Ottawa And Peru Working Together To Stop Crime

Trying to confuse criminals with unfamiliar faces, Peru and Ottawa Police Departments are banding together.

The departments are agreeing to provide each other mutual aid when doing undercover work.  Ottawa Police Chief Brian Zeilmann says they’ll use the other departments officers on a limited basis and figure out who gets what when they have a cash seizure.

The mutual aid agreement came together after Peru dropped out of the TRIDENT drug team.

Federal Education Official Hears About Local Daycare Plan

A new preschool and daycare center is still in the works in La Salle.

La Salle Elementary Superintendent Dan Marenda told U.S. Department of Education official John White that his district and IVCC both need a new daycare center but they’re not sure where to put it or how to pay for it.  Marenda says it could attach to a new school while White says there are federal grants available to pay for it.

White was at IVCC Tuesday afternoon and heard about partnerships that the college has already done and is still planning like the daycare center with La Salle.

The plan is for IVCC students to work the daycare center by getting class credit.  Marenda wants the daycare center to be open year around and offer dental and vaccination clinics for the kids and job skills and GED credit for parents.

Ottawa Police Officer Called A Life Saver

Credited with saving a woman’s life, Randy Nelson is Ottawa’s police officer of the year.

Police Chief Brian Zeilmann says Nelson was nominated by his peers and is one of the true leaders in the department.  He credited Nelson for saving Barbara Wolfe’s life after pulling her out of a burning house in January.  The fire killed Barbara’s husband Eldon.

Nelson was also presented with a “Lifesaving Award” plaque from the American Police Hall of Fame for his heroics.

He’s been with the Ottawa Police Department for a little over six years.

Area students place 2nd and 3rd in art competition

Not every artist gets to have their work displayed in a congressman’s office, but it’s an honor that’s been earned by two area students.

A student at Ottawa High School and one from St. Bede Academy took second and third place in the Eleventh District 2011 Congressional Art Competition, that’s Adam Kinzinger’s district.

Lexi Poulakos of Ottawa Township High School received second place for her “Marbled Blue Waters” art piece.  Maximilian Halm from Saint Bede Academy was awarded third place for his work titled “Magnolias of the Mist.”

First place went to a student at Joliet Central High School.  While her work will be displayed in Washington D.C., the second and third place pieces will be on display in Kinzinger’s Joliet office.

IVCC graduation to be held Friday evening

About 225 students will say goodbye to Illinois Valley Community College Friday.  The 45^th annual commencement is at 7:30pm Friday in the gym.

The keynote address will come from the President of MAG Global Dan Janka.  It’s the largest machine tool company in the United States and the third largest in the world.  He graduated from IVCC’s mechanical technology program in 1982.

Prairie Arts Center to present “The Wiz”

A modern spin on the “Wizard of Oz” is coming to the Prairie Arts Center in Princeton.  Area children will star in a production of “The Wiz”.

Auditions for high school and college age actors are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 P.M. at the Prairie Arts Center.

Children 3^rd grade and older can audition for speaking and chorus roles Wednesday and Thursday at 6:30 P.M.

Children should be prepared to sing “America the Beautiful.” High school and college age actors should prepare a verse and a chorus from a musical theater song to sing a capella, as well as the national anthem, and be prepared to read from the script.

“The Wiz” will be performed July 21-24 at the Prairie Arts Center.