name bridal trolley at Starved Rock

Starved Rock Lodge has obtained a third Trolley with a special function. The trolley will be used just for weddings. But, Starved Rock Lodge is having some fun now soliciting names for the trolley. You can submit your offering to Edna Daugherty at Starved Rock Lodge, Box 570, Utica or email ednad@starvedrocklodge.com. The winning name will be announced at the Starved Rock Bridal expo Sunday, January 9.

Rezin scholarships

Rezin Orthopedics and Sports Medicine has awarded a couple of thousand dollar scholarships to students in the medical field. Winners were Erin Gould and David Mantey. Gould is from Streator and is studying physical therapy at St. Ambrose University. Mantey is in pre-med at Loyola University. This is the eighth year Rezin Orthopedics and Sports Medicine has awarded scholarships to qualified students pursuing a medical based career. The facility operates in Ottawa and four other cities. It was founded by current President, Dr. Keith Rezin.

Clear Talk contract

The La Salle County Board will be cutting some hefty checks for Clear Talk Radio Systems out of Paris, Illinois. The board this week voted to renew a five-year lease with Clear Talk to continue using their radio system for deputies. The cost is 25 hundred dollars per month. This contract is on top of a previous deal where the county board agreed to spend 121 thousand dollars with Clear Talk to install a radio antenna for the sheriff’s department on an existing tower south of Serena. Sheriff Tom Templeton says they’ve never been able to communicate back and forth in the northeast part of the county because of terrain and other land issues.

Senator Kirk votes to lift “DADT” policy

New Republican Sen. Mark Kirk is among eight Republicans siding with Democrats in favor of the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military. Kirk says that he supported the repeal based on a recent Pentagon study that concluded the ban could be lifted without hurting the ability of troops to fight.

next IVCC board meeting

School is out but that’s not stopping the Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees from meeting. The board is getting together Monday night at 6:30 in the college. Finances will be on the trustees mind with budget talk and possible approval of the tax levy. The trustees will also handle a handful of faculty and staff appointments including Dr. Jeffrey Anderson as Dean of Humanities, Fine Arts and Social Sciences.

District 24 county seat open for now

Because of state statutes, the La Salle County Board is down a member for the time being. Longtime District 24 board member Jack Leininger of Marseilles resigned from his seat on Wednesday. Even though area republicans had chosen Elmer Walter of Grand Ridge to fill his seat, there wasn’t enough time by state law to get the appointment on this past Thursday’s agenda. Walter is expected to officially be sworn into the seat January 13th. He’s a lifelong farmer and current vice-president of the La Salle County Landowner’s Association. He’s also a two-term Grand Rapids Township trustee. Leininger calls Walter a fine choice.