IVCC’s next musical production opens Thursday

When a couple of sailors fall in love with a couple of actresses things get silly in the musical “Dames at Sea”. The fast-paced, comedy opens Thursday at St. Bede Academy.

It’s a production of the Illinois Valley Community College Theater Department. Don Grant Zellmer is the director and choreographer. He says the play is a spoof of 1930’s movie musicals and features a lot of tap dancing and familiar local actors including Norm Engstrom and Alex Guerrero.

Performances are October 16-19 and October 23-26 at the small theater at St. Bede Academy. Performances start at 8pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and free for IVCC students with an ID.

Learn more by listening to an interview with Zellmer at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Curb leaf collection begins Monday in Peru

The leaves have started to drop.  The leaf vac will begin making the rounds in Peru Monday. Leaves should be raked to curb, but not into the street.  Twigs and branches cannot be mixed in with the leaves.

Curb leaf collection will be in the area from Fourth Street, north from the west side of Calhoun Street to the west city limits on Mondays.  The area from Fourth, north from the east side of Peoria to Rt. 251 will be on Tuesdays.  The area from the east side of Calhoun to the west side of Peoria will be on Wednesdays.  The area from the west side of Pulaski to Rt 251 and Fourth , south from the east side of Peoria to Rt 251 will be collected on Thursdays.  Friday collections will go from the east side of Pulaski to the city limits, from Fourth, south from the west side of Calhoun to the west end city limits and from Fourth, south from the east side of Peoria to Rt 251.

Texas health care worker tests positive for Ebola

A health care worker at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital and the worker who provided care for the Ebola patient hospitalized there has tested positive for the Ebola virus.

Officials say the health care worker reported a low-grade fever Friday night and was isolated and referred to testing. Health officials have interviewed the patient and are identifying any contacts or potential exposure.

Chicago air traffic control center due to reopen

A Chicago air traffic control facility will reopen Monday after a 2 week shutdown. The facility in Aurora that was sabotaged in late September due to an employee that cut cables and set fire to a basement are close to a full transition back to full operations.

Technicians are continuing end-to-end testing of new equipment to prepare for the reopening expected Monday.

Corn crib fire caught in time

You can try to control a brush fire but it is hard to control where the embers go.   Embers from a nearby brush fire are thought to be what started a care crib roof on fire.

Tonica and Lostant Fire Departments where called the property on North 19th Road around dinner time Saturday.  

Rick Turri of the Tonica Fire Department says the fire was quickly extinguished with little damage to the corn crib. Nearby corn was sprayed has a precaution.