The Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for LaSalle County through Midnight tonight as the Winter Storm Warning for Bureau and Putnam Counties is in effect until 6:00 A.M. Wednesday. The sharp divide between heavy snow and a slushy wet snow and rain mix lays right over LaSalle County. Heavier snowfall to the west of I-39 and north of I-80 with a wet slushy mix to the east and south. But the main snow event is yet to come during the day today with forecasts calling for 7 to 12 inches of snow west of 39 and north of 80 with 6 to 9 inches possible east and south of the interstates. Snow rates of an inch per hour are possible later today. Travel could become hazardous with considerable blowing and drifting in outlying areas as winds will gust to 40 miles an hour at times creating whiteout conditions at times. Roads are in normal winter driving conditions for the most part with wet pavement being the main issue. IDOT crews, and county and municipal departments, have been treating and, in some cases, plowing roads. And, the snow event has prompted some schools to cancel on-site attendance today and, in some cases, have an e-learning day. Some schools are calling off any extra-curricular activities for the day. School information is online at 1430wcmy.com. Meantime, another major snowstorm is forecast for late in the day Friday into Saturday with a blast of bitterly cold air that will bring single-digit and sub-zero cold into Northern Illinois.
———————————————————————
During the City Council meeting on Monday in La Salle, several topics were deliberated upon. One significant matter discussed was the potential opening of La Salle’s first crematorium. John Hurst submitted a request for a special use permit to incorporate an onsite crematorium at Hurst Funeral Home located at 650 Fifth St. Although other cities like Ottawa and Princeton already have crematoriums, this would mark the first in the county’s west end. Hurst assured that the advanced furnaces emit heat without any smoke, causing no noticeable environmental impact. The crematorium, operating solely at night, aims to reduce costs for families, especially given that approximately half of Hurst’s funerals involve cremation, providing substantial savings for grieving families. Another topic addressed was the city’s limited options in preventing a potential influx of migrants, a concern raised by Alderman Bob Thompson, who emphasized the challenges faced at the local level. Additionally, the council expressed regret in accepting the resignation of Nikki Baer from the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. And, La Salle city meetings are set to be live-streamed, with the possibility of implementation as early as the second meeting in January and certainly by February. The unanimous decision by the City Council on Monday approved a $2,260 bid from Computer Spa for essential hardware to facilitate video recording of meetings, complementing the existing audio recording.
———————————————————————
American Medical Response Solutions, the provider of personnel for Streator’s ambulance services, has expressed the need to offer substantial signing bonuses and wages higher than initially anticipated to attract EMS staff to Streator. To offset these increased costs, the company is proposing a service fee hike starting in January. The Streator City Council is set to review AMR’s proposal during its meeting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 9, at City Hall, 204 S. Bloomington St. City Manager David Plyman, in a memo to the council, outlined that first-year monthly rates would rise from $94,750 to $108,614, constituting a 14.6% increase. Plyman mentioned that subsequent yearly increases would be around 3%. The city, having entered a three-year agreement with AMR in July 2022 through 2024-25, with the option for a fourth and fifth year, had already factored in the higher EMS personnel costs in its 2024 budget. Plyman expressed optimism about recovering some of the increase through higher ambulance revenue payments in Fiscal Year 2025, possibly through federally funded programs like the Ground Emergency Medical Transportation program. In July 2022, the City Council opted to contract AMR for the emergency ambulance service, following a subsidy request from Advanced Medical Transport, the city’s long-time independent emergency ambulance service
———————————————————————
Construction to repair the sanitary sewer line at the intersection of Union Street and Gumm Creek in Marseilles commenced under the supervision of a contractor. The city secured a $538,724 state grant to mitigate sewer backups affecting Washington, Bluff, and Union streets. The project, divided into two phases, successfully concluded the Bluff Street segment. The ongoing work on Union Street marks the final phase associated with the grant aimed at lining sewers on Union and East Bluff streets. The city of Marseilles shared on its Facebook page that the initiative is intended to address rainwater infiltration into the sanitary sewer system. Despite recent delays, progress is crucial as the deadline to fulfill grant requirements approaches in January.
———————————————————————
The United States and the LaSalle County area are currently grappling with a severe blood shortage crisis, marked by the lowest number of blood donors in two decades, posing a significant challenge for the American Red Cross. The organization’s blood reserves have reached critically low levels, prompting a call to action. To encourage donations, individuals contributing blood at any Red Cross blood drive this month will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to the upcoming Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Prospective donors can choose to contribute at the Illinois Valley Chapter Donation Center behind the Post Office in Peru.
———————————————————————
You can help support LaSalle-based baker, Anna Harmon, as she competes for the coveted title of “The Greatest Baker” and a chance to win $10,000. Anna has successfully reached the quarterfinals of a national online contest, with voting for the semifinalists open until Thursday, January 18th. As the head baker at Millstone Bakery in downtown La Salle, Anna specializes in crafting delicious tarts. Winning the $10,000 prize would enable her to pursue her dream of acquiring a small food truck or trailer for her baking endeavors. To vote for Anna Harmon visit greatestbaker.com/2023/anna-harmon. While one vote is free, you can make a difference by casting 10 or more votes in exchange for a tax-deductible donation that supports families coping with pediatric cancer.
