Tractor Related Fire Outside Mendota

A machine shed fire had Mendota and Troy Grove firefighters busy.

Crews were called to a shed southeast of Mendota on East 475^th Road just before two o’clock Friday afternoon.  A block heater on a tractor inside the shed apparently failed, causing a fire.  Crews had it under control in less than 20 minutes.

The damage estimate is undetermined.

Lincoln Exhibit Opens In Ottawa

A traveling exhibit featuring reproduced artifacts of Abraham Lincoln start a two month run in Ottawa.

“Abraham Lincoln: Self-Made in America”, is on display today through April 11^th at the Ottawa Scouting Museum.  The exhibit was created by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum staff to mark Lincoln’s 200^th birthday.  It includes Lincoln’s favorite books; his son Tad’s toy cannon; a stovepipe hat; a Presidential campaign banner; and bloody gloves found in Lincoln’s pocket the night he was killed.

Ottawa is the first stop for the nationwide exhibit that will be go museums, libraries and historical societies through December 2012.

Governor Pushing To Borrow Billions

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration is calling thousands of vendors to seek support for
the state borrowing billions of dollars to pay overdue bills.

Illinois owes about $6 billion to businesses and charities that provide service on behalf of state government. Additional debts bring the total backlog to $8.75 billion Quinn spokeswoman Brie Callahan says state agencies are asking vendors to urge lawmakers to support borrowing money to pay the backlog immediately. The loan would be paid back over 14 years with a portion of the newly approved income tax increase.

Quinn signed an e-mail which he called “a call to action.”