Women’s History to be shared at the Hegeler Carus Mansion

Learn how a woman from Piety Hill ended up in a Japanese prison camp during a presentation at the Hegeler Carus Mansion.  The story of Mona Kemery is one of several being shared as the mansion celebrates women’s history month.

Kelly Klobucher is the Executive Director of the mansion.  She says they love covering women’s history because of the women who lived in the mansion, Mary Hegeler Carus in particular.

The first program is at 7pm Friday.  You can learn about the groundbreaking journalist Nellie Bly.  There will also be programs about Mary Hegeler Carus, Maude Powell and Grace O’Malley, the Pirate Queen of Ireland.

You can learn more about the programs by listening to an interview that’s available at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Staples Announces Hundreds Of Store Closures

First Radio Shack and now Staples.  While releasing their 2013 performance report, Staples announced they plan to close 225 stores by the end of next year.  It’s not known if the Peru store is closing since Staples hasn’t released a closure list.

The company hopes to save $500 million by closing the 225 stores.  Over 100 Staples locations closed last year.  In announcing their decision, Staples officials say almost half of their sales are generated online.

If you’ve been following the story about Radio Shack closing over a thousand stores, they also haven’t released a closure list.

Peru Ambulance involved in fatal crash near Metamora

A crash involving a Peru Volunteer Ambulance is still being investigated.  A woman from Metamora was killed and the ambulance driver was hospitalized.  It happened around 5pm Wednesday on Route 116 near Metamora.

64-year old Galeen Driscoll was pronounced dead at the scene.  The ambulance driver, Daniel Dempsey of Peru was being treated at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  EMT Jim Zborowski of Peru was treated and released.

The ambulance crew was returning to Peru after taking a patient to Peoria.

The Woodford County coroner and sheriff’s offices are still investigating and so far, no one has been ticketed.

Bureau County beagle and horse case taken to Springfield

The fate of seven horses and over a dozen beagles in Bureau County is in the hands of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Members of Illinois Valley Animal Rescue testified in Springfield Wednesday that the beagles and horses should not be returned to owner Dan Labounty in rural Arlington.  They argue Labounty has had the animals living in unacceptable conditions for many years.  The animals are temporarily being cared for by members of the Bureau County Animal Control Office.

Heidi Milner with IVAR says a judge is expected to give a ruling on the situation in about a week.  Meanwhile an online petition pleading for the horses and beagles to not return to their owner has reached over 26,000 “signatures”.

Driver’s Strike Ends At Euclid Beverage

Union truck drivers are off the picket line and back behind the wheel for Euclid Beverage.

The dozen or so drivers have agreed to a new contract with the beverage company after about a week-long strike.  Drivers walked off the job last week wanting better wages.  They staged their walk out at the Euclid distribution center on the north end of Peru.

Various businesses in the Illinois Valley refused deliveries from non-union drivers while the strike was going on.

Sex-Change Insurance Could Increase Cost Of Going To U Of I

URBANA, Ill. (AP) – U of I trustees are expected to vote today on adding coverage for sex-change operations to the health insurance plan used by many students.

Many of the students use the insurance and would see costs rise by 15 percent if the proposal is approved. Undergraduates would pay an increase of $37.

But university officials say most of that increase is due to the federal Affordable Care Act,  not adding sex-change coverage.

Trustees added sex-change coverage at their Chicago campus last year after some students requested it.