Run and walk will raise scholarship money in honor of popular IVCC administrator

It was March of this year when the campus of Illinois Valley Community College was rocked by the passing of Student Services Director Connie Dzierzynski Skerston. You can help make sure Connie’s memory lives on.

The 1st Annual Connie Dzierzynski Skerston Memorial Run/Walk is this Saturday at the IVCC campus. There will be a timed 5K run/walk called “Connie’s Race” and an untimed 1.5 mile walk called “Connie’s Path”. It costs $30 which gets you a race shirt, water snacks and an optional massage.

Proceeds from the run/walk go towards a scholarship named in Connie’s honor. She died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm at just 45 years old. Dzierzynski-Skerston was at IVCC for 16 years before her death.

For more information about the benefit run/walk, click Skerston Scholarship Run-Walk

Public input welcomed on future construction plans

What state highways or interstates need fixed in the Illinois Valley? You can have a say by going to a meeting later this month in Ottawa.

The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting a public input meeting Tuesday, October 27th at the IDOT office in Ottawa to go over the five-year construction plan.

Some of the major projects that are in the works if the state can find the money include resurfacing Route 6 between the east end of La Salle to the Utica four corners and Route 23 from the south side of Ottawa to past Grand Ridge. A new Route 89 Bridge in Spring Valley and Route 178 Bridge in Utica are still in the state’s plans.

If you can’t be at the construction meeting on the 27th, you can email your suggestions to IDOT by clicking IDOT Construction Comment Page

Main repairs to finish early evening

Crews trying to fix a broken water pipe behind LaSalle City Hall have a delicate job, says Public Works Superintendent Jeff Bumgarner.  They’re digging around a gas line,  electrical lines and other sensitive items, says Bumgarner.  He told “Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO” news they should finish by 7pm Sunday night.  After service is restored,  a boil order will be in effect from 206 – 230 Marquette Street and for City Hall.  As always,  the boil order is in effect until water tests show satisfactory results.           LaSalle Police started getting calls around 11:15am Sunday about little or no water in the vicinity of City Hall.

Pitbull Appreciation set for Oct 24

Is it time to appreciate the pitbull? IVAR and Streator Stars and Stripes thinks so. They are hosting a “Pets for Patriots Adoption and Information Day” October 24 at 1215 North Bloomington.from Noon to 3. The address belongs to Lori’s Mailboxes and Parcel Post.

The IVAR release says adoptable pets will be on site and snacks will be served. Time will be set aside for “Pet Portraits” and a “Pet Halloween contest”. IVAR will also be celebrating “National Pitbull Appreciation Day”. If you have questions, call 672-4181.

Earlville Schools to receive Monsanto grant

Nominated by local farmers, the Earlville Consolidated Unit School District 9 has been named a grant recipient by the Monsanto Fund. The district will use the $10,000 to buy experimental equipment to use in newly established high school agriculture courses. The presentation will be this Thursday at 2:30 during a Jr. / Sr. High Assembly in the new High School gym.

Represenatives from the school and Monsanto plus the farmers who nominated the school will be in attendance. The grant is by Monsanto Corporation through its “America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education program.

Ottawa City Council meets Tuesday

Tasers, grants and contracts…some of what’s on the Ottawa City Council Tuesday night agenda. According to the agenda received, council members will vote on a resolution authorizing a grant agreement regarding NCAT – the area transportation service. The Police Department has submitted a request to purchase tasers. Commissioner Less will submit a resolution to authorize a Sports Facilities Advisory Services Agreement.

Also, a vote will be taken to approve a contract with Fehr Graham as part of a Blight Reduction Program. The council meets at 7pm at 301 West Madison Street.

Crews working on water main problem

      If you live in the vicinity of LaSalle City Hall, perhaps you have no water.  If that’s the case,  the problem is water gushing out of the ground behind City Hall.  LaSalle Police told “Classic Hits 103-9” they have received several calls about no water service. Police said the first call came in about 11:15 Sunday.  Work crews have been notified.  It’s not known how long repairs will take. 

Firehouse tours highlight Fire Prevention Week

    National Fire Prevention Week starts Sunday and firefighters want you to ask yourself if every bedroom has a working alarm? This year’s fire prevention week slogan is “Hear the beep, where you sleep.”

    The Streator Fire Department wants you stop by their open house Sundayat the fire station from noon until 4. You can check out the trucks, equipment and firefighters themselves while also getting a sandwich.  The Peru Fire Department also is planning an open house Saturday, October 10^th between 10 and 2. They will have fire truck rides, food, games and prizes.

Heroin overdoses rising in Chicago

Authorities in Chicago say a recent rise in heroin overdoses is continuing to climb. Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford says there were 74 non-fatal overdoses between Tuesday night and Friday night.  The Chicago Tribune reports that some patients turned up at Mount Sinai Hospital with needles still stuck in their arms.

City health and fire officials suspect heroin laced with the powerful painkiller fentanyl is to blame for the sudden jump, as it was in 2006. The Drug Enforcement Administration is helping try to determine the source of the drugs.

Child distraction blamed for crash

    Driving distractions come in all sizes and shapes. What about the small child in the car ahead of you? A county deputy says a child in the vehicle of 42-year old Adam Kehoe of Asheville, Ohio distracted 47-year old Cameron Koster of Marseilles. Koster was traveling right behind Kehoe and rear-ended the Kehoe vehicle. It happened early Saturday evening 3 miles east of South Ottawa on North 2653^rd road. There were minor injuries, but no tickets.