In May, Utica-area taxpayers will face higher bills from Waltham Elementary due to an approved 18-cent increase in the district’s tax rate. The Waltham School District 185 Board held a truth in taxation hearing as the levy exceeded a 5% increase. Despite the district’s tax base rising to $79 million (an 8.5% YoY increase), it remains lower due to the removal of COVIA (formerly Unimin Corp.) from the tax rolls. Utica’s superintendent noted this as a catch-up game, resulting in a rising operating tax rate. While bond and interest decrease slightly, more tax dollars will fund the school’s regular operating costs. Utica Mayor David Stewart’s payment is projected to increase from $1,355 to $1,430 next spring. Rising home values, along with increased assessments in La Salle County, will contribute to higher payments for Waltham taxpayers.
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A town hall meeting is scheduled to take place in Ottawa at 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 28, at City Hall located at 301 W. Madison St. The focus of the meeting will be the discussion of the recently concluded fire station study conducted by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association. Public comments and community feedback will be welcomed during the session. In June, the Ottawa City Council granted authorization to the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association to assess the city and identify the optimal site for a third fire station. The meeting will also be accessible through a live stream at www.cityofottawa.org.
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In a LaSalle County drug dealing case, Shianne Dormer, 23, from Aurora, pleaded guilty to a class one felony of Manufacturing and Delivering between 1 and 15 grams of cocaine. Consequently, Dormer received a 180-day sentence in the LaSalle County Jail and was placed on four years of probation. A class X felony charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement. Court records from LaSalle County indicate that Dormer, along with 36-year-old Joseph Tholl and 19-year-old Ivy Phipps, was arrested on May 16th by the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office and Trident Task Force agents in the 3000 block of North Route 71 in Ottawa. The trio is accused of selling multiple grams of cocaine to undercover agents in the Ottawa area, and Tholl and Phipps are scheduled to appear in court in the New Year to face various drug dealing charges.
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The La Salle-Peru High School Board conducted its Truth and Taxation hearing, endorsing the 2023 tax levy for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year while opting to sustain the current tax rate. A hearing became necessary due to a property tax increase exceeding 5% from the previous year. Despite the Board Vice President revealing a 12.9% rise in the tax levy before factoring in debt services, the overall property tax increase for the next year is 9.97% with a constant tax rate of $2.57. This increase is rooted in projected property tax growth, preserving the rate but leading to higher payments for property owners due to increased property values.
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Project Success of Bureau County hosted its annual Santa’s workshop Saturday at Hall High School in Spring Valley. Nearly 300 children will wake up today with gifts under their tree thanks to this effort. The event was sponsored by Project Success of Eastern Bureau County. Hall High School students and Hall Township Food Pantry workers helped with distribution. The Hall Township Food Pantry also distributed groceries to more than 420 families Wednesday for a Christmas dinner, made possible through donations from the community.
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La Salle County has returned to a low-risk status for COVID-19 hospitalizations, as determined by the county’s health department following guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The community-level classification is determined by a combination of indicators. Over the last seven days until Thursday, the rate of new hospital admissions for confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 7.7 per 100,000 residents, and 5.5% of staffed inpatient beds were occupied by patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to information provided by the CDC website. Notably, from December 15 to December 21, the La Salle County Health Department confirmed 104 new cases of COVID-19.
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A federal judge in southern Illinois has formally rejected a request for an injunction to postpone the mandatory registration deadline of January 1, as stipulated in the state’s ban on assault weapons. U.S. District Judge issued a comprehensive 34-page order on Friday. Advocates for gun rights had sought an emergency injunction to temporarily stop the registration of firearms and related accessories outlined in the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA), arguing that the requirements violated the Second and 14th amendments of the U.S. Constitution. Attorneys representing Federal Firearms Licensees of Illinois, gun rights proponents, gun dealers, and three individual gun owners contended that the regulations for registering pre-owned assault weapons were unclear, and the state failed to adequately notify owners of these firearms. The Illinois attorney general’s office, in response, urged the court to dismiss the due process claims.
