Though no official report has been released by Ottawa Police, the Peoria County Coroner confirms the death of 66-year-old Eileen Fesco of Ottawa as the NCAT driver involved in the bus accident Friday afternoon on East Norris Drive. Fesco died of her injuries at a hospital in Peoria. The LaSalle native was an active member of the Zonta Club and had been the owner of The Book Mouse bookstore in downtown Ottawa before the name change to Prairie Fox Books following the sale of the business.
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The City of LaSalle published official emergency safety and evacuation guidelines at its regular meeting last night should something like the Carus Chemical fire of January 11th happen again. The citizen forum portion of the Regular Meeting got heated when LaSalle resident Jamie Hicks was granted his 5 minutes to speak. Hicks lives in the 4th Ward and during the January 11th Carus fire, the 3rd and 4th Ward of LaSalle were given a shelter-in-place warning which struck Hicks as the edict of Carus rather than the City of LaSalle. Since then Carus has met with LaSalle City Officials twice at Company headquarters this summer to come up with a joint evacuation plan should anything happen in the future. The document unveiled at last night’s meeting is the result of two safety meetings, between Carus management, the EPA, First Ward Alderman Jim Bacidore, and one member of the public. Hicks wanted to know why those meetings were not held at LP High School for example and open to the public so the group most affected by the January 11th fire could be heard. LaSalle 4th Ward Alderman Jordan Crane said last night “Carus has their emergency plan and they wanted to collaborate with LaSalle and simply be on the same page with LaSalle”. A copy of the guidelines will be posted on the WCMY website. Carus facilities are not limited to LaSalle, the company stores potentially dangerous chemicals behind the old Ottawa mall on the Southside of Ottawa.
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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is reminding parents and guardians to check the state’s sex offender registry before finalizing Halloween plans. Illinois law bans all sex offenders who committed a crime against a child from distributing candy and participating in trick-or-treat events or other Halloween events involving children. As of this month, there were more than 33-thousand registered sex offenders listed on the Illinois Sex Offender Registry, and more than 25-thousand of those committed a crime against a child.
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The Illinois State Board of Education is unveiling its 2023 Illinois Report Card. The state report card is released annually to give an overview of information on schools across the state. The report showed the highest graduation rate in 13 years by the class of 2023. There was also an increase in both English and math proficiency rates, however still below pre-pandemic levels. Teacher retention did reach an “all-time high,” exceeding 90 percent.
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November is National Runaway Prevention Month and the Illinois Valley Youth Services Bureau kicks things off by lighting up the fountain in Washington Square Park in downtown Ottawa on Wednesday night. It’s called “Light the Night”. YSB Marketing Director Beth Osmund says Mayor Robert Hasty will first read a proclamation recognizing November as Runaway Prevention Month at about 6 p.m. Then the Lincoln Douglas fountain will be lit green. The National Runaway Safeline at 1-800-RUNAWAY.
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The Defense for 33-year-old Jeremy J. Seroka of Streator made a motion Friday asking the court to order the prosecution not to admit certain facts or evidence in the presence of the jury. Whether or not the motion is granted will be learned at a final pre-trial court date set for Feb 2nd, 2024. A trial date is set for February 5th at 10:00 a.m., with Judge Cynthia Raccuglia presiding. Seroka has been in La Salle County jail since January 6th for possession of cocaine, a class X felony. He faces between 3 and 25 years in prison.
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The Will County landlord accused of stabbing a 6-year-old Muslim boy to death is pleading not guilty to all charges. Joseph Czuba [[ chew-bah ]] entered the not guilty plea yesterday in Will County Court to murder, aggravated battery, and hate crime charges. Authorities say the charges stem from a knife attack earlier this month in Plainfield Township that killed Wadea Al-Fayoume [[ wy-dee-ah Al Fah-you-mee]] and left his mother hospitalized. Prosecutors say Czuba targeted the victims because of their Muslim faith.
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49-year-old Torricello A. Embry of Ottawa was charged with alleged domestic battery at a residence in the 600 block of Christie Street Monday. Embry was taken to La Salle County jail.
