OSF HealthCare has successfully overcome another regulatory hurdle in its endeavor to reopen the Peru hospital, maintaining the target date of Sunday, April 7. Confirming progress on its Facebook page, OSF HealthCare – Illinois Valley, the network announced that it has moved closer to reopening OSF Saint Elizabeth – Peru. The Illinois Department of Public Health conducted a licensing survey on March 5, granting the hospital its license. The initial phase of reopening will encompass emergency services and a limited number of inpatient beds, with further programs and services scheduled for phase two. Peru Mayor Ken Kolowski expressed satisfaction with the development, heralding it as a significant stride forward for the region. With the opening date of April 7 steadily approaching, OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center President Dawn Trompeter affirmed that all necessary regulatory requirements have been met, ensuring the provision of emergency and limited inpatient services from day one. Diagnostic imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, EKG, and respiratory services will be available to patients initially, with additional services to follow after the official opening.
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The 2024 yard and garden drop-off site in Ottawa is now open for residents to dispose of leaves, small twigs/branches (2 inches in diameter or less), garden waste, and vegetation. Located in the 400 block of West Jackson Street near the railroad tracks at Walnut Street, the site operates seven days a week from dawn to dusk. Residents are responsible for unloading their items, and only biodegradable paper bags are permitted; no plastic bags, lumber, metal, newspapers, or garbage are allowed. Commercial lawn or landscaping businesses are prohibited from using the site. Overflowing dumpsters should not prompt loose item disposal on the ground; instead, residents should return after dumpsters have been emptied. Residents should check the dumpster’s status before making their way to the drop-off site. The area is monitored 24/7, and the city emphasizes that the success of the program hinges on public cooperation. Violations may result in citations reported to the Ottawa Police Department at 815-433-2131, as stated in a news release by the city.
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Peru is gearing up for the introduction of a new fiber network set to commence this month, as announced by Deputy City Clerk Stephanie Piscia in a statement on Wednesday. In collaboration with Geneseo Communications, Inc., the city is embarking on the construction of a fully buried fiber-to-premises network capable of delivering up to 10 Gigabit internet service. This initiative marks the beginning of a multi-year fiber expansion project, promising unlimited data usage for city customers who will also have the option to incorporate streaming TV services and power multiple devices, including home automation technologies. Initial construction will commence near Marquette and Wenzel Road, with further details available on their website at fibermefast.com. Concurrently, Geneseo Communications is proposing a similar venture to the City of La Salle, while La Salle weighs an alternative offer from Surf Communications.
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Illinois Senate Minority Deputy Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) is urging Congress to bolster protections for American personal data, following the passage of legislation by the U.S. House of Representatives that could potentially ban TikTok nationwide to counter foreign threats. Emphasizing the imperative to safeguard sensitive information from both foreign and domestic sources, Senator Rezin stresses the necessity of empowering individuals to control their privacy. Advocating for national legislation akin to the Privacy Rights Act she introduced in the Illinois Senate, Rezin highlights provisions allowing individuals to understand, correct, delete, and opt out of data collection and sharing. Asserting that this is fundamentally about safeguarding people, not just data, she underscores the responsibility of elected officials to anticipate and address threats in both physical and digital realms. As various states and international entities move to enact similar data privacy measures, Senator Rezin calls for concerted efforts to uphold privacy rights in an increasingly interconnected world.
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The realization of the Chicago-to-Peoria rail link heralds a new era for Utica, positioning it for seamless integration and growth. Matt Cetwinski, co-owner of Bruce & Ollie’s, anticipates a surge in tourism, emphasizing Utica’s allure as a stopover rich in recreational and cultural offerings. Mayor David Stewart assures the village’s preparedness, highlighting forthcoming parking expansions, notably at the Market on Mill project, while plans to repurpose a building for a future train station underscore strategic readiness against flooding. Trustee Jim Schrader echoes community excitement, envisioning economic upswings and improved urban accessibility, though Trustee Debbie Krizel voices concerns over logistical challenges and timelines. Yet, excitement resonates both locally and regionally, reflecting broader aspirations for enhanced connectivity and economic prosperity. The proposed rail service symbolizes a collective vision for progress and opportunity, promising transformative impacts for Utica and beyond.
