Teacher’s strike avoided in Streator

There will be no teacher’s strike in Streator.

With the help of a mediator, the Streator Education Association and Streator Elementary School Board of Education have agreed on a new three-year contract. The contract will cover 2014 through 2017 as teachers have been working with an expired contract.

Details of the new contract haven’t been released. It still needs to be ratified by the teacher’s union and officially approved by the school board.

Before Monday night’s agreement, the teacher’s union had taken a vote in support of a strike. The school district has made major cuts the past couple years including closing a school.

Auditions are next month for Elvis Presley-themed play at Stage 212

If you’re a fan of Elvis, Stage 212’s spring play should interest you.

Auditions for “All the King’s Women” are February 5th and 6th at the downtown La Salle theater. The comedy tells the story of Elvis Presley through the eyes of obsessed women. Five women and one man are needed for the cast. Auditions are open to everyone regardless of theater experience.

“All the King’s Women” will be performed in April.

City of Princeton Looks to Help Job Seekers in the Illinois Valley

On January 12, from 9 AM to 2 PM, the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce will be holding a Job Fair aimed at employment opportunities in “Industrial, Manufacturing, Healthcare, and More”.

The Chamber says the event is open to all job seekers regardless of age, experience level or industry. The event is at the Bureau County Metro Center.

If you’re interested in attending, the chamber says you should come dressed professionally and ready to explain why you’re right for the job. Also, don’t forget your resume!

State Police Cite Speeders but Handle No Fatal Crashes in Illinois Valley for December

Illinois State Police say they did not have to handle any fatal crashes in December in the Illinois Valley.

That information is part of a broader announcement made Sunday about State Police Activity in District 17, which includes LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam Counties. They also announced that last month they made 8 DUI arrests and gave nearly 200 speeding tickets.

Overall for the month state troopers gave almost 250 tickets and more than 600 written warnings.

Peru hospital opening its doors as a warming center

Need an escape from the cold? Illinois Valley Community Hospital is willing to help keep you warm.

The IVCH cafeteria is open around the clock to serve as a warming center.

If you go to warm up before 8 o’clock in the evening, you’re supposed to use the West Street entrance. If you’re coming to the hospital cafeteria after hours to warm up, go in through the emergency room entrance.

How low did it go in the Illinois Valley?

Remember all the talk about a mild winter? That seems like so long ago now.

The coldest day of winter so far sent temperatures Monday morning below zero in Paw Paw with a low temperature according to the National Weather Service of -7. Morris had a morning low of zero while it fell to 2 degrees above zero in Peru and Ottawa. Marseilles had a low of 3 above.

Warmer days are ahead with high temperatures Thursday and Friday expected to be near 40.

Early morning semi fire snarls traffic near Peru

It’s awfully cold to be out fighting a fire but that’s what happened to Ladd firefighters.

A 9-1-1 call came out around 5 Monday morning for a semi fire on westbound Interstate 80 west of Peru near the Plank Road exit. For over an hour, traffic was being slowed and even diverted as the semi was towed away and state crews had a chance to salt the lanes where the fire happened.

Nobody was injured.

Skoog’s debut in Springfield delayed a couple weeks

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – State Representative Andy Skoog won’t be heading to Springfield this week after all.

House Speaker Mike Madigan has canceled a two-day session this week saying there isn’t enough to work on. Skoog and the rest of the House are expected to show up in Springfield now on January 27th.

The state is entering its seventh month without an approved budget.