One person is dead after an accident this morning in Rutland Township. The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office says the Coroner has been called to the scene on Illinois 71 near North 32nd Road near Rutland School. Sheriff’s Deputies confirmed the accident involved one vehicle and a pedestrian. LaSalle County says more details will be available later today.
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State leaders are working to make Illinois roads safer. The effort comes nearly a month after a crash along I-40 in Teutopolis that left five people dead. Officials are calling for updated GPS detour information to coincide with active construction detours. A bill introduced in both the Illinois House and Senate would require Google and Apple to have someone available around the clock to update GPS maps.
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The La Salle County Coroner has released the number of July deaths in La Salle County: one accidental, three motor vehicle, two natural causes, and two overdoses. Year-to-date deaths: ten accidental, nine motor vehicle, 26 natural causes, 13 suicides, two homicides, four COVID-19, and five overdoses.
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A busy, but windy, Saturday in Ottawa started with the inaugural Barktoberfest in downtown Ottawa’s Jordan Block. About 100 leashed dogs roamed the area with some participating in contests for best dressed pet, agility, and bobbing for tennis balls. Displays were presented by pet-oriented product vendors and the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office provided K-9 demonstrations. The event was organized in memory of the Bill Walsh, Senior, of Ottawa who was a dog-lover and an early supporter of the no-kill Pet Project shelter in Marseilles. Monies raised during the Barktoberfest Saturday morning will benefit developing the Ottawa Dog Park that is planned for the eastern end of Lafayette Street. Later Saturday, the Starved Rock Regional Center held its fourth annual Trunk or Treat at the LaSalle County 4-H County Fairgrounds. From 3:00 until 8:00, an estimated 1,000 little ghosts and goblins visited over 30 trunks filled with candy and other treats. before making their way through a hay maze. Games, music, food, raffles, a hay bale maze, and a haunted house added to the fun.
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E-Sports continues to take the world by storm, and Illinois was a part of the excitement this past weekend. Gamers from around the country flocked to Bloomington for a massive, two-day event at Grossinger Motors Arena. The Bloomington-Normal Sixty-Six Games League of Legends tournament hosted hundreds of players and their families and friends on Saturday and Sunday. Players were competing for an eight-thousand dollar top prize.
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Illinois’ two U.S. Senators, Democrats Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth are among a group of Senators sponsoring legislation to make technical and community colleges more accessible by creating a partnership between the federal government and states to waive tuition and fees for two years of community and technical college programs. It establishes a sliding federal scale beginning at 100 percent the first year, ending at 80 percent for the fifth year and beyond.
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Many Illinois state parks and wildlife areas are open to youth waterfowl hunting during the 2023 zoned hunting seasons. Hunters should check for changes to site-specific regulations and procedures. Youth waterfowl hunters aged 17 or younger may hunt ducks, geese, coots, and mergansers if accompanied by an adult at least 18. The adult cannot hunt these species but can participate in other open seasons if allowed by the site. For more information, visit the website d-n-r-dot-illinois-dot-gov-dot-d-n-r.
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The Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System Training Center in Urbana is getting a multi-million dollar upgrade. The State Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is granting the ILEAS three million dollars. The money will go toward building renovations to maximize the available space for public safety training. The project is expected to be done by next summer.
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Streator police arrested 39-year-old Nathan Engel and 30-year-old Terrell Rodriguez, both of Streator, for criminal damage to property at 112 W. 12th Street just after 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Engel was taken to the La Salle County Jail. Rodriguez was released. Both were given notices to appear in court.
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WEATHER:
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. South southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 58. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Patricia E. (Young) Finley, 84, of Mendota, passed away on Sunday, October 15th, at Stonecroft Village in Mendota. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at Waltham Presbyterian Church. Burial will be at Waltham Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service at the church.
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Frances M. “Frannie” Neurohr, 99, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, October 18th at La Salle County Nursing Home. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. today at Ottawa Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, entombment will take place in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum in Oakwood Memorial Park.
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Ottawa Dolphins Place 2nd at DCST Quad Meet
146 Swimmers competed from 4 teams
The Ottawa Dolphins had 49 swimmers participate
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HIGH SCHOOL LOCAL SPORTS:
Football
Class 1A
9 Marquette at No. 8 Forreston
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Marquette 27 Vs Dwight 26
Ottawa 6 Vs. Woodstock 14
Streator 8 Vs. Wilmington 50
St. Bede 35 Vs. Seneca 79
LP 21 Vs. Kaneland 49
Princeton 54 Vs. Hall 0
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Girls tennis
Ottawa 6th at state: The Pirates’ doubles team of seniors Rylee O’Fallon and Emma Cushing closed out their prep careers with a sixth-place finish at the IHSA Class 1A State Finals held in the Chicago suburbs.
