More Job Seekers mean Higher Unemployment for Illinois Valley

If you’ve been having trouble finding a job in the Illinois Valley, you’re not the only one.

LaSalle County’s unemployment rate climbed to nearly 10% in January, up more than 1.5% from December. The job markets in Bureau and Putnam Counties got off to a rough start in 2016 too, where the unemployment in each jumped to 8.9%.

According to the state’s Department of Employment Statistics, one of the reasons for such a sudden increase in unemployment could be a large increase in the number of people looking for jobs that have yet to find one.

Unemployment in the Valley has fallen quite a bit behind the state rate of 7.1%. And even that is a bit behind the rate across the country which sits at 5.3%.

L-P finds new athletic director in Georgia

The new Director of Athletics and Activities at L-P will be relocating from Georgia.

The L-P board Wednesday night hired David “Chris” Kirkpatrick of Sugar Hill, Georgia as their new A.D. While Kirkpatrick is in Georgia now, he did work and coach in Kankakee and Arlington Heights a few years ago.

The current Director of Athletics and Activities Randy Gunia is stepping down at the end of June because of health issues.

Huge grand prize highlights 2016 Illinois Valley Home Garden & Lifestyle Show

Where else this weekend in the Illinois Valley can you win $3,500 to spend at Illinois Valley businesses? That’s the grand prize at this year’s Illinois Valley Home Garden & Lifestyle Show.

Forty vendors will display their products Sunday from 10 until 4 at Celebrations 150 in La Salle.  Admission to the show is free and you can sign up to win $3,500 to spend like cash at any show sponsor.   Rod will draw the grand prize winner Monday morning on Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO.

For more information click “extended content” at Classic Hits 103.9 WLPO.com

Open house planned for new Princeton urgent care clinic

Got a medical issue but don’t want to head to an emergency room? There’s a new walk-in clinic in Princeton.

An open house is Saturday from 10 until 2 at St. Margaret’s Center for Family Health. The clinic inside the old Sullivan’s building offers up family medicine, OB/GYN and walk-in care services.

Elizabeth from the 99.3 WAJK morning show will broadcast live from the open house starting at 11. There will be tours, food and giveaways.

Fire breaks out at Owen Glass plant in Streator

As the sun was nearly setting, smoke filled the air in Streator.

A fire broke out on the roof of Owens Glass just after 6:30 Wednesday evening. Because it involved an industrial building, the mutual aid call was quickly put out with Ottawa and four other fire departments helping Streator at the scene.

The fire was contained to the building’s roof and firefighters say only minimal damage was done. Nobody was hurt.

The last firefighter was able to leave the scene about four hours after the initial 9-1-1 call.

Long goes on the attack against Skoog

Well that didn’t take long. Hours after winning the Republican primary, Jerry Long is on the attack against Democratic State Representative Andy Skoog.

Long put out a statement called a “Mandate against Skoog & Madigan”. Long says in return for support from Mike Madigan, Skoog is “clearly on Madigan’s leash”. Long accuses Skoog of supporting a handful of conservative bills to “pander for votes in our conservative district”.

The union trucker from Streator goes on to say Skoog is “like a chaff of wheat blowing in the wind, not having a true compass”. He claims Skoog is trying to position himself to the right even though he supports one of the Democratic presidential candidates whom he calls “gun-grabbing leftist liberals who have a complete disdain for success, unless it’s their own success”.

So far Skoog has not responded to the Long comments.