We have a new total for monetary donations to the Freezin’ for a Reezin’ a benefit for the Ottawa Community Food Basket. The current total is $77,532.63! Monetary donations will be accepted and go towards the Freezin final total through the first week of January. You can donate monetarily in-person and online at 1430wcmy.com slash freezin or ottawafoodbasket.org
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The Starved Rock Visitor Center will be unveiling the upgraded $40,000 audio-visual theater on January 7th from 9:30 to 11:30 The upgraded theater is provided courtesy of the non-profit Starved Rock Foundation. The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, insights into volunteer opportunities, and a check presentation, showcasing the organization’s commitment to conservation, education, and recreation.
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The Illinois Department of Public Health urges residents to take preventive measures against the increasing spread of respiratory illnesses amid rising cases in the state and nationwide. In response, the IDPH issued a health alert to hospitals, long-term care facilities, and local health departments, recommending the widespread use of masks and screening techniques. This advisory, especially crucial in regions with heightened COVID-19 hospitalizations, follows a 22% increase in statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations last week compared to the previous week.
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Looking for something to do with the little ones for New Year’s Eve? Join Stage 212 in La Salle for a stylish New Year’s celebration at the Siblings New Year’s Bash on Sunday, Dec. 31st, at 9 and 11 a.m. Located at 700 First St., the event includes appearances by beloved characters like Mario, Luigi, Elsa, Anna, and the PAW Patrol team. Following the performance, attendees can enjoy a meet-and-greet photo session with all the characters. Tickets, priced at $10 each, can be purchased online at stage212.org
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The Illinois Conservation Foundation introduces its inaugural annual Illinois state park holiday ornament series, featuring the picturesque Starved Rock State Park in La Salle County. Celebrating the state’s natural beauty and the Foundation’s commitment to conservation, the Starved Rock ornament can be purchased exclusively online at ILconservation.org for $15.99, covering shipping and handling. Proceeds from sales contribute to the restoration and revitalization of Illinois state parks. Crafted from diecast enamel, the 3-inch 2023 ornament showcases the scenic charm of Starved Rock State Park, providing a unique way to honor and support the park.
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During Wednesday’s Marseilles City Council meeting, the non-profit organization Here and Again Inc. delivered a compelling presentation aimed at shaping the city’s identity and transforming it into a sought-after tourism destination. Founder Katie Troccoli and Director DeAnna Carlson showcased a comprehensive PowerPoint highlighting successful initiatives from other communities, offering valuable insights to attract tourists, businesses, and job opportunities to Marseilles and its surrounding areas. The presentation emphasized the city’s assets, including proximity to Interstate 80, the downtown business district, the lock and dam, Illini State Park, the Illinois and Michigan Canal, Illinois River access, and the Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall. Additionally, it underscored the array of amenities and robust community organizations contributing to Marseilles’ potential growth and development.
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Marquette Academy High School in Ottawa will be hosting a freshman open house on Wednesday, January 10th. The event kicks off with an activity fair at 6 p.m., followed by guided tours at 6:30 p.m. Prospective students will have the opportunity to gather information about financial aid, scholarships, athletics, clubs, and various organizations offered at Marquette. To participate, visit marquetteacademy.net for additional details and to register online for the Open House, where you’ll also be entered for a chance to win a $100 voucher applicable towards tuition or at the Marquette Academy Spirit Shop.
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So you already witnessed the dazzling lights at Rotary Park in LaSalle so now what? Why not take a drive to Princeton for the Home for the Holidays Light Show at the Bureau County Fairgrounds? The light display will be accessible from 5 to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sunday and then that’s it for this year. This spectacular event is a collaborative effort by the Bureau County Fair and Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce, featuring over 70 display sponsors. While admission is free, donations are graciously accepted.
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The office of Illinois Secretary of State is revealing the 2023 license plate naughty list. More than 300 vanity and personalized license plates were rejected this year after being deemed too obscene or defamatory. Illinois vehicle owners pay extra for a new vanity or personalized plate. Currently, there are more than 811-thousand vehicles registered in the state with vanity or personalized license plates for Illinoisans.
