Diseased & damaged trees being removed from state park
Twenty-four diseased and damaged trees are being removed from Illini State Park. The part of the park where trees are being removed is closed to protect the public.
|
Rolling tire blamed for stopping westbound Interstate 80 traffic Monday
A tire that had rolled into the westbound lane of Interstate 80 near the Utica exit is what caused traffic to be stopped for a while Monday afternoon.
|
LaSalle County Board Chairman supports broadband project
The sales pitch for the LaSalle County Broadband Initiative was made to the full LaSalle County Board last night.
Ottawa Director of Economic Development Reed Wilson and network architect Herb Kuryliw presented the plan they've pitched to local governing bodies recently, including the city of Ottawa.
|
Health study shows room for improvement in LaSalle County
A recent study by the University of Wisconsin ranks LaSalle County as among the worst in the state for health factors and outcomes. The study tabulated numbers for premature deaths, disease, binge drinking, traffic crashes, crime, and numerous other things in 101 counties.
|
Ottawa Fire Dept. getting air packs with federal grant
Twenty user friendly air packs are being bought by the Ottawa Fire Department with a Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency grant for $113,620. The air tanks are bigger but lighter than the nearly 20-year old air packs the fire department uses now.
|
Ottawa Fire Chief proposes increasing out-of-town ambulance fees
Ottawa City Commissioner of Public Health and Safety Ed Whitney said at last week’s City Council meeting that the city is having trouble collecting ambulance fees, especially from out-of-town residents.
Ottawa Fire Chief Jim Duback is proposing increasing out-of-town fees to help combat that problem.
|
Two drivers in fair condition after double DUI wreck
Two drivers hurt in a head-on crash in northeast LaSalle County early Sunday were in fair condition Monday morning at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Rockford. Thirty-one year old Daniel J. Cassin of Somonauk and 27-year old Randy M. Vineyard of Sandwich are each charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
|
Fire mess at radio station mostly cleaned up
A plastic bucket with cigarette butts and sand in it melted, and a wood column inside the radio station garage was charred. No one was hurt,
|
IVCC getting ready for Ottawa Center's opening
The Illinois Valley Community College Ottawa Center is still being remodeled, but the college is getting eager to show what it’s going to do there. At Ottawa City Hall Monday, March 8 and Thursday, March 11, college officials will put on information sessions.
|
Mayors urge compliance with census
Census forms will arrive in the mail in the next week or so. At least two local mayors suspect not everyone in their cities got counted in the past.
|
Seneca High School to hold open house for St. Patrick's Day
The school whose logo and team names are all about the Irish will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by showing off its newly remodeled cafeteria.
|
Two drivers hurt in head-on crash; both charged with DUI
Authorities say both drivers involved in a head-on wreck south of Somonauk this morning were under the influence of alcohol and one was also under the influence of drugs.
|
Nuclear reactor online again
The LaSalle Station Unit 1 nuclear reactor was turned on Saturday after a one-month refueling shutdown. That type of shutdown is done every two years.
|
County saving money with fewer meetings
Paying LaSalle County Board members for going to meetings from December 2008 to February 2009 cost $29,872.80. During the same three months a year later, the cost is $22,472.20. Auditor Jody Wilkinson says cutting the number of committees from 22 to 17 is why.
|
Pluto book author to visit Streator City Hall Friday
MSNBC Science Editor Alan Boyle will be a guest speaker at a special event at Streator City Hall Friday called “The Case for Pluto”. Boyle wrote a book with that exact name and has won awards.
|
Illinois State Police release special patrol results for February
Four tickets were given to people last month for allegedly driving drunk, two tickets were written for illegal transportation of alcohol while one underage person got a ticket for the state’s zero tolerance law.
|
Heads will be shaved at Jeremiah Joe's next Saturday for St. Baldrick's
Next Saturday, 150 to 200 people are going to walk into Jeremiah Joe’s in Ottawa and willingly get their head shaved. That’s because of the annual St. Baldrick’s head shaving fundraiser.
|
Crashes and creativity featured at the IVCC Edible Car Conteset
The scene at the Illinois Valley Community College cafeteria looked more like the aftermath of a food fight than a series of car races. But, those that were there earlier during the IVCC Edible Car contest got to see the latest in edible automotives in action.
|
Fire damages wood beam and bucket inside WCMY garage
Fire melted a plastic bucket and charred a wood beam in the WCMY-WRKX Radio garage Friday afternoon. The fire department says the fire was reported as a possible electrical fire just after 3pm.
|
City to spend $35,000 to study tree planting
Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach says if you want to use the state’s cash, you have to follow the state’s rules. The City Council this week placed on file a $35,000 contract with Robinson Engineering to study what kind of trees to plant and where.
|
It's official: Brady will be GOP nominee for Governor
State Senator Bill Brady has clinched the GOP nomination for governor.
