Spring Valley sewage plant processing waste but still needs work

          Two weeks ago, flooding along the Illinois River put the Spring Valley wastewater treatment plant underwater.  For more than a week, sewage went untreated but progress is being made.

          Larry Good of Chamlin and Associates said Friday that power was restored to a portion of the plant Tuesday.  Since then the aeration operations have been working.  On Wednesday, they started pumping sewage into the lagoon again.  Good said there shouldn’t be any raw sewage going into the river.

          They’re still waiting to see what will happen with a primary clarifier and a sludge dewatering unit that were damaged. 

More Trails Reopen At Starved Rock

Slowly but surely Starved Rock State Park is reopening after historic flooding.

As of this morning, trails are open east of the visitor’s center and lodge to Wildcat Canyon.  Illinois Canyon and Lone Point Shelter are also open.  Trails that remain closed because of water include trails in and around Aurora and Ottawa Canyon.

If you go hiking this weekend the trails will be muddy and if you run into an impassable trail, turn around.

Ottawa YMCA Few Days Away From Re-opening

The Ottawa YMCA will be back in business Monday.

Y officials announced the reopening news this morning on their Facebook.  Some parts of the building like lower-level weight rooms and courts still need some attention and will remain closed but the majority of the building will be back in business

The building’s been closed for around two weeks due to flood damage.  The Fox River surrounded the Y during record flooding.

Ottawa Y members can workout at the Illinois Valley Y and Streator Y free of charge.

Retiring Ottawa Teacher Gets Top Education Honor

A retiring choral teacher at Ottawa High School has been named the best at what he does in La Salle County.

Roger Amm was named the 2013 Educator of the Year at last night’s Excellence in Education Awards Banquet.  Amm received a plaque, and a thousand dollar check for the Ottawa High Music Department.

Amm is retiring this year after 32 years of teaching in Ottawa.  He’s led the school to 18 state music titles.

Route 351 reopens after repairs

You’ll find a new layer of asphalt and freshly painted white lines on Route 351 between La Salle and the Shippingsport Bridge.  The road reopened Thursday afternoon after being closed for nearly two weeks due to flooding.  Flood waters destroyed the shoulder and damaged areas of payments.

An Illinois Department of Transportation spokeswoman earlier this week said it could be two weeks before the road would reopened due to emergency work to the road and shoulder.  Heavy equipment remains at the work site.