Oglesby offers refrigerator

Look over your last electric bill and ask, do you really need two refrigerators? Homeowners and electric customers in Oglesby can trade in their extra running refrigerator or freezer for a $50 gift card.

The city has arranged a program with the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency and the Appliance Recycling Centers of American. The refrigerator must be working and cooling when they come to pick it up. They say eliminating a refrigerator or freezer could cut $100 a year from your power bill.

If you have a refrigerator to trade-in, call toll free 877-341-2313.

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A funny take on women’s struggle in the workplace comes to Streator

Long before the movie Office Space, there was 9 to 5. The film about three women in the workforce is the basis for a musical that opens Sunday in Streator.

Nine to Five the Musical is directed by Joey Beavers who says he chose it after falling in love with the score several years ago. He was also a big fan of the movie staring Dolly Parton and Lilly Tomlin.  The musical stars Melanie Maskel, Samantha Farb, Kelly Lefler and Greg Tullis. It opens with a matinee Sunday at Engle Lane Theater in Streator and runs through May 24. Tickets are $20.

Learn more about it by listening to an interview with Beavers that’s up at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Kids Fishing Expo to return to Baker Lake

Hundreds, if not thousands of blue gill, bass and other fish are in Baker Lake in Peru. Area children will have a chance to catch some during the annual Kids Fishing Expo. Volunteers at the expo will show your children how to bait a hook and catch and clean a fish.

Tom Wall is with the Better Fishing Association, one of the groups sponsoring the expo. He says you don’t need to buy your kid a fishing pole.  Poles and bait will be provided.

Everything at the expo is free. It goes from nine to 9am to 2pm Saturday at Baker Lake. Fishing demonstrations begin every 15 minutes. Wall says children will even be able to have their fish cleaned and fried.

The expo prepares children for the annual kids fishing tournament. This year it is June 7 at Lock 14 in La Salle.

Learn more about the fishing expo by listening to an interview that’s up at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Spring Valley Police chase down man wanted in four counties

You can run but you can’t hide. A man in Spring Valley allegedly was chased down after trying to run from police.

Spring Valley Police Chief Kevin Sangston says one of his officers tried stopping Raymond Coughlin Tuesday morning knowing that Coughlin was wanted on warrants. After allegedly scuffling with the officer, Coughlin ran. Following a short chase he was arrested for aggravated battery to a police officer, resisting an officer, and attempting to disarm an officer. Coughlin was also wanted on warrants out of La Salle, Bureau, Kendall and Tazewell Counties.

He was taken to the Bureau County Jail.

School officials in Streator plead their case in Springfield

Want to get noticed? Do what teachers and administrators of Streator Elementary School District did.

The group marched Tuesday in front of the state capit0l building holding signs saying things like “Streator Kids Are Depending On You”. The elementary district closed one school and cut 20 teachers in the last two years and decision makers put most of the blame on dwindling state funding.

The protestors were able to meet with State Senator Sue Rezin and State Representative Frank Mautino while in Springfield.

Flooding possible along the Illinois River

With the recent rain, the Illinois River is on the rise again.

The river in La Salle is at around 18 feet Wednesday morning and rising. It’s expected to rise another couple feet in the next day.

Because rain is in the forecast the rest of the week, a Flood Watch has been issued for the Illinois in La Salle. No major flooding is expected.

5K in Sandwich will include runners and “walkers”

Zombies are all the craze right now and you can take part in a zombie run.

The second annual Zombie Run of Northern Illinois happens a month from today, Saturday, June 14th at the Sandwich fairgrounds. It’s a 5k run where you not only dodge zombies, but also deal with obstacles like mud and climbing walls.

If you’re not a runner, you can sign up to be a zombie. For more information on the Northern Illinois Zombie Run, click http://zombierun.com/zombie-run-northern-illinois-2014