ILLIANA NEWS NOTES on WGFA for Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008 >
Free T-Giving Dinner…. Two Benton County schools closed today, water problems….. Pace considers mayoral run….. Economy hits Carle…. DACC considers wind farm degree…..
Illiana Weather — Partly sunny, high near 36. NW wind around 15 mph.
– Boys and Girls Prep holiday Basketball this week in Illiana –
Bishop McNamara High School wants no one going hungry during Thanksgiving. For the 20th straight year, Bishop McNamara Catholic High will serve Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. The meal will be served at noon on the McNamara campus, 500 W. Brookmont Boulevard in Kankakee. The doors will close at 12:30 p.m. There is no cost, but reservations must be made by calling (815) 933-7620. Arrangements for delivery can also be made by calling this number, and persons interested in volunteering at the event can also call the number as well.
Water problems have closed two Benton Community Schools today (Tuesday. Benton Central Junior Senior High School and Prairie Crossing Elementary School will be closed. Superintendent Ross Sloat says the drinking water at the two schools tested positive for bacteria on Friday.
He says Benton Schools followed state guidelines, which require more testing for accuracy, before shutting off the water.
Otterbein and Boswell Elementary Schools will still have classes Tuesday.
Theodis Pace is considering another run for Kankakee mayor. But unlike an independent run back in 1993, this time he plans to run as a democrat. Should he make the run, he will run against Nickey Yates and Robert Ellington-Snipes in the February primary election. On the Republican side, Nina Epstein and Tim Schmidt will face off in a primary. The winners will compete in the April general election. (Daily-Journal)
Danville Area Community College officials hope to launch a new associate degree program that would prepare students for a high-tech, high-paying, high-demand career in one of the fastest-growing segments of the energy industry – wind energy. Trustees today (Tues) will vote on whether to offer a wind-energy technician associate degree program at the campus. If the DACC and Illinois Community College boards sign off on the program, it could be ready by the fall 2009 semester. Highland Community College in Freeport is the only community college in Illinois offering this type of program, and Rock Valley College in Rockford is developing one.
Carle Clinic laid off 21 employees Monday, citing a need to cut staff expenses. The affected employees were primarily in “manager-level” and support-service positions, according to a statement from the clinic. No employees providing hands-on patient care were affected, the statement added. Executive Vice President Mike Bukosky said, “Despite making other operational cuts, it remains necessary to reduce staff.” Employees will be eligible for severance payments, based on years of service. They will be eligible for rehire, but will be provided outplacement assistance and career counseling. In early October, the Carle Foundation eliminated 72 of its 3,060 positions. The jobs were not those directly affecting patient care.
