New units at IVCH taking form

If you could peek inside the new addition at Illinois Valley Community Hospital you would see the walls of the new obstetrics and intensive care units taking form.

Gene Vogelgesang, hospital spokesman, says you can see where the rooms are going to be.

Construction began last summer.  They expect construction to be finished by early fall and hope to be using the new units by the end of October.

The expansion is costing $15.5 million.  It’s being paid for with their reserves, through borrowing, and a fundraising effort called “IVCH- For a Lifetime of Care Campaign.”  They’re trying to raise $2 million.  So far, they’ve raised over $1.7 million.

More fundraisers are in the works including a Kids Fun Fair Saturday and another variety show scheduled for October 8.

You can hear more about the project by listening to an interview available at the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

PSAE testing for LPHS juniors

It’s a day off of school for everyone but the junior class at LP High School.  The 11^th graders are to be to school before 8am Wednesday to take the Prairie State Achievement Exam.  They’ll be able to have a free breakfast before the testing begins.  They’ll be dismissed at 12:20pm.

Testing will continue Thursday with only the juniors arriving before 8am.  They’ll be dismissed at 10:45am.  Freshmen, sophomores and seniors will report to class at 12pm for fifth, sixth, and seventh periods.

Buses will be running but lunch will not be served.

IVCC board to meet Thursday

With the spring election over, the Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees prepares to shuffle things around a bit.

The board is holding a special reorganization meeting at 6:30pm Thursday to make committee appointments and to elect officers.

There will be little change in the board make-up.  Trustees David Mallery, Mike Driscoll, and Dr. Larry Huffman were all re-elected.  Former trustee Jim Narczewski will come on board to fill an unexpired two-year term.

Two Teens Injured In Spring Valley Crash

Two 14 year old boys were hurt after their motorcycle crashed into a car Monday afternoon.

Spring Valley Police say the boy driving the Yamaha bike ran a stop sign and ran into the car of Barbara Bellettini of Spring Valley.  The crash happened just before 4 Monday afternoon at the intersection of Third and Spalding Streets.

The boys were taken to St. Margaret’s Hospital.  The one driving was ticketed for no valid driver’s license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, disregarding a stop sign and improper operation of an off-highway motorcycle.

TV Appearance Could Cost Blagojevich

CHICAGO (AP) – Federal prosecutors have filed a motion seeking to use Rod Blagojevich’s proclamation of innocence on a television talk show against him.

The former governor appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC in January 2009. According to the motion, Maddow asked Blagojevich if it would wrong to trade an appointment to the U.S. Senate for something of value to him. After he answered yes, Maddow asked had he done so. The former governor said no.

Prosecutors contend in his first trial Blagojevich’s attorneys argued he didn’t know he was doing anything criminal because none of his legal advisors advised him that it was. They say his statements on Maddow’s show prove he knew what he was doing.

Illinois River Rising

Flood warnings continue for the Illinois River at La Salle and Ottawa.

The river in La Salle currently sits at 23.2 feet, three feet above the flood stage.  The river is expected to crest at over 24 feet on Thursday before starting to fall.

In Ottawa, the river is at 462 feet, a couple feet above flood stage.  The Illinois in Ottawa is expected to crest at a little over 463 feet tomorrow night before falling back below flood stage Thursday afternoon.

The river’s high enough to effect boat ramp’s at Starved Rock and Allen Park.