No update is available from the LaSalle County Coroner or the Sheriff’s Department regarding the fatal accident early Monday morning in Rutland Township. The accident, shortly after 5:00 a.m., brought Sheriff’s Deputies, the Marseilles Fire Department, and the Coroner to the scene along Illinois 71 near North 32nd road near Rutland School involving a pickup truck and a pedestrian The accident is still under investigation.
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Illinois lawmakers are back in Springfield today. The state House and Senate will be in the state capitol for the start of the veto session. Energy legislation, including a lifting of the moratorium on nuclear plant construction in the state which Governor Pritzker opposes, along with gun laws, and scholarship tax credits could be addressed during the session.
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252 scholarship recipients and donors gathered Thursday night at the annual IVCC Scholarship Recognition event. The scholarships amount to $400,000 and represent 173 funds or donors. Applications for the 2024-25 scholarship year open December 8th and are due by February 8, 2024. More information is online at i-v-c-c-dot-e-d-u.
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The associate degree nursing program at Illinois Valley Community College has been granted continued accreditation status. Following a February campus visit, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing recommended the program be granted the status. More than 100 students are enrolled in IVCC’s nursing program.
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The Peru City Council approved a $449,700 bid from Lite Construction in Montgomery to make exterior improvements to the fire station and the over 60-year-old Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch building along 4th and West Streets. Doors, windows, roof, and masonry repair work is expected to begin this year and be completed in 2024.
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The Illinois Liquor Control Commission is launching a new online application option for 1A retailer licenses. 1A retailer licensees include bars, restaurants, and packaged goods stores. The upgrade will make the new retailer application process more efficient for our licensees.
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Peru Police arrested 52-year-old James M. Helmig of Peru late Sunday night, at 4th and Fulton Streets. Helmig was charged with driving while intoxicated, operating an uninsured vehicle, and driving with a suspended registration. Helmig was released with a court date.
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22-year-old Julian A. Pina of Joliet was arrested at Plank Road and Schuyler Street in Peru on Saturday at about Noon by Peru Police. Pina was charged with driving with a suspended driver’s license, suspended registration, and operating an uninsured vehicle. Pina was given a notice to appear.
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Friday evening at 6:45, Ottawa Fire was dispatched to Carri Scharf Materials Company in the Industrial Park off U.S. 6 on Ottawa’s far east side for a parking area fire. Firefighters found a concrete box filled with wood and combustibles burning. The company said they were control-burning some debris. Ottawa Fire Department extinguished the fire and issued a citation for illegal burning within city limits.
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Last Tuesday, October 17th about 7:00 in the evening, La Salle County Deputies investigated a single car versus deer accident with no injuries near East 22nd and North 22nd Roads in Grand Ridge Township. 64-year-old Michelle Reed of Streator was driving south on East 22nd when a deer entered the roadway, hitting the front left corner of Reed’s car.
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Monday afternoon around 5:00, La Salle County Deputies investigated a two-vehicle accident with minor injuries near North 34th and East Third Roads in Dimmick Township, about a mile from Dimmick School. 42-year-old Wesley Cocanour of Mendota was driving east on North 34th when he tried to pass a car in front of him. The other driver, 27-year-old Jamie Christman of La Salle, swerved into the westbound lane, striking the passenger side of Cocanour’s vehicle, causing Cocanour to overturn in the north ditch. Christman was charged with improper lane usage, operating an uninsured vehicle, and driving on a suspended license. Christman was released with a notice to appear.
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At about 9:00 Monday night, La Salle County Deputies conducted a traffic stop near U.S. 6 and Illinois 71 in Ottawa Township. 30-year-old Castellanos Nieto of Ottawa was cited for driving an uninsured vehicle and driving with a suspended registration. He was released with a notice to appear.
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A Kane County sheriff’s deputy is seriously hurt following a crash in Hampshire Township. Authorities say Deputy Brian Anderson was traveling yesterday morning on Route 47 when he was hit head-on by a Dodge Ram pickup truck that was towing a trailer just south of Plank Road. The deputy was taken to the hospital in critical condition, while three people in the pickup were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The crash is under investigation.
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A man is in critical condition following a shooting near Chicago’s famous Mag Mile. Police say the victim was close to the sidewalk yesterday in the 500 block of North Rush Street when someone approached and fired several shots. The victim was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds. No one is in custody.
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WEATHER:
Today
A slight chance of showers between 2 pm and 4 pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. Breezy, with a south-southwest wind of 10 to 15 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight
Showers, mainly after 10 pm. Low around 60. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch possible.
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OBITUARIES:
No new obituaries to report.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL LOCAL SPORTS:
Shepherd Lady Rams opened Starved Rock Conference play in Mendota.
#3 seed Shepherd Lady Rams 7th grade defeated Spring Valley 26-7.
Wren Harris had 12 points
Leela Gromm had 8 points
7th Grade is now 11-6
#2 Seed Shepherd Lady Rams 8th grade defeated Streator Northlawn 40-6.
Kennedy Kane had 17 points
Meredith Waldron had 15 points
8th Grade is now 14-3
Both teams will play in the conference semi-finals tonight in Mendota.
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HIGH SCHOOL LOCAL SPORTS:
Ottawa Pirates news: Jon Leslie was approved by the Ottawa High School board on October 16 to become the athletic director in 2024-25. Current AD Mike Cooper will retire at the end of the school year after 18 years in the position.
Girls volleyball
Seneca 2, Sandwich 0: At the Class 2A Mendota Regional, the No. 5-seeded Fighting Irish advanced with a victory over the No. 11-seeded Indians in Monday’s quarterfinals.
Kewanee 2, Hall 0: In the third meeting between the Three Rivers Conference East Division foes this season, the No. 10-seeded Red Devils had their season ended with a loss to the No. 9 Boilermakers in a Class 2A Illinois Valley Central Regional quarterfinal in Chillicothe.
Coal City 2, Mendota 0: The No. 8-seeded Spikers fell to the No. 6 Coalers in a Class 2A Mendota Regional quarterfinal in Mendota.
Rockridge 2, Bureau Valley 0: The No. 8-seeded Storm lost to the No. 9 Rockets in a Class 2A Sherrard Regional quarterfinal in Sherrard.
LaSalle (3A)
Tuesday, Oct. 24: Game 2 – (1) L-P (28-6) vs. (7) Geneseo
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PRO SPORTS:
(Chicago, IL) — The Blackhawks aim to avoid their third loss in a row when they host the Boston Bruins at United Center tonight. The Blackhawks are coming off a 5-3 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Chicago is in last place in the Central Division with four points and a 2-4-and-0 record. Tonight’s game begins at 7:30 p.m.
(Lake Forest, IL) — The Bears will spend the week getting ready for their Sunday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Bears will try to keep the momentum going after beating the Raiders 30-12 in Week Seven. Chicago remains in last place in the NFC North at 2-and-5. Tyson Bagent is expected to make his second start in a row with Justin Fields still sidelined with a dislocated thumb. Sunday’s game kicks off at 7:20 PM.
(Chicago, IL) — Patrick Williams will be a restricted free agent at the end of the 2023-24 season. The Bulls and Williams weren’t able to agree to a contract extension before yesterday’s deadline. The 22-year-old is entering his fourth season with Chicago. He averaged 10-point-two points and four rebounds in 82 games last season. Williams and the Bulls open up the regular season with a game against the Thunder tomorrow.