Historic Ottawa building almost 100 years old

Do you know any professionals working or that have worked in Ottawa’s historice Central Life Building? Michael Godfrey is the general manager and one of the owners of the structure containing marble, tile, terrazzo, brass and hardwood. Godfrey says the Central Life Building, sitting on the shores of the Fox River, will turn 100 years old next year. Godfrey told AM 1220 WLPO news an “after hours” event likely will be held next year to celebrate the building’s birthday. Central Life building is at Columbus and Madison. It’s five floors are home to Adam Kinzinger local offices and some appelate court services.

Students need help to get to Carnegie Hall

A trip to New York is an exciting adventure for a high school student and it’s a rare opportunity to have the chance to perform at Carnegie Hall. Students in LP High School’s Concert Choir and Chamber Singers have been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall next April. Choral director and teacher Amiee Taylor is excited for students to have the opportunity to rehearse and perform with a Grammy Award-winning composer. The experience will cost each student $700 plus the cost of travel.  Choral students were already scheduled to be in New York for spring break. 30-35 students will be part of the performance. Taylor says they’ll be looking for creative ways to raise money. They have to have $7,000 by the end of May just for the deposit. Two thousand dollars has been donated by the LP High School Foundation.If you would like to donate money towards the performance, call Taylor at LP High School.  Learn more about the trip during an interview available at the AM 1220 WLPO news page.

Hess confident of Food Pantry goal

A tentative total of 10-thousand 5-hundred pounds of non-perishable food was collected Saturday during the local “Mail Carriers” annual food collection. That word from Illinois Valley Food Pantry Executive Director Donna Hess. The volunteer cause is part of a nationwide effort held every May. Hess said she’s confident they’ll meet their goal of 12-thousand pounds when all food is accounted for Monday. Grateful…is the word Hess used to describe her reaction. The amount of food they collect at this time will carry the food pantry into July, says Hess. But, Hess is encouraging donations of garden produce throughout the summer and at least two gardens locally will be grown to help the food pantry.

Mother Nature did a number on Marseilles

If you need an example of how bad flood damage was in Illinois this spring, it would likely be the city of Marseilles. CBS TV Channel 2 says two hundred families have no home because theirs is gutted. The record level of flooding on the Illinois left its mark on Marseilles streets, its sidewalks and closed it’s severely damaged elementary school. As of Friday, recreational boating is off limits near the Marseilles dam after seven barges slammed the structure April 18.  The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers is building a rock dike downstream and continuing to repair the dam.  LaSalle County was named a federal disaster area Friday by President Barak Obama.