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On Sunday, 33-year-old Caitlin M Panas of Earlville was arrested by Ottawa Police at 607 East Joliet Street on a failure to appear warrant. She was taken to La Salle County Jail.
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Ottawa police wrote a ticket to 30-year-old Jessica Fast of Ottawa at Kendall Street and East Norris Drive on Friday. Fast has a court date on charges of alleged driving with a suspended license and uninsured.
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56-year-old Cheryl Bain of Ottawa was charged by Ottawa Police Thursday with allegedly passing a school bus while it was loading or unloading passengers in the 1100 block of West Main Street.
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A 31-year-old Peru woman faces a domestic battery charge following an incident Sunday morning in the 700 block of 6th Street. Regan Dergance was taken to the LaSalle County Jail and has a notice to appear in court.
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SPOOKY WEATHER:
Today
Snow showers are likely before 10 a.m., then snow showers are likely after noon. Some thunder is also possible. Cloudy through mid-morning, then becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Breezy, with a south-southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming west 20 to 25 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tonight
Scattered snow showers before 7 p.m. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 24. Blustery, with a northwest wind of 15 to 20 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
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OBITUARIES:
None at this time
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Ottawa Dolphins finished 3rd out of 10 teams at the Monster Splash Invitational 333 Swimmers competed from 10 teams. The Ottawa Dolphins had 37 swimmers participate.
Personal Best Swims
- 2 swimmers swam all of their events in personal best times!!! Congratulations to Ryland Heaver and Juliette Strow.
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HIGH SCHOOL LOCAL SPORTS:
Girls volleyball
Lexington 2, Marquette 0:The Marquette Academy volleyball lost 25-16, 25-18 to Lexington in Monday’s Class 1A Woodland Sectional semifinal to finish the season at 30-7.
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Metamora 2, Ottawa 0: In Monday’s semifinals of the Class 3A Galesburg Sectional, the Pirates finished the season 26-10-1 after the 25-12, 25-19 loss to the Redbirds. The Ottawa volleyball team had a record-setting season and won its first regional title since 1995. It came to an end with a 25-12, 25-19 loss to Metamora in a Class 3A Galesburg Sectional semifinal Monday.
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Galena 2, Newark 0: In the semifinals of the Class 1A Eastland Sectional
The Galena Pirates got off to a hot start against the Newark Vikings Monday evening in their Class 1A Eastland Sectional semifinal. Although the Vikings got going later in the first set, they couldn’t keep pace, losing 25-20, 25-18.
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Morton 2, LPHS 0: The La Salle-Peru volleyball team rallied multiple times but could never take the lead in a 25-22, 25-13 loss to Morton in a Galesburg Sectional semifinal Monday.
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PRO/COLLAGE SPORTS:
>>Vucevic Leads Bulls Past Pacers
(Indianapolis, IN) — Nikola Vucevic had a monster game to lead the Bulls past the Pacers 112-105 in Indianapolis. Vucevic racked up 24 points and 17 rebounds, both game-highs. Zach LaVine added 23 points, and DeMar DeRozan dropped in 20 for Chicago, which evened its record at 2-and-2. The Bulls visit Dallas tomorrow night.
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>>Blackhawks Get Crushed By Coyotes
(Tempe, AZ) — The Blackhawks gave up eight unanswered goals during an 8-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes at Mullett Arena. Connor Bedard scored less than 30 seconds into the game to give the Blackhawks a brief lead, but the Coyotes scored less than two minutes later and the rout was on. Arvid Soderblom only saved 15 of the 22 shots that he faced before being relieved by Petr Mrazek. Chicago is in last place in the Central Division with six points and a 3-6-and-0 record. The Hawks host Florida on Saturday.
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>>Bagent Lined Up To Start In Week Nine
(Lake Forest, IL) — Justin Fields will miss his third straight game this weekend. The Bears announced yesterday that Tyson Bagent will start his third game in a row when Chicago visits New Orleans on Sunday. Fields has not played since dislocating his thumb during Chicago’s 19-13 loss to the Vikings on October 15th. Bagent is 1-and-1 while leading the Bears over the past two weeks, but he’s thrown for just 477 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Sunday’s game in New Orleans kicks off at noon.