A case of chicken pox reported at LPHS

Red, itchy bumps that seem to occur in the worst of places on your body are good sign you have chicken pox.  There’s been case of chicken pox at LP High School.

Superintendent Steve Wrobleski says it’s just one case and not an outbreak.  These days, students are vaccinated for it before  they reach high school. Jenny Barrie of the LaSalle County Health Department says the vaccine manufacturer recommends a second dose.

Nobody injured during I-80 crash

Friday morning you heard about an accident on Interstate 80 that was affecting traffic.  Nobody was hurt.  Police say Kevin Cooper of Milan was driving a semi west when he rear-ended another semi near Route 251.

Cooper’s truck when off the road.  He was ticketed for not slowing down to avoid an accident.

Car tampered with in Streator

You’ve left your car parked outside of your house for the past few days and when you go to drive it, your key doesn’t work in the lock.  And then you notice scratch marks on the door and a back window down.

It happened to someone in Streator this week.  They reported it to the police.

Area unemployment numbers show little improvement from 2010 to 2011

If you’ve been hoping for an improvement in unemployment numbers, you have little to be satisfied with.  The December 2011 unemployment rates for La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam Counties were only fractions of a point lower than they were during December 2010.

Bureau County’s December unemployment was 10.2%.  In La Salle County it was 11.6% and in Putnam County unemployment was 10.6%.

The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the Ottawa-Streator area saw new jobs in Educational and health services and leisure-hospitality, but it wasn’t enough to off-set the losses in manufacturing and government.

“The Spitfire Grill” opens at Stage 212

Making plans for the weekend?  A musical drama opens Friday evening in downtown La Salle.  “The Spitfire Grill” tells the story of a woman who takes a job at a small café in Wisconsin after being released from prison.

It’s being performed at Stage 212 and is directed by directed Ellen Marincic.  Performances are this weekend and the following.  Tickets are available at the Stage 212 box office.

All eyes on the bald eagles this weekend

Snow is in the forecast which bodes well for the 15^th Annual Bald Eagle Watch Weekend.

The Illinois Waterway Visitor Center and the Starved Rock Lodge are both hosting eagle viewing events from 9am until 5pm Saturday and Sunday.  Park Ranger Kevin Eubanks says they’ve been averaging around 12 bald eagles by the dam.  The colder it gets, the more show up.  He says one positive of the warmer weather is the eagles on the river have been more active flying around.

Besides bald eagle viewing, there will be indoor bird demonstrations, Native American dancing and children’s activities.  Everything is free except for food being sold by non-profits.