Beginning Monday, March 25th, County Highway 9, referred to as East 12th Road and Kaminky Road, situated on the border of Waltham and Wallace townships, will be inaccessible due to bridge replacement. As announced by the La Salle County Highway Department on Tuesday, the project, positioned 3/4 miles south of County Highway 33 (North 33rd Road, the Wallace-Waltham Blacktop), anticipates completion within four months, contingent on weather conditions. Motorists are urged to seek alternative routes to navigate around the construction area.
—————————————————————–
In La Salle County, Illinois State Police Troop 2 unveiled plans for specialized patrols set to commence in April. These patrols include nighttime enforcement aimed at curbing violations, particularly between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., as well as occupant restraint enforcement to ensure compliance with safety belt and child safety seat regulations. Additionally, troopers will conduct alcohol countermeasure patrols to apprehend individuals driving under the influence or impaired in any form. Distracted driving will be targeted through patrols to address behaviors like handheld cellular telephone use, known to heighten the risk of accidents. Furthermore, roadside safety checks will be conducted to remove impaired motorists from the roads, enhancing overall safety measures.
—————————————————————–
Illinois’ largest teachers’ union is giving the State of Education a ‘C’. The Illinois Education Association released its annual report on public schools in the state. The survey asked people across Illinois what they think of public education. Most people think teaching has become harder over the past few years. And the union says most people think teachers are underpaid. The IEA says Illinois needs to do more to prioritize the ‘right to a public education,’ and to end the lingering teacher shortage in the state. The report doesn’t mention anything about students, or how well they can read or write.
—————————————————————–
D Construction workers are currently erecting a new overpass over Interstate 80 on County Road 500 East in Bureau County. This endeavor is part of a broader initiative by the Illinois Department of Transportation, involving a $36.8 million, two-year project aimed at enhancing nearly 10 miles of Interstate 80 in Bureau County. The scope of work encompasses resurfacing from the Bureau-Henry County line to the east of the Route 40 interchange (exit 45), as well as the repair of several bridges and culverts within the construction zone through late fall 2024. Subsequent phases will see the commencement of work on the westbound lanes in spring 2025, necessitating a traffic shift onto the eastbound lanes. The entirety of the project is anticipated to conclude by late fall 2025. Notably, prior efforts under this initiative included the replacement of entrance and exit ramps at the Route 40 interchange, completed in fall 2023.
—————————————————————–
State officials say ticks are emerging earlier than usual this year. The record-warm temperatures and lack of snow this winter is the cause of that. State Department of Conservation officials say the Lone Star tick – with a white dot on its back, the American dog tick, and the deer tick are all very common in Illinois. They say to keep an eye on yourself and your pets after finding ticks for possible symptoms of an illness. You’ll want to watch your pets for odd behavior, appetite loss, swelling, and fever. Humans can have a fever, rash, chills, or body aches. Officials say to seek medical help in both cases if any of those symptoms appear.
—————————————————————–
Celebrate the 60th anniversary of the legendary Ford Mustang by grabbing a temporary license plate at the annual Secretary of State’s Vehicle Show in downtown Springfield. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the show, set to take place on September 7. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has revealed that a limited number of special commemorative license plates, featuring the Mustang and promoting the event, will be available for $32 a pair until May 10. These plates can adorn your vehicle from July 10 to September 7. The event, drawing car enthusiasts and families from across the Midwest, will showcase a diverse array of classic cars spanning various makes and models. Among the highlights will be the presentation of the prestigious Illinois State Champion Award to the best vehicle, alongside awards for first, second, and third place across at least 60 classes. Ford introduced the iconic Mustang in 1964, while the Secretary of State’s Vehicle Show has roots dating back to its inception as an antique auto meet in 1949. For further details or to secure a registration form, contact Giannoulias’ office via email.
—————————————————————–
A nurse’s strike is averted at the University of Chicago Medicine. A tentative agreement has been reached between the union and the health system. A one-day walkout was set for Thursday has been canceled. The nurses are set to vote on the new contract today and tomorrow.
—————————————————————–
A lockdown at the state capitol in Springfield was put in place yesterday afternoon after building security learned of a threat involving the capitol building. The lockdown was issued shortly after two o-clock and police swept the building out of caution. The building was reopened after it was given an all-clear within the hour.
