Illiana Area News as new month gets underway:
@ Iroquois County employees picket for fair wages…
@ Hoopeston teachers reach accord, vote likely today…
@ Kankakee County finances disputed…
* Members of AFSCME Local 3312 in Iroquois County are staging informational pickets today. Employees are seeking fair wages and want the public to show support. Pickets are going up at the Watseka courthouse during the noon hour. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union represents a majority of office personnel in several county offices. The union reports ongoing contract negotiations for employees in the Circuit Clerks' Office have come to a standstill. Wages are the only unresolved issue.
* Teachers and support personnel in the Hoopeston Area School District have a new contract. A vote is expected today. A new pact was reached during a marathon 12-hour negotiating session that ended at 6 am Tuesday. A federal mediator was involved. There were informational pickets set up at the Hoopeston Area High School as talks began Monday night. Teachers did remain on the job even though their contract expired eight-months ago.
* Republicans and Democrats in Kankakee County are at odds over finances. As the election draws near, several contested county board seats are at stake in the November 7th election. Republicans Tuesday reacted to questions araised by Democratic board members, who said figures show the county government is suffering financially. But County Board Chairman Karl Kruse pointed to numbers from Democratic County Auditor Debra Woodruff that show any troubles are the result of the state not making payments. Kruse said state payments are sometimes 14-months behind.
* Iroquois Memorial Hospital has a new Chief Financial Officer. Thomas Parish has been named Vice President and CFO.
* Gibson Area Hospital reports its Radiology Department raised over $1,000 to help fight breast cancer during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Proceeds went to the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, dedicated to education and research.
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