Executive Director of the Illinois State Board of Elections Dan White confirmed the final vote totals Friday morning for the February 2nd primary.
|
Exelon Nuclear gets bad news from LaSalle County Board of Review
Exelon Nuclear did not get the news it wanted to hear from LaSalle County’s Board of Review Friday.
Instead of the LaSalle County Board of Review saying LaSalle Station's assessed property value is less than $505 million, it said that it's actually worth more than that.
|
Illinois House Democrats and Republicans offer different ways to tackle budget c
Republicans and Democrats laid out different plans yesterday to help the state work to climb out of its budget hole.
|
Handgun bill heading to Illinois House floor
A bill to regulate the sale of handguns in Illinois passed out of the House Executive Committee this week.
Chicago Democrat Harry Osterman introduced the bill in case the U-S Supreme Court declared Chicago's handgun ban unconstitutional.
|
Ilinois State Board of Education Superintendent warns of teacher layoffs
Illinois' State Board of Education Superintendent says huge teacher layoffs will arise if the state does not increase funding to schools, and even more will lose their jobs if a plan to cut spending by ten-percent is passed.
|
Stimulus money sought for LaSalle County broadband plan
The LaSalle County Broadband Initiative is applying for federal stimulus money to fund a $22 million investment in fiber-optics and faster Internet connections than are available locally now. A 30% local match would be required.
|
Goodwill hopes to open store in Ottawa
A major international organization wants to find out of Ottawa can support another secondhand clothing and household goods store. Goodwill Industries wants to open a store on Ottawa’s far north side. Mayor Bob Eschbach says it’ll be another good investment along Stevenson Rd.
|
Ottawa parks plan needs update
Ottawa’s parks plan is in for an update. After about eight years, Public Property Commissioner Wayne Eichelkraut says the plan needs a new look.
|
Marseilles Area Ambulance Service now a Paramedic Unit
Anyone in the Marseilles area that needs an ambulance ride to the hospital will now be in more highly-trained hands.
That’s because the Marseilles Area Ambulance Service has been upgraded by the Illinois Department of Public Health to a Paramedic Unit.
|
Senior citizen water bill discounts asked for
A member of the public speaking at the Marseilles City Council meeting Wednesday night suggested the city have a senior citizen water bill discount. Public Property Commissioner Jim Buckingham says he can think about it.
|
Marseilles City Council resolution supports Bentz auto dealership
The coming losses of a new car dealership and tax revenue have spurred the Marseilles City Council to pass a resolution in support of Terry Bentz Buick. The resolution says the Bentz dealership and family have had an excellent reputation as honest business people, and having them in town has been good for Marseilles.
|
OGS board clears one step of design process for new school
Another step in the process for getting a new school for Central Students ready to open in January 2012 has been cleared.
|
 |
| Illinois State Police found cocaine under chair seats |
California man arrested near Utica on cocaine trafficking charges
A California man that was arrested at the Utica exit on Interstate 80 Tuesday is facing 15 to 60 years in prison for trafficking cocaine.
Illinois State Police say that 37 year old Jesus Manuel Ramirez was caught with 13 kilograms, or 36 pounds, of cocaine.
|
IVCH lifts restrictions on visitors as H1N1 scare winds down
The restriction on visitors ages 18 and under at Illinois Valley Community Hospital has been lifted this week.
IVCH infection control coordinator Deb Patyk says flu activity in general is down and that’s why the restriction is lifted.
|
Cong. Halvorson wants Cong. Rangel to step aside as Ways & Means chairman
Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) says New York Congressman Charlie Rangel should step aside from the chairman’s job on the House Ways and Means Committee. That’s after the House Ethics Committee found that Rangel violated a House rule against accepting corporate sponsored travel.
|
Water & sewer contractor chosen for extension serving Heritage Harbor
The Ottawa City Council Tuesday night approved the low bid from Steve Spiess Construction for the work.
|
Asbestos removal contractor chosen for IVCC Ottawa center
It’ll cost $29,046 to remove asbestos from the Centrue Bank building that’s being turned into the Illinois Valley Community College Ottawa center.
|
Ottawa High School gearing up for Music Sweepstakes this Saturday
The 13 year winning streak for the Ottawa Township High School music department is on the line beginning Saturday.
The high school is hosting the Illinois High School Association’s first half of the annual Music Sweepstakes.
|
Class action denied in Grundy County property tax case
Class action suits aren’t allowed under Illinois law and the Third District Appellate Court in Ottawa isn’t going to make an exception. Judges William Holdridge, Tom Lytton, and Mary McDade have ruled against allowing class action status in a Grundy County property tax objection that has a lot in common with a LaSalle County case.
|
Ottawa mayor considering tweaks to liquor ordinance after meeting with licensees
The City Council meeting two weeks from now might be when Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach announces what changes he wants to make to the city’s liquor license ordinance. The mayor and the city’s liquor license holders met behind closed doors at City Hall Monday night.
|
Streator native Clyde Tombaugh to be featured on WTTW-TV tonight
If you live or have been to Streator, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Clyde Tombaugh.
