Mayor of Dwight working to help former prison workers after closure

What do you do when your city loses a major employer?  Bill Wilkey, the mayor of Dwight is finding out.  The women’s prison outside of Dwight officials closes Sunday.  Nearly 350 had worked there.

Wilkey says they’ve been in turmoil since a year ago February when Governor Pat Quinn announced he wanted to close the prison.  He’s not a fan of Quinn and he doesn’t think the closure will save the state money.

These days he’s working with local lawmakers to hold a workshop for the estimated 22 people left jobless.  He also wonders what will happen to the businesses like their Casey General Store they waited on prison employees everyday.

Many prison employees were given other jobs within the Illinois Department of Corrections.  They begin their new jobs Monday.

Oglesby hiring summer workers

Looking for an extra job this summer?  The City of Oglesby is hiring people to work at the swimming pool including a pool manager.

They’re also hiring park maintenance crew members, children’s summer program instructors, and men’s softball umpires.

You can get an application at the city clerk’s office or at the parks and rec office.  The deadline to apply is April 19.

Area Gas Prices Falling

Here’s a combination you can live with.  Temperatures going up while gas prices go down.

The price at the pump has went down the past couple days in the Illinois Valley.  According to GasBuddy.com, unleaded gas has fallen below $3.60 a gallon at several spots including stations in La Salle, Peru, Spring Valley, and Earlville.  You can always find up to date prices on the AM 1220 WLPO website.

The average price in Illinois is $3.92 a gallon, 30 cents above the national average.  The cheapest gas in Illinois is being sold in Normal.