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For the second time this holiday season, volunteers at the Salvation Army Tri-Cities Corps discovered a valuable gold coin in Kane County. The first find, a $50 Gold American Eagle coin worth at least $2,000, occurred on Dec. 2 outside the downtown Geneva Starbucks. Recently, another treasure—a South African Krugerrand with a similar estimated value—was found in the kettle at the Jewel-Osco on Kirk Road in St. Charles. This marks the second consecutive year that two gold coins, each valued at around $2,000, have been discovered in the same donation kettle locations, according to Salvation Army resource development director Steven Hawkins.
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Christian Shepherd, a 44-year-old former school bus driver from Ottawa, has been sentenced to a total of 150 years in prison for a murder-for-hire scheme. Convicted on four counts of
solicitation of murder for hire, Shepherd attempted to hire fellow inmates to kill a victim he was charged with sexually assaulting, the victim’s mother, and two detectives. In the first case, he provided a map and a taunting statement to the hired inmate, who reported the plan to the police. Undeterred, Shepherd later hired a second inmate to kill both the initial targets and the first hitman. Sentenced earlier this year to 76 years for the second case, Shepherd now faces an additional 74-year term, with the sentences running consecutively. Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow praised the efforts of his team in bringing Shepherd to justice, describing him as a “coward without a soul” attempting to eliminate witnesses to save himself.
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Sean Metcalf, 61, pleaded guilty on Friday to delivering heroin, a class X felony, and was sentenced to 6 years in prison. He will receive credit for almost 2 years already served in the county jail. Despite being charged in March 2022, Metcalf has no prior criminal record in La Salle County.
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Anthony D. Nedd, a 35-year-old resident of Detroit, Michigan, has been formally charged with Class X Felony offenses related to methamphetamine, specifically trafficking and unlawful possession with intent to deliver. The indictment alleges that Nedd transported methamphetamine into Illinois, possessing over 900 grams of a substance containing the illicit drug with the intent to distribute. Testimony from an Illinois State Police trooper was presented before the grand jury. Currently held in custody by the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office, Nedd has been denied pretrial release.
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Kevin J. Scott, a 38-year-old resident of Chico, California, faces indictment on a Class X Felony charge for unlawfully possessing cannabis with intent to deliver. The accusation alleges that he had the intent to distribute over 5,000 grams of a substance containing cannabis. A representative from the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team provided testimony during the grand jury proceedings. Currently, the defendant is on pretrial release.
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Ottawa Police charged 66-year-old Mark K. Wheatley with battery after an incident at 900 Paul Street on Wednesday.
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A Streator woman was cited by Ottawa Police Wednesday for driving on a suspended license. 56-year-old Caroline Adkins was stopped in the 2900 block of Fairfield Lane.
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Kendall L. Denham of Ottawa has charges of retail theft and criminal trespass after an Ottawa Police investigation Wednesday at Walgreens.
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Marseilles Police arrested 42-year-old Nestor E. Diaz of Marseilles Wednesday in the 500 block of Main Street on two outstanding failure-to-appear warrants out of Grundy and Livingston Counties. Diaz was taken to the LaSalle County Jail.
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Two drivers suffered minor injuries in a two-vehicle accident just after 5:00 a.m. Monday in Dimmick Township at Illinois 251 and North 33rd Road. 59-year-old George Wilson of Lostant and 23-year-old Andrew Gillan collided in the middle of the intersection. Gillan was cited by LaSalle County Deputies for disobeying a stop sign, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, no rear license plate, and operating an uninsured vehicle.
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A 28-year-old Ottawa man was cited Monday morning by LaSalle County Sheriff’s Deputies for not wearing a seat belt, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, improper turn signal, and driving on a suspended license. Devonte Allmon was stopped at Illinois 23 and West Main Street, taken to the LaSalle County Jail, and later released with a notice to appear in court.
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Tuesday morning around 7:00, LaSalle County Deputies assisted a motorist who ran out of gas near Illinois 71 and East 24th Road. 49-year-old Darian Mitchell of Ottawa was arrested for driving on a suspended license, was taken to the LaSalle County Jail, and later released with a court date
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WEATHER:
Thursday
A 30 percent chance of rain after 3 pm. Cloudy, with a high near 44. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Thursday Night
Rain is likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low of around 42. South-southeast winds around 5 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts to less than a tenth of an inch possible.