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Angelina R. Serna Age 21 of Mendota was Arrested Thursday at 10:23 pm and Charged with Driver Possession of Adult Use Cannabis in Vehicle Improper Use of Registration Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle.
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TIFFANY L. ROBINSON Age 33 of LADD was Arrested Thursday at 6:03 pm she was given a traffic citation for Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident. She was released on a mandatory court date.
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A Granville woman, Elizabeth Vasquez, 32, was cited for driving under the influence following a single-vehicle crash on Route 89 between the Illinois River bridge and the bottom road. The incident occurred around 11:40 p.m. on Thursday, resulting in damaged power poles on the north side of the road. Putnam County Sheriff’s Office responded, and Vasquez, the driver, was transported to OSF St. Claire Hospital in Princeton by Putnam County EMS. After treatment, she was released to the sheriff’s office for further investigation. Vasquez faces charges of improper lane usage, failure to reduce speed, and DUI, with a pending court date in Putnam County court. Spring Valley police, Putnam County EMS, and the Granville Fire Department assisted at the crash scene.
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Today the Open Table United Church of Christ in Ottawa warmly embraces the spirit of family, friendship, and love, inviting all to partake in their festive celebration. From 10 a.m. to noon on December 25th, at the church situated at 910 Columbus St. in Ottawa.
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WEATHER:
Christmas Day
Rain. High near 54. Breezy, with an east-southeast wind of 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%.
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Monday Night
Rain before midnight, then a chance of showers after midnight. Low around 40. South southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80%.
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OBITUARIES:
Donald E. Van Hoozer, 90, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, December 22nd, at the Illinois Veteran’s Home in La Salle. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm on Saturday, December 30, at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will take place at noon at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Boys basketball
Marquette 85, Yorkville Christian 61: At Bader Gym in Ottawa, Denver Trainor scored 18 points in the first half as the Crusaders rolled to a 43-28 halftime edge on its way to the home win.
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Serena 72, St. Bede Academy 50: At Serena, the Huskers stayed unbeaten on the season with the victory over the Bruins.
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Newark 47, Parkview Christian 34: At Yorkville, the Norsemen upped their record to 3-8 with the triumph over the Falcons.
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Sandwich 52, Aurora Central Catholic 31: At Sandwich, the Indians improved to 3-6 on the season with the win over the Chargers.
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Normal U-High 54, Princeton 39: The Pioneers beat the Tigers for the second straight year, this time in Normal.
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La Salle-Peru 75, Dunlap 66: The Cavaliers trailed 36-34 at the half, but doubled up their hosts 22-11 in the third quarter to gain control in a nonconference game at Dunlap.
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Boys and girls basketball teams around the state will compete in tournaments the week after Christmas.
Plano Christmas Classic
Kaneland is the No. 1 seed, Burlington Central is No. 2, while Northridge Prep and Streator round out the top five. Ottawa Pirates are un-ranked and take on Hinckley Big-Rock at 12:30 on the 27th.
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Marquette Christmas Tournament
The former Marseilles Holiday Tournament is full of area teams, including St. Bede, Hall, Putnam County, Earlville, Marquette, Serena, Flanagan-Cornell, and Woodland.
Serena (9-0) earned the No. 1 seed.
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Girls basketball
Ottawa 43, Morris 34: the Pirates finish the event with a victory to improve to 8-7 on the season. They get 3rd place in the holiday tournament.
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LPHS 43, IVC 34: The Cavs bounce back after a scoreless first quarter but lose to Illinois Valley Central at the Holiday tourney.
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Prairie Central 44, Streator 11: At the Ottawa Lady Pirate Holiday Tournament, the Bulldogs fell in the 11th-place game to the Hawks.
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St. Bede 44, Serena 32: At Serena, the Huskers dropped their first game of the season to the visiting Bruins.
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Putnam County 39, Hall 33: The Panthers defended their home court by defeating the Red Devils in nonconference play at RM Germano Gymnasium in Granville.
