On Monday at 11:37 pm, LaSalle County Deputies stopped 44-year-old Daniel White of Mendota at RT 34 & E 4th RD. for driving on a suspended license. He was taken to La Salle County Jail and later released with a notice to appear.
———————————————————————
On Tuesday, December 5, at approximately 1536 hours, the Mendota Police Department arrested Kelly L Sheaves, 47, 1013 E Union St, Earlville, IL 60518 for a valid Whiteside County Warrant for Failure to Appear Obstructing Court Order. Sheaves posted the bond and was released with a January 16, 2024 court date at the Whiteside County Court House.
———————————————————————
Ottawa leaf vacuum crews started clearing an area by Ottawa High School yesterday, this for the second time. They were also working in the area opposite the river. Today they will be working on the Northwest side of Ottawa. Please exercise caution if you see them working and slow down. For your safety and theirs.
———————————————————————
We would like to correct the title of an article published this morning regarding the Cliffs along Route 6 just north of Marseilles.
We spoke with the owner Jimmy Lawry who explained that the Cliffs were given an IDPR grant to help them acquire the remaining 125 acreage of land which now totals 265 acres. The grant money of $612,000 allowed owner Lawry to acquire the land. In return, an OHV or Off-Highway Vehicle travel permit is now required to ride at the Cliffs. It’s just 18 dollars if you live out of state and 11 if you are an Illinoisan. The stickers cover you for 1 year and pair actual users of the Cliffs with the cost of the Grant because that’s where the money goes, the IDNR. The grant is 100% non tax payer funded. Lawry says if you’ve never purchased a sticker or a machine, you’ve never spent a dime of taxes toward the grant.
———————————————————————
Work on La Salle’s water treatment plant could mean discolored drinking water. The City says a slight discoloration may be present in some neighborhoods over the next few weeks while maintenance is done at the plant. A filter is being swapped out and that puts extra stress on the other filter, leading to discoloration. The city says the water is being tested daily and meets the standard for safe drinking water. The water discoloration should last another 5 weeks.
———————————————————————
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office needs your help to find the driver involved in a fatal hit-and-run traffic incident near the intersection of Sterling Road and Walton Road on December 4 at about 9:29 p.m. on December 4th.
A news release from the sheriff’s office says an initial investigation showed that a 40-year-old man from Rock Falls was walking near the area and was struck by an unknown vehicle. A passerby found the victim in the middle of the roadway. The Amboy Fire Department took the victim to KSB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The roadway at the location was closed to traffic due to the nature of the investigation. Detectives from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and an accident reconstructionist were brought in to investigate.
The Sheriff’s Office is seeking help from the public to find the person and vehicle responsible for this incident, the release said. Anyone with information should call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (815) 284-6631 or Ogle-Lee Crimestoppers at 1-888-CAUGHT U (1-888-228-4488).
———————————————————————
WEATHER:
Wednesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 39. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south-southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
———————————————————————
Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 34. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
———————————————————————
OBITUARIES:
Nancy Louise Cochran, age 77 of Ottawa, passed away Friday, December 1st, at Aperion Care in Marseilles. Private services will be held with burial in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois. Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home is assisting the family.
———————————————————————
Joanne “Jo” Olson, 91, of Ottawa, passed away on Sunday, December 3rd, at OSF St. Anthony in Rockford. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 8th, at Mueller Funeral Home and Crematory. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday, at the funeral home.
———————————————————————
Ralph S. Johnson, 84, of Marseilles, passed into the arms of Jesus on Friday, December 1st, at Aperion Care Marseilles, surrounded by his loving family. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, December 9th, at Marseilles First Baptist Church. A celebration of life will follow at noon at the church. Seals-Campbell Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
———————————————————————
Curtis J. Rasmussen, 90, of Standard, passed away on November 29th. Funeral services will be on Sunday, December 10th, at 2 p.m. at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home. Visitation will be an hour before service.
———————————————————————
Stanley L. Peca, Jr., 77, of Ottawa, passed away on Friday, December 1st, at his home. Private Graveside services will be held at Clarendon Hills Cemetery in Darien, where full Military Honors will be accorded. A Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring of 2024, with the date to be announced. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
———————————————————————
Patricia “Pat” Munari, age 93, of Marseilles, passed away Sunday, December 3rd, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 12th, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marseilles. The interment will be in Oakwood Memorial Park, Ottawa. Visitation will be from 10 AM to the time of service at the church. Arrangements are with the Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home.
———————————————————————
LOCAL SPORTS:
Shepherd Boys Basketball:
7th grade defeated Lasalle Lincoln 36-16. Leading the way: Luca Fernandez with 10 points, Bryce Ceja and Mason Mucci had 6 points, Marquise Davis with 5 points, and Bryce Lucas had 4 points. 7th grade is now 8-4.
———————————————————————
8th grade lost to Lasalle Lincoln 48-23. Leading the way for Shepherd: Amari Molina with 10 points, Nevan Holloway with 8 points, and Kaden Marshall added 3 points. 8th grade is now 7-5.
———————————————————————
Boys basketball
Marquette takes on Lasalle-Peru tonight at Hall High School at the 49th annual Colmone Classic. We will have your Crusaders broadcast starting at 7 pm tonight. Andrew Evola and David Bergeson are on the call.