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OBITUARIES:
Gary M Woods, 67 originally of Ottawa passed away peacefully at his home in Phoenix. Visitation will be today, from 9:00 until 11:00 am at Ottawa Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Join us on Friday at 6:30 for Marquette Crusaders Boys Basketball.
As your Crusaders take on the Yorkville Christian Mustangs at Bader Gym. Andrew Evola and David Bergeson are on the call.
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The Illinois High School Association announced that the implementation of a district system for football was voted down by high school coaches and athletic directors. The new format would have divided the state’s football-playing schools into 64 eight-team districts. Schools would have been able to schedule any opponent for non-district games during weeks one and two before playing seven district games the rest of the season. this would have allowed 4 teams from each district to qualify for playoffs.
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Girls basketball
Serena 46, Seneca 40: At Seneca, the Huskers stayed unbeaten on the season after holding off a late rally from the Fighting Irish on Wednesday.
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At the Ottawa Lady Pirate Holiday Tournament, the Ottawa and Morris girl’s basketball claimed victories over Streator and Princeton respectively on the final day of pool play on Wednesday to reach the Gold Bracket semifinals.
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The Lady Bruins Christmas Classic is having a bit of a makeover this year with some new top talent coming to St. Bede. There will be three new teams in this year’s tournament field at the Academy, including two teams ranked in Class 1A – No. 4 Annawan (11-3) and No. 7 (tie) Serena (9-0).
The Bravettes, Huskers, and newcomer Newark (4-4) will join holdovers Fieldcrest (8-4), Kewanee (3-9), Putnam County (12-3), Sandwich (3-9) and St. Bede (8-5) in this year’s field.
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Marquette Lady Cru will take on the Somonauk Bobcats at 7 pm
Earville Red Raiders host Sandwich at 7 pm as well.
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Boys basketball
Marquette Academy 71, Marmion Academy 68: At Aurora, the Crusaders slipped past the host Cadets.
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Girls bowling
Ottawa 2,759, Rochelle 2,539: At Dettore’s Town Lanes, the Pirates topped the visiting Hubs.
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JV girls bowling
Ottawa 1,883, Rochelle 1,595: At Dettore’s Town Lanes, Ottawa got the home triumph.
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BOYS SWIMMING
La Salle-Peru co-op 59, Metamora co-op 33: Chris Lowery won two individual events and swam on two winning relays to help the Cavaliers to a victory in La Salle.
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Bulls have won back-to-back games, and three of their last four, following a 124-108 victory over the Lakers in Chicago. DeMar DeRozan led all scorers with 27 points and came within one assist of a double-double. Coby White netted 17 points and stuffed the stat sheet with seven boards and five assists. Nikola Vucevic tallied a double-double on 13 points and 10 rebounds as Chicago improved to 12-and-17. The Bulls are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Chicago hosts San Antonio tonight.
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The Bulls will be without one of their top reserves for an extended period. Forward Torrey Craig suffered a sprained foot injury during the weekend game in Miami. He will be sidelined for at least two months. Craig averages six points and four rebounds per game.
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Injuries are beginning to mount for the Bears. Seven players missed practice yesterday, including wide receiver Darnell Mooney, cornerback Jaylen Jones, and offensive lineman Teven Jenkins. Chicago will try to get some of their players back on the field the rest of this week leading up to their Week 16 game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
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The Chicago Blackhawks will spend the day getting ready for tomorrow night’s home game against the Montreal Canadiens. The Blackhawks are coming off a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday. Chicago remains in last place in the Central Division with 21 points and a 10-20-and-1 record. Tomorrow’s game begins at 7:30 PM.
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The Northwestern Wildcats dominated in the first half of their 65-46 win over Arizona State at the Footprint Center. The Wildcats outscored ASU 36-13 in the first half before cruising to the finish line in the second half. Boo Buie finished with 22 points in the victory, while Brooks Barnhizer added 16. The Wildcats are 9-and-2 overall and 1-and-0 in the Big Ten. They go up against Jackson State on December 29th.
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Tonight, Northern Illinois is at home against Northern Iowa, and Illinois State has a home game against Southeast Missouri State.