Dislocated Workers Center Being Shut Down

People whose job it is to find others work now have to find employment themselves.

After nearly 30 years at Illinois Valley Community College, the Dislocated Workers Center is ending because of restructuring of local workforce development offices.  Nine employees will lose their jobs at the end of June.  IVCC President Jerry Corcoran says they will have a chance for jobs with the newly-restructured local workforce group.

Corcoran says the good news is that clients of the dislocated workforce center won’t experience any disruption in services.

Tuition Going Up At IVCC By 10 Percent

Less state money and property tax dollars means higher tuition for Illinois Valley Community College students.

The Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees voted Tuesday night to raise tuition by 10 percent starting with the upcoming summer semester.  The cost of a credit hour at IVCC will now be 101 dollars.  That’s below the state average of almost 108 dollars.

Besides tuition going up, the trustees also raised the cost of their truck-driver training program by 545 dollars and either increased or added fees to over 170 courses.

Just Hire One Job Fair Wednesday in Ottawa

A few local companies have job openings.  They’ll look over your resume if you bring it to the “Just Hire One” Job Fair Wednesday in Ottawa.

If you attend the job fair, dress professionally says Diana Schuler of Best Incorporated.  She suggests you wear neutral colors, a dress shirt, and not a lot of makeup.

The job fair is part of a larger effort to encourage businesses in La Salle County to add an extra employee to stimulate the local economy and lower the unemployment rate.

It runs from 9-noon at the Southtowne Ottawa Mall, next to Kroger’s.  Around 30 businesses are signed up to interview potential employees including Starved Rock Lodge, James Hardie, FedEx and La Salle County Broadcasting.

“Love Letters” opens Wednesday in Streator

          The things a couple says to each other can reveal the truths of their relationship.  The play “Love Letters” tells the story of a couple through the reading of their love letters.

It stars local veteran actors, Greg Tullis and Kathy Missel and is directed by Bill Jankowski.  It runs Wednesday through Saturday at Engle Lane Theater in Streator.  Performances start at 7:30pm.  Tickets are $15 a piece or $25 a couple.

Young Girl’s Death Caused By The Flu

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) – McLean County officials say the flu was a contributing factor in the death of an 8-year-old girl.

Health officials say the 8-year-old girl had other medical conditions that contributed to the death. The girl’s death is the second flu-related in McLean County this flu season. A 54-year-old woman died of flu-related causes in November.

More than 600 people statewide have been admitted to hospital intensive care units with the flu this season and at least 96 have died.

Power Being Restored In The Illinois Valley

It’s too cold to go without electricity.  After strong winds caused scattered power outages across Bureau County Monday night, only a few customers are without service Tuesday afternoon.

Ameren and Corn Belt Energy say service has been restored.  Hundreds of outages were reported by both companies Monday night.

In Manlius, the Hall versus Princeton boys’ basketball game was suspended because of power issues.

Should Students Be In Or Out Of Class During Holidays?

When it comes to Veterans Day or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, do you think students benefit more by getting holidays off or being in school learning about who the holiday is named after?  The L-P Board of Education wants your opinion.

The board tomorrow night will hold a public hearing on how to approach the holidays of: Veteran’s Day, Columbus Day, MLK’s birthday, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and Casimir Pulaski Day.  The school can choose not to have classes on these holidays and use them for teacher institutes or parent/teacher conferences or have school and teach kids about whom the holiday is honoring.

If classes are out for a holiday like Veteran’s Day, students would learn about veterans the day before or after the day off school.

The hearing starts at 6.