Police investigate home burglary in Spring Valley

Police in Spring Valley want your help in finding a man who broke into a house on West Second Street.

Police say the people that live at the home noticed a man leaving through their back door when they arrived home around 8pm Monday.  An electronics item had been taken.  They think the thief got in by forcing open a door to an attached garage.

The man they’re looking for is about six feet tall, slender and was wearing dark colored clothing.

If you know anything about it, call the Spring Valley Police Department or Illinois Valley Crimestoppers.

ADV and SAS looking for volunteers

An organization that provides support to people affected by domestic violence and sexual assault is looking for volunteers.

If you’re interested in working with ADV and SAS, there’s an informational meeting 6pm8pm Wednesday at Ottawa Regional Hospital meeting room.

The agency helps people in La Salle and Livingston Counties by providing emergency shelter, a crisis hotline, and counseling.

Groundbreaking held for new Ottawa Central School

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Two years after Central Elementary School took on water, ground was broken on a replacement school.

A large crowd including many students took part in a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday afternoon for the new Central Intermediate School in Ottawa.  School Board President Stephen Omolecki started the list of speakers by saying it’s been a “long and arduous journey”, thanking the public for going out on a limb in approving a bond referendum for the new school.

Elementary Superintendent Craig Doster is thankful to have the new school on higher ground.

The $25 million school is expected to be ready for spring semester in 2012.

Dems schedule headquarters grand opening

Another sign the election is drawing nearer- the La Salle County Democrats are getting ready to open their headquarters.

The Republicans have already opened their headquarters in Ottawa.

The Democrats are holding a grand opening Saturday at 1pm.  It’s on West Main Street in Ottawa.

La Salle County Broadband Project Gets Funding

The push for broadband internet throughout La Salle County has received big news.

The governor’s office announced yesterday that 46 million dollars in federal funding has been awarded to Northern Illinois University, on behalf of the Illinois Broadband Opportunity Partnership which covers plans bring broadband internet through La Salle County.   The federal money is being matched with 14 million dollars in state capital funds and eight and a half million dollars in private funding.

The money is supposed to build an 870-mile fiber-optic network across nine counties including La Salle County.  The overall broadband project is projected to create 300 jobs.

Whooping Cough In Bureau County

The Bureau County Health Department is reporting a case of Whooping Cough.

In response to the case, the health department is hosting a special vaccination clinic Wednesday from 4 until 5:30 at their office in Princeton.  Tdap, a combination vaccine that contains tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough will be given to both children and adults on a walk-in basis.  Children’s vaccines are 10 dollars while adult vaccines are 50 dollars each.

Whooping Cough is highly infectious that’s passed from person to person by coughing and sneezing.  Symptoms include a common cold, runny nose, occasional cough of low fever.  People with Whooping Cough are supposed to be isolated for at least 5 days.

Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Damon Arnold says “we expect many schools will experience cases during the school year”.

Governor Cancels Ottawa Visit

Governor Pat Quinn isn’t coming to Ottawa after all.

Quinn was expected to attend this afternoon’s groundbreaking for the new Central Intermediate School but has been called to deal with another matter according to school district Secretary Linda Ness.  The district planned today’s ceremony around Quinn’s schedule.

The groundbreaking will go forward at 1 o’clock on land south of Shepherd Middle School.  The district has bought 46 acres on the south edge of town to build the new elementary school.

New Nursing Home Head Approved

For the second time in less than a year, a new administrator has been hired at the La Salle County Nursing Home.

Chris Csernus was officially approved last night by the La Salle County Board as administrator.  He replaces Dr. Amjad Hussein who resigned earlier this month after being hired in February to take over for previous administrator Adrienne Erickson who was fired after the county was sued for alleged sexual assaults at the nursing home.  Erickson is now suing the county.

Csernus has been administrator at Mendota Lutheran Home for 15 years.  He’ll be paid a yearly salary of 79 thousand dollars, the same amount Dr. Hussein was getting before his resignation.

A handful of county board members voted against Csernus being hired, saying the opening should’ve been advertised.