———————————————————————
Earlville 64, Newark 40: At Newark, the host Norsemen were defeated by the undefeated Red Raiders (6-0 overall, 2-0 Little Ten).
———————————————————————
Fieldcrest 64, Putnam County 52: At the Colmone Classic in Spring Valley, the Knights ran their tournament record to 2-0 with the victory, leading 32-14 by halftime.
———————————————————————
Hinckley-Big Rock 59, LaMoille 38: The Lions fell in a Little Ten Conference game in Hinckley.
———————————————————————
Tuesday, Dec. 5
Fieldcrest 64, PC 52
Pontiac 77, Stillman Valley 41
Rock Falls 74, Hall 30
Huskers 72 – Depue 39 – Serena moves to (7-0) – (2-0)
———————————————————————
Streator 68, Reed-Custer 18:
Streator moved to 4-2 overall, and 2-0 in Illinois Central Eight.
———————————————————————
Girls basketball
FCW 63, Earlville 39: At Earlville, visiting Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland received 24 points — including 15 in the opening quarter — off the hands of Ella Derossett.
———————————————————————
Princeton 44, Rock Falls 31: Camryn Driscoll scored 18 points and had three steals to help the Tigresses to a nonconference victory in Princeton.
———————————————————————
Girls Varsity Games Tonight:
Ottawa is at Kaneland
Streator is at Dwight
LP travels to Morris
———————————————————————
Girls bowling
La Salle-Peru 3,326, Sycamore 2,354: Kaitlyn Miller rolled a 592 series with a 256 high game to lead the Cavaliers to an Interstate 8 Conference victory at the Illinois Valley Super Bowl in Peru.
Ottawa 2,706, Rochelle 2,549: At Rochelle, the visiting Pirates moved to 4-0 on the young season led by senior Dawn Hudkins’ 505 series (181 high game) and Kilah Figenbaum’s 494 (191).
———————————————————————
Boys bowling
Rochelle 3,361, Ottawa 3,156: At Rochelle, the visiting Pirates did not fare as well as Ottawa’s girls team despite Wil Znaniecki’s 619 series (two 212 high games) and Caden Walters’ 546 (201).
———————————————————————
Boys wrestling
Plano 48, Ottawa 35: At Ottawa on Tuesday, the host Pirates suffered the team loss to their former conference rivals.
———————————————————————
Seneca 54, Wilmington 27: At Wilmington, the visiting Fighting Irish doubled up the Wildcats.
———————————————————————
BOYS SWIMMING
At Peru: The La Salle-Peru co-op split a season-opening triangular at the Illinois Valley YMCA, beating Pontiac 72-19 and losing to Washington 73-20.
———————————————————————
PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
>>Blackhawks Fall To Preds In Shootout
(Chicago, IL) — The Chicago Blackhawks picked up a point during a 4-3 shootout loss to the Nashville Predators at United Center. Chicago is in last place in the Central Division with 15 points and a 7-16-and-1 record. The Blackhawks host the Ducks tomorrow.
———————————————————————
>>Bulls Host Hornets
(Chicago, IL) — The Chicago Bulls go for their third win in a row when they host the Charlotte Hornets at United Center tonight. Chicago is in 13th place in the Eastern Conference at 7-and-14. Tonight’s game gets underway at 7:00 PM.
———————————————————————
>>Report: White Sox Add SP Fedde
(Chicago, IL) — The Chicago White Sox are bringing in the best player from the KBO. ESPN reports starting pitcher Erick Fedde signed a two-year deal worth 15 million dollars with the Southsiders yesterday. In other team news, the White Sox fell from the fourth overall pick to the fifth overall pick in the MLB Draft Lottery yesterday.
———————————————————————
>>Cubs Move Up In Draft Lottery
(Chicago, IL) — The Chicago Cubs gained some ground in the MLB Draft Lottery yesterday. The Cubs had the 17th-worst record in Major League Baseball in 2023, but they moved up three spots back to number 14. The Lottery will only affect Chicago’s spot in the first round. The Cleveland Guardians earned the top spot in the Draft.
———————————————————————
>>Bears DT Jones Earns Man Of The Year Nominee
(Lake Forest, IL) — Justin Jones has been selected as the Bears nominee for the 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The award is considered the league’s highest honor, and it is given to the player who leaves a positive mark on their community. The Man of the Year winner will be revealed on February 8th.
———————————————————————
>>Illini Take Control In Second Half
(New York, NY) — The number-18 Illinois Fighting Illini knocked off number-nine Florida Atlantic 98-89 during the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. The Illini improved to 7-and-1 overall with the win. They visit number 13 Tennessee on Saturday.
———————————————————————
>>Notre Dame Crushes Western Michigan
(South Bend, IN) — The Notre Dame Fighting Irish used a strong second half to get past Western Michigan 86-65 at Joyce Center. The 4-and-4 Irish visit number-seven Marquette on Saturday.
———————————————————————
>>College Basketball Round Up
In other college basketball action yesterday, Loyola fell to Tulsa 88-77, and Northern Illinois was crushed by Indiana State 90-67. Tonight, DePaul is at number 19 Texas A&M, Illinois State hosts Northern Kentucky, and Valparaiso visits Central Michigan.