Ottawa residents will be seeing a survey in their next water bill. During Tuesday night’s special Ottawa City Council meeting, Commissioner Brent Barron said the city continues looking into the types of pipes that deliver water and the survey will provide information to aid the investigation. Barron pointed out the lead pipes being used must be replaced by 2024. He said the survey will encourage residents to take photos of the pipes delivering water to their homes and then upload those pictures by following the instructions in the survey.
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Police departments throughout LaSalle County, including the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office and Illinois State Police, are part of the Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High. Get a DUI” enforcement efforts now through the holiday weekend. The campaign involves roadside safety checks, more officers on the road, and increased messaging about the dangers of impaired driving. In addition to looking for drunk drivers, patrol officers will be stepping up seat belt enforcement, particularly at night when seat belt usage rates are at their lowest. Police will also be looking for speeders and distracted drivers. The additional patrols through Monday night are made possible by federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
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State police are investigating a deadly crash in New Lenox. Authorities say the single-vehicle accident happened yesterday on I-355 at I-80. The vehicle lost control and went over the ramp to I-80 before rolling over multiple times. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
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Illinois is expanding access to mental health services for rural farmers and agricultural communities. Governor Pritzker announced funding for the Farm Family Resource Initiative. The program was created initially as a pilot program covering six Illinois counties providing telehealth mental health access in addition to a helpline. It will now be expanded to cover all 102 counties in the state. In addition to the telehealth helpline, family members can now access six free telehealth mental health sessions.
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State and local health officials are unable to determine the source of three Legionnaires’ disease cases in Findlay, Illinois. All three were reported between July 30th and August 4th. The Illinois Department of Public Health and Shelby County Health Department announced that testing on environmental samples hasn’t identified a definitive source of the exposure. Public health officials are continuing to monitor for additional cases.
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State Senator Win Stoller won’t seek a third term. The 37th District’s state senator said he is leaving office because his district has shifted “much further north.” Stoller was first elected in 2020 before being re-elected in 2022. The Republican’s current term ends in January 2025. Stoller’s district includes most of northwestern LaSalle County.
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LaSalle County Deputies stopped 57-year-old Michael Smith of LaSalle near U.S. 52 and East 12th Road in Freedom Township late Monday afternoon. Smith was cited for operating an uninsured motor vehicle and was released with a court date.
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59-year-old Ricky Dearing of Peru is charged with driving under the influence, illegal transportation of alcohol, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, having one headlight, and expired registration. Peru Police stopped Dearing Friday night at 6th and Orleans Streets. He was released on a notice to appear in court.
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Just after midnight Wednesday, LaSalle County Deputies responded to a call from 403 Uncas Street in Tonica on a domestic battery complaint. 29-year-old Dalton Turner was arrested for domestic battery and taken to the LaSalle County Jail.
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29-year-old Lizbeth Castillo of Spring Valley is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane usage, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Castillo was stopped by Peru Police early Sunday morning at U.S. 6 and Terminal Road.
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LaSalle County Deputies handled a domestic battery complaint just after 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday from a residence on East 18th Road in Leland Township. 41-year-old Denise Blanquet of Leland was taken to the LaSalle County Jail on a charge of domestic battery.
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34-year-old Carlie Craig of LaSalle is charged with retail theft after Peru Police investigated an incident Monday morning at Hyvee in Peru. Craig was released with a notice to appear in court.
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A Spring Valley woman was stopped by Peru Police near Sycamore Street and Shooting Park Road Sunday evening. 40-year-old Jamie Auchincloss is charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and possession of methamphetamine.
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A 34-year-old Ottawa woman is charged by Peru Police with retail theft. Carrie Quitno was arrested at Walmart Sunday evening.
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23-year-old Joshua Swietek of Spring Valley faces a charge of domestic battery. Peru Police arrested Swietek Friday evening at the north McDonald’s in Peru. He was taken to the LaSalle County Jail.
