LaSalle County witnessed its lowest turnout in a decade, with only 17.75% of registered voters casting ballots, as there were no major referenda on the ballot. This marks a significant decline compared to previous years, with the next lowest turnout recorded at 18.3% in the 2014 primary election. Despite efforts to increase participation, such as moving the primary to June during the pandemic in 2022, turnout remained low at 19.28%.
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Democrat Brian Dose and incumbent Republican Don Jensen will vie for the La Salle County chairman position in the upcoming November election. Dose, of Ottawa, secured 3,536 votes, while Jensen, from Deer Park, amassed 4,614 votes. The other Democratic candidate, Joe Oscepinski Jr., of Peru picked up 1,696 votes and Republican Deborah Porter from Streator had 2,039 votes.
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Liz Bishop of LaSalle clinched a decisive victory in the GOP contest for the 76th House District seat, leading from start to finish. With 3,168 votes, Bishop outpaced Crystal Loughran of Peru, who secured 1,561 votes, according to unofficial tallies out of Bureau, LaSalle, and DeKalb Counties. Republican Bishop will square off against Democratic primary winner Amy “Murri” Briel of Ottawa. The former Chief of Staff for outgoing State Representative Lance Yednock of Ottawa narrowly beat challengers Cohen Barnes, the Mayor of DeKalb, and DeKalb Alderwoman Carolyn “Morris” Zasada. Unofficial tallies show Briel leading with 2,356 votes across La Salle, DeKalb, and Bureau counties, with Barnes at 2,077 and Zasada at 2,038.
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In the sole primary race for a La Salle County Board seat, Republican Melody Burgess holds a 17-vote lead. Burgess secured 55 votes while her opponent, Michelle Mathia, garnered 38 votes in District 13 currently represented by Democrat Mike Kasap of La Salle, who is not seeking reelection. Pending confirmation of the unofficial results, Burgess will face Democrat Alexandria “Ali” Braboy of La Salle, who ran unopposed in the primary, in the November general election.
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Will County Circuit Court Judge John Anderson in the lead by 26,704 votes across seven counties for the Democratic nomination for the 3rd Appellate Court. Anderson has garnered 55,290 votes as of 9:30 p.m., while his opponent, Joseph Hettel, currently holds 28,586 votes. These figures are based on unofficial tallies from Will, Bureau, Grundy, LaSalle, DuPage, Iroquois, and Kankakee counties.
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Chris Balkema, Grundy County Board Chairman, will likely fill the position of state Sen. Tom Bennett of Gibson City. With no Democratic contender in the primary, Balkema emerged as the unofficial winner in the GOP primary for the 53rd District seat that covers parts of 11 counties: La Salle, Bureau, Putnam, Grundy, Marshall, Woodford, Tazewell, Livingston, McLean, Ford, and Iroquois.
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In the 2024 Illinois Democratic primary, with 86% of votes counted, Joe Biden secured victory with 91.3% of the votes, while Marianne Williamson, Dean Phillips, and Frankie Lozada trail far behind. Meanwhile, in the Illinois Republican primary, with 92% of votes counted, Donald Trump emerges victorious with 80.7% of the votes, while Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, and Ryan Binkley lag in the race.
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In the Dalzell Grade School District, voters approved three propositions to raise tax rates by 20 or more votes, supporting increases for transportation, education, and operations and maintenance. Meanwhile, in Wyanet, Bureau County, over 70 percent of voters rejected downsizing the village board from 6 to 4 members, opting to maintain the status quo.
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The Ottawa Post office is hosting a Job Fair at the postal substation at 405 West Main Street today from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Clerk and Carrying positions are available in the central Illinois Valley area and two hiring specialists will be on-site to assist with any questions on the positions and how to apply for them. No resumes or applications will be filled out on-site.
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During Tuesday night’s Ottawa City Council meeting, Tom Ganiere, the Commissioner of Public Health and Safety, expressed his dissatisfaction with OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital’s proposed changes along the Interstate 80 corridor, foreseeing a decline in care options for Ottawa residents. While acknowledging OSF St. Elizabeth’s commitment to the city and their plans for a new, modern inpatient hospital, Ganiere voiced disappointment over the reallocation of crucial services to their Peru facility, slated to reopen in April. This relocation, he argued, would deprive Ottawa of essential services including intensive care, obstetric care, and operating rooms, placing additional strain on emergency medical services. Ganiere emphasized the lack of consultation with the city regarding these plans and urged OSF to reconsider, underscoring Ottawa’s status as a growing community deserving of expanded healthcare services. He encouraged public engagement with the Health Services and Facilities Review Board. Ganiere concluded by clarifying that his opinions were his own and might not represent those of other council members or the city, a sentiment echoed by Mayor Robb Hasty and Commissioner Wayne Eichelkraut. Additionally, the council approved various agreements and resolutions about community projects and events, including road closures for marathons and festivals, and fundraising activities for charitable causes.
