LPHS hires new boys baseball and boys track coaches

A decision last spring to not re-approve their head boys baseball and boys track coaches left LP High School with a couple of positions to fill.  Two teachers, one a former LP baseball player, have been tapped for the jobs.

Matt Glupczynski has been named the new boys baseball head coach and Marty Makransky has been named the new boys track head coach.  The Board of Education approved the assignments Wednesday night.

Glupczynski, known to many LP fans as “Gup”, teaches social studies and has been involved with the baseball program for 10 years.  He’s spent the past five years as a varsity assistant coach.  He replaces Bill Booker whose removal drew criticism from players and parents.

Makransky teaches the CEO program and was an assistant track coach at Princeton High School for nine years.  He replaces Jake Burke who quit his teaching job in September after school officials and police began investigating a scouting report that was sent to every school on LP’s football schedule.

Millers Further Memorialized At IVCC Technology Center

The namesakes of the new Illinois Valley Community College technology center will be memorialized with a plaque.

Inside the Peter Miller Community Technology Center entrance will be a plaque honoring Peter Miller Jr. and his son Peter Miller III.  The same plaque will also recognize the current board, college president and attorney.

A second plaque at the future technology center will honor State Representative Frank Mautino and former State Senator Gary Dahl.  They’re credited with securing funding for the building.

The new center is expected to be ready for classes in 2014.

La Salle hires company to widen and add curb and gutter to Malcolm Avenue

You never realize how nice it is to have curbs and gutters until you get onto a flat road that doesn’t during a pouring rain.  Malcolm Avenue from Edwards to 24^th Street is flat and without ditches and city engineer Mike Furlan says that leaves the water draining wherever it can.

The city has hired Gensini Excavating to widen the road, install curb and gutter and a storm sewer.  The road will also be pitched to allow water to drain.  Gensini offered the lowest of three bids at 237 thousand dollars.

Furlan believes that underground work will begin in early November and should be completed next spring.

Starved Rock State Park and Lodge focus of photography contest

Starved Rock State Park is picturesque just about any time of the year.  A contest sponsored by Starved Rock Lodge is giving you a chance to show of your photography skills with the “In Touch with Your Natural Side” Photography Contest.

The contest is broken to five categories for children, seniors, employees of the park and professionals.  Judges will be looking for photos that best reflect Starved Rock Lodge and State Park.

Photos must be entered by February 18, 2013.  Judging will take place on February 24.

Contest rules are available online.

Streator Teen Recovering After Being Hit By Car

A Streator teenager is recovering after being hit by a car riding his bike.

Hunter Elias was in good condition Wednesday at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  He was taken there Tuesday after being hit after school near Streator High.

The crash is under investigation by Streator Police.

Boiler room, locks and emergency stairs to be updated at IVCC

Construction of the new Peter Miller Community Technology Center at Illinois Valley Community College hasn’t distracted college officials from maintaining the older buildings.

The school plans to spend more than one million dollars on updates and repairs on campus.

Boiler room updates in one building will cost more than $650,000 and hopefully make it safer.  Failing concrete emergency stairs are being replaced for another $160,000.

Security is also being upgraded as locks are updated to match the new door lock system that will be in the tech center.  That’s costing more than $547,000.

Price At The Pump Dropping

One topic argued at the latest presidential debate was gas prices.  Locally the price at the pump is inching down.

According to GasBuddy.com, the lowest gas in the area is 3.55 a gallon at Sapp Brothers in Peru, Love’s Travel Stop in Utica, Flying J in La Salle and Casey’s stores in Granville and Ladd.  Gas elsewhere in the area ranges from 3.57 to 3.69 a gallon.

The average price of unleaded in Illinois is 3.76.