IVCC President Gets New Contract And Cash

It pays to be an administrator at Illinois Valley Community College.

The IVCC Board of Trustees this week approved a 3 percent salary increase for President Jerry Corcoran as part of a new 3-year contract.  Vice presidents Lori Scroggs and Cheryl Roelfsema got 2.5 percent pay increases.  Most support staff and part-time faculty at IVCC got similar raises.

The same can’t be said for head coaches for the Eagles.  Trustees froze salaries for head coaches and cut the pay of assistant coaches.

Major Sewer Work Planned At La Salle Veterans’ Home

Some construction work will soon begin at the La Salle Veterans’ Home.

C & H Excavating out of Earlville has been given a 101 thousand dollar storm sewer improvement job at the vet’s home.  They were the lower of two bidders.

A water retention basin will be built at the home along with installation of underground piping and manholes.  The project is part of Governor Quinn’s “Illinois Jobs Now!” initiative.

Four teens arrested after police bust party at Grand Bear Lodge

The party was apparently at Grand Bear Lodge in Utica.  Officers from the La Salle County Sheriff’s Department and neighboring communities had to go out to one of the resort’s villas for a large party full of underage drinkers early Thursday morning.

Four teenagers from Chicago were arrested including 18-year-olds Jeremy Carr and Sarah Crabbe.  They’re accused of drinking underage and obstructing and resisting police.  Carr was also ticketed for marijuana.  An 18-year-old woman was also briefly treated at Illinois Valley Community Hospital.

Everyone was released after posting bond.

Classmates Step Up For Ailing Utica Girl

There’s a Facebook page called “Love for Katie”.  Waltham Elementary students in Utica definitely are showing the love.

According to the NewsTribune, the Waltham School Board announced that six thousand dollars from school fundraisers has been given to the Katie Becker family.  Katie is a Waltham student who is battling an aneurysm.

She spent the entire past winter in Peoria but is now home recovering.

Cigarette Tax Revenues Falling Short Of Projections

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois’ $1-per-pack cigarette tax increase isn’t bringing in as much money as they’d hoped.

The year-old tax took effect last June and raised the state tax on a pack of cigarettes from 98 cents to $1.98. The tax is expected to bring in $212 million in extra money for the current fiscal year. That’s about 40 percent short of the $350 million that was projected.

Officials say fewer people are buying cigarettes, which explains the decline.