New Lighting Improves Theater Experience In La Salle

The next time you check out a play at Stage 212 in La Salle, you’ll enjoy a new state-of-the-art lighting system.

The theater company recently put in new LED lighting.  The advantages with LED compared with standard lighting include a longer lifespan and more energy-efficient.

“The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” opens Friday January 24^th at Stage 212.  Tickets are available for $20.

Legendary L-P basketball coach dies

The Illinois Valley lost one of its most notable coaches.

Gerald “Chips” Giovanine died over the weekend.  He racked up 674 wins in 36 years of coaching boys’ at basketball at LP High School.   In 16 years at L-P, Giovanine was 304-126 with nine regional titles.  He also took Buda Western to back-to-back state finals and had a 28 and 0 team at Bureau Township in 1960.

Service details for Gerald “Chips” Giovanine can be heard during Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO’s In Memoriam.

Illinois goes from one hazard to another

State officials warn that changing weather is changing the potential hazards for residents across Illinois.
 
     Only days ago, artic cold posed the greater threat. But now, warmer weather is melting ice and snow. And that’s raising the threat of flooding. 
 
     And in places where temperatures are hovering just above freezing and then dipping below freezing at night, wet roads surfaces can quickly turn to ice.
 
     The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Tollway are deploying extra maintenance crews to help clear storm drains so water can clear off roadways.

Sand Mine hearings return this week

Six weeks – and the holidays have passed but, the question of a proposed sand mine north of Utica and I-80 still remains. The Utica Planning Commission and Village Board will re-convene this Wednesday at 6 at Grand Bear Lodge and – if not vote – at least move closer to one.

Aramoni LLC seeks to annex ground north of Love’s Truck stop into Utica and commence mining for sand.

Sand mining is a particularly hot topic around Utica and in Waltham township – just to the North. Ultimately, the Village Board and village president Gloria Alvarado have to weigh the positives – adds jobs and a boost to the economy – against the negatives including questions of health, safe water and complaints from Waltham residents that no one on the board represents them.

Talks resume in Mendota

Members of the Mendota Elementary Teachers Association and the school board are meeting this afternoon to try and avoid a strike tommorrow morning. Co-President of the union, Sarah Henkel says contract language and insurance expense are the stumbling blocks – from the union’s opinion.

Henkel spoke with “Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO news late Saturday afternoon and sees the meeting – organized by a federal mediator as a positive thing.

Negotiations could drag on into tonight. If an impasse remains after today, Superintendent Dr. Kristin School COULD cancel Monday classes.

Amtrak is back on track

Amtrak officials say the rail line is nearly back on track after frigid, snowy weather caused delays and cancellations last week.
 
     Amtrak says it plans to restore nearly all service to and from Chicago on today.
 
     Amtrak officials say they will operate all Chicago hub services except one train on the line between Chicago and St. Louis. They say they’ve added seats to another train to make up for that cancellation.

 

Illinois auto manufacturing is a “mixed bag”

The Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plant in central Illinois is increasing both production and exports with the success of its Outlander Sport crossover SUV.
 
     The Mitsubishi Motors North America plant in the city of Normal built more than 67,000 of the vehicles during 2013. That’s an increase of more than 80 percent over the previous year, when production was limited by several months of work to retool the plant.
 
     The Bloomington Pantagraph reports that nearly 60 percent of the Outlander Sport SUVs made there last year were sent overseas.

Sales of the new Dodge Dart made at Chrysler’s Belvidere assembly plant in northern Illinois have trailed other compact sedans since its debut in 2012.
 
     The Rockford Register Star reports that dealers in the U.S. sold more than 83,000 Darts last year. That left it ranked ninth among compact sedans.

 

The First Lady turns 50

Nearing a milestone birthday, Michelle Obama exuberantly describes herself as “50 and fabulous”.  The nation’s first lady hit the half-century mark on Friday and, by her own account, she feels more relaxed now that President Barack Obama’s days as a candidate are over.

Weather behaving like….spring?

It would seem Mother Nature balances things out. Hard to believe one week ago we were dealing with a 1 -2  punch of snow and cold…and now, the Illnois Valley will be seeing 45 degrees and sun today, according to the National Weather Service.

If you live near any rivers…localized flooding may occur.

Minor chances for snow are in the forecast, says the Weather Service, for the first half of the week . Daytime temperatures will be above and below freezing this week.

Teachers and board will talk today

The level of anxiety may rise a bit if you’re affected by the Mendota Elementary teachers contract negotiations. Sarah Henkel, Co-President of the teachers union said a federal mediator has called both sides back at 2pm today to talk and hopefully, avoid a strike.

Henkel said the two sides can’t agree on insurance expense and the contract wording.

The talks will be in the administration offices. If the two sides can’t agree before Monday morning, Superintendent Dr. Kristin School could cancel classes.