With the heavy highway travel expected for the Labor Day weekend, the Illinois Department of Transportation is opening lanes, where possible, in construction zones to minimize travel disruption. The non-emergency lane closures will be suspended beginning at 3:00 p.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. on Monday.
In LaSalle County, though, no changes in construction zones are expected. The temporary signals at the U.S. 34 bridge over Sutphen’s Run near Earlville will continue to handle the lane reduction. Also, southbound I-39 about five miles north of I-80 will have the lane reductions continue, as will I-80 over the Fox River at Ottawa between exits 90 and 93.
———————————————————————-
LaSalle County Treasurer Jim Spelich is reminding property owners that the deadline for the second installment of 2023 property taxes is next Wednesday, September 6th. The tax may be paid by credit card online at the treasurer’s website. Also at lasallecountytreasurer.com is a link to arrange for an e-check or automatic withdrawal from a checking or savings account. Financial institutions throughout the county will also accept payments no later than Saturday, September 9th. A 1.5% per month delinquency penalty begins Thursday, September 7th.
———————————————————————-
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is launching his Skip-the-Line program at certain DMVs today. Customers will be required to make appointments for in-person visits at 44 of the busiest DMVs, including all Chicago and suburban locations, for those seeking REAL ID, driver’s license and ID card services, and in-car driving tests. Appointments can be scheduled online or by phone. The program is designed to improve customer service and eliminate the unpredictability of wait times at Illinois DMVs.
———————————————————————-
The LaSalle County Health Department is confirming mosquitoes from Cedar Point tested positive for West Nile virus on August 30th. Jennie Osborn, Director of Environmental Health, says even though the fall months are arriving, mosquito activity and the threat of the spread of West Nile virus will continue until the first hard freeze. She stresses that insect repellant should continue to be used until the first cold temperatures are consistent.
———————————————————————-
Morris Hospital is introducing a new OB-GYN for patients in Ottawa, Morris, and Diamond. Dr. Yahaira Aramburo is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
———————————————————————-
White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is speaking out for the first time about a shooting a week ago at a White Sox game that left two women wounded. Reinsdorf said the team has gathered information about the incident and he sees “virtually no possibility that the gunshots came from within the ballpark.” His comments come after interim Chicago police Superintendent Fred Waller said earlier this week that investigators believe the gunfire originated inside Guaranteed Rate Field. A lawyer for one of the women also issued a statement this week, claiming his client didn’t bring a gun into the park and accidentally fired it.
———————————————————————-
South Elgin High School is mourning after two of its students were killed in a crash in suburban Bartlett. Police say a Honda Civic carrying four South Elgin High School students collided with a dump truck on Route 25. Two teens in the Honda died at the hospital, while two other girls and the driver of the truck were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The crash is under investigation.
———————————————————————-
The Boone County clerk and recorder are in legal trouble. Julie Bliss was arrested yesterday in Belvidere for theft of government property and official misconduct. The Boone County Board says an investigation was launched into Bliss in April after a county clerk’s office employee reported irregularities that were discovered in two of the County Clerk’s bank accounts.
———————————————————————-
Police are dealing with a wave of gun violence on Peoria’s south side. Four juveniles and two adults were sent to the hospital Wednesday night. Thursday morning, a man was found shot to death inside a home, while another man died at a hospital after suffering a gunshot wound at a south-side Peoria residence. The two deadly shootings are reportedly connected, but no further details were released.
———————————————————————-
An investigation is underway following a deadly stabbing in Joliet. Police say a woman was found stabbed to death yesterday inside an apartment. Her identity hasn’t been released and no arrests have been made.
———————————————————————-
Just after midnight Thursday, Ottawa firemen responded to a report of a car fire at 1100 Paul Street. The vehicle was heavily involved with no nearby exposure before being extinguished.
———————————————————————-
Mendota Police arrested 33-year-old Anna C. Sexton of Mendota Thursday night on a failure to appear warrant out of Lee County. Sexton posted bond and was released with a court date in Lee County.
———————————————————————-
39-year-old Crystal L. Wason was issued two city ordinance violations by Peru Police on Wednesday for weeds and property maintenance at 1514 Peru Street.
———————————————————————-
WEATHER:
Today
Sunny, with a high near 83. East wind around 5 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 10 mph.
Tonight
Clear, with a low of around 57. South wind around 5 mph.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low of around 63. South southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 92. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
———————————————————————-
OBITUARIES:
There are no new obituaries to report. You can read past obituaries on our website at 1430wcmy.com and click on the obituaries tab.
———————————————————————-
LOCAL SPORTS:
Football: Ottawa Pirates vs. Streator
Tonight is the 935/1430 WCMY game of the week. It will be our first Ottawa Pirates football game of the season and it will be a big one. As your Ottawa Pirtares take on the rival Streator Bulldogs at King Field. We will have a 6:30ish pre-game and a 7 p.m. kickoff with Bryer Lehr, and Andrew Evola with the call. Plus TonyB is back in the 935/1430 WCMY studio.
———————————————————————-
Marquette Crusaders will take on the Madison Trojans tonight at home.
———————————————————————-
Stay up to date on all Friday night scores on our news football widget at 1430wcmy.com click on the high school football tab.
———————————————————————-
Volleyball
Streator def. Reed-Custer 25-12, 25-19: At Streator, the Bulldogs shot past the Comets in the Illinois Central Eight Conference match on Thursday.
———————————————————————-
Marquette Academy def. Lowpoint-Washburn 25-17, 25-8: At Bader Gymnasium, the Crusaders rolled to the Tri-County Conference win over the Wildcats.
