Police dispatchers honored this week

A police officer’s lifeline is otherwise, known as the dispatcher. The telecommunicator or dispatcher is being honored nationwide this week for keeping a “cool head” in a trying situation.  Not only do they relay info to an officer and monitor his status,  they take calls from the public.

Some are frivolous while others are placed in a fluid high risk situation.  Dispatchers have taken calls from children who wonder why a parent is unresponsive.

You can help by calling when there’s a true emergency –  a fire,  a serious health issue; even someone threatening physical violence.  You are asked to try and remain calm and give all necessary information;  so help can be sent quickly.

No injuries from fire near Bradley U.

 

Colleges give students experience living on their own; however, an apartment fire is not one of them.  WEEK-TV in Peoria said firemen went to a 3 story complex at 1029 North University about noon Saturday – near Bradley University.

Firemen searched, found and quickly extinquished a fire in the ceiling of the second floor. There were no reported injuries and several people inside got away safely.  The apartment structure had smoke, water and structural damage amounting to $180-thousand dollars.

Peoria Fire Battalion Chief Aldo Scott said the cause could be electrical.

 

 

Governor appeals Feds ruling

On Friday, Governor Bruce Rauner asked the President Barack Obama to reconsider a recent denial of Illinois’ request for assistance to help 18 counties recover from severe flooding in late December and early January. The appeal includes $1.8 million in additional qualifying costs discovered after the initial request. Bureau County is among the 18 counties. With the new costs, total disaster related local government expenses reach almost $16.8 million.

The new appeal cites per capita damage costs hundreds of dollars above the federal standard of $3.57.  It lists the effects of recent disasters in 8 of the 17 counties and the state’s nationally recognized mitigation and floodplain management efforts.

 

Bridge construction starts Monday near Princeton

Do you use Backbone Road bridge northwest of Princeton?  It’s closing at 7 am Monday for at least 6 months of repairs.  That word from Maureen Kennedy Meier with the Bureau County Highway Department. The bridge carries Backbone road over Bureau Creek.

Film alleges “coverup” over sexual violence

Are college campuses known for violence as well as getting an education?  Freedom House of Princeton will show a film purporting, in their words, “ a shocking epidemic of violence and institutional coverups sweeping college campuses across the U.S.”.

Survivors of sexual violence and activists are featured.  The film, “The Hunting Ground” will be shown in Nelson Chapel at 502 Elm in Princeton at 7pm Wednesday night.  A “meet and greet” and comments from speakers will precede the showing.