LP Marching Band performs well during competition

Three new trophies for the LP High School Marching Cavaliers.  The band earned awards for best winds, best percussion and first place in their division at a band competition Saturday at Metamora High School.

It was their second competition of the season.  Band Director, Kyle Adlemann said he was proud of their performance.

The Marching Cavaliers perform at the Sandwich Marching Band Competition along with about 15 other bands in a couple of weeks.

Possible Dwight closure puts dog program at risk

DWIGHT, Ill. (AP) – The organizers of a program that trains dogs to help those in need say the planned closure of a central Illinois prison may put their efforts in jeopardy.

WLS-TV in Chicago reports that prisoners at the Dwight Correctional Center train dogs for Luthern Church Charities’ K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. The program started after a gunman killed five students at Northern Illinois University. The dogs are sent to disasters, like last year’s Joplin, Mo., tornado.

Luthern Church Charities President Tim Hetzner says it would hurt the program if the prison closes. Program officials say they pay for all expenses and don’t use any state money.

Gov. Pat Quinn has said he wants to close major lockups at Dwight and Tamms and three halfway houses because of the budget crisis.

Caterpillar And IVCC Working Together For Job Training

When the Caterpillar plant in Aurora needs new machinists, one of the first places they’ll turn to is Illinois Valley Community College.

Cat and IVCC have partnered together in a machinist training program at the college.  Ten Caterpillar employees recently finished 14 weeks of training at IVCC.  In return, MAG ISA is donating $300,000 and Cat is $600,000 machining centers that will be inside the new Peter Miller Community Technology Center.  IVCC President Jerry Corcoran says Caterpillar chose IVCC over other colleges for the manufacturing partnership.

The lesser costing machinery will be ready to use when the new technology center is opened in 2014.  The other donated equipment is being retro-fitted MAG ISA in Michigan and will arrive later.  MAG Global’s president is IVCC grad Dan Janka.

Police think kids were stealing from cars in Peru

It doesn’t matter how nice the neighborhood is, lock your car.  Peru Police are investigating 30 to 40 reports of things being stolen from cars.  The burglaries happened as early as August 3 and continued until September 24.

At least seven kids have been interviewed by the police and could be charged.  Police say they went into unlocked cars near Fourth and Church Streets and Northview School.  Some of the stolen items have been found but police aren’t sure who they belong to.

If you think that somebody went through your car, call the Peru Police Department.

Woman Hit By Car In Oglesby

A woman walking in downtown Oglesby was hit by a car.

Oglesby Police say Vickie Halberg was in the 300 block of East Walnut Street around 10:45 last night when she was allegedly hit by Joshawa Farrell of Oglesby.  Farrell was ticketed for failing to yield to a pedestrian.

Halberg was taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital for observation.

Bullying Problem Discussed At Echo Bluff

Has bullying become an epidemic?  A meeting in Spring Valley will try to address it tonight.

An anti-bullying group called Communities Against Bullying, or C.A.B will talk about bullying from 5 until 7 at Echo Bluff Park along Route 29.  Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson and state senate candidate Christine Benson will talk about their experiences with bullying.  There will be anti-bullying bracelets handed out and a balloon release to honor victims.

Jeralynn Cunningham of Spring Valley started the bullying awareness group.  This week is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week.

Concussions Will Be Addressed At Ottawa Hospital

Though more steps are being taken, concussions in young athletes remain a problem.

A program called “Concussions and the Young Athlete” starts at 6 Wednesday night at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa.  Pediatrician Dr. Pamela St. Clair will help parents learn and understand how to cope with a child’s head injury.  Specific topics include identifying symptoms.

Seating is limited so you’re asked to RSVP with the Ottawa hospital.

Conditions Ripe For Fires

Just like kids are taking the day off from school, you should take the day off from burning outside.

A Red Flag Warning is in effect for all of northern Illinois today.  The warning means that conditions are favorable for fire growth potential.

The conditions include gusty winds and low humidity.

Festival Goers Warm Up With Burgoo Stew

Did you get your hands on any Burgoo stew?  Consider yourself lucky if you did.

Organizers of Sunday’s 43^rd annual Burgoo Festival in Utica say they ran out of the famous, or infamous stew about halfway through the day.  The total crowd was estimated to be over 20 thousand.  There were over 200 vendors.

Burgoo serves as the biggest fundraiser for the La Salle County Historical Society.