———————————————————————
The U.S. Supreme Court is denying an Illinois lawmaker’s request to review Illinois’ high court ruling that upheld the state’s assault weapons ban. The denial of State Representative Dan Caulkins’ request essentially closes the door on any legal challenges to the law. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in August that the gun ban doesn’t violate the state constitution. Governor Pritzker signed the law last year in response to the deadly Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park in 2022.
———————————————————————
30-year-old Carlos Fernando Vazquez Ramos of Ottawa has charges of no valid driver’s license, no insurance, and operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration after a stop by Ottawa Police Sunday at Chestnut and Marquette Streets.
———————————————————————
A Streator man has a charge of driving under the influence of Ottawa Police. 51-year-old Joseph A. Dagay was stopped at 1215 LaSalle Street on Sunday.
———————————————————————
A 31-year-old Streator woman has a charge of trespassing. Ashley Moats was arrested at the Streator Walmart Sunday afternoon and given a court date.
———————————————————————
40-year Lainee Hallowell of Streator was arrested Sunday by Streator Police on a Livingston County warrant for failure to appear while 40-year-old Erik Dawson of Streator was picked up by Streator Police on a LaSalle County warrant for failure to appear in court.
———————————————————————
Late Sunday night, 35-year-old Justin Hill of Streator was cited for trespassing on state-supported property and arrested on a La Salle County warrant. Hill was taken to the LaSalle County Jail.
———————————————————————
WEATHER:
Today
Rain, possibly mixed with snow, becomes all snow after 10 am. The snow could be heavy at times. High near 33. East wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north-northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 4 to 8 inches is possible.
Tonight
Snow before midnight. Patchy blowing snow after 8 pm. Low around 26. Blustery, with a west-northwest wind of 10 to 15 mph increasing to 20 to 25 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches is possible.
———————————————————————
OBITUARIES:
Carol (Tunnacliffe) Underhill, 88, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday, January 2nd, at home, surrounded by family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. today, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Ottawa. Burial will follow at Ottawa Avenue Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. today at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
———————————————————————
Margaret Gaffney, 97, of Ottawa, passed away Sunday, December 24th, at The Pavilion of Ottawa. Visitation will be on Saturday, January 13th, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will take place at noon at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
———————————————————————
Ralph E. Rowe, 83, of Marseilles, passed away Saturday, January 6th, at his home with his family by his side. The Ottawa Funeral Home is handling any arrangements.
———————————————————————
Dorothy Darlene (Houchin) Fowlie, 86, of Ottawa, passed away on Thursday, January 4th, at her home surrounded by her family.
Funeral services will be private. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home Ottawa.
———————————————————————
LOCAL SPORTS:
Girls basketball
St. Bede defeated Marquette 55-47 at St. Bede Academy.
———————————————————————
Serena 53, Sandwich 23: At Serena on Monday, the host Huskers improved to 15-2 on the season with the dominating nonconference victory.
———————————————————————
Newark 61, Earlville 21: At Newark, the host Norsemen 10-10 overall, 4-1 Little Ten
———————————————————————
Wilmington 31, Streator 26: At Wilmington, the Bulldogs (1-20 overall, 0-7 Illinois Central Eight) almost won their second straight, trailing by four at the half.
———————————————————————
Seneca 63, Henry-Senachwine 31: At Seneca, the host Fighting Irish (12-10 overall, 5-4 Tri-County) led 26-18 by halftime and pulled away from there.
———————————————————————
Hall 59, Bureau Valley 48: the Red Devils got a Three Rivers Conference East Division victory in Spring Valley.
———————————————————————
Kewanee 49, Mendota 28: the Trojans lost a Three Rivers Conference East Division game in Mendota.
———————————————————————
Girls bowling
Ottawa 3,023, Sycamore 2,541: At Detorre’s Town Lanes, the host Pirates
———————————————————————
La Salle-Peru 3,269, Kaneland 2,866: the Cavaliers got the Interstate 8 Conference victory at Four Seasons Sports in Sycamore.
———————————————————————
PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Bulls earned their second straight win following a 119-112, overtime victory over the Hornets in Charlotte. Coby White led Chicago with 27 points, while Andre Drummond logged a double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds. Nikola Vucevic tallied one of his own off the bench with 21 points and 10 boards as Chicago improved to 17-and-21. The Bulls are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference at 17-and-21. Chicago hosts Houston tomorrow night.
———————————————————————
The Chicago Blackhawks will try to get a winning streak going when they host the Edmonton Oilers at United Center tonight. Chicago snapped a five-game losing streak by beating the Calgary Flames 4-3 on Sunday. The Hawks are in last place in the Central Division with 26 points and a 12-26-and-2 record. Tonight’s game starts at 7:30 PM.
———————————————————————
Terrence Shannon Jr. is trying to get back onto the court while he awaits his trial for a rape charge. The Fighting Illini guard is planning to sue the University of Illinois after he was suspended following his arrest last month. Shannon’s attorney Mark Goldenberg says that they looking to get a temporary restraining order that would allow Shannon to take classes and play basketball while the legal process plays out. He’s averaging 21-point-seven points in 11 games for Illinois this season.
———————————————————————
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish aim to avoid a third consecutive loss when they visit Georgia Tech at McCamish Pavilion tonight. The Irish are coming off a 67-59 loss against number-11 Duke on Saturday. Notre Dame is 6-and-9 overall and 1-and-3 in the ACC. Tonight’s game gets underway at 8:00 PM Central Time.
———————————————————————
In other college basketball action tonight Northern Illinois visits Western Michigan.