Attempt underway to tweak “Conceal and Carry”

     Illinois lawmakers have already introduced more than a dozen bills to tweak the state’s new concealed carry law, which is less than nine months old. That’s according to a report  by the (Springfield) State Journal-Register.
 
     The bills alternately make the state’s law stricter or more lenient.  Illinois became the final state in the country to allow concealed carry and its law is the strictest in the nation.
 
     But legislators who were the main architects of the law say they’d like to delay making changes – for now. And they don’t expect the bills to gain much traction in the capitol.
 
     The first concealed carry permits were mailed out to Illinois residents about a month ago.
 
     Officials expect about 300,000 concealed carry applications to be filed this year.

Local city to receive gypsy moth treatment

It may be unpleasant, but another sign of Spring is the State’s plan for treating the gypsy moth.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture will hold a series of public information meetings beginning next week to explain its treatment program. Locally, a meeting will be held in Oglesby Public Library April 10 starting at 3pm.  The IDOA intends to treat 38,000 trees for the destructive pest at 10 sites including La Salle. A pheromone which prevents the male gypsy moth from locating the female will be applied by airplane.

The gypsy moth is non-native and feasts on as many as 250 species of trees and shrubs, though it prefers oak leaves. Large populations can strip plants bare making them vulnerable to disease and other insects. Maps of the treatment sites are on the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s home page.

Antique Roadshow coming to Chicago

 

You’ve seen antiques appraised on Public Television.

PBS has an “Antique Roadshow” taping planned for Chicago’s McCormick Place on July 26. Approximately 6000 guests – by way of a ticket – will receive free valuations of their antique or collectible by specialists from leading auction houses. WTTW will record three 60 minutes episodes from this one day event. Each guest may bring two items for appraisal.

Guests are chosen by random from ticket applications. You can register at PBS.org. Look for Antique Roadshow on the home page. Deadline for ticket applications is April 7

 

Emergency workers continue recovery efforts

More than a week after a mudslide destroyed a mountainside community north of Seattle, the number of people believed missing has decreased substantially.

Authorities yesterday lowered the number of missing from 90 to 30. The official death toll is 18 but that only includes identified victims.

Weigh-In today concludes Wall-Eye Tourney

The proof will be weighed this afternoon at Barto Landing. It’s the latest edition of the “Spring Valley Walleye Tourney” now in its second day.

The tourney seems to draw well. Shuttles will be running from Hall High School if you want to be present to watch the “weigh in” starting about 4 this afternoon.

On-line results yesterday had Ryan Feldott of Spring Valley and Chris Payne of Oglesby in sixth place with fish weighing 11 lbs and 9 oz. Weighing this afternoon determines the winner.

Last year, the team of Clayton Freiburger and Mike Bisdorf won $20,000. Some of the fishing teams this weekend may be battling for berths in the MWC Nationals on Lake Erie in October of 2015.

 

Local High School getting attention on TV

Whether the Ottawa Township High School Board wants the attention or not, “Dirty Jobs” star Mike Rowe is talking up the board’s recent action to dump its’ “Building Trades” program and teacher Dave Keely.

Rowe talked about his admiration for the Ottawa student protestors when he talked Friday with Charles Payne of the Fox Business Channel by saying he’s never seen a group of kids protest the dropping of a shop class.  Rowe says he’s trying to get the word out that the nation needs more building trades programs.

Rowe’s “Dirty Jobs” TV show allowed him to get dirty feeding pigs and even test shark suits and shark repellents. His “Discovery Show” was cancelled in 2012…but, he is working to start a similar show.

 

Home, Garden and Lifestyle show is today

Good Spring weather is expected today and you can make your time outdoors even better by visiting our “Home, Garden and Lifestyle” show.

Between 10 and four today at Celebrations 150, meet forty vendors with information to better your property and life inside and out. You can register to win four thousand dollars to spend with any of the participating businesses. Remodeling, installing, waterproofing, landscaping and more will be represented among the vendors.

“Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO”, 99-3 WAJK and “96-5 The Wolf” will be broadcasting from the show.