Radium Girl Statue Almost Finished

A statue about hard labor could be unveiled on Labor Day this year in Ottawa.

Artist Bill Piller of Mendota has finished a life-size bronze statue of a “radium girl”.  Before it takes its place at a memorial in Ottawa, the statue has to go to a foundry and be casted in bronze.  Fundraising efforts also continue to landscape the area where the statue is going to be stand.

Piller was given 40 thousand dollars by the city thru fundraisers for the statue.  The woman in the statue is holding flowers in one hand and paintbrushes in the other.

Many women working at a Radium Dial factory in Ottawa died from radium poisoning.

IVCC Gets Grant To Heat And Cool New Building

When a new building costs 30 million dollars, any kind of grant money goes a long ways.

Illinois Valley Community College has won a 90 thousand dollar grant for geothermal heating and cooling installation inside the future Community Technology Center.  The grant will help pay for the cost of digging underground for geothermal piping.

The 80 thousand square foot Community Technology Center is going up on the east side of the campus.  IVCC has received 23 million dollars in federal funds for the project.  The college is on the hook for 7.5 million dollars in matching funds.

Utica Hosts Native American Celebration

Get your moccasins ready, its Pow Wow time in Utica.

The 7^th Annual Honor the Eagle Pow Wow is this Saturday and Sunday at Grand Bear.  The Midwest SOARRING Foundation moved the Pow Wow from Starved Rock because of flooding issues.

The event will include live music, a birds of prey exhibit plus dance contests and a “princess contest”.  Grand entry ceremonies are Saturday at noon and 6 and Sunday at 1.

Admission is six dollars for adults and four dollars for seniors and kids.

Rezin Gets Veterans Appointment

Your state senator is now one of the top decision makers when it comes to veterans issues.

Republican Sue Rezin of Morris has been appointed to the Veterans Advisory Council.  Three other state lawmakers are on the council along with veterans and other appointed personnel.

Rezin says she’s extremely honored to be appointed to the veteran’s council.  She promises to represent the needs of the La Salle Veteran’s Home.

Rezin’s council will report to the legislature and governor.

Area Man Charged With Holding Up Pharmacy

A man out on parole from Ottawa could be headed back to prison.

24 year old Trevor Alexander was arrested Friday for allegedly stealing about 16 thousand dollars worth of prescription drugs at knifepoint from a pharmacy in Montgomery.  He’s accused of going into a 24-hour pharmacy and stealing the medication after threatening workers with a knife.  Alexander ran from the scene.

About an hour after the heist, Alexander was pulled over by a La Salle County Sheriff’s deputy for a minor traffic violation.  Investigators say they found the knife used in the robbery at a family member’s home.

Alexander was just paroled in January for an armed robbery conviction.

Auditions being held in July for the next IVCH Foundatio Variety Show

Are you a singer or a musician?  Perhaps you have dog that likes to pop balloons.  Whatever your talent may be, you can tryout for the 2011 Illinois Valley Community Hospital Foundation Community Variety Show.

Auditions are being held Sunday, July 10, in the Cultural Center at Illinois Valley Community College.

It’s open to groups and individuals.  You can schedule an audition time by contacting Dawn Moutray, the IVCH social service director.

The variety show will be held October 8 in Matthiessen Auditorium at LP High School.  Money raised at the show will go towards the IVCH- For a Lifetime of Care Campaign, a fundraiser for the new obstetrics and intensive care units.

Peru Man Charged With Meth Lab

A man from Peru remains behind bars on a meth charge.

Michael Lucas was indicted Tuesday for manufacturing meth.  Late last month, Peru Police say they pulled Lucas over in an alley near his home on Schuyler Street.  During the stop, Lucas allegedly tossed out a bag containing suspected meth manufacturing items and then ran back to the house where he was arrested.  Investigators say Lucas had a meth lab in his home.

He’s jailed on 75 thousand dollars bond.

Four Indicted For Murder In Ottawa

A foursome has been indicted for murder in Ottawa.

Brother and sister Luis Lomeli of Sheridan and Jamie Lomeli of Ottawa along with brothers Jason and Joshua Ward of Ottawa were indicted by a grand jury Tuesday for first degree murder.  Jamie Lomeli was also indicted for obstructing justice for allegedly lying to investigators about what happened in the death of 30-year old Darrio Hunter of Ottawa.

Sylvia Enriquez of Sheridan was also indicted Tuesday for obstructing justice.  She’s accused of trying to destroy evidence in the murder of Hunter.

The Lomeli’s and Wards remain jailed on two million dollars bond.  Enriquez is being held on 150 thousand dollars bond.

Police Search For Man In Tonica Hit And Run

An older looking white car with a young looking man behind the wheel is what police are looking for after a hit and run accident that sent a nine year old boy to the hospital.

It happened Monday afternoon in Tonica as the boy was walking with family members.  Carson Siemers was being treated at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Call the La Salle County Sheriff’s Department if you know something that could help them.