body was found about six hours later.  Swartz was pronounced dead at the scene.

The death remains under investigation.

Mendota Gas Station Robbed

Police in Mendota say a masked man roughed up a store clerk and stole cash.

Just after 2:30 Monday morning, a cashier at Mendota Citgo Quik Mart reported that they were a victim of a robbery and aggravated battery.  The victim claims they were choked by the suspect before the alleged robber stole an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect is said to be a medium-height black man with stocky build.  He allegedly was wearing a white homemade mask over his face.

If you have any information, call Mendota Crime Stoppers.

Ottawa Police issue warning about suspicious men

It may be a good time to remind your kids to avoid strangers.  Ottawa Police say they’ve recently received two complaints of men acting suspiciously.

The first time they say a man in a white car approached two girls on the south side.  Police say he got out of his car and was commenting about a trampoline.  The girls ran away.

Sunday a man in a white or tan car pulled over in front of two girls on the north side and got out of the car.  The girls ran away.  They described him as being between 50 and 60 years old with white or gray hair.

Police would like you to remind your kids about avoiding strangers and to call if you know anything about the suspicious men.

Man injured after reportedly falling asleep while driving

Minor injuries for a man who reportedly rolled his car after falling asleep at the wheel while on Interstate 80.

Police say Daniel Manislovich of Ottawa was heading east on I-80 near Utica Saturday morning when he claims he dozed off, went into the median, hit and embankment and overturned twice before ending up in a westbound lane.

Manislovich was taken to Ottawa Regional Hospital.  He was ticketed for not wearing a seat belt.

About 200 turn out for Walk, Run, Bike

The weather was perfect for the Illinois Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross’ annual Walk, Run, Bike.

About 200 people, 24 teams participated at Baker Lake in Peru Sunday.

They were hoping to raise $37,000.  So far they have about $34,000 and teams are still turning in their donations.

Work to begin on Route 251 in Peru

If you’re taking Route 251 in or out of the south side of Peru, remember the road will be closed under the Route 6 overpass starting Monday.

The closure is so crews can repair two steel beams that were damaged last year.

You’ll still be able to use Route 6 and the Peru and La Salle exits from Route 251 but some of the ramps from Route 6 to Route 251 will be closed because they’ll be working directly under the overpass.

The closure should last two weeks.

Fire at La Salle Speedway nothing serious

If you noticed a cloud of smoke near the La Salle Speedway, it was a prop that started on fire.

Fire fighters were called out to the Speedway at 5pm Sunday after a mobile home that they were using in a truck show caught on fire.

No one was hurt.  Fire fighters say there wasn’t any property loss because they were crushing it for the show.

Man flown to Peoria after motorcycle crash

Police think a motorcycle accident near Streator involved alcohol.

Eric Shane of Toluca remains hospitalized in critical condition after crashing early Sunday morning.

Police say Shane’s motorcycle went over 500 feet after leaving the road.  He was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator before being flown to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

He’s charged with DUI, improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and no insurance.  He was given a notice to appear.