West Gym Officially Has New Name At L-P

The next time you go to a basketball game at L-P it’ll be inside the Dr. A.J. Sellett Memorial Gymnasium.

Several members of the late doctor’s family were able to attend Tuesday night’s official dedication.  Sellett was chosen as the gym’s namesake after a naming committee discussed people who have made an impact at L-P.  Superintendent Steve Wrobleski says the public opinion was overwhelming with Sellett getting the most votes by a wide margin.

Sellett was a member of the L-P School Board for over 20 years, serving three terms as board president.  He also was a volunteer team doctor for L-P athletics for over 40 years.

Sellett’s grandson Brian says his grandpa had three passions: his family, his medical practice and L-P High School.

Peru moves ahead with plans for taxiway

The Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru will get a new taxiway. The project has been approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics.

The city council Monday night approved an engineering agreement with Chamlin and Associates. The project is estimated to cost $158,000.  The city is only responsible for five percent of the cost with the state and federal governments picking up the rest.

It is unclear when it will be built.

Ill. labor unions sue over plan to cut pensions

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois labor unions have filed a lawsuit seeking a new plan to reduce the state’s $100 billion pension shortfall declared unconstitutional.

The We Are One Illinois Coalition of public employee unions filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Sangamon County Circuit court.

The long-anticipated legal challenge comes weeks after Gov. Pat Quinn signed the measure into law and ahead of his annual State of the State address.

The bill approved by the Legislature in early December saves an estimated $160 billion, largely by cutting benefits for employees and retirees.

Unions say it violates the state constitution, which says benefits may not be diminished. Several other lawsuits have been filed on behalf of retirees.

Supporters of the plan believe the Court will uphold it because it’s necessary to repair the state’s finances.

 

Some Light Shed On Proposed Ottawa Warehouse Development

The mystery warehouse and corporate office that never was in Ottawa isn’t totally dead.

Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach says Clover Technologies-founder Jim Schiefelbein assembled a group of investors to buy several out-of-state companies and move their operations near the intersection of Champlain Street and Etna Road.  Eschbach says the project though has been put on hold.  He says the development isn’t picking somewhere else over Ottawa.  Eschbach won’t say what kind of company or companies they’re trying to attract.

The city council extended a TIF district along Interstate 80 to make way for development.