NEWS NOTES ON WGFA for Wednesday, August 20, 2008 >

Pontiac prison hearing today…. Governor signs 09 Hospital Assessment into law…. Iroquois County Board appointments….. Wind Farm OK’d in Woodford County….

Early-morning fog, then mostly sunny, high near 85. East winds at 10-15.

–More area news on the links at WGFARADIO.COM–

• Dozens of people are expected to speak at a public hearing today in Pontiac. A state commission considering a plan to close the central Illinois prison will allow people to have their say during the hearing at Pontiac Township High School. The session starts at 5 pm. Doors open at 4 pm. Most of the people are expected to tell the commission that closing the 137-year-old Correctional Center will devastate the city of 12,000. The prison is Pontiac’s second-largest employer.
• A new Illinois law brings in millions of federal dollars to state hospitals and allows for care for Medicaid patients. Governor Rod Blagojevich has signed into law the 2009 Hospital Assessment. SB 2857 had overwhelming supports in both the House and Senate.
• House Bill 4297 has won approval. It’s legislation that allows the Illinois Hospice to provide better care to those in need of their services. State Rep Bill Black was one of the bill’s sponsors.
• Three appointments to the Iroquois Community Mental Health 708 Board have been approved by the Iroquois County Board. Chuck Schmidt of Milford, Seiri Schippert of Cissna Park and Brenna Johnson of Watseka were all OK’d. Their terms will expire in 2011. Several others were also appointed to serve seats on Drainage Districts.
• A unique marketing approach to selling a home ? How about a sky box at a Bulls or Blackhawks game ? Bill Guertin (known as the 800-pound gorilla) and his wife are offering a sky box bonus in addition to their 4-bedroom home in Bourbonnais. Bill tells WGFA News the slow housing market stirred up his thinking. Bill says the buyer can enjoy his home and enjoy a party with 20 friends.

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