Train derailment affects traffic in Ottawa

Getting around Ottawa was made difficult late Thursday afternoon thanks to a train derailment.  It happened around 4:30pm on the west side of town.   Traffic was back to normal soon after.

Concerts for a Cause Announced

Country Music stars Trace Adkins and Eric Church and a Nickelodeon quartet headline this year’s Concerts for a Cause.

June 25th Adkins and Church will perform at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru.

Then August 13th concert organizer Merry Noonan of Lou’s LaGrotto is planning a family-oriented mini-state fair at the airport, featuring a carnival and entertainment from Big Time Rush.

A third all-day country fest, featuring 4 or 5 artists, is still pending for September.

Illinois jobless rate falls to 8.9 percent in Feb

CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois unemployment dipped below 9% for the first time in two years, falling to 8.9% in February.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security released the new figures Thursday that marked the 13th consecutive month of declining joblessness. There still were 588,500 Illinoisans without jobs in February.

January’s unemployment rate was 9% in Illinois.

IDES Director Maureen O’Donnell says the state’s economy is “steadily building momentum.” She says the rate could fluctuate in coming months but it appears to be on a downward trend. The state unemployment rate peaked at 11.2 percent in January 2010.

The national February rate also was 8.9%.

 

Hands-on career expo for local students comes to IVCC

It’s never too early for students to be thinking what kind of career they would like to pursue.  A career and building trades fair Friday at Illinois Valley Community College will show area eighth graders and high school students what jobs are available.

It’s sponsored by Starved Rock Associates for Vocational and Technical Education or SRAVTE.  Jeanette Maurice with SRAVTE explains what students will be able to do.

Students will also be able checkout jobs in the medical field, cosmetology, and writing.  Representatives for union building and trades will also be there.

California couple arrested in Peru

A couple from California will have an extended stay in La Salle County.

Peru Police say they stopped Anthony and Jessica Adams of Weed, California for a minor traffic violation early Thursday morning at Interstate 80 and Rt. 251.  Officers say they found approximately 300 grams of marijuana.

Anthony and Jessica Adams have been charged with felony possession of cannabis.  They’re being held in the La Salle County Jail.

Fieldcrest students to perform “West Side Story”

Sharks face the Jets at Fieldcrest High School in Minonk this weekend.  It’s not a sporting event but a performance of the musical “West Side Story.”

Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm and 6pm.  Tickets are $5 at the door.

Construction will close lanes of Veteran’s Memorial Bridge this summer

A major construction project is planned on the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge in Ottawa.

Bridge work begins June 9^th and will be done by June 30^th.  During construction, one lane each direction on the bridge will be closed to traffic.  Also the Route 23 and 71 intersection will be completely closed at the south end of the bridge.  The posted detour will be Route’s 178 and 6.

IDOT officials say inspections revealed 8% of the concrete deck is in need of patching.  Additional repairs will be made to expansion joints and the bridge approach pavement.  The bridge was opened in 1982.