Parking lots back open at Starved Rock

For the first time in almost two months, the parking lots at Starved Rock State Park are open to visitors.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday morning in the main parking lot at the Park to commemorate the re-opening of the lots, which had been closed since June 13^th due to the flooding of the Illinois River.

Site superintendent at Starved Rock Kerry Novak said mud covering the parking lot was eight to nine inches thick in some places. Earlier this week, the Illinois Departments of Transportation and Natural Resources came in to help clear away all the mud and debris that had been left behind by the floodwaters. In all, Novak said 60-80 truckloads of dirt and debris were hauled from the parking lots.

The picnic areas and boat ramp are still closed at the park, with clean-up scheduled to start next week. All the hiking trails are open.

Skydivers from around the world help break a record in Ottawa

A world skydiving record was set Friday morning above Ottawa.

On their fourth day of attempts, 164 skydivers were able to stay together in a flower shape while plunging to the earth head first at speeds over 200 miles per hour. The previous head first or vertical skydiving record was set in 2012 with 138 skydivers.

Just to make sure the record was legit, videographers who happen to also be experienced skydivers flew above, below and beside the formation as they jumped out of a plan nearly 20,000 feet in the air.

Illinois Valley hospitals teaming up to offer women’s health services

While they compete for business, two of the remaining public hospitals in the Illinois Valley are partnering up for women’s health.

Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru has agreed to offer its OBGYN services to Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton. IVCH’s four-session series of prenatal classes will start in Princeton on August 19th.

IVCH will also have office space in Perry for their gynecologists and certified nurse midwife.

Gas prices trickling down in the Illinois Valley

Are you hitting the road this weekend? There’s not much difference in the price at the pump across the Illinois Valley.

According to GasBuddy.com, Princeton has the lowest unleaded gas right now at $2.39 a gallon. You can fill up for $2.43 to $2.45 a gallon in Ottawa, Oglesby, La Salle, Spring Valley, Mendota and Peru. Most stations in Streator are selling unleaded for $2.55 a gallon.

The statewide average price for gas is $2.65 a gallon, down a quarter from a month ago. Champaign has the lowest gas in the state at $2.20 a gallon.

Championship boat races set to start on Lake DePue

The engines will rev up for real today as the first round of Pro National Championship Boat Races happen today at Lake DePue.

The first race begins right at noon with seven different boat categories hitting the lake today. It’s $3 to watch the races.

In between races you can check out a beer garden and food stands around the lake. Later tonight there’s a free concert by “Last Call”.

This is the 31st year for championship boat races on Lake DePue.

Ottawa doctor nears big career milestone

Chances are if you’ve given birth in Ottawa, Dr. Vyas was the man who helped with the delivery.

As of Wednesday, the doctor was only 15 babies away from the milestone of delivering 5,000. Vyas has been delivering babies at the hospital in Ottawa since 1990 but he’s been at the job a total of 40 years.

Dr. Vyas road to becoming a doctor started with studying at Grant Medical College in India.