———————————————————————-
Seneca def. Midland 25-14, 25-13: At Seneca, the Fighting Irish improved to 5-3 on the season with the TCC victory over the Timberwolves.
———————————————————————-
Woodland def. St. Bede 25-12, 25-22: At Peru, behind 15 service points by Ella Derossett, the Warriors topped the Bruins.
———————————————————————-
Newark def. Earlville 25-15, 18-25, 25-8: At Earlville, the Norsemen stayed undefeated overall and in Little Ten Conference play with the victory over the Red Raiders.
———————————————————————-
Serena def. DePue 25-4, 25-7: At Serena, the Huskers picked up the Little Ten Conference triumph over the Little Giants.
———————————————————————-
Somonauk def. Sandwich 17-25, 26-24, 25-19: At Somonauk, the Bobcats bounced back after dropping the opening set to defeat the rival Indians.
———————————————————————-
Hiawatha def. Leland 15-25, 25-12, 25-23: At Leland, the Panthers fell just short in the LTC match with the Hawks.
———————————————————————-
Flanagan-Cornell def. Hall 25-19, 25-19: At Flanagan, the Falcons pick up their first win of the season against the Red Devils.
———————————————————————-
Boys soccer
Lisle 3, Streator 2: At Lisle, the Bulldogs battled, but fell short in their ICE match with the Lions.
———————————————————————-
Boys golf
IVC Invite: Ottawa senior Drake Kaufman continued his strong play, scoring a 1-over 73 to capture the individual title at the nine-team Illinois Valley Central Invite at Arrowhead Country Club in Edelstein.
———————————————————————-
Seneca 177, Marquette Academy 183: At Nettle Creek, the Fighting Irish slipped past the Crusaders by six strokes.
———————————————————————-
Girls golf
Princeton 214, Ottawa 240: At Wyaton Hills Golf Course, the Pirates dropped the dual to the Tigresses.
———————————————————————-
Seneca 217, Coal City 261: At The Creek in Morris, led by a medalist score of 49 from Addison Stiegler, the Fighting Irish improved to 5-0 on the season Wednesday with the victory over the Coalers.
———————————————————————-
JV volleyball
Marquette def. Lowpoint-Washburn: At Bader Gym
———————————————————————-
JV girls tennis
Geneseo JV 4, Ottawa 1: The lone Pirates victory came for the No. 3 doubles team of Laurel Fisher and Rhoin Zopp.
Ottawa 4, Geneseo F/S 1:
———————————————————————-
PRO SPORTS:
>>White Sox Host Tigers
(Chicago, IL) — The White Sox look to get a winning streak going when they host the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field tonight. The Southsiders are coming off a series loss against the Orioles that saw them drop two of three. Chicago is in fourth place in the AL Central at 53-and-81. Touki Toussaint starts for the Sox tonight.
———————————————————————-
>>Getz Becomes New White Sox General Manager
(Chicago, IL) — The White Sox have their new roster-builder. The club promoted Chris Getz to become its general manager yesterday. Getz had been Chicago’s director of player development. The 40-year-old played second base for the Sox in 2008 and 2009, and he was in the MLB through 2014. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf says he selected Getz because he loved the way he handled minor-league development. He takes over the responsibilities of Kenny Williams and Rick Hahn, who were both fired in August.
———————————————————————-
>>Cubs Have Doubleheader Against Reds
(Cincinnati, OH) — The Cubs will try to pull away from Cincinnati Reds in the NL Wild Card race when the two teams play a doubleheader against one another today at Great American Ball Park. The Cubs are up three games on Cincinnati and currently occupy the second of three Wild Card spots. Jordan Wicks starts for Chicago in the first game.
———————————————————————-
>>Notre Dame Takes On Tennessee State
(South Bend, IN) — The number-13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish have their home opener against Tennessee State at Notre Dame Stadium tomorrow. The Irish are coming off a 42-3 rout of Navy in Ireland last weekend. Notre Dame is 1-and-0 to begin the season. Tomorrow’s game kicks off at 2:30 PM Central time.
———————————————————————-
>>Illinois Welcomes Toledo
(Champaign, IL) — The Illinois Fighting Illini open up the 2023 college football season with a game against Toledo at Memorial Stadium tomorrow. The Illini are looking to build off an 8-and-5 season that saw them go 5-and-4 in Big Ten action. This will be the first time that Illinois has gone up against Toledo. Tomorrow’s game begins at 6:30 p.m.
———————————————————————-
>>Northwestern Visits Rutgers
(Piscataway, NJ) — The Northwestern Wildcats will try to put a tumultuous summer behind them when they visit Rutgers at SHI Stadium on Sunday. Northwestern fired head coach Pat Fitzgerald during the offseason after an investigation into hazing in his program. David Braun now leads the Wildcats, and he’ll try to improve upon a disastrous 2022 campaign. Northwestern was 1-and-11 overall and 1-and-8 in the Big Ten last season. Sunday’s game gets underway at 11:00 AM.
———————————————————————-
>>College Football Round-Up
(Updated) — In college football action yesterday, Valparaiso lost to Youngstown 52-10. Tomorrow, Northern Illinois visits Boston College, and Illinois State hosts Dayton.
———————————————————————-
>>Bears Bring Back Peterman
(Lake Forest, IL) — The Bears are bringing back a familiar face to back-up Justin Fields. The team signed Nathan Peterman to its 53-man roster yesterday. Peterman spent the 2023 camp with the Bears but was cut on Tuesday. He passed for 139 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in three appearances last season. In other team news, the Bears named Justin Fields, Eddie Jackson, DJ Moore, and Tremaine Edmunds as their team captains yesterday.