Area High Schools Struggle To Meet Standards

Its report card time for Illinois schools.

According to state numbers, 9 of 26 school districts have met the state and federal goals of “Adequate Yearly Progress”.  Deer Park, Dimmick, Grand Ridge, Miller Township, Rutland, Seneca Elementary, Tonica, Wallace and Waltham school districts all exceeded standards with math and reading test scores and attendance and graduation rates.  No high school districts in La Salle County met AYP.

L-P, Mendota, Ottawa, Seneca and Streator High Schools are all on Academic Watch Status.  These schools have failed to meet the yearly progress four straight years and are eligible for increased state sanctions.

For a link to the state report card, go to http://iirc.niu.edu/State.aspx

Lower Voter Turnout Predicted

What do you think the voter turnout will be for tomorrow’s election in La Salle County?

La Salle County Clerk JoAnne Caretto predicts between a 55 to 60 percent voter turnout.  The turnout for the presidential election in 2008 was 69 percent.          Besides voting for a president in 2008, La Salle County voters also had referendum questions asking to create a forest preserve district and to support conceal-carry of firearms.  The forest preserve passed but has never been created while 52 percent of voters opposed concealed-carry.

Caretto says there are about two thousand less registered voters now compared to 2008.  Another thing working against voter turnout is a 50 percent chance of rain tomorrow.

Absentee Voting Still Available

If you’re not going to be around tomorrow, you have one last chance to still cast a ballot.

Absentee voting in person is available today from 8 until 4:30.  You can cast an absentee ballot in your county clerk’s office.

Polls open tomorrow at 6am and stay open until 7pm.  Tune into AM 1220 WLPO tomorrow night for election results.

more on veteran firefighter’s death

The Cook County medical examiner says a Chicago firefighter who died after a blaze suffered inhalation injuries. The medical examiner on Saturday ruled the death of 54-year-old Capt. Herbert Johnson an accident. Chicago fire officials say they’re investigating the fire that left the more than 30-year department veteran dead. The father of three died late Friday at the University of Chicago emergency room after battling the house fire on Chicago’s South Side. Fire officials said it’s possible he was hit by a flashover of flames. Firefighters stood and saluted as an ambulance carrying Johnson’s body was escorted by police and fire vehicles to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Johnson’s death is the first for the Chicago Fire Department since two firefighters died in a building collapse in 2010.

A different kind of Ham

To be a “ham radio operator”, you have to pass a review and exam session planned for 8am this Saturday at the Peru River Rescue. The FCC Technician and General License exam covers basic regulations, operating practices and electronics theory. If successfully passed, the person is licensed as an Amateur Radio Operator. Ham radio operators talk around the world but also help locally in an emergency when land lines, cell phones and the internet go down. Registration can be done by calling the Emergency Management agency in Ottawa. The River rescue office is at 1823 Water Street.

Help for the Pantry

You have a few extra days to fix your turkey. The Food Pantry’s deadline is sooner than that. Donna Hess is the Executive Director of the Food Pantry. She said area churches, schools, businesses, organizations and individuals may leave food donations like instant potatoes, boxed stuffing mix, canned vegetable, canned yams, canned fruit and more at the Pantry at 136 Marquette in LaSalle. Their Thanksgiving distribution is November 17th. The Pantry is open most weekday mornings from 9 – Noon or you can call 224-3658

forgives stabbing children

A suburban Chicago man says he is “forgiving” his wife days after she allegedly stabbed to death their son and a boy she was babysitting. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Artur Plackowski posted on Facebook that his wife, Elzbieta Plackowska loved her 7-year-old son, Justin, and he cannot understand why she would have killed him. Then he says, “I am forgiving her!!!!!” Artur Plackowski also writes in Polish a note to the dead boy, asking that he not “abandon” the family during a difficult time. Elzbieta Plackowska is accused of stabbing her son 100 times and 5-year-old Olivia Dworakowski about 50 times. Authorities have said she told investigators she killed her son because she was angry at her husband, but Artur Plackowski says the two weren’t having problems.

child in dryer

A Milwaukee man convicted of beating his girlfriend’s children and putting one of them in a clothes dryer has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. As part of a plea agreement, 26-year-old Nicholas Fuchs (FOOKS) pleaded no contest Friday to four felony charges of child abuse and recklessly endangering safety.

Politicking time dwindles

Campaigns are using everything from rallies to phone calls and even prayers to mobilize voters in the final weekend before Election Day. Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady said volunteers were on pace to make 100,000 phone calls Saturday, the last day of early voting. In Naperville, Republican Congresswoman Judy Biggert held a rally with more than 100 supporters. Democrat Bill Foster and volunteers were knocking on doors. Democratic 8th district candidate Tammy Duckworth attended events in Elgin and Streamwood. Her opponent, Republican Joe Walsh, held a rally in Schaumburg. In downtown Chicago, members of Latino churches gathered to pray and encourage voting. They also planned an evening concert in Cicero. Well-known Catholic priest and activist the Reverend Michael Pfleger says he will urge parishioners during services Sunday to vote.

 

Heartland Bank in charge

If you are a client of the former Citizens First National Bank, you might receive new checks with the name Heartland Bank and Trust. Citizens, based in Princeton, was seized by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Friday night. Deposits and accounts at Citizens 21 locations were automatically assumed by Heartland Band and Trust based in Bloomington. The FDIC says that you’ll be able to write checks and continue using ATMS and debit cards over the weekend. IF you have a loan, make your payments as usual. More information about the seizure is available through the FDIC. A link for that is on the AM 1220 WLPO news page.