Exelon honors Streator resident for his work with FFA
Thomas Parcher was given a merit award and $5,000 for his volunteer service with Streator Township High School’s FFA.
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Roger Amm legacy: achieving the best by being inclusive, not selective
It didn’t matter if you were the best. Retiring Ottawa High School choir director Roger Amm could bring out your best.
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Marseilles Elementary students to graduate next to the river
Principal Jeff Owens says thanks to some generous donations, they’ll have the first outdoor graduation in Marseilles’ history.
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Mediacom's digital upgrade has begun
Spokeswoman Phyllis Peters says some channels were switched from analogue to digital on Wednesday and another change is happening on May 29.
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Girl Scouts planning flood relief event
The Girl Scouts of Central Illinois have planned a flood relief event at Celebrations 150 next month. They’ll have a contest for who can make the best desserts inspired by Girl Scout cookies.
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Traffic light and canal re-watering agreements approved
The Ottawa City Council this week approved agreements with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
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PADS to expand in Ottawa
The Ottawa City Council this week approved a deal with the PADS homeless shelter to rent a second part of the building it’s in on Clinton St.
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Bid process open for old Central demolition
Ottawa City Hall is taking bids for demolishing the old Central School. Contractors can submit bids until June 25th.
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No deal yet for Wallce Twp. ambulance service
The Ottawa City Council and Wallace Township Board of Trustees are still trying to work out a deal for the city to provide ambulance service to the township. Township voters have twice voted against a tax increase to pay for it, but state law requires the township to provide some kind of service.
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Annual open house is Sunday at fire station
The Ottawa Fire Department is having its annual open house and Fire Fighter Memorial Day event Sunday at 10am.
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Ottawa commissioner considering ending leaf vacuum program
How important is Ottawa’s leaf vacuum program? Streets Commissioner Dale Baxter is proposing getting rid of it. But the city would still provide another way to get rid of leaves.
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FEMA opens disaster recovery center in Marseilles
A disaster recovery center has been opened up inside the Marseilles Fire Department building. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will run it from 9am to 7pm every day.
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Streator man killed in motorcycle and tractor crash
A 65-year old Streator man was thrown off his motorcycle Wednesday afternoon and died. Jerry Trenor hit a tractor that was turning in front of him.
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Marseilles City Hall wants info on repair plans
A tough sounding letter issued by Marseilles City Hall is making a bad impression. To some people, it says they have 30 days to figure out what to do with their flood damaged homes or the city will take their property.
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Ottawa Day in Joliet will raise money for Easter Seals
An Easter Seals for LaSalle and Bureau Counties fundraiser will be held in Joliet on Sunday, June 30th. It’ll be Ottawa Day at Silver Cross Field where the Joliet Slammers minor league baseball team will play the Schaumburg Boomers.
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Marseilles Elementary School wonâÂÂt be ready for students in the fall
One of the decisions the school board must make soon is whether or not to go forward with a plan to use portable classrooms in the fall. That way the students could at least be back in Marseilles again.
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Marseilles flood relief fund being distributed
About 200 Marseilles households affected by last month’s flood are eligible for $150 each from a special flood relief fund set up at Marseilles Bank.
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Police could easily handle DUI blood alcohol level drop
The National Transportation Safety Board is recommending dropping 0.08% to 0.05% when police test people’s breath to find out if they’re driving drunk. State Police Trooper Craig Graham says the blood alcohol level actually doesn’t matter in some cases.
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Ottawa's botanical arts market changes venues
The first ever botanical arts market in Ottawa has been moved from the Jordon Block to Jackson Street next to farmers market.
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Huge traffic delays in Seneca this weekend
Over 15,000 people will descend upon Seneca this weekend for a race called the Tough Mudder.
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FEMA says don't assume. Apply instead to find out if you can get aid
FEMA Public Affairs spokesman Dick Gifford says a lot of people in disaster areas assume they don’t qualify instead of finding out for sure.
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Rock dike done, water drawdown ending at dam
The rock dike at the Marseilles dam is done. About 42,000 tons of rock put in the river will help slow water flow through a broken part of the dam.
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YSB gets grant for overcoming young adult homelessness
Executive Director Dave McClure says it’s not for renting homes just to get teens and young adults off the streets. Those accepted into the program are expected take charge of themselves and get out of the program successfully.
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Letter carriers collect over 12,000 pounds of food
The people of Ottawa donated 9,000 pounds of food Saturday during the annual postal food drive.
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Canal re-watering a long way off
The Illinois National Guard will re-slope some of the ground in the Illinois and Michigan Canal in Ottawa to get it ready to hold water again. That’s part of a canal re-watering plan Mayor Bob Eschbach has been putting together since he became mayor.
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Marseilles mayor confident of city's rebound
Marseilles Mayor Patti Smith says she hears the contractor at work 24 hours a day building that temporary rock dike at the dam that needs repair. She says the community's best came out during the flood.
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Internet access available at Marseilles City Hall
A computer with internet access has been set up at Marseilles City Hall for people to register for FEMA’s disaster assistance online.
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New web site will let people pay fines online
LaSalle County Circuit Clerk Andy Skoog is about ready to launch a web site that lets people take care of some court business online.
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