Tuesday night in Ottawa proved to be a significant occasion for the community’s children, as Deputy Grand Master Ray Jackson of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Illinois, along with past Noble Grand Master of Illinois Lodge 41, generously presented a $3,000 check to the Ottawa City Council. This donation is earmarked for the city’s parks program, specifically for the repair, replacement, or reconditioning of playground equipment. Furthermore, Commissioner Marla Pearson announced South Ottawa Township’s donation of $12,000 to fund a new shelter at Peck Park on the South Side. Additionally, the council approved a significant quote from NuToys Leisure Products for playground equipment at Allen Park, funded through an Open Spaces Lands Acquisition and Development grant. Mayor Robb Hasty facilitated the approval of a property use and maintenance agreement with the YMCA, allowing for the establishment of an entry plaza named after local luminary Robert Eschbach, in exchange for the YMCA’s commitment to maintain the designated property. Mayor Hasty also extended an invitation to the public for a meeting to discuss the findings of the Downtown Feasibility Study, led by Place Dynamics, addressing the potential for residential short-term rentals in downtown buildings. Furthermore, the council took several other actions, including authorizing engineering agreements, approving project accounting software, collective bargaining agreements, a grant agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and the placement of a WGN Weather Bug Station near the Jordan Block.
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During its session on Tuesday, the La Salle City Council greenlit the Planning Commission’s suggestion to grant John Hurst a special use permit for integrating an onsite crematorium into Hurst Funeral Home located in LaSalle, Hurst emphasized that the addition would have no discernible environmental impact, citing the advanced technology of modern furnaces that emit heat without producing smoke. He pointed out that while other cities like Ottawa and Princeton already have crematoriums, this would be the first in the west end of the county. Additionally, he highlighted that the crematorium would operate exclusively at night and would primarily serve to alleviate costs for families, as approximately half of his funeral services involve cremation, and conducting cremations on-site would result in substantial savings for bereaved families. Mayor Jeff Grove introduced a new policy, dubbed the “three-strikes-you’re-out” policy, aimed at curbing disruptions during council meetings. Under this policy, spectators who disrupt proceedings will receive warnings, with a third offense resulting in removal by the La Salle police. Grove stressed the importance of maintaining respect and uninterrupted proceedings during meetings. This initiative follows an incident on February 5th, where a disruptive spectator was escorted out by Police Chief Mike Smudzinski after disregarding warnings. Additionally, the council addressed various requests and approvals, including signage installations and a tag day request from the La Salle-Peru High School Band Parents, and reported a record-high share of retail sales taxes for November.
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Six new firefighters, namely Maxwell Biesack, Joe Ellena, James McGuire, Conner Sherwood, Reid Smith, and Kevin Stewart, were recently sworn in by the Ottawa Fire Department on Tuesday. The department announced that five of these recruits, along with four additional recently hired firefighters, are scheduled to commence training at the University of Illinois Fire Academy next week. This initiative comes after the Ottawa Fire Department secured a federal grant of $731,849 over the summer to bolster their staff numbers, prompted by the closure of Spring Valley and Peru hospitals.
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is poised to deliver his annual State of the State and Budget Address today, yet this year’s financial outlook may lack the previous luster. Economic forecasts suggest that spending growth is likely to outstrip revenues by approximately $900 million in the next fiscal year, placing Pritzker and lawmakers in the predicament of having to either implement cuts or generate new sources of revenue. However, this deficit could potentially be mitigated by a projected surplus in the current year’s budget. While certain pressures and priorities, such as Governor Pritzker’s persistent advocacy for increased education funding, are expected to persist, emerging challenges, including the influx of migrants from other states, are poised to complicate decision-making in the coming months. Initially approved at $50.4 billion, the budget for the current fiscal year may see an increase to over $52 billion due to better-than-expected tax receipts, with experts recommending that a portion of this surplus be earmarked to address the anticipated deficit in the following year. Although Democrats maintain a super-majority in both legislative chambers, the reception to Pritzker’s proposals among factions within these majorities remains uncertain. Republicans express optimism that a more challenging negotiating landscape may foster a bipartisan approach to the budgetary process.
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Near Seneca, a recently established construction area became the scene of two accidents on Tuesday. Shortly after 8:30 AM, state troopers responded to a collision on eastbound Interstate 80. According to officials, a van and a semi were both traveling east on I-80 when the van’s driver attempted a merge, resulting in a collision that left the vehicles stranded on the left shoulder of the interstate. The van driver was issued a citation for improper lane usage. Later, just before 1:00 PM, Seneca firefighters received a call regarding multiple semis involved in a crash within the construction zone. Troopers determined that one semi, slowing down due to traffic, was rear-ended by another. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, but one semi-driver was cited for driving at a speed unsuitable for the prevailing conditions.
