City Workers Laid Off In Oglesby

The threat of layoffs wasn’t an idle one by the Oglesby City Council.

According to the NewsTribune, six city workers were laid off Monday including three full-time and three part-time.  Mayor Don Finley says some of the part-time clerical workers could return on an as-needed basis while some of the full-time workers can be rehired if the city increases its revenues.

The council tried reworking contracts with union members but Finley says the concessions still weren’t enough.  Oglesby is scrambling to pay pension costs that were abruptly shifted to them by state lawmakers.

Artists needed for annual Zonta Club fundraiser

Art allows you to express yourself in ways that words cannot.  So what does the image of a woman say?  That’s up to you.

The Zonta Club of LaSalle Peru Area Annual Art Gala is Sunday, April 21.  Local artists are encouraged to donate a piece of their work or to take a canvass and create something new for the fundraiser.

Sarah Walczynski of the La Salle-Peru Club says they’re always looking for new artists.

Submissions should be images of women.  They will provide the canvass.  Pieces will be displayed and raffled-off during the gala.

The artists will get in for free, otherwise tickets are $25.

Learn how to submit art by visiting www.lpzonta.org.  Listen to an interview at the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

Thousands Raised For Local Red Cross Chapter

The annual Have A Heart Dance and Auction for the Illinois Valley Chapter of the Red Cross appears to be a success.

Executive Director Sarah Stasik says they grossed over 60 thousand dollars from Saturday’s seventh annual auction and dance.  Over 200 people helped to raise that amount via ticket sales, auction bids and donations.

The first five thousand dollars raised thru donations was matched by Miller Group Charitable Trust.  Miller Group Media includes AM 1220 WLPO, 96.5 the Wolf and 99.3 WAJK.

Miller Group Media was the presenting sponsor of the Red Cross fundraiser.

Water Main Break In La Salle

There’s a water main break just north of downtown La Salle.

The break is in an alley in the 700 block of 3^rd Street, or Route 6 from Marquette to Joliet Street, or Route 351.  Places affected are on the north side of 3^rd Street to the south side of 4^th Street.

Once the water is turned back on, there will likely be a boil order.

Teacher’s Strike Continues In Dixon

DIXON, Ill. (AP) – The teachers strike in Dixon continues into this week.
The Dixon Education Association and the Dixon School Board stopped talks late Sunday without an agreement. Classes are canceled Monday and another negotiation session is set for tonight. The 168 teachers went on strike Thursday.

The union president says financial issues and classroom conditions will be discussed tonight. She says agreements were reached on length of the school day and school year. Teachers have requested 3.75 percent annual pay increase and salary incentives for experience and education.

Fatal Wrong-Way Crash Still Under Investigation

A weekend crash that killed a man on Interstate 80 near Seneca is still under investigation.

The Grundy County Coroner’s Office says 66-year old Abed Bader of Bridgeview was killed after being hit by a wrong-way driver just after midnight Saturday morning.  Investigators think Bader was heading back to his home in Bridgeview after stopping in Spring Valley to deliver medical supplies when an unidentified wrong-way driver hit him head on.  Bader came to a stop eastbound I-80 and was then hit by a semi.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers have not released the name of the wrong-way driver who survived the crash but was taken to a Joliet hospital with spinal injuries.  The semi driver wasn’t hurt.

Latest Winter Storm Watch

Another winter storm is making its way towards the Illinois Valley.

A Winter Storm Watch takes effect tonight thru Tuesday evening.  Light snow is expected to start falling today but snow will become heavy tomorrow, maybe falling over an inch an hour.  Total accumulations over the next two days could be 6 inches or more.

Winds on Tuesday could be a problem gusting up to 30 miles per hour.

U Of I Looking At New Logos Not Involving The Chief

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) – The University of Illinois says it will be spending the next year and a half re-evaluating its logos and branding, calling the effort overdue in sparking interest among recruits and fans.

University officials say the review is unrelated to Chief Illiniwek. As the university’s assistant athletic director for corporate sponsorships, Marty Kaufmann says the university hasn’t updated any of its brands since before 2007.

Kaufmann adds the university will work with Nike’s graphic designers and marketing experts to refresh the school’s look and brand, at Nike’s expense. That could include tweaking a font or making the colors more consistent.

Kaufmann says the rebranding push won’t address the mascot issue.