La Salle’s new wastewater treatment plant just about ready

Nestled along rolling hills, the Little Vermilion River and timber, the view from the new La Salle east side wastewater plant is picturesque.  Just clean water has been running through the plant’s tanks while the different processes are tested.

Two years ago it was empty land in what used to be a quarry.  Superintendent of Public Works Sam McNeilly is proud of the plant he says is using cutting edge technology.

McNeilly says the plant was designed with growth in mind: it can handle more waste and could be expanded if La Salle were to gain a business that has large water consumption.

The plant is also considered green, in that it’s designed to run with fewer workers and leave behind fewer solids, something McNeilly says will also keep down expenses.  Some of the mechanisms are able to use solar power.

They want to have the plant processing waste by the end of October.  The $15 million project is being paid for with money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Old Audit Costs L-P Transportation Money

A dispute over money owed to a former bus company has L-P coming out on the losing end.

An audit by the state claimed L-P owed First Student Bus Company 75 thousand dollars.  L-P fought the claim saying their audit was the accurate one.  However L-P lost the challenge and recently agreed to a three-year payment of 25 thousand dollars a year.  The state will just deduct 25 thousand dollars a year in transportation reimbursements.

Superintendent Steve Wrobleski says this is a “horrible situation” since the state already cut transportation funding to schools.  Hey says they’ve already cut out school funded field trips to save money.  They’re also using activity vans as much as they can instead of buses for sports.

Ottawa receives $2 million grant for industrial park development

If you’re a business looking for a place to build, Ottawa has land.

Several dignitaries joined Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach Wednesday to announce a $2 million federal grant to build things like water and sewer, a road and rail spur at the industrial park.  The city needs the infrastructure to attract new business or allow current businesses to expand in the industrial park.

Eschbach says the grant was years in the making and the city still needs to figure out where it’s going to come up with its $2 million match.  Congressman Adam Kinzinger and State Senator Sue Rezin both praised Eschbach for having a vision in creating jobs.

Domestic violence awareness comes to downtown Peru

It doesn’t matter which town you live in or what you’re earning, you can be affected by domestic violence.  That doesn’t mean you have to tolerate it.  You can join members of the La Salle-Peru Zonta Club, police officers and others as they walk in the Luminary of Hope Thursday in downtown Peru.

The walk begins at 6:30pm at Maud Powell Plaza and will head west to the Peru Municipal Building.  Inside a number of people will talk about how domestic violence impacts people locally and what’s being done to fight it.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month which is why you’re noticing purple ribbons.

Doctor data back online

CHICAGO (AP) – Illinois patients once again can use a public website to find out whether their doctors and chiropractors have shady histories.

The Physician Profile became available Wednesday on the website for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

It allows consumers to see whether a doctor has been disciplined in Illinois or in another state. Malpractice judgments and settlements going back five years are posted.

The searchable database was taken offline last year when the Illinois Supreme Court declared a medical malpractice reform law unconstitutional.

A new law reinstated the database and gave doctors 60 days to review the information before the site went live. That review period has passed, allowing the comeback.

The website drew more than 150,000 hits weekly before it went dark in 2010.

IVCC Looking For Someone To Lead Ottawa Campus

With enrollment climbing, Illinois Valley Community College wants a permanent coordinator to run their Ottawa campus.

The IVCC trustees last night agreed to seek out a coordinator in Ottawa.  Jeannette Frahm has been the acting coordinator since the building opened in fall of 2010.

In one year, President Jerry Corcoran says the Ottawa campus’ enrollment has gone up over 200 students.