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On Tuesday, the office of Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza unveiled a new portal dedicated to monitoring expenditures linked to asylum seekers. Although the portal currently records approximately $31 million in expenses associated with migrants, Mendoza’s office cautioned that it might not encompass all relevant state spending, particularly aid directed towards homeless individuals or other populations that could indirectly support asylum seekers. The database covers expenditures since November and is expected to comprehensively track all future spending directly targeted at newcomers, as reported by state agencies. Mendoza echoed concerns expressed by Governor Pritzker and others regarding the insufficient support from the federal government for states accommodating migrants.
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A group calling itself the Parents Matter Coalition is organizing a petition drive to place a question on the November ballot in Illinois. The group gathered in Springfield yesterday to announce its plan to place an advisory referendum on the ballot. The referendum would ask if parental consent should be required for children under the age of 18 to receive non-emergency medical care, including gender therapy. The group needs to collect 500-thousand signatures to place the question on the November ballot.
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In a Bureau County courtroom last Friday, Jesse Shanyfelt, aged 38, admitted guilt to four counts of aggravated battery and one count of criminal damage to government-supported property. He received a sentence of 4 ½ years for the battery charges and 3 years for damaging property, to be served concurrently. Shanyfelt’s arrest and charges stemmed from a November incident where he assaulted three nurses and a security guard at OSF St. Clare Hospital in Princeton, resulting in one nurse sustaining a broken orbital bone, as disclosed by prosecutors. Additionally, he was found responsible for breaking the glass of a telephone box within the Bureau County Jail.
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WEATHER:
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
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Wednesday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 3 am. Cloudy, with a low of around 43. South wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
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OBITUARIES:
Michael “Mike” McGill, 74, of Ottawa, passed away Tuesday, February 13th, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Visitation will be Friday, February 23rd, from 5:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A private service will follow. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park at a later date. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Margaret Einhaus, 86, of Seneca, passed away Wednesday, February 14th, at the Arc at Dwight with her family by her side. A visitation will be held on Saturday, March 2nd, from 9:00 am until 11:00 am at the Seneca United Methodist Church. A funeral ceremony will follow at 11:00 am at the church. Private burial will take place in Evergreen Cemetery in Morris. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Stephanie Elaine Smith, 35, of Ottawa, passed away on Monday, February 19th. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Pamela Jean Miskell, age 77, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, February 19th at the LaSalle County Nursing Home in the presence of her devoted family. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday, February 23rd at St. Francis Church. Interment will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Join us tonight for Marquette Boys Basketball at the semifinals in Somonauk against Indian Creek. 7:30 pm tip-off with Andrew Evola and Bryer Lehr on the call, and TonyB back at the WCMY studios.
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Girls Basketball
Class 1A Gardner-SW sectional
(2) St. Bede 75, (1) Morgan Park 24
(1) Serena 55, (2) Elgin St. Edward 44
Thursday’s finals: (2) St. Bede (27-7) vs. (1) Serena (27-5), 7 p.m.
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Boys wrestling
Port Byron Riverdale 38, Sandwich 36: At the Class 1A Sterling Newman Central Catholic Dual Team Sectional, the Indians fell just short against the Rams.
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Bears are making franchise history. The team hired its first-ever woman assistant coach yesterday. Chicago is bringing in Jennifer King to become its assistant running backs coach. King became the first Black woman to earn a coaching job in NFL history in 2021, and she’s had stops with both Washington and Carolina during her career.
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The Blackhawks will try to get back in the win column when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at United Center tonight. Tonight’s game begins at 6:30 PM.
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The Bulls won’t have an important piece coming off their bench when they begin the second half of the NBA season. Forward Torrey Craig is expected to miss four weeks after spraining his right knee during a workout over the All-Star break. Chicago hosts Boston tomorrow night.
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The number-12 Illinois Fighting Illini go for their third win in a row when they visit Penn State at Bryce Jordan Center tonight. Tonight’s game tips off at 5:30 PM.
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish travel to Kentucky to take on the Louisville Cardinals at KFC Yum Center tonight. tonight’s game tips off at 6:00 PM Central Time.
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In college basketball action yesterday, Northern Illinois lost to Ball State 70-63. At DeKalb, David Coit had 28 points, but the Huskies fell in Mid-American Conference action.