Fire displaces Lostant family

Despite the efforts of four fire departments this afternoon, a rural Lostant home has been destroyed by fire.  Andy Forest is chief of the Lostant Fire Department.  Forest told AM 1220 WLPO news he was notified by the sheriff’s office about 11:30am.  The older two story wood structure,  a mile North of Lostant and a half mile West, was pretty well involved, said Forest, when his department arrived.  Though some walls remain, Forest said the structure and contents are a total loss, though a nearby garage was saved.  Forest received assistance from Tonica, Wenona and Toluca and Putnam County EMS.  The family was not home at the time, but have relatives nearby.  The only injury was a  Wenona fireman with a twisted ankle.  Forest said gawkers were a minor problem.  Forest could not say what the cause was and the State Fire Marshall will be here Monday.

Caterpillar announces additional Decatur layoffs

     DECATUR, Ill. (AP) – Caterpillar Inc. has announced plans to lay off an additional 300 employees at its Decatur plant within the next 60 days.

     The Decatur Herald & Review reports the layoffs announced Friday come in the wake of plans announced last month to permanently lay off 460 employees at the plant. The company announced the layoffs were part of an effort to deal with a slump in the mining business.

     A Caterpillar statement said workers affected by Friday’s announcement work in production and support/management roles, with the majority in the production workforce.

     The facility makes engine liners and engine blocks that wind up, among other things, in Caterpillar mining equipment.

     Caterpillar last month reported its first-quarter profit shrank 45 percent. Peoria-based Caterpillar’s Decatur plant is one of the town’s largest employers.

Stage 212 announces plans for children’s summer workshop

          There’s more to summer vacation than swimming and baseball- children in the Illinois Valley can learn about theater during the Stage 212 summer workshop.

Children entering second grade through eighth will learn about creative drama from instructor Phil Grant.

It runs June 17-24 and cost $60 per student. Have your kids signed up by June 10.

Marseilles Dam deemed safe, reopened to traffic

     MARSEILLES, Ill. (AP) – U.S.  Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers say navigation is resuming on a stretch of the Illinois River that was closed after barges broke loose and damaged the dam near Marseilles.

     The mishap occurred April 18, when river currents resulting from heavy rains redirected the barges toward the dam. Three of the seven barges sunk.

     Officials say the damage caused by the barges prompted salvage and repair operations that restricted navigation on the river upstream of the dam. Although repair operations continue, the corps of engineers has deemed the dam stable and will allow navigation to resume Saturday, although with restrictions.

     Operators of vessels that will traverse the dam’s lock must contact the Coast Guard at least one hour before reaching the dam.