Local unemployment improves from last year but remains high

Double-digit unemployment continues in La Salle County.  The June unemployment rate was 10.8%, lower than the same time last year but higher than May’s.

The Department of Employment Security says the Ottawa-Streator area unemployment for June was 10.3%, slightly lower than last June.  Jobs were added in transportation, warehousing, and professional business services, but many retail jobs were lost since last summer.

Bureau County Unemployment for June was 8.6% and Putnam County unemployment was 9.9%.

Cary man in fair condition after motorcycle crash

Wearing a helmet turned out to be a good idea for a man that crashed his motorcycle in Putnam County.  Edward Griswold of Cary was in fair condition at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria Thursday afternoon.  He was flown their after sheriff’s deputies say he hit an embankment and was thrown from his bike Wednesday on Route 26 near Clear Creek Road.

Police say Griswold was wearing a helmet.

Excitement Builds For New Hall High School

While it’s a few years away, there’s now a sign up reminding you where a brand new Hall High School will stand and what it will look like.

School officials and others unveiled a construction sign Wednesday evening during a special Hall school board meeting.  Rick Mattioda spoke saying it’s an emotional process for him because he grew up in the area.  He’s president of Leopardo Construction Company who will be part of building the new school.

On the finance side of the 32 million dollar school, Kevin Willis of First Midstate Bank said he’ll have borrowing options at the August 21^st board meeting.  He applauded district officials for earning an “A+” bond rating.

Major Award For Hall Township Food Pantry

Someone is doing something right at the Hall Township Food Pantry in Spring Valley.

The pantry was picked out of 251 food pantries in the Quad Cities coverage to receive a huge reward from the River Bend Foodbank.  The local food pantry is getting a credit for 5,000 pounds of food, which has a wholesale value of 9 thousand dollars.

Hall Food Pantry Director Jan Martin says winning this award affirms they are going in the right direction.  Martin says one of out every 11 people in her coverage area use the food pantry.

Ladd Man Killed In Crash Near Tiskilwa

A 29-year old is dead after a crash near Tiskilwa.

Joseph Nemeth of Ladd was pronounced dead Wednesday morning, about an hour after he crashed his delivery truck into a tree on the Tiskilwa blacktop.  Bureau County Coroner Janice Wamhoff says an autopsy is planned today.

Wamhoff says Tiskilwa paramedics and members of a life flight crew from Peoria treated Nemeth but he was pronounced dead at the scene.