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Today marks the final opportunity for pro-tech union members, encompassing surveyors, engineers, and technicians at the Illinois Department of Transportation, including the Ottawa site, to cast their votes on a new tentative agreement with the state. J. P. Fyans III, President of the Teamsters Local 916, stated that the results would be swiftly tabulated by late Thursday. While Fyans refrained from disclosing the specifics of the agreement, negotiations primarily revolved around enhanced pay and the transition from individual insurance plans to utilizing state-provided coverage. However, he emphasized that in the event of the proposal being rejected, the union intends to request a resumption of negotiations.
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Police in Peru are currently investigating a hit-and-run collision that occurred late Friday night. The incident was reported just after midnight and took place at the junction of Route 251 and Shooting Park Road. Approximately two hours later, Justin O’Brien, aged 24 and a resident of Peru, surrendered himself to authorities. He now faces multiple charges including reckless driving, fleeing the scene of an accident, improper lane usage, operating an uninsured vehicle, and driving with a suspended registration. O’Brien has been issued a notice to appear in court to address these charges.
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The ongoing shortage of election judges across Illinois is expected to affect the upcoming primary election. In Champaign County, election officials needed 232 judges but their recruiting efforts fell short. Now, the county will have 15 fewer polling sites available for voters. The shortage of judges goes back to 2018 when political polarization and the pandemic took their toll on recruiting new judges.
across the state bureaucracy to find something.
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There is a push to create a new state agency that focuses on children in Illinois. Democratic State Senator Kimberly Lightford is looking to combine pieces from the Illinois State Board of Education, the Department of Human Services, and the Department of Children and Family Services into one agency for kids. Governor Pritzker called it the Department of Early Childhood in his State of the State speech. Lightford says the idea is to make sure that there is one place in state government that is in charge of services for children, as opposed to having to go across the state bureaucracy to find something.
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An Illinois State Police officer’s car was hit on Interstate 280 by a driver who allegedly didn’t follow the Move Over Law. The trooper was parked with emergency lights on, assisting a stopped driver, when a semi-trailer reportedly sideswiped the car. Thankfully, neither the trooper nor the driver were injured. The truck driver was cited for violating the Move Over Law.
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Caprecio D. Patterson, 45, of Streator, IL, was apprehended at his residence by Trident Agents and the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office on a LaSalle County Arrest Warrant. He faces charges including one count of Delivery of Methamphetamine (more than 1 gram but less than 15 grams), a class 1 felony, and one count of Delivery of Methamphetamine, a class X felony (more than 15 grams but less than 100 grams). Patterson stands accused of trafficking Methamphetamine to Trident Agents on two separate occasions within the Streator Area. Notably, Patterson was already out on bond for Unlawful Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Following his arrest, Patterson was transferred to the LaSalle County Jail awaiting a detention hearing.
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Hannah Reed, 29, of Streator, IL, received a Notice to Appear in Court, facing two counts of Delivery of Methamphetamine, a class 2 felony. Reed is accused of distributing less than 1 gram of Methamphetamine to Trident Agents on two separate occasions in the Streator area.
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A 47-year-old Peru man was arrested by Peru Police on an outstanding warrant from Arkansas. Jadon D. Langston was detained during a domestic battery investigation late Tuesday night and taken to the LaSalle County Jail. He has a court date on a fugitive from justice charge.
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No injuries in a single-vehicle accident Sunday morning just before 1:30 in Northville Township. LaSalle County Deputies say 22-year-old Alaina Roesler of Sandwich lost control of her vehicle, entered a ditch, struck a utility pole, and overturned. She was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improper lane usage, operating an insured motor vehicle, and was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Roesler was taken to the LaSalle County Jail and released with a notice to appear in court.
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WEATHER:
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10:00 AM
Thursday
Showers and thunderstorms before 3 pm, then a chance of showers between 3 pm and 4 pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog between 7 am and 9 am. High near 65. East wind around 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.
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Thursday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 40. North northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 50%.
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OBITUARIES:
Donald E. “Don” Purcell, 90, of Ottawa, passed away on Saturday, March 9th, at OSF Peoria. A family graveside memorial will take place today at Calvary Cemetery in Ottawa. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Joanne Elizabeth Stortz, 89, of Ottawa, passed away Sunday, March 10th at Pleasant View Luther 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 Catholic Church. There will be no visitation or prayers on Saturday morning, only the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. The entombment will be in the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum at Oakwood Memorial Park.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Steven Beryl Tullis, 54, of LaSalle, passed away on Tuesday, March 12th, at his home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 18th, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the funeral home before the service.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Baseball
Ottawa 6, Sandwich 1: At King Field, the Pirates (1-2) picked up their first win of the season
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Seneca 10, Gardner-South Wilmington 0 (5 inn.): At Seneca, the Fighting Irish improve to 2-0 on the season.
