County Board Member From La Salle Stepping Down

There’s going to be a vacancy on the La Salle County Board.

The agenda for Monday night’s board meeting is out and on the agenda is resignation of District 12 board member Kelly Reffett.  The Democrat Reffett has missed several committee and board meetings of late due to other commitments with the Red Cross and Illinois Valley Federation of Labor.

She was appointed to the board in April 2008 after board member George Gruenwald moved to Bloomington.  Reffett went on to win a four-year term in November of 2008 after she ran unopposed.

New Ottawa School Likely To Still Need Taxpayer Money

While millions of dollars are coming in from the state and federal governments, taxpayers in Ottawa still will have to pay towards a new school.

A letter announcing 10.5 million dollars in federal aid to build the new Central Intermediate School showed up on Ottawa Elementary School Superintendent Craig Doster’s desk Friday.  The district already has a 15 million dollar commitment from the state.

Doster says to get the project up and moving immediately, they’ll utilize a small part of the 18.5 million dollar bond referendum passed earlier this year, probably around 3 million dollars.  The latest estimate of building the new school is 25.4 million dollars though that could always change.

Groundbreaking for the new Central Intermediate School is Tuesday at 1.

Ambulance Responds To IVCC Crash

One woman was reportedly hurt after a crash this afternoon in Oglesby.

Oglesby Police and Ambulance responded around 1 o’clock to the northeast entrance of Illinois Valley Community College for an accident.  Initial reports had one woman involved suffering head and hand injuries.

More details as they become available.

Knowing the signs important in detecting ovarian cancer

You’re told to be screened for breast cancer, colon cancer, and a number of illnesses because early detection is important.  But one illness that affects an estimated 20,000 women in the U.S. each year is difficult to detect.

It’s ovarian cancer.  Dr. Craig Whatcott with St. Margaret’s Health says sometimes women take a blood test, but it’s not really useful and symptoms are common things like gas or indigestion.  He says by the time it’s detected, it’s usually more advanced lessening the odds of survival.

It’s usually found in women in the 40s and older and can run in families, but most women who are diagnosed have no family history.

He says birth control pills have been shown to reduce your risk of developing ovarian cancer by half.  Women who have had multiple pregnancies are at lower risk because they’ve ovulated fewer times.

It’s treated through surgery and chemotherapy but the success rate isn’t as high as other cancers.

He says the best thing to do is tell your doctor if you notice any recent changes with indigestion, because they could be a sign. September is ovarian and prostate cancer awareness month.

“Moonlight Serenade” planned in La Salle

If music under the stars sounds like a fun way to spend your Saturday night, head to the Hegeler Carus Mansion in La Salle.  The annual outdoor Moonlight Serenade, concert on the lawn is  7pm Saturday.

Bring your blanket, lawn chairs and refreshments.

Fire fighters up overnight for blaze in Ladd

An early morning for fire fighters in Ladd.  A house fire was called in shortly before 3:30am Friday.   No word what caused it.