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Boys soccer
Johnsburg 3, Somonauk-Leland-Newark co-op 1: At the Class 1A Oregon Sectional, the Bobcats ended a fantastic 18-4-1 season with a loss to the Skyhawks, who move on to Tuesday’s title match.
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Ottawa 3, Galesburg 2: The Ottawa boys soccer team defeated host Galesburg 3-2 in Saturday afternoon’s Class 2A regional championship match.
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Girls cross country
Seneca won its own 1A regional: the Fighting Lady Irish won the championship at the Seneca Ag Fram.
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Ottawa 6th, Streator 11th at Metamora 2A regional: Ottawa finished a sectional-qualifying sixth with 192 points and Streator 11th with 339 points at the Metamora 2A Regional at Black Partridge Park.
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Boys cross country
Seneca places runner-up at own 1A regional: The Fighting Irish finished second to champion Aurora Central Catholic at Seneca Ag Farm.
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Ottawa 7th at 2A Metamora Regional: The Pirates placed seventh and Streator 12th at the Metamora 2A Regional at Black Partridge Park.
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Volleyball
The IHSA volleyball postseason begins today.
Class 3A La Salle-Peru Regional
Schedule
Monday: No. 7 Geneseo (19-16) vs. No. 9 Dixon (8-19), 6 p.m.
Tuesday: No. 1 La Salle-Peru (28-6) vs. Geneseo/Dixon winner, 6 p.m.; No. 4 Morris (16-14) vs. No. 6 Rochelle (15-15), 7 p.m.
Thursday: Championship, 6 p.m.
The Cavaliers are looking to win their first regional title since 2019 when they beat Geneseo in three sets in the Ottawa Regional for the last of five consecutive regional championships.
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Class 2A Illinois Valley Central Regional
Schedule
Monday: No. 10 Hall (8-18-2) vs. No. 9 Kewanee (10-21-1), 6 p.m.
Tuesday: No. 2 IVC vs. Hall/Kewanee winner, 6 p.m.; No. 7 Princeton (16-16-1) vs. No. 3 El Paso-Gridley (23-4), 7 p.m.
Thursday: Championship, 6 p.m.
The Red Devils are 0-2 against Kewanee this season. If Hall pulls off a first-round upset, it will face a Grey Ghost squad that’s won back-to-back sectional titles and finished third in the state last season. Princeton opens against an EPG team it hasn’t faced yet this season.
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PRO/COLLEGE SPORTS:
(Chicago, IL) — Undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent led the Bears to a 30-12 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Soldier Field. Bagent completed 21-of-29 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL start. Chicago running back D’Onta Foreman ran all over the Las Vegas defense for 89 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while also nabbing three catches for 31 yards and another score. Chicago has won two of its last three games to improve to 2-and-5. The Bears visit the Chargers next Sunday.
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(Chicago, IL) — The Blackhawks gave up three goals in the third period of their 5-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at United Center on Saturday. The game was tied entering the final frame before the Knights rallied for three goals. Connor Bedard scored his second career goal, while Corey Perry and Reese Johnson also lit the lamp. Chicago is in last place in the Central Division with four points and a 2-4-and-0 record. The Blackhawks host the Bruins tomorrow night.
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(Chicago, IL) — The Bulls open up the regular season with a game against the Oklahoma Thunder on Wednesday. The Bulls are trying to get back in the playoffs after falling short in the play-in rounds last year. Chicago went 40-and-42 last year, and they’re bringing back most of last season’s team. Torrey Craig was added in free agency and Nikola Vucevic was given a contract extension during an otherwise quiet offseason.
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(Champaign, IL) — The Illinois Fighting Illini blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead during a 25-21 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The Illini gave up a pair of touchdowns in the final seven-and-a-half minutes after entering the fourth with a 21-7 lead. Wisconsin scored the game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds left in regulation. Luke Altmyer passed for 100 yards and two touchdowns and added 100 yards on the ground. The Illini dropped to 3-and-5 overall and 1-and-4 in the Big Ten. They are off this week.
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(Lincoln, NE) — The Northwestern Wildcats couldn’t find the end zone during a 17-9 loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. Northwestern had just 257 yards of offense in the losing effort. Brendan Sullivan passed for 176 yards and a pick, while Bryce Kirtz had three catches for 96 yards. The Wildcats fell to 3-and-4 overall and 1-and-3 in the Big Ten. They host Maryland next Saturday.
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In other college football action over the weekend, Northern Illinois beat Eastern Michigan 20-13, and Illinois State got edged by Youngstown State 41-38.