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Amboy 17, Newark 3 (5 inns.): At Newark, the visiting Clippers scored five times in the second inning on the way to the win over the Norsemen.
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Streator 6, Hall 3: Streator defeated Hall at Kirby Park in Spring Valley.
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Mendota 4, Rock Falls 0: Trojans get a nonconference victory in a game that ended after six innings due to darkness.
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Yorkville 7, La Salle-Peru 2: the Cavaliers lost a nonconference game in Joliet.
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Softball
Ottawa 6, Dixon 1: Lady Pirates get the win over the Duchesses, who were playing their first game of the season.
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Seneca 10, Gardner-South Wilmington 0 (5 inn.): At Seneca, the Fighting Irish open the season with a win.
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Newark 15, Amboy 2 (5 inn.): At Newark, the Norsemen scored 10 runs in the first inning in the win over the Clippers to move to 2-0 on the season.
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St. Bede 3, Tri-Valley 2 (8 inn.): the Bruins get a nonconference victory Wednesday in Downs.
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LPHS 10, Bloomington 0 (6 inn.): The Cavaliers beat Bloomington in six innings in a nonconference game.
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Boys indoor track
Ottawa senior Michael Mills finished first in the shot put at the Gary Egler Boys Indoor Invitational at Sycamore.
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GIRLS SOCCER
La Salle-Peru 3, Rock Island 0: The Cavaliers improved to 2-0 with a nonconference victory in Rock Island.
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Middle School:
The Peru Parkside and Trinity Catholic eighth-grade volleyball teams qualified for the IESA state tournament.
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Parkside advanced to the Class 3A state tournament with a 23-25, 25-22, 25-10 victory over Lockport Kelvin Grove in Sectional 2 at Morris Saratoga. The Raiders (21-2) will face Staunton (24-1) in the quarterfinals at 5:45 p.m. Friday at Pana High School.
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Trinity Catholic beat Peru Catholic 25-8, 25-12 in Sectional 2 at Lostant Grade School to advance to the Class 1A quarterfinals, where the Saints (17-0) will play Lockport Taft (17-3) at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Bishop McNamara.
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
DeMar DeRozan came through in the clutch as the Chicago Bulls beat the Indiana Pacers 132-129 in overtime at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. DeRozan knocked down a game-tying shot at the buzzer to send the game to an extra frame, where he scored nine of Chicago’s 15 points. DeRozan finished the night with 46 points, while Alex Caruso chipped in with 23. Chicago remains in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a 32-and-34 record. The Bulls host the Clippers tonight.
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The Chicago White Sox are dealing away their ace starting pitcher. The Southsiders traded Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres in exchange for a package of four prospects headlined by top-100 prospect Drew Thorpe. The right-handed starting pitcher is the 64th-ranked prospect in the MLB according to ESPN, and he’s heading to Chicago with pitchers Jairo Iriarte and Steven Wilson as well as outfielder Samuel Zavala. Cease finished in second place in the AL Cy Young vote in 2022, but he struggled in 2023, going 7-and-9 with a 4.58 ERA. In other club news, the White Sox beat Milwaukee 15-4 in a Spring Training contest yesterday.
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The Chicago Blackhawks are getting ready for their game against the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center tomorrow night. The Hawks are on a two-game winning streak after crushing Anaheim 7-2 on Tuesday. Chicago is in last place in the Central Division with 41 points and an 18-43-and-5 record. Tomorrow’s game starts at 7:30 PM.
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The Chicago Cubs pounded out 13 hits during an 8-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians in a Spring Training game at Goodyear Ballpark yesterday. The Cubs scored four times in the top of the first and led the rest of the way. Miguel Amaya, Patrick Wisdom, David Bote, and Garrett Cooper all went deep, while Kyle Hendricks earned the win after giving up just one run on four hits in three-and-two-thirds innings. The Northsiders send Shota Imanaga to the mound against the A’s today.
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s season is over after a 72-59 loss in the ACC Tournament at Capital One Arena. The Irish never led in the game and trailed by as many as 16 points. Markus Burton had 21 points in the loss. The Irish wrapped up the 2023-24 campaign with a 13-and-20 record overall.
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Kent State 63, Northern Illinois 60: The Huskies took Kent State to the wire but came up short in MAC quarterfinal action.