Overdose training in La Salle County gets national recognition

A police training program in the Illinois Valley that has the potential to save lives is receiving national recognition for its effectiveness.

The LaSalle County Naloxone Training Program was chosen out of more than 200 applicants for a Medical Reserve Corps Challenge Award. The award is given to an initiative that is nationally recognized and locally significant. This program, done through the LaSalle County MRC, helps train police officers in administering a drug that can be life-saving if someone is having an overdose.

In addition to the national praise, the LaSalle County MRC also gets to take home a $15,000 prize.

Business leaders in La Salle honored for their work

There are a lot of things happening business wise in La Salle. Some of the leaders of the positive movement were recognized this week.

According to the La Salle Promotional & Advisory Committee, Inman Electric Motors Inc. was named La Salle’s “Business of the Year”. Becky Kalman and Mary Klinefelter with Tri-City Frock Shoppe were honored as “Business Persons of the Year”.

Drew and Denise Bernabei of Sasso Jewelry & Gifts were given the “Legacy Award”.

Streator hosting challenging bike ride

Organizers of a big bike ride in Streator couldn’t have picked a better day for a bike ride.

Sunday morning the Central Illinois Cycling Association is using Marilla Park for its “5^th Annual Dirty Mudd’r”.  Cyclists will start at Marilla Park and ride either a 35 mile or 62 mile track filled with hills, dirt, gravel and some blacktop.

Registration for the ride starts at 7 with the bikes rolling out at 10.  For more information click  Streator “Dirty Mudd’r”

Stopgap funding will help but not solve IVCC budget woes

State lawmakers approved giving $600 million dollars to public universities and colleges in a move that will help several struggling schools.

Illinois Valley Community College could get about $600,000 from the bill. The school’s President, Jerry Corcoran, says that is slightly more than one-quarter of the money they had expected before the budget crisis. He said it makes students and taxpayers bear more of the costs.

Some of the state money is also going to reimburse schools for MAP grants. Corcoran says IVCC is expecting to recoup $50,000 of the $500,000 they’ve spent so far.

Feds turn down potential flood relief help for Bureau County

The feds have denied Governor Bruce Rauner’s appeal of the federal government’s decision to deny money to help Bureau County pay for winter flood damage.

Rauner asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency for almost $16 million in aid to help 17 counties including Bureau cover costs of flood damage in December and January.

By law, the state has ran out of appeals.

Time to unload what you don’t need in Spring Valley

It’s time for spring cleaning in Spring Valley.

The city’s organized “Spring Cleanup” starts on Monday with stuff picked up on everyone’s normal garbage pickup day. Make sure what you want the city to haul away is out front of your house by six in the morning. Crews will only make one stop.

Some of the things you can’t put out for “Spring Cleanup” include: electronics; carpet; oils and paints; and tires.