Corn disease popping up in the Illinois Valley

There’s a fungus among us.

The state department of Agriculture says a fungal disease called tar spot has been found in corn planted in Bureau, La Salle and DeKalb counties. Ag. Director Phil Nelson doesn’t think it will impact yields this late in the season by he says farmers should report the fungus to try and prevent spreading.

The disease looks like a tar spot on corn leaves. They make the leaves feel rough or bumpy.

Finishing touches being put on new Hall High School

School is in session, but construction hasn’t ended yet at Hall High School.

School officials say the “finish line” is near though as work is underway on the new parking lot and landscaping. The hope is to have everything done in time for an official school dedication ceremony on Saturday, October 17th. That same day the school will also have an official dedication of their new auditorium.

The first day of classes at the new school was on Thursday, September 10th. Ground was initially broken on the new school in October of 2013 after a $32 million dollar tax referendum to pay for the school passed by only three votes.

Vendor space still available for Burgoo Festival

Think it’s too late to get a vendor booth at Utica’s 46th annual Burgoo Festival? Think again.

Amanda Carter with the La Salle County Historical Society says there are still plenty of spots available. She says there are well over 300 vendors already signed up, but they have a lot more space for the festival this year than in year’s past.

If interested in being a vendor at Burgoo, click Burgoo Vendor Information

The 46th annual Burgoo Festival is October 10th and 11th in downtown Utica.

Peru hospital gearing up for flu season with vaccine clinics

The official start of flu season isn’t that far away so Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru has planned out its flu clinic schedule for September and October.

IVCH will offer flu shots next Tuesday from 9 until 11 at Liberty Village in Peru and from 1 until 5 at the hospital. In October, IVCH hosts flu clinics in the Peru Mall, at the Utica Senior Center and Illinois Valley YMCA.

Flu shots with IVCH are $30 a person. Medicare is accepted at the clinics.

Burgess saga to include a rally outside Ottawa High School

The fight to get Tim Burgess his job back at Ottawa High School now includes an old fashioned rally.

Supporters of the ex-teacher plan to gather outside the school this Saturday morning prior to a special meeting of the Ottawa High School Board of Education. Burgess was let go earlier this year for alleged disparaging remarks he made about others involved with the school. It happened when the school faced accusations of bullying by administrators and unrest due to a building trades teacher being dropped.

A hearing officer with the State Board of Education has said that Burgess was improperly dismissed. However it’s just an opinion on the school board still has the final say on if Burgess is reinstated.

While the board is expected to talk about the Burgess issue this Saturday morning, the agenda says no action will be taken.