Village-wide garage sales planned in Ladd Saturday

          You never know what you’ll find at a garage sale.  Visit Ladd Saturday for their village-wide garage sales.  34 sales have been planned.  You can pick up a map of the sales at the Casey’s, North Central Bank in Ladd, the Post Office, and the Village Hall. 

You can also stop for lunch at the Ladd Community Center from 10am- 1pm.  They’ll be serving BBQ, hot dogs, chips, and pie.

Illinois Senate rejects House pension-reform bill

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois Senate has rejected a plan pushed by the House to solve the state’s pension crisis.

The proposal pushed by House Speaker Michael Madigan failed Thursday evening, with 16 voting “yes” and 42 voting “no.” The vote left lawmakers without a solution to the pension issue with only one day left before the Legislature’s scheduled adjournment.

The House-backed plan would cut benefits and increase contributions for employees to help cut a $97 billion debt in five pension systems.

But Senate Democrats prefer a plan by Senate President John Cullerton which offers employees a choice of benefits to forgo. He says that plan would survive a court challenge.

Area under many severe weather warnings Thursday

Thursday brought severe weather warnings for La Salle and Bureau Counties but not a lot of severe weather. Scattered storms packing strong wind gusts missed the Illinois Valley but left minor damage in neighboring Woodford, Livingston and Grundy Counties.  A tornado touched near in Whiteside County near Prophetstown but no damage was reported.

More storms were in the forecast for Thursday night and Friday.

Catholic Churches Merging In Spring Valley

In what’s become a sign of the times, catholic churches in another area town are merging.

As of July 1^st, Immaculate Conception, St. Anthony’s and Sts. Peter and Paul churches will merge into a new Parish called Nativity of Our Lord in Spring Valley.  The Diocese of Peoria says the merger comes after two years of planning.

Father Robert Spilman will be founding pastor of the Parish of the Nativity of Our Lord.  He’s been pastor at St. Anthony’s since 2004.

The diocese says none of the existing catholic churches in Spring Valley will close, but there will be a primary location for worship.  In Spring Valley it’ll be at St. Anthony’s Church.