—————————————————————–
The Jonas Brothers are the latest group to be added to the lineup for this year’s Illinois State Fair’s Grandstand headliners in Springfield. Fair organizers say the Jonas Brothers will perform on August 15th at the state fair. Tickets go on sale this Friday.
—————————————————————–
Christopher Robbins, a thirty-seven-year-old resident of Spring Valley, finds himself confronted with criminal charges including theft of property exceeding $500 and criminal trespass to real property, stemming from an alleged incident at a residence on East 4th Street. Meanwhile, in another incident, Spring Valley police apprehended Ralph Chasteen, 56, and his neighbor Kristy Hernandez, 47, both from the same area, reportedly involved in an occurrence at Upscale Resale on Saint Paul Street. Additionally, a 17-year-old juvenile from Spring Valley was arrested for domestic battery following an incident at the Spring Valley McDonald’s on 800 West Dakota Street, with no further details available due to the suspect’s age. Lastly, Streator police arrested Anthony Blameuser, 31, of Streator, just after midnight on Tuesday morning under a warrant issued by Livingston County for failing to appear in court regarding a charge of possession of methamphetamine. Blameuser was subsequently taken into custody and transported to the Livingston County Jail.
—————————————————————–
A 47-year-old woman from Marseilles faces potential prison time following a court case in LaSalle County. Melinda Missel has pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon, a class three felony, after allegedly obtaining a small caliber pistol from Russell Mondy, 58, while at 3rd Bar on March 25th, 2022. According to the Seneca Police Department, a scuffle ensued as Missel attempted to take the gun from Mondy’s holster, resulting in a discharge that injured both Missel and another patron. Mondy, in a separate case, admitted guilt to carrying a concealed firearm in a prohibited area and received a two-year conditional discharge. Missel, with previous convictions including aggravated battery to a police officer and forgery, faces a potential prison term of two to ten years when sentenced by LaSalle County Judge Chris Ryan Jr. in early May.
—————————————————————–
A man from out of state, Dominique Witherspoon-Jefferson, 29, hailing from Cedar Falls, Iowa, received a recent sentencing in a drug possession case within Grundy County. Having pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis weighing between 500 and 2000 grams, categorized as a class three felony, Witherspoon-Jefferson was placed on two years of second-chance probation. In a plea agreement, five additional charges were dismissed. Witherspoon-Jefferson’s arrest took place near mile marker 113 on Interstate 80 in Morris on June 16th, 2023, carried out by the Grundy County Proactive Unit. Authorities found a .380 caliber handgun and roughly 1400 grams of cannabis inside the vehicle, according to police reports.
—————————————————————–
WEATHER:
Wednesday
A slight chance of showers this morning, then a slight chance of showers after 3 pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 72. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
—————————————————————–
Wednesday Night
A slight chance of showers before 10 pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10 pm and 1 am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 am. Low around 51. East-southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
—————————————————————–
OBITUARIES:
Donald E. “Don” Purcell, 90, of Ottawa, passed away on Saturday, March 9th, at OSF Peoria. A family graveside memorial will take place on Thursday, March 14th at Calvary Cemetery in Ottawa. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
—————————————————————–
Joanne Elizabeth Stortz, 89, of Ottawa, passed away Sunday, March 10th at Pleasant View Lutheran Home. Visitation will be on Friday, March 15th, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm, at Ottawa Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, March 16th, at 10:30 am at St. Francis of Assisi Church. There will be no visitation or prayers on Saturday morning, only the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Francis Church. The entombment will be in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum at Oakwood Memorial Park.
—————————————————————–
David Griffey, Sr., 67, of Marseilles, passed away on Thursday, March 7th, at his home surrounded by his family. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on March 16th, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. before the service at the funeral home. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 33 Honor Guard immediately following the services.
—————————————————————–
Mary Elizabeth “Marybeth” Engel, 83, of Serena, passed away Thursday, March 7th at her home surrounded by her loving family. Visitation will be on Saturday, March 16th, from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will follow at 1:00 pm at the funeral home. Burial will be in Aux Sable Grove Cemetery at a later date. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
—————————————————————–
Roger W. “Bill” Pachter, 75, of Seneca, passed away Saturday, March 9th at OSF. St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Mass of Christian burial will be at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 16th at St. Patrick’s Church in Ottawa. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, March 15th at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home in Ottawa. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Aurora following the Mass on Saturday.
