“Shadows of the Blue and Gray” to bring Civil War to life

The political pundits will tell you that the U.S. has never been more divided but the partisanship today was nothing like the battles fought during the Civil War.

Revisit a critical time in the country’s history during Shadows of the Blue and Gray.  The program includes cannons, re-enactors, and activities explaining the culture of the time.

Events begin at 9am  Saturday and Sunday at City County Park north of Princeton.  There’s a charge for admission.  There will also be things on sale.

Illinois DCFS Cancels Mass Layoffs

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is canceling plans to lay off 375 employees.

DCFS Director Richard Calica announced the move in a memo to staff Thursday.
The agency says it will be working with state lawmakers to restore some funding to the department. DCFS says it also will pursue a reorganization plan that will reduce staffing while also trying to avoid layoffs.

Faced with severe budget strains, Illinois lawmakers approved a $50 million cut in the agency’s funding for the new fiscal year. That led to plans for layoffs at DCFS this month.

Fire Damaged Lipton Tea Building Will Soon Be Demolished

It’s been less than two months since a suspicious fire had the old Lipton Tea building ablaze in Streator.  Crews began demolition of the once historic building Monday.

Streator City Engineer Jeremy Palm says they hope to have reopened one lane Route 18 near the building by one tomorrow (Friday) afternoon.  The road near the building has been closed since the fire on August 19 because the building was no longer stable.  Palm says more of Route 18 will reopen as work progresses.

River City Demolition of Peoria is the company performing the job.  Palm says the land is scheduled to be filled in and seeded by Thanksgiving.

Mom Accused In Fake Baby Abduction Due In Court

The teen mom accused of dumping her 3-week old baby on a country road is supposed to be in court today.

19-year old Kendra Meaker is due for a hearing today in Stark County Court in Toulon.  She faces charges of obstructing justice and endangering the health or life a child.

Meaker set off an Amber Alert on September 28^th when she told police someone took her 3-week old daughter Mia Thompson out of her car parked outside the Toulon post office.  The baby was found several hours later along a county road alive.  Meaker failed a polygraph test and allegedly told police she made the abduction up.

She’s being held on ten thousand dollars bond.