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During the Oglesby City Council meeting on Monday night, Mayor Jason Curran’s proposal to allocate $10,000 to $15,000 for a permanent stage was rejected. Mayor Curran highlighted that the city currently spends $3,000 annually to rent a stage for two events at Senica Square and believes a permanent stage would facilitate more community gatherings, thereby enhancing downtown engagement. However, Commissioner Rich Baldridge expressed opposition, citing the park board’s disapproval and deeming it a frivolous expense. He suggested exploring the possibility of utilizing the stage at Lehigh Park instead. Commissioner Tony Steffanelli emphasized the city’s pursuit of a grant to enhance Lehigh Park and advocated for directing limited funds toward improving the existing stage there. Similarly, Commissioner Terry Eutis echoed reluctance to invest in a new stage at Senica Square. Also during Monday’s Oglesby City Council meeting, Commissioner Terry Eutis administered the oath of office to Spencer Shaw, the newest addition to the Oglesby police force. A lifelong resident of the Illinois Valley area, Shaw, 32, brings his training from the Sauk Valley Police Academy to the department. Undergoing a 16-week training program, his appointment fills the remaining vacancy, ensuring that Oglesby Police Chief Mike Margis’s department is now at full staffing capacity.
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Surf Internet is proposing to introduce its fiber internet service to Spring Valley, aiming to provide high-speed internet to 2,800 homes, with the option for speeds up to 2 gigabytes per second, as conveyed by Jennifer Alvarez, a company spokesperson, during the Spring Valley City Council meeting. Additionally, the company plans to offer telephone services. Alvarez emphasized Surf’s commitment to collaborating with local communities, ensuring construction schedules align with official approval, and minimizing disruptions. Alvarez mentioned the possibility of assigning a representative to Spring Valley, following agreements similar to those in Oglesby and Ottawa. Should an agreement be reached, Surf aims to commence installation next year, with the timeline contingent on specific community agreements.
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Registration for the City of La Salle’s Electronics Recycling Event is now LIVE! You must pre-register for this event which will be Saturday, April 6 at Rotary Park. Space is limited. Head over to LaSalle recycling dot as dot me or call 815-630-4308 to register. This event is reserved for La Salle residents only (IDs will be checked at the gate) and there is a limit of two TVs per residence.
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After three decades of dedicated service to the Ottawa community and surrounding regions, The Pike family has announced the sale of their business Golden Rule Lumber, established in 1991, to RP Lumber. The Pikes added that they know RP Lumber will uphold the same standards of excellence and commitment to customer satisfaction that have defined Golden Rules operations for the last 33 years. RP Lumber has more than 80 locations throughout Illinois, Missouri, Wyoming, Iowa, and Wisconsin, including locally in Ottawa, Streator, Mendota, Princeton, Pontiac, and Lacon.
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Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed an executive order to provide equity in access to gene and cell therapy in Illinois. It would apply to therapies such as the recently approved therapy for Sickle Cell Disease. It directs the state’s Department of Healthcare and Family Services to set up payment models and financial structures for sickle cell disease
treatments and other high-cost treatments in the state’s Medicaid program. Program recommendations will be submitted by the end of the year.
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A new study shows roughly 129-thousand Chicago children under six have been exposed to lead in drinking water. That’s about 70 percent of the total Chicago population under six, according to a JAMA pediatrics publication. Additionally, the study found that 19 percent of those kids use unfiltered tap water as their primary source of drinking water. JAMA Pediatrics also noted that Black and Latino children were much less likely to be tested for lead.
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The U.S. Postal Service is proposing a new structure for its post offices in Illinois that could lead to delays in mail delivery. The plan will turn 58 processing and distribution centers in smaller Illinois communities into local mail processing centers. The plan would redirect packages and unprocessed mail in Springfield and other central Illinois communities to the nearest distribution center in St. Louis. Illinois lawmakers — including Congresswomen Nikki Budzinski and Mary Miller — have written Postmaster Louis DeJoy about their opposition to the plan unless they’re shown it will improve delivery.
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Add this to the list of possible new AI laws in Illinois. A Democrat in Springfield is suggesting a law that would ban anyone from using a singer’s voice in an AI-generated song. State Representative Doris Turner says the idea is to make sure other people aren’t stealing from singers and record labels. Her plan made it through a statehouse committee last week and is now waiting for a full vote.
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The Illinois Supreme Court is being asked to clarify a new law. It states that constitutional challenges to laws and actions can only be filed in Cook or Sangamon counties. It came about as lawmakers felt constitutional challenges to COVID mitigation were being filed in too many jurisdictions during the pandemic. A Madison County judge last week ruled that the law violated the due process rights of a plaintiff there. The Supreme Court has not yet said when it will hear the case.