—————————————————————–
Donald S. Schlink, 97, of Ottawa, passed away on Saturday, March 9th at the OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa. Private funeral services were held at Oakwood Memorial Park, Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
—————————————————————–
Howard “Randy” Clemens, 68, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, March 8th, at Morris Hospital. Private services will be held. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home and Crematory.
—————————————————————–
Timmey Richard Hicks, 65, of Ottawa, passed away peacefully, on March 10th, at Lightways Hospice Care in Joliet, surrounded by loved ones. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date, and family and friends will be notified. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home and Crematory.
—————————————————————–
LOCAL SPORTS:
Baseball
Metamora 7, Ottawa 6 (9 inn.): At King Field, the Pirates fell to the Redbirds.
—————————————————————–
LPHS 13, Alleman 0:The Cavaliers got the victory over Alleman in a nonconference game at the new L-P Sports Complex.
—————————————————————–
Aurora Central Catholic 6, Newark 2: At Aurora, the Chargers got the win over the Norsemen.
—————————————————————–
Softball
Marquette Academy 11, Kewanee 1 (5 inns.): At June Gross Field in Ottawa, the Crusaders got the victory over the Boilermakers.
—————————————————————–
Newark 6, Aurora Central Catholic 1: At the Go For It Sports Dome in Yorkville, the Norsemen got the victory over the Chargers.
—————————————————————–
Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell 10, Hall 0: at Woodland High School.
—————————————————————–
Girls soccer
Ottawa 3, Reed-Custer 2: At King Field, the Pirates scored two second-half goals to win the season opener over the Comets.
—————————————————————–
Girls Track & Field
At Sycamore: La Salle-Peru freshman Aubrey Duttlinger won the long jump and triple jump to help the Cavaliers finish fourth at the 11-team Gary Egler Invitational. L-P scored 50 points to finish behind Huntley (59), Kaneland (56), and Rosary (54). Mendota (34) was ninth.
—————————————————————–
Swimming
The Ottawa Dolphins competed in the 2024 Illinois YMCA State Championships March 8-10, at Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana. The Dolphins finished in 16th place out of 29 teams from across the state. There were a total of 878 swimmers that competed. The Dolphins sent 42 swimmers to the meet in individual and relay events.
—————————————————————–
PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Chicago Bulls aim to avoid a third loss in a row when they visit the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse tonight. The Bulls got smoked by the Dallas Mavericks 127-92 at home on Monday. Chicago remains in ninth place in the Eastern Conference at 31-and-34. Tonight’s game tips off at 6:30 PM.
—————————————————————–
The Chicago Bears are adding some help in their secondary. The team signed former Packers safety Jonathan Owens to a two-year deal worth four-and-a-half million dollars yesterday. Owens is best known for being the husband of four-time Olympic gold medal gymnast Simon Biles. He had one sack and 84 tackles for Green Bay last season.
—————————————————————–
The Chicago Cubs came through in the clutch during a 6-5 Spring Training win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Sloan Park. Patrick Wisdom hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth during the victory. Luke Little earned the win in relief, while Justin Steele struck out nine and allowed two runs on four hits in four innings. Kyle Hendricks starts for Chicago against Cleveland today.
—————————————————————–
The Chicago White Sox slammed five home runs during a 14-1 Spring Training win against Cincinnati at Goodyear Ballpark. Luis Robert Jr. went deep twice, while Martin Maldonado, Lenyn Sosa, and Mike Moustakas also homered. Dylan Cease earned the win after striking out eight and allowing just one run on two hits in three-and-a-third innings. Erick Fedde starts for the Southsiders against the Brewers today.
—————————————————————–
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are moving on in the ACC Tournament following an 84-80 win over Georgia Tech at Capital One Arena. The Irish led by as many as 17 points in the victory, but Georgia Tech stormed back to take a one-point lead with four-and-a-half minutes left in regulation. However, Notre Dame was able to take control from there. Braeden Shrewsberry had 23 points in the victory, while Markus Burton finished with 21. The Irish go up against Wake Forest today.