Follow me on Twitter.
Tune in for the latest news and weather from WSPL News Director T.J. Carson every weekday morning on the half hour from 6 to 9, and at 10, 11, and noon.
Have a news tip or idea you think would make a great story, e-mail T.J. atnews@theradiogroup.net.
Ray Schmitt Passes
The mayor of Streator has died. The LaSalle County Coroner's Office says Ray Schmitt was taken to Saint Mary's Hospital by ambulance Tuesday afternoon, and died unexpectedly at around 4:43. Authorities say a medical examination will take place to determine the cause of death. Schmitt was in his third term as mayor, first elected to the post in 1999. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Solon-Telford Funeral Home. Schmitt is survived by his wife, Donna, and their three children. Schmitt was 68 years old.
Illinois Valley Flood Outlook
Flood chances in the Illinois Valley remain higher than normal. The National Weather Service recently issued its spring flood outlook. Meteorologists say the further north you go, the greater the flood chances. That’s because of existing snowpack. In the Illinois Valley, the greatest flood chances lie along the Fox River between Montgomery and Dayton. Meanwhile, flood chances are up along the Illinois River and are near normal along the Vermillion River. This all said these, forecasts could change depending on how much rain is received over the coming weeks.
(contributed by David Kuharski, WGLC-FM)
Youth vs. Cancer
For the third straight year, area youngsters took up the fight against cancer. The Youth Versus Cancer event took place last Friday, and was sponsored by the Streator Community Center and Saint Anthony's School. This year's event was a lock-in event, whereas the previous two years was a Realy for Life-like event. S-C-C Director Jenny Malnar says the event went pass their goal for this year. She says they raised around $1200, with $900 left over after expenses, going past their goal of $800. Malnar says the money raised will go to the Streator Cancer Center. Events at Youth Versus Cancer included a charity jail cell, a bake sale, trivia, and more.
Streator CNA at Springfield Rally
A certified nurse assistant from Camelot Terrace was one of the speakers at a rally in Springfield yesterday for nursing home reform. Crystal Lopez joined the A-A-R-P and other groups to urge the Legislature to pass S-B six-85. She says the bill would make nursing home owners more accountable, provide staffing to take care of residents, and provide money for more timely inspections. Lopez says the current conditions at Camelot Terrace are 'deplorable', citing a leaky roof and mold build-up. She says workers have been ill because of the mold, and respitory issues have come up. Lopez says public health officials have visited the facility, and says they have cited the owner, Michael Lerner, but she says she is unsure about the status of the citations.
Car in Water
A Streator man was arrested and taken to the county jail after a one-vehicle accident yesterday morning. The LaSalle County Sheriff's Office says the accident occurred at around seven-oh-two A-M on North 12th, east of East 12th Road in Eagle Township. Authorities say the accident was a rollover accident, in which the vehicle was fully submerged upside down in the water. Authorities say Reading Fire and Advanced Medical Transport also responded to the scene. Authorities say deputies found the driver later on at his residence, and took him to the LaSalle County Jail, where he posted bond and was released. Authorities say the driver was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, vehicle damage, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, failure to report accident to police authority, improper lane usage, and operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.
Woodland Curriculum Changes
A lack of state funding is driving proposed changes to the curriculum at Woodland. Principal Deb Derby says nothing has been decided yet and nothing is final, but she says changes could occur from pre-kindergarten, all the way to the high school level. With a budget deficit of around 584-thousand dollars projected for next year, Derby says the decisions and proposals that could be made are not easy. She says the district is trying to keep longevity in the school, and be financially set for hte future. Derby says potential ideas include not hosting a pre-kindergarten program or reducing the amount of students they can enroll, a combination 4th and 5th grade classroom, combining the ag science classes from two down to one, and eliminating the elementary art position and adding elementary art to the other art position.
LaSalle County Broadband Initiative
An idea to change the way private and public sectors in LaSalle County gather information was presented at last night's County Board meeting. Board members heard a presentation about the LaSalle County Broadband Initiative, which would build a 184-mile fiber optic backbone throughout the county and give unrestricted high-speed broadband access via a connection with Northern Illinois University. Herb Kuryliw of N-I-U says schools, hospitals, businesses, agriculture, and more can connect to it. Kuryliw says there are potential economic gains for LaSalle County, based off of past successes. He says the city of Rochelle landed over $210 million dollars in construction for data centers that brought in 30 jobs. Kuryliw says the project would cost 22 million dollars without grant money, and costs around 200-thousand dollars to operate per year, but Kuryliw says that cost would be split amongst connected bodies. He says a decision on grant money could come in September, with expected installation of the fiber optic cable two years after that.
Mobile Home Taxes
The LaSalle County Treasurer's Office says the 2010 Tax Season is underway. That is because the office mailed out mobile home tax bills yesterday. The office says those tax bills are due on May 11th, and the penalty for late payment is 25 dollars per month, starting after the due date. The office says a payment by check, made out to 'LaSalle County Treasurer', can be mailed to 707 East Etna Road in Ottawa, or be placed in a payment drop off box in the east parking lto of the government complex. Anyone with questions is asked to call 434-8219.
IVCH Opens Visits
Illinois Valley Community Hospital has lifted its visitor restrictions. Last fall, IVCH put into place restrictions of visitors under the age of 18 in hopes of preventing the spread of swine flu to patients and workers. However, the hospital’s Debbie Patyk says the virus appears to be sporadic and most of the respiratory viruses medical workers are seeing aren’t influenza. Patyk says should the flu bug crop up again, the hospital is prepared to curtail visiting. The change means that the hospital’s ‘Voluteen’ and pet therapy programs can resume.
(contributed by David Kuarski, WGLC-FM)
Streator Save-A-Lot Closed
As of today, there is one less grocery store in Streator. Save-A-Lot in Northpoint Plaza was closed until further notice after yesterday, per a request by the LaSalle County Health Department and the Streator City Inspector. One of the co-owners of the business, Mike McGrogan, says it is due to a leaky roof that caused the saturation of ceiling tiles and insulation, and also caused part of the ceiling to collapse. The owner of the building that houses Save-A-Lot, Wayne Fieldman, says work on the roof is scheduled to begin today after the recent removal of ice build-up. Fieldman says as much work as allowed under the circumstances was done to it, and the roof has been looked at.
Too Many Plates
One local State Senator says enough is enough on specialty plates in Illinois. Chenoa Republican Dan Rutherford says more than 80 plates exist, and 12 more are being suggested for implementation this year. He says that creates problems for law enforcement, which he says, although they must approve the plates at first, it takes away time from more important issues. Rutherford says he has a better idea, a universal license plate. He says the plate has been on the books for 12 years, but the rules to implement it have yet to be enacted. Rutherford says the law would work by creating a specialty plate, and putting on a sticker to the corresponding, participating charitable agency.
St. Mary's Hope Chest
Saint Mary's Hosptial has announced the beginning of their Hope Chest campaign for this year. The Hope Chest is an effort by the hospital that is an alternative to an annual appeal. The Hope Chest comes in a booklet, and describes what the needs of the hospital are, and allows donors to make a contribute that matters to them most. The booklet contains items that the hospital says helps provide attentive and compassionate care to patients. Anyone wanting more information can call the Friends of Saint Mary's at 673-4535.
