PEORIA — Let the celebration begin.  Salt Fork has won a state championship in boys' basketball.

The Storm polished off its run to the top with a 55-42 win against Sesser-Valier in Saturday's Class 1A title game.

For the scoop from Fred Kroner, who is sitting courtside at Carver Arena, click here

PEORIA — Salt Fork is one win away from a boys' basketball state championship.

The Storm used a fourth-quarter spurt to pull away from Lanark Eastland 48-38 in Friday's Class 1A semifinal at Carver Arena. Salt Fork advanced to Saturday's 2 p.m. game against the winner of today's second semifinal pitting Madison and Sesser-Valier.

For details from today's game, read Fred Kroner's game blog here

CATLIN – Pick your favorite moment thus far from Salt Fork's unparalleled boys' basketball season.

– The second-half comeback against Georgetown-Ridge Farm that resulted in a repeat championship in the Vermilion County tournament;

– The February Tuesday when the program was voted the No. 1 team in the state for the first time in Class 1A;

– Winning the Vermilion Valley Conference title with an unbeaten record;

– Winning the super-sectional for the first time three days ago;

Prep sports coordinator Fred Kroner's thoughts as he prepares for Friday's two Class 1A boys' basketball state semifinal games in Peoria:

SALT FORK VS. LANARK EASTLAND

Ask prep sports coordinator about Salt Fork's chances in Peoria, Centennial's chances against Springfield Southeast and Rayvonte Rice's chances of winning Mr. Basketball. Submit questions for his 12:30 p.m. chat by clicking here

GEORGETOWN — School officials cut $604,000 in staff, programs and materials from the upcoming school year on Monday in an effort to prepare for a drop in state funding.

Superintendent Greg Irwin said he was preparing for a $620,000 reduction in general state aid next year — a “worst-case scenario” that he said was entirely possible.

According to Irwin, from July 1, 2009 to Jan. 31, 2010, the state has fallen behind $351,858 in payments to the district. The state also still owes the district about $500,000 from the previous fiscal year.

The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued a dense fog advisory through 10 a.m. Tuesday for East Central Illinois.

The weather service said a dense fog is expected to develop Monday evening and continue through mid-morning on Tuesday.

Expect visibility to be one quarter mile or less, with hazardous driving conditions common on Monday night.

Motorists are asked to slow down, use their headlights and leave plenty of distance between themselves and the next vehicle.

GEORGETOWN – School officials voted Monday to sell about $2 million in bonds to generate money for the district and to restructure some older, higher-interest bonds.

DANVILLE – The Vermilion County Board could make things more difficult for the Vermilion County Health Department Tuesday night if the board does not extend a $300,000 loan the department owes the county.

The loan was made to the health department last year to help with its state-caused cash flow problems. The department has been unable to pay back the loan, so the board, which has extended the loan once, now must consider whether to extend it again.

DANVILLE – Later this month, Alice Gasper will turn 86, and she'll likely celebrate as she usually does, eating pizza with her son in her home.

Last year, Gasper's home health care worker, Lori Rouse, also brought pizza to celebrate Gasper's birthday. It wasn't a work visit, but one of the extra visits made by Rouse, who also drives a school bus.