Peru Elementary Board Talking About A New School

The days are numbered for Washington Elementary School in Peru.

The 77-year-old school needs nearly $6 million in work to bring it up to speed with modern schools but the Peru Elementary School Board doesn’t think it’s worth the trouble.  After a lengthy discussion Wednesday night, board members decided that an $11 million state grant should either be used to build a new Washington School at the current spot or add on to Northview School so that it could take on Washington’s 2^nd through 4^th graders.

Superintendent Mark Cross says there will be a board meeting in a few weeks to choose which direction to take.  He says they’ll welcome the public’s opinion.

Congressman Kinzinger Among House Republicans Supporting Legislation To Avoid Default

Go ahead and plan a trip to a national park or monument- the federal government is reopening after a 16-day partial shutdown.  It took an agreement from Democrats and Republicans, the Senate and the House, to pass legislation late Wednesday that raises the nation’s debt ceiling and reopens government services.

The congressman that represents La Salle and Bureau Counties supports it.  Republican Adam Kinzinger says he voted for it because he was not willing to put the entire American economy at risk to dismantle a law that he says is already crumbling before our eyes.  The law he refers to is Obamacare.   He says he’s happy the bill requires tougher income verification for health care subsidies

Random Drug Testing Coming To L-P

Starting early next year, if you want to play sports or any extracurricular activity at L-P you’ll have to just say no to drugs.

The L-P School Board voted to start random drug testing of all students involved in things like sports, band and theater.  Each student will be assigned a number and numbers will be picked weekly to give a urine test at the school.  It’s possible some students will get tested more than once while others won’t get picked at all.  If a student fails the test, they would be suspended, have to seek treatment and write a letter of apology to their team or club.

Schools like St. Bede, Mendota and Hall already have been doing random drug testing.  Around 80 percent of students at L-P are in extracurricular activities so they’d be eligible to be tested.

McKinley Park to be new home for ice skating rink in Peru

The softball field at McKinley Park in Peru is quiet this time of year, but it could be a busy spot when the weather turns colder.  City officials are hoping the outfield will be level enough so they can set up the ice skating rink there this winter.

The rink was at Veteran’s Park last year though the ice sometimes wasn’t also useable because of the temperature.

City Engineer Sean Mikos wants to set the rink up after the grass has gone dormant and take it down earlier enough next year so they don’t kill the grass.

Alderman Rodney Perez says McKinley will be a good place for the rink because it has lights and restrooms and you already go their for sledding.

Ill. Supreme Court to hear lawsuit on lawmaker pay

CHICAGO (AP) – The Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to hear Gov. Pat Quinn’s appeal of a ruling that his veto of money for lawmaker pay was unconstitutional.

The court issued its one-page order Wednesday without additional comment. A hearing date has not been set.

Quinn vetoed money for lawmakers’ salaries in July because he said they didn’t deserve to get paid until they address Illinois’ nearly $100 billion pension crisis.

House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton sued, saying their fellow Chicago Democrat didn’t have the authority to halt lawmaker paychecks.

Earlier this month a Cook County judge agreed and ordered that legislators be paid immediately.

Quinn then appealed directly to the state’s high court, saying the case deserves an “expeditious and conclusive” ruling.

 

Star Wars and pets to come together for IVAR

If you love your pets and Star Wars you have the perfect opportunity to geek-out this Sunday.  You can have pictures of your animals taken with people dressed up as Darth Vader and Bobo Fett during a Star Wars themed fundraiser for Illinois Valley Animal Rescue.  This year’s Pet Fest 2013 is called “Star Wars The Sequel!”.

You’ll be able to take your pet for a walk around the lake, have them blessed, and launch a balloon to remember an old pet.

You’ll find it at Baker Lake in Peru from 11a.m. to 3 p.m.  Sunday.

LPHS students hosting a Fashion Throughout the Years Presentation

          The standard fashion for most high school students is the T-shirt and jeans look.  When you were a teenager, it might have been dress pants and a button down shirt.  Your mother probably had to wear a skirt.

          Fashion changes and the Textile and Design students at LP High School LP High School have been studying those changes. The class is hosting a Fashion Throughout History Presentation at 2:15pm Friday in Room 102, the old study hall. 

          You can watch the program and help judge which students had most creative and accurate presentation.  The program is free but you’ll have to bring your driver’s license or ID so you can check-in at the greeter’s desk.

 

Lab and meeting room at IVCC to be named after donors

When you’re a student, you don’t think a lot about the people who have buildings and rooms named after them on campus, but they each have a story.

A lab and meeting room in the new Peter Miller Community Technology Center are being named after two alumni and big donors.

A large lab at the northeast end of the tech center will be known as the “Fives Cincinnati/Giddings & Lewis Manufacturing Center”.  The company gave the school a $300,000 vertical machining center.  The president of the company is IVCC graduate Dan Janka.

The MIMIC meeting room will be named after 1951 LPO Junior College graduate Ralph Scriba.  He donated $50,000.

The IVCC Board of Trustees approved the namings Tuesday night.

The tech center is named after the late Peter Miller the second and Peter Miller the third, former owners of Miller Group Media.  The Miller Group Charitable Trust donated $1 million.

A formal opening for the tech center is November 1.

Memorial Service Today For Gunshot Victim In Henry

A celebration of life service is this afternoon for a woman in Henry who appears to be the victim of a murder suicide.

After Henry Police got a call Friday morning about a man outside with a gun, 42-year old Melissa Rice was found dead inside her home.  46-year old James Doerr Jr. was found alive with gunshot wounds but died on his way to a Peoria hospital.

Investigators think Rice and Doerr Jr. ended a relationship shortly before the shooting.  Toxicology results are pending as police wait to officially call it a murder-suicide.

Rice was born in Spring Valley.  Her services are with the Calvert & Johnson Memorial Home in Henry.

Dixon Approves Huge Settlement After Crundwell Theft

DIXON, Ill. (AP) – Officials in Dixon have approved a $40 million settlement with the city’s auditors and a bank for former Comptroller Rita Crundwell’s theft of nearly $54 million in city funds.

Mayor Jim Burke last night signed several copies of a document finalizing the settlement with auditors CliftonLarsonAllen, Janis Card and Associates, as well as Fifth Third Bank.

Of the $40 million, $35 million was paid by CliftonLarsonAllen. As part of the agreement, the city will file no further lawsuits against the defendants or their representatives.

According to the settlement, payments to the city are expected to be paid in full Dec. 1.