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Blake Miller, aged 32, surrendered to authorities on Tuesday morning as per La Salle County Jail documentation, facing a felony charge for cocaine distribution stemming from an incident in late February within La Salle County. Despite being released on pretrial terms, Miller’s criminal record in La Salle County indicates a prior conviction for residential burglary.
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WEATHER:
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 41. Breezy, with a north-northwest wind of 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
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Wednesday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 23. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
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OBITUARIES:
Gerald “Jerry” Walsh, 87, of Serena, passed away Friday, March 15th, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm today at Ottawa Funeral Home. There will also be a visitation from 9:00 am until 10:00 am on Thursday, March 21st at Ottawa Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 am on Thursday, at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Private burial will take place in St. Columba Cemetery.
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Nancy (Askim) Pratt, born in San Rafael, California, passed away on March 16th at the age of 77. Nancy worked for the Ottawa Elementary School District for many years before moving on to own and operate The Little store in Ottawa with the help of her family for 10 years before retiring.
Darla Pratt passed away on March 13th at age 43. Darla was born in Ottawa to Mack and Nancy (Askim) Pratt and was a graduate of Ottawa Township High School, class of 1998. A joint Celebration of Life for Darla & Nancy will be held at Berta’s Tap (covered patio) 616 Clinton St, Ottawa, Sunday 3/24 from 12-4 pm. Ottawa Funeral Home is helping with arrangements.
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(Oz-Tot) Benjamin Samuel Otstott, 23, of Seneca (formerly of Plainfield), passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, March 16th, just before his Golden Birthday A Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Casual attire is suggested.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Baseball
Ottawa 5, Serena 3: At Serena, the Pirates with the victory over the Huskers (1-1).
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La Salle-Peru 8, Hall 1: Nolan Van Duzer launched a three-run home run to help the Cavaliers to a nonconference victory in La Salle.
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St. Bede 14, Midland 4 (5 inn.): The Bruins scored four runs in the third inning, three in the fourth, and seven in the fifth to win their Tri-County Conference opener in rural Varna.
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Seneca 11, Putnam County 3: At Seneca, the Fighting Irish defeated the Panthers to begin the Tri-County season.
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Coal City 3, Sandwich 1: At Coal City, the host Coalers topped the Indians.
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Dwight 3, Henry-Senachwine 2: The Mallards lost a Tri-County Conference game in Dwight.
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Plainfield South 6, Streator 2: Plainfield South defeated Streator on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Streator.
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Softball
Ottawa 15, Serena 9: The Ottawa softball team defeated Serena.
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LPHS 7, Princeton 4: LP wins over Princeton.
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Illinois Valley Central 11, Streator 8: At Streator, the Grey Ghosts earn the win.
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Seneca 11, Putnam County 1 (6 inn.): At Seneca, the Fighting Irish get the Tri-County slate with a victory over the Panthers.
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Sandwich 19, DeKalb 5: At DeKalb, the Indians opened the season with a win over the Barbs.
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St. Bede 14, Midland 0 (5 inn.): Reagan Stoudt threw a perfect game with 11 strikeouts as the Bruins opened Tri-County Conference play with a victory in rural Varna.
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Dwight 5, Henry-Senachwine 2: The Mallards lost a Tri-County Conference game in Dwight.
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GIRLS SOCCER
Mendota 2, Rochelle 0: Crystal Garcia scored two goals to help the Trojans to a victory in Mendota.
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
>>Blackhawks Get Crushed By Kings
The Chicago Blackhawks gave up three goals in the second period of their 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. The Hawks are in last place in the Central Division with 43 points and a 19-45-and-5 record. Chicago visits Anaheim tomorrow.
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>>Bulls Prepare For Rockets
The Chicago Bulls are getting ready for their game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center tomorrow night. Tomorrow’s game tips off at 7:00 PM.
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>>Cubs Fall To D-Backs
The Chicago Cubs collected just six hits during a 4-1 Spring Training loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Sloan Park. Adbert Alzolay starts for the Cubs against the A’s today.
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>>White Sox Host Reds
The Chicago White Sox are back in action when they host the Cincinnati Reds in a Spring Training game at Camelback Ranch today. Chicago hasn’t announced a starting pitcher for today’s contest. The first pitch is at 3:05 PM.
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>>College Basketball Round Up
In the NIT Tournament tonight, Bradley takes on Loyola in the First Round from Peoria at 6:00 PM.
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COLLEGE SOFTBALL
IVCC 17-5, Joliet 3-4: The Eagles swept Joliet in a nonconference doubleheader in Oglesby.