Several Area Post Offices Staying Open But With Less Hours

Nearly 30 area post offices face shorter hours.

The United States Postal Service is rolling out a plan to cut business hours for over three thousand small post offices instead of closing them.  They think it could save around a half billion dollars a year.

Post offices cutting back from 8 to 6 hours will be: Depue, Hennepin, LaMoille, Tonica, Sheffield, Wyanet and Wenona.  Going from 8 to 4 hour days will be post offices in: Ransom, Serena, Wedron, Cherry, Cedar Point, Dalzell, Grand Ridge, McNabb, Lostant, Magnolia, Malden, Manlius and Ohio.  Taking the biggest cut in hours are Leonore, Kinsman, and Troy Grove post offices which are being cut from 8 to 2 hours a day.

The proposed changes will be phased in over the next two years.

LPHS hires former Chicago Bear to be new AD

From professional athlete to professional educator- the man picked to lead athletics and activities at LP High School was once a Chicago Bear.

D’Wayne Bates was hired by the board of education Wednesday night.   Bates played football while attending Northwestern University and later played professionally for the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After retiring from the NFL, Bates says he returned to college earned two master’s degrees and went into education.  He’s most recently worked for Evanston Township High School as an assistant athletic director.

He replaces former athletic director Greg Sarver.

Ill. House: End free health insurance for retirees

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Longtime state employees would no longer be able get free health insurance when they retire under legislation approved by the Illinois House.

The vote is part of a push to cut pension benefits for government retirees. The governor, House speaker and other officials want to save money by cutting pensions, health care and other costs.

Right now, people who spend 20 years working for the state don’t have to pay health insurance premiums in retirement.

The measure to end that benefit passed 74-43 Wednesday. It now goes to the state Senate.

Legislators called it a difficult move that must be made if Illinois is going to repair its budget.

Burning ordinance still up for discussion in La Salle

Leaf burning is a hot topic.  The discussion continues in La Salle where members of the Public Health Committee are trying to decide if leaf burning should be limited to certain days.  The discussion began last fall.  They couldn’t reach an agreement Tuesday night.

With a leaf vac service and yard waste bag pick up some people don’t think you should have to burn your leaves.  If you have an opinion to share, the public health committee next meets Tuesday, May 22 at 6pm.

Indiana pair jailed on $2 million bond

A drive on Interstate 80 has turned into an extended stay for a pair from Indiana.  Ronald Wood Jr. and David Howard of Knox, Indiana have been in the La Salle County Jail since their arrest in April month.

Police say 30 pounds of marijuana was found in the trunk of Wood’s car.  They were indicted Tuesday for possession of cannabis with intent to deliver.  Their bonds were set at $2 million a piece.

La Salle picks an electricity consultant

You could notice a savings in your electric bills by the end of this summer, that’s if you live in La Salle.  Electric aggregation is in the works.

The city council Tuesday night chose Rock River Energy Services to be their consultant.  That means Rock River will collect competitive bids from electricity suppliers and make a recommendation to the city council.

Everyone on the council preferred hiring a consultant rather than buying power from the supplier saying what they save from receiving more competitive bids will make up for paying a consultant.

Mayor Jeff Grove says they’ve asked Ameren to give the city its load information so that can be given to Rock River.  They still don’t know when they’ll go out for bids but they want to do it in the coming months.

Tuition Could Go Up At ISU

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) – Illinois State University’s Board of Trustees is considering a 4.4 percent increase for new in-state
students this fall. The proposal is on the agenda for tomorrow’s board meeting.

If approved, incoming freshmen and undergraduate transfer students from Illinois would pay $335 per credit hour. That means full-time students taking 15 credits per semester would pay a little more than $10,000 for two semesters. The board also will consider a 3 percent increase in dorm rates.

University spokesman Jay Groves says ISU wanted to recommend a “modest” increase because of the economy.

No Ten Commandments Monument Allowed At Princeton Courthouse

The Bureau County Board has spoken and they say thou shall not put a Ten Commandments monument on county property.

According to the NewsTribune, by a voice vote, the board last night said no to Reverend David Beck’s request to build a small Ten Commandments monument on the courthouse lawn in Princeton.  Before the vote, Bureau County State’s Attorney Pat Hermann told board members to deny the request after studying cases where high courts have not supported Ten Commandment monuments on county property.

Hermann also said a lawsuit would probably happen if they voted for the monument since the ACLU sent a letter in opposition.  Republican board member Marsha Lilley of Princeton argued for the monument saying “for us to stand back and let ACLU come against this and overrule us, I’m just not for it”.

Democrat Mike Kohr of Princeton however said while no board member is against the Ten Commandments, they need to respect everyone’s religious beliefs not just the majority.

Flood Cleanup Planned In Marseilles

People with flood-damaged property in Marseilles can have it hauled away free of charge.

The city is having two flood clean-up days next Tuesday and Wednesday.  If you have appliances, carpeting, drywall or other things ruined by weekend flooding just put it on your berm those two days.

Marseilles had over four inches of rain last weekend.

Closing Arguments Next In Hudson Family Trial

CHICAGO (AP) – Two weeks of expert witnesses, grisly crime-scene photos and tearful testimony by Jennifer Hudson culminates in closing arguments at the trial of the man accused of killing three of the Oscar-winner’s relatives.

The prosecution is likely to argue that circumstantial evidence presented by 83 witnesses proves Hudson’s former brother-in-law, William Balfour, killed the star’s mother, brother and nephew. They’re also likely to cite Balfour’s alleged threats to kill the family if his then-wife didn’t reconcile with him.

The defense is expected to say no witnesses tied Balfour directly to the killings and that prosecutors didn’t meet their
burden to prove the allegations.