LPHS officials want a new athletic director

Changes look to be on the way for LP High School’s sports programs.  The school board Wednesday night decided that Greg Sarver would return to a teaching position and no longer serve as the athletic director or assistant principal.  The reassignment begins with the 2012-2013 school year.

The decision came from a closed session.  A new athletic director hasn’t yet been named.

New ward boundaries chosen in Peru

The ward boundaries in Peru will be redrawn before the election next April.  That’s when half of the aldermen will be up for re-election.

The city council agreed Wednesday night to go with a boundary map designed by the same company that handled the district map for the La Salle County Board.

The new boundaries will place Alderman Mike Radtke in a different ward.  Mayor Scott Harl says they have a couple of options on how to handle it.  Radtke would likely serve out his time as an alderman at large.

The new boundaries need to be approved by the county.

Public Hearing On Dwight Prison Closure

Have an opinion about the governor wanting to close Dwight Correctional Center?  There is a public hearing about the potential closure.

The bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability will host the hearing April 4^th at 4pm inside Dwight High School.  The commission will give a recommendation to the governor but it’s not binding.

Around 350 people work at the women’s prison in Dwight.

Another Bald Eagle Release At Starved Rock

Plans have been made to release a bald eagle that was shot in Hennepin.

The young eagle named Peace will be released back into the wild April 14^th on Plum Island.  He was found along the Illinois River last October with 10 pellets inside its body and a broken wing.  The eagle has been rehabbing since then at Hoo Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Durand.

Two other eaglets were released last November from Plum Island.

Bridge work scheduled for Ophir Township

Repair work will have rural La Salle County bridge closed for a few days.  Beginning Friday the bridge on North 42^nd in Ophir Township west of East 7^th Road will be closed for repair.  It’s expected to take four days. A detour will not be posted.

Dance and auction to benefit Illinois Valley Red Cross

Red Cross volunteers are there when a family across town looses their home to a fire and when a rising river has people staying in a shelter.  You can help them continue to be there during emergencies by listening to rock’n roll music and munching on hors d’oeurvres.

The sixth annual Have a Heart Dance and Auction for the Illinois Valley Chapter of the Red Cross is Saturday at Senica’s Oak Ridge in La Salle.

You’ll find silent and live auctions and live music by Wake the Sheep.  Tickets are $50 each.  Doors open at 5:30pm.   It’s presented by Miller Group Charitable Trust and Miller Group Media.

IDOT Worker Killed On I-39

When you’re on the road, keep your eyes open for road construction and repair work.  A man that was working on the shoulder of Interstate 39 in Lee County is dead after being hit by a truck.

Investigators say 55 year old Keith Jakel of Highland was doing shoulder maintenance near the Paw Paw exit late Tuesday morning when he was hit by a truck driven by 76 year old Roger Miller of Grand Ridge.

Police say an arrow truck was directing traffic into the passing lane while blocking the right lane.  Police say Miller saw the arrow truck but couldn’t change lane and drove onto the shoulder hitting Jakel.

The Lee County Coroner’s Office and Illinois State Police were investigating.