Teens perform in Ottawa

Danielle Jamison, Mora Novey and Jocelyn Schueler must play a flute well. You can see how well they play at the next Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra concert at 3 today (Sunday) in Ottawa Township High School. The three teens won the I-V Symphony Orchestra’s Young Performers contest recently and will be a part of today’s show entitled “The Planets”. It’s sponsored by Miller Group Charitable Trust. Single admission for adults today (Sunday) is $12 and students $5 with ID. Lucia Matos is musical director and Conductor of the orchestra.

Cotton Patch gospel

It has the music and lyrics of the late Harry Chapin and will be performed today as a one man show. “Cotton Patch Gospel” goes on at 2pm at Zion United Church of Christ in Peru. Phillip Kaufman heads the show. The show is a Southern reinterpretation of the gospel placing Jesus in the modern day state of Georgia. The musical is by Tom Key and Russell Treyz, Chapin wrote his portion just before his death in 1981. Tickets are ten dollars at the door or a simple free will offering. All proceeds go to fight hunger thru the Illinois Valley Food Pantry. Why Hunger and Mennonite Central Committee.

Manzullo and Kinzinger face-off

A primary election fight between two incumbent Republican congressmen in north-central Illinois is presenting voters with a dilemma: Experience or youth? The March 20 ballot for the 16th District features 67-year-old Donald Manzullo who first won office in 1992 and 34-year-old Air National Guard pilot Adam Kinzinger. He’s one of five freshmen Illinois congressmen elected in the GOP’s surge of victories in 2010. It’s the only incumbent versus incumbent race in Illinois and was forced when Democrats drew a new political map that split the congressmen’s districts. No Democrats are vying for the seat. Experts say it’s a close race, and it’s even divided a married couple. Seventy-nine-year-old Philip Nell of Belvidere says he likes Kinzinger’s military service. His 77-year-old wife Dolores likes the way the experienced Manzullo thinks.

Easter Seals Ladd fundraiser

Eat chicken Monday night and help Easter Seals of LaSalle and Bureau County. Rip’s in Ladd is hosting the third annual fundraiser starting at 4pm. Your choice of light or dark meat for six dollars. Tickets at the door or from Easter Seals at 1013 Adams in Ottawa. Easter Seals provides services to children with or without special needs. Over 500 children in LaSalle and Bureau County receive services each year.