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A Peru man is charged with driving under the influence, driving in the wrong lane, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and expired registration. 64-year-old Michael Watts was stopped by Peru Police Friday night at 7th and Orleans Streets.
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WEATHER:
Today – Abundant sunshine. High 74F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight – Clear skies. Low 46F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
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OBITS:
Robert J. Pillion, 81, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, August 25, at his home. Visitation will be today from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Ottawa Funeral Home. A fire department walk-through will be at 4:30 p.m., with a Knights of Columbus service at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Columba Church. Burial will follow in St. Columba Cemetery.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Cross country
Boys – Ottawa 28, Seneca 48, Mendota 55 At Catlin Park in Ottawa, the Pirates opened their 2023 season with a home victory Tuesday scored by running to five of the top 11 individual finishes.
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Bulldogs run at Pontiac: Streator opened its season with the girls placing second, while the boy’s team came in fourth.
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Girls volleyball
Streator def. Herscher 23-25, 25-23, 25-22: At Pops Dale Gymnasium, the host Bulldogs Spikers (5-2-1 overall, 1-0 ICE) won their conference opener
Serena def. Hiawatha 25-17, 25-22: At Kirkland, the visiting Huskers pocketed the Little Ten triumph
Newark def. Hinckley-Big Rock 22-25, 25-9, 25-20: At Newark, the Norsemen (4-0 overall, 1-0 Little Ten) remained undefeated.
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Girls tennis
Coal City 3, Streator 2: At Streator, the host Bulldogs suffered a close defeat.
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Boys soccer
IVC 2, Ottawa 2: At Chillicothe the visiting Pirates tied the Grey Ghosts in the nonconference meeting.
Serena 5, Princeton 2: At Serena.
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JV girls tennis
Sycamore 4, Ottawa 1: At Sycamore.
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PRO SPORTS:
>>White Sox Collapse Late
(Baltimore, MD) — The White Sox surrendered eight combined runs in the seventh and eighth innings during a 9-3 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards. The game was tied at one heading into the bottom of the seventh before Baltimore struck for three runs to take the lead for good. Aaron Bummer was charged with the loss, while Lenyn Sosa hit his fifth home run in the losing effort. The Southsiders remain fourth in the AL Central at 52-and-81. Dylan Cease starts for Chicago against Baltimore today. In other team news, the Sox waived starting pitcher Mike Clevinger yesterday.
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>>CPD: Shooting At White Sox Game Likely Involved Gun Going Off Inside Ballpark
(Chicago, IL) — Chicago police are revealing more details about the shooting at the White Sox game last Friday. Interim Police Superintendent Fred Waller announced yesterday that the incident most likely involved a gun going off inside Guaranteed Rate Field. He added that CPD did initially request that the game be stopped after the shooting, but eventually allowed it to continue to not cause panic. One woman was shot in the leg and another woman suffered a graze wound to the stomach area.
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>>Cubs Blank Brewers To End Streak
(Chicago, IL) — The Cubs put an end to the Brewers’ win streak following a 1-0, shutout victory from Wrigley. Justin Steele earned his 15th win of the season after surrendering six hits while striking out eight batters over six innings. The bullpen allowed just one more hit over the final three frames as Adbert Alzolay notched his 22nd save. Cody Bellinger drove in the only run of the game in the first inning. Chicago improved to 70-and-62 and trails the Brew Crew for first place in the NL Central by four games. Kyle Hendricks mans the rubber for Chicago against Milwaukee this afternoon.
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>>Bears Cut Down Roster To 53 Players
(Lake Forest, IL) — The Bears made their final cuts of preseason yesterday. The team finalized its first 53-man roster of 2023 before the 3:00 PM deadline. Among the cuts were quarterback Nathan Peterman, tackle Aviante Collins, and cornerback Kindle Vildor. The Bears can make waiver claims today, and they will also start crafting their 16-man practice squad. Chicago kicks off the regular season against Green Bay on September 10th.