Cold snap allows Oglesby to open its ice rink

Getting the itch to put the ice skates on?

With cold weather settling in, the Oglesby Parks Department has opened the city ice rink. The rink is on Walnut Street, just east of city hall.

It’s free to skate and you can play hockey on the rink as long as no ice skaters are around.

Dangerous intersection near Marseilles getting attention

A troubled intersection that saw a mother and daughter killed in a crash is getting safety upgrades.

The La Salle County Board is looking to spend over $600,000 for better lighting, pavement markings and new signage at the intersection of the Morris Blacktop and County Highway 15, or Nate Fleming Road. The county will use $350,000 of its Motor Fuel Tax Funds with the rest of the money coming from the federal government.

The intersection is just south of the Interstate 80 interchange in Marseilles. Lorraine McNeil and her daughter Kathleen Wilcox both of Ottawa were killed at the intersection in 2011 after McNeil pulled out in front of a semi that didn’t have to stop.

La Salle County Engineer Larry Kinzer says the new improvements should help drivers know that north and southbound traffic at the intersection doesn’t have to stop.

La Salle looking to prevent replay of frozen water pipes

The ground under Lafayette Street in La Salle isn’t frozen, yet. The frigid cold temperatures last winter left many of the homes in the 12 and 13 hundred blocks of Lafayette Street without running water.

That shouldn’t happen this winter according to City engineer Brian Brown. He believes the main froze during the frigid weather because it’s too shallow and a nearby water valve was broken in the closed position.

To play it safe, the city has sent letters to the people who were affected by the frozen main. Brown says they’re asking them to take the temperature of their water once it has been freezing for a while. Once the water temperature dips below 35, they’ll be asking people to let their water drip. Brown says the city will adjust the water bill so they are only charged for their normal usage.

The water main and sewer lines are scheduled to be replaced next spring.

Another Illinois Valley hospital responding to flu outbreak with visitor restrictions

Add St. Margaret’s Hospital to the list of Illinois Valley hospitals reacting to the flu.

The hospital in Spring Valley announced Tuesday they are restricting visitors because of widespread flu activity. No visitors under 18 are allowed and patients can only have two visitors at a time. If you’ve been coughing, sneezing and show other signs of illness, you’re asked to stay home.

The same restrictions are in place at Illinois Valley Community Hospital and St. Elizabeth Medical Center.

State still “evaluating” applications for medical marijuana cultivation centers

Despite rumors you may have heard, the state hasn’t yet picked where medical marijuana cultivation centers and dispensaries will be located.

State Representative Frank Mautino says he’s been in touch with decision makers at the Illinois Department of Agriculture and they’re telling him no licenses have been granted. In Mautino’s district alone companies in Peru, Oglesby, Ottawa, Spring Valley, Princeton, Hennepin and Mark are all vying for one cultivation center license. The Illinois Valley will also likely only get one dispensary license.

If you think you qualify for medical marijuana based on a health condition, you can sign up by clicking http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/mcpp/Pages/default.aspx