Now, the world is going to find out about Tombaugh tonight.
That’s because WTTW Channel 11 will be airing “The Pluto Files”, which looks into Tombaugh’s discovery of the former 9th planet.
|
Ottawa budget process begins
The Ottawa City Council began the annual budgeting process Monday. Mayor Bob Eschbach says the economy’s still bad and the money’s still tight, so spending had better be careful.
|
Convicted murderer to get new trial
A new trial has been ordered for convicted murderer James Alvarado. The 43-year old Streator man is serving a 45-year prison sentence for the October 2006 shooting death of his 35-year old wife Angela. Appellate judges Vicki Wright and Mary McDade wrote that Alvarado’s trial before Judge H. Chris Ryan was unfair.
|
Preliminary design of IVCC Community Tech Center approved
The new Community Technology Center at Illinois Valley Community College has a bright future ahead of it.
That’s because the IVCC Board of Trustees approved last week the final design concept for the building.
|
Budget, liquor license meetings at Ottawa City Hall
The Ottawa City Council Monday begins budgeting for the new fiscal year that starts May 1. A budget workshop open to all City Council members is scheduled for 1pm on March 1 at City Hall. Another meeting at 5pm will be for Mayor Bob Eschbach and the city’s liquor license holders.
|
Republican candidate in 11th district says he's more in touch with the people th
One campaign issue in the 11th Congressional district this year is likely to be who’s in touch with the people. Adam Kinzinger (R-Bloomington) says he’s held in-person town hall meetings so people can talk to him, but incumbent Debbie Halvorson (D-Crete) has not.
|
Sheriffs departments offering college scholarships
One scholarship worth $500 will be awarded by LaSalle County Sheriff Tom Templeton this year for a student going to college next school year.
|
Time to get applications for Emergency Food and Shelter Funding
Emergency Food and Shelter Fund money can be applied for until Wednesday next week. But the United Way of Eastern LaSalle County wants organizations asking for the money to get their applications by this Thursday. The Ottawa based United Way chapter has $99,000 from the federal program this year.
|
Agriculture scholarships available from state treasurer
High school seniors who want to study agriculture in college are invited to apply for ag scholarships through the Illinois Treasurer’s Office. Students who live in Illinois and have grade point averages of 2.75 or better during the 2009-2010 school year can apply.
|
Halvorson nominates man from Ottawa to U.S. Naval Academy
Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson has announced the 15 people from her district she’s nominating for U.S. Military Academies.
Among the inductees was Joseph Finn of Ottawa.
The Crete Democrat nominated Finn to the United States Naval Academy.
|
Ottawa Regional partners with Central Illinois Radiological Associates
Ottawa Regional Hospital has gotten serious about improving and expanding its radiology services.
It has contracted with Central Illinois Radiological Associates to help speed up that process.
|
"The Odd Couple" hatched open more than just a few laughs in Ottawa
Like the song by Ottawa group “Fishsticks and Milk” goes, Ottawa has been serious fun in the past year for Howard “Kim” Johnson.
Johnson says last year’s performance of “The Odd Couple” has really led to good things for the community.
Johnson says he’s willing
|
What's next for Howard "Kim" Johnson and Walt Willey?
Howard “Kim” Johnson and Walt Willey might have created a monster.
Since last year’s hit play “The Odd Couple”, Johnson says the outpouring of interest in community theater has exploded.
So, what's next for Ottawa's theatre superheroes?
|
LaSalle County EMA CERT classes begin Wednesday
Wednesday will be the first day of Community Emergency Response Team classes at the basement of the Etna Road Courthouse.
The classes are hosted by the LaSalle County Emergency Response Team to train people for basic disaster response training.
|
Settlement approved in five year old lawsuit against nursing home
An area nursing home and a man who sued it settled the lawsuit for $100,000 this month. After attorney fees and bill payments, a son of Muriel Reiker will get just under $48,000. Reiker’s family sued Rivershore Care Center in Marseilles in 2005, claiming the woman suffered skin sores and deteriorating health while there.
|
$4 million verdict in fatal traffic crash case
A $4 million verdict was awarded by a LaSalle County jury in a wrongful death case this week. Forty-four year old William A. Hinds of Springfield fell asleep while driving his tractor trailer truck on Interstate 39 southbound approaching a construction zone north of U.S. 6 in December 2007. The multi-vehicle crash that followed claimed three lives and hurt seven other
|
Illinois Senate Democrats counter Republican redistricting bill
After Republicans rolled out a plan to change the way legislative districts are drawn in Illinois last week, Senate Democrats countered with a plan of their own Thursday.
|
Fight over red light cameras in Illinois continues
A bipartisan group of State Senators is making a push to do away red light cameras across the state while others think that they should stay...under certain conditions.
Supporters of the bill
|
