Judge Kilbride to speak at IVCC graduation

Graduation speeches usually aren’t the most stimulating but the person chosen to deliver the commencement message to Illinois Valley Community College graduates usually has something interesting to say.

Former Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court Thomas Kilbride will speak at Illinois Valley Community College’s 48 ^th annual commencement Saturday, May 17.  180 graduates are expected to participate.

IVCH celebrates a milestone anniversary

A steel box that looks similar to a safe you in which would store keepsakes or important papers is buried in the memorial garden at Illinois Valley Community Hospital. It’s not a safe but a time capsule packed with trinkets and memorabilia.

The hospital celebrated its 100^th anniversary Sunday with cake, punch and a makeshift museum in the cafeteria. Enjoying the milestone was the first president of IVCH, Bill Vlastinik.  He says the hospital is important because it gives you a feeling of confidence that you don’t have to travel to the Mayo Clinic right off the bat and you can receive some treatment locally.

The hospital opened in 1914 as People’s Hospital. It would later merge with St. Mary’s Hospital of La Salle and take its new name.

More with Vlastnik is available at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Eight performers hurt in accident

      A circus accident in Rhode Island has sent at least 11 people to the hospital, including 1 in critical condition. A platform collapsed during an aerial hair-hanging stunt during a performance in Providence, sending 8 acrobats plummeting to the ground.

    Officials say the 8 acrobats and a dancer below were seriously hurt and a number of others suffered minor injuries.

Firemen battle weekend fires

    While you may have  focused on the prom Saturday afternoon, LaSalle firemen were focused on a house with smoke coming from it. Crews went to the house in the 100 block of 10th Street around 5pm. Captain Jerry Janick said they were there about 40 minutes and contained the damage to the kitchen.  One person was taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in for observation. 

    Peru Firemen went to a home on East First road – north of town about 8:30pm. What was thought to be a significant fire problem was only a bonfire. 

    A controlled barn fire got out of control Saturday afternoon near Tiskilwa. Tiskilwa firemen got help from Wyanet after a corn crib roof started burning and later engulfed most of it.

 

Trooper graduate coming to District 17

     The graduation of 42 new State Troopers in Springfield Friday means good news for District 17 at La Salle. The La Salle post receives one of those troopers Monday.

     The new officers took an oath of office and received their ISP stars after completing 25 weeks of academy training. The trooper graduates now work with Field Training officers in their respective districts for 14 weeks before going it alone.

       This is the second class of graduates that allowed military veterans to train at the academy.

Man earns 100 years in prison

      A Chicago man has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for the 2008 gun-slaying of a music producer. 38-year-old Darryl Evans was convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting, which occurred during a failed robbery at a gas station. 

     The victim, Michael Phipps Junior, was a music producer with a Chicago hip-hop record label called Meen.

New threat gets Bloomington man more time

    A Bloomington man who has already served time for threatening President Barack Obama now faces up to 10 more years in prison, this time for threatening to kill the judge who sentenced him.

    The Peoria Journal Star reports that Phillip Porter pleaded guilty Thursday to sending a threatening letter to U.S. District Court Judge Joe McDade. His sentencing is scheduled for September. Until then, he’ll be housed at a secure mental health facility.

Hotter weather is coming

     The Illinois Valley will see several chances of rain this week but also some serious heat. The National Weather Service sees a daily climb in temperatures topping 80 by Wednesday.

     Some weather models hint of severe weather by Thursday…but there’s nothing solid on that yet.

 

IVCH open for visiting Sunday

     The changes IVCH has undergone are many.  Pictures and exhibits will bear that out today in the hospital cafeteria.  Staff members will answer your questions from 1 – 4pm today. There will be no tours. Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO’s  Rod Thorson will broadcast live from IVCH between 1:30 and 3:30 today.