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Princeton 55, Joliet Catholic 48: The Tigresses closed out the Lady Pirates Holiday Tournament at Ottawa by defeating the Angels in Friday’s seventh-place game.
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Lady Bruins Christmas Classic
The tournament has a different look this year with three new teams added to the field in Associated Press Class 1A No. 4 Annawan (11-3), 1A No. 1 Serena (9-0), and Newark.
St. Bede (8-5), Putnam County (12-3), Fieldcrest (8-4), Kewanee (3-9) and Sandwich (3-9) return to the tournament.
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Amboy Holiday Tournament
Hall (5-7) and Mendota (3-10) head to Amboy. The Red Devils are in the Black Pool with the host Clippers (8-4) and Somonauk, while the Trojans will play in the Red Pool with Newman (6-9) and Hiawatha (7-9).
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Bears picked up their fourth straight home win after cruising past the Cardinals 27-16 at Soldier Field. Justin Fields threw for 170 yards and a touchdown while also running for 97 yards and a score. Khalil Herbert added 112 yards and a TD on the ground as the Bears improved 5-and-9 on the season including 4-and-3 at home. Chicago hosts Atlanta on New Year’s Eve.
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On Saturday, the Bulls fell apart in the second half of their 109-95 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at United Center. The Bulls and Cavs were tied at 69 in the third quarter before Cleveland went on a 20-3 run to put the game out of reach. DeMar DeRozan led Chicago with 21 points in the losing effort, while Nikola Vucevic had 20 points and 12 boards. Chicago is in tenth place in the Eastern Conference at 13-and-18. The Bulls host Atlanta tomorrow night.
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The Blackhawks surrendered five goals in the third period of a 7-5 loss to the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Arena on Saturday. Connor Bedard scored a Michigan goal in the losing effort, and he helped the Hawks build a 5-2 lead early in the third period. However, St. Louis scored five unanswered goals to end the contest. Nick Foligno scored twice in the losing effort, while Jason Dickinson and Anthony Beauvillier also lit the lamp. The Hawks remain in last place in the Central Division with 21 points and a 10-22-and-1 record. Chicago host Winnipeg on Wednesday.
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Northwestern’s defense held strong during a 14-7 win over Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday. The Wildcats took the lead when Ben Bryant tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Cam Johnson at the end of the first half. After Utah tied the game up in the fourth, Bryan hit Bryce Kirtz from 19 yards out to put Northwestern up for good. The Wildcats forced a turnover on downs on Utah’s next possession to seal the win. Bryant threw for 222 yards and a pair of scores, while Northwestern’s defense held the Utes to just 211 yards of offense. The Wildcats end the season with an 8-and-5 record overall and a 5-and-4 mark in the Big Ten.
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Northern Illinois is a bowl winner for the first time in over a decade after beating Arkansas State 21-19 in the Camellia Bowl in Alabama on Saturday. NIU raced off to a 21-7 lead in the second quarter, but Arkansas State scored twice before halftime to get within a possession. NIU gave up a touchdown with just over a minute left in regulation, but the Huskies stopped the game-tying two-point conversion attempt to seal the win. Rocky Lombardi had a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown, while Antario Brown added 132 yards on the ground. NIU finishes the year at 7-and-6 overall.
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The number-11 Illinois Fighting Illini got off to a fast start during a 97-73 rout over Mizzou at Enterprise Center on Friday. The Illini took a 49-24 lead at halftime and were able to coast to a win. Terrence Shannon Jr. scored 30 points in the victory, while Quincy Guerrier chipped in with 28. The Illini are 9-and-2 overall and 1-and-0 in the Big Ten. Illinois hosts Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday.
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish squeaked out a 60-56 win over Marist at Joyce Center on Friday. Notre Dame trailed by one at the half before outscoring Marist 36-31 in the second half. Markus Burton led the way with 21 points. The Irish are 5-and-7 overall heading into next Saturday’s game against number-20 Virginia.