Classes resume at Cherry Grade School for the final year

          Monday is the last first day of school at Cherry Grade School.  The district that has one building and approximately 60 students and six teachers will be annexed into Dimmick or Ladd School District by this time next year. 

          Dr. James Boyle has been the superintendent of Cherry Grade School for five years and describes the closing of the school like ending a chapter of a book. 

          The decision to annex into another district is financial.  After considering and comparing Dimmick and Ladd Schools last winter, a survey of parents and tax payers showed that they preferred annexing into Dimmick. 

          Half a year later the annexation is not certain.  Action still needs to be taken by the Regional Office of Education.  Meanwhile, Boyle and other school officials are urging everyone in the Cherry Grade School District to attend Wednesday night’s school board meeting.  The meeting will include a discussion and presentation about the annexation into Dimmick.  The board could also take action on a resolution about the merger.

Expecting a large turn out, the meeting is being held in the Cherry School gym.  It begins at 6:30pm. Wednesday.

Quinn signs bill affecting gun owners

Illinois gun owners who fail to report the theft or loss of a weapon will face tougher restrictions under a new law signed by Gov. Pat Quinn.  The law beefs up background checks and requires firearm thefts or losses to be reported within 72 hours.  Quinn signed the bill Sunday at a South Side Chicago park where police officer was fatally shot in 2010. The Chicago Democrat says the restrictions are common sense and will help crack down on crime.  Democrats State Sen. Kwame Raoul  (KWAH’-may RAW’-ool) and state Rep. Mike Zalewski sponsored the bill.  It’s also supported by Chicago Police Chief Garry McCarthy. The requirement to report thefts goes into effect immediately. The background check changes start next year.

Protestors keep holding on

They say there’s strength in numbers…but, is eight protestors enough? The News Tribune reports a sign-holding vocal group protested against a frac-sand mine on the east edge of Starved Rock State Park during the first half of the weekend. The county board has given Mississippi Sand all the needed permits and the Ottawa city council is going to vote this Tuesday on a proposed permit to allow shipping the product from the ADM barge terminal on Route 71 west of the city. Protestors Tom Walsh and Farley Andrews continue to make the same points: the location is too close to the park, air quality, property value and concern mines will spread across the county. Andrews hopes a Sierra Club lawsuit against Mississippi Sand might prevent the start of operations.

LaSalle mansion a semi-finalist

A LaSalle landmark is among 36 semi finalists in the 2013 National Historic Landmark Photo contest sponsored by the Park Service. The Hegeler Carus Foundation Facebook page reported the Carus mansion made the first cut in the 14TH annual contest. Megan Banzick took the featured picture showing the National Historic Landmark at night. The mansion was designed by Chicago architect W. W. Boyington for Edward and Camilla Hegeler in 1875. National Park employees are voting on the entries now through August 26.  Google National Historic Landmark photo contest.

Bureau County fair time

Officials of the Bureau County Fair may have good timing. Ninety degree sunshine is expected for opening day of the 158TH Bureau County Fair in Princeton. The Fair office says good seats remain if you want to see “Justin Moore” “POINT AT YOU” Friday night in the grandstand. Truck and tractor pulls at the grandstand Saturday night and the demo derby the next day. You can order tickets at bureau county fair.com. Free family entertainment from the Bear Mountain Wildlife show, Bob Bohm magic, chain saw artists and “Farmer for a Day”. The show concludes on Sunday the 25^th.

San Diego mayor recall?

 Recall petitioners are free to gather signatures starting today in an effort to schedule a referendum to remove San Diego Mayor Bob Filner. Filner has been beset by allegations of sexual harassment and is due to return to work tomorrow after spending some time in behavior therapy. The 70-year-old former congressman has resisted numerous calls to resign.

Puppy “lemon” law

Governor Pat Quinn has signed legislation to protect consumers who buy a dog or cat and then learn the animal is seriously ill.   The Chicago Democrat signed the so-called “puppy lemon law” Saturday morning at a popular Chicago dog park called Wiggly Field.  The measure allows buyers to get a full refund or replacement if they buy a pet from a store and it dies within 21 days. Pet owners also could be reimbursed for the cost of veterinary care if they keep the animal.       It also requires pet stores to report any outbreak of diseases to the state.   Opponents said the bill was too far-reaching and anti-business. But supporters, including the Humane Society, said it will protect consumers and animals.  The law takes effect January 1st.

Entertainers almost unhappy landing

A private jet carrying rock bands Ratt and Dokken had to make an emergency landing in Moline after smoke was detected in the cabin. Chuck Brennan, a friend of the bands who chartered the flight, told The Associated Press that the plane took off from the Moline airport early yesterday afternoon but pilots had to turn it around when smoke appeared at 7,000 feet. Brennan says the bands took ground transportation to Saturday’s concert in the Chicago suburb of Wauconda.

3 year olds statement allowed

A Will County judge will allow prosecutors to present the videotaped statement of a 3-year-old child in the trial of a man accused of killing the girl’s mother. Eric Glover is charged with shooting Velma Franklin in the head in her Joliet home in 2002. The (Joliet) Herald-News reports that a month later she described the killing on videotape to a child advocacy center counselor.