OTTAWA A COLLEGE TOWN

At long last, Illinois Valley Community College will open a satellite campus in Ottawa.

Several prominent Ottawa civic leaders were involved in the organization of the IVCC district years ago. There was some discussion about location at the time, and now, decades later, Ottawa will finally have part of a community college campus.

Congratulations to city and IVCC leaders, donors to the project, and Centrue Bank.

Now for the really important part of the deal. It would be nice to have the Eagles and Lady Eagles play a couple of basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball games over this way every year. However, it might take a lot to alter facilities enough for community college competition.

Long-standing rivalries aside, it will be nice to have classrooms and other facilities to offer more Ottawa, Marseilles and Streator students an opportunity to attend community college classes.

We've got a lot of pride in our communities on this side of the district too, you know.

CENTRAL SCHOOL?

If a new fifth- and sixth-grade school is built adjacent to the Shepherd Middle School campus on Ottawa's southeast side, can it still be called Central School?

Central School Southeast? Nah! South School? How about Shepherd Fifth and Sixth Annex? Not likely. Well then, maybe — never mind.

It could be named for former superintendents or principals.

Note to the school board: be thinking about it please; tradition is important.

BARBIE AND BARNEY BACKLASH DAY

Must've missed this one. Noticed an article in The Chicago Tribune last week that the 16th was officially the day for parents to rid their homes of all those annoying Barbie and Barney toys. The idea was to make room for all the new stuff for Christmas.

Better hang on to those old Cabbage Patch dolls and Chia Pet stuff. They could be collectables.

Wonder what Mom did with the TV lamp she got in 1957?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

There's a lot to be merry about this holiday season.

Next year Illinois voters will fix a corrupt Illinois state government? Maybe?

Illinois is 45th on the happiness scale. It's better than 50th.

Most people have good health, jobs, a roof, food and loving families.

Yeah it was a tough year for the Cubs, Notre Dame and the University of Illinois, among others.

For those a little unsettled this year. It'll get better.

Now, pass the eggnog.

• JIM FRENCH of Ottawa is retired after 43 years in radio broadcasting, including 33 years in Ottawa. You may reach Jim through The Times by e-mailing newsroom@mywebtimes.com.