Shortly before 5:00 Monday morning, a semi rollover on eastbound I-80 near mile marker 88 – two miles west of the Illinois 23 interchange – resulted in an injured driver being transported to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa. The semi ended up in the right-side ditch of the eastbound lanes.
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A 41-year-old Ottawa man is facing charges after an aggravated battery incident Saturday night. Dustin Farrell was apprehended by the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office after a report of a stabbing. A 44-year-old Ottawa man suffered stab wounds to his left forearm and was taken to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Deputies responded to a physical altercation between two men at 1570 N. 30th Road, Lot 2, at 9:58 p.m. Farrell was arrested and later released with a notice to appear in court.
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Late Saturday night, a brush fire near Amboy began to get out of control with 14 fire departments responding. Amboy Fire Chief Jeff Bryant reported that the initial call came in around 10:30 PM, prompting the deployment of fire crews from various areas, including Dixon, Oregon, and Spring Valley, over the next three hours. The blaze engulfed 20 acres before being brought under control, with no reported injuries or structural damage.
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Travel in Mendota may be affected by a construction project underway, commencing today. Crews will operate around the 4th Avenue viaduct near U.S. 34, and on the north side near 12th Street and Lincoln Avenue. Expect closures on the viaducts, with detour signs guiding alternate routes around the construction zones. Completion of the viaduct work is anticipated within a few days. And in Peru, IDOT reported that recent joint maintenance work beneath the Illinois 251 bridge has already been completed. As crews begin work on the bridge deck this week, traffic will be restricted to a single lane, with construction flaggers managing traffic flow. This phase of construction is anticipated to extend for approximately one month. However, both lanes of 251 will reopen after each workday.
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According to Michael Claffey from the Illinois Department of Public Health, no new cases have been reported since at least two patients in La Salle County were hospitalized for symptoms resembling botulism after receiving injections, allegedly Botox or a similar potentially counterfeit product, prompting a visit to the emergency room. The IDPH has determined that these patients received injections from a licensed nurse in La Salle County who was operating beyond her authorized scope. Claffey declined to provide further details regarding the nurse’s identity when questioned.
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Illinois lawmakers are considering legislation aimed at regulating hemp products, with a particular focus on prohibiting the sale of items containing synthetic THC, like delta-8, until further research is conducted. Tiffany Chappell Ingram, the executive director of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois, highlights the deceptive nature of THC-containing products that may not be immediately recognizable. Experts warn that the absence of regulations on hemp consumer goods enables the production of THC-infused items disguised as innocuous snacks, posing risks, especially to children. Additionally, another bill under scrutiny proposes taxing and regulating delta-8, but Ingram believes it falls short, advocating for a suspension of sales until comprehensive scientific assessments are completed.
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Residents of Mendota and nearby areas are encouraged to dispose of unwanted or expired prescription drugs at an event supported by the city, the Mendota Chamber of Commerce, and State Rep. Bradley Fritts, R-Dixon. Taking place on Saturday, May 4, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Mendota Civic Center parking lot, this Prescription Take Back Day plays a crucial role in combating prescription drug abuse and protecting the environment by ensuring proper disposal. Participation in this event helps create a safer and healthier community. Drop-offs are anonymous, with no questions asked. Furthermore, in 2023, Mendota received a $375,000 annual grant for five years from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration Partnership for Success program, bolstering substance use prevention efforts and youth activities.
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At a public meeting last week in Oglesby City Hall, residents discussed ideas for renovating Lehigh Park, including adding a volleyball court, additional parking lots, and playground equipment. The city is considering applying for a 2024 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant for the park’s renovation but must weigh the trade-off of prohibiting alcohol in the park. Mayor Jason Curran highlighted the need for more parking and emphasized residents’ suggestions for improvements. Concerns were raised about the impact of the grant on events held in the park. The
the meeting concluded with plans to refine ideas and seek input from the park board before finalizing the grant application due in August.
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In court on Thursday, thirty-year-old Anthony Brito Jr. of Ottawa appeared for a hearing, with all parties agreeing to reconvene next month for an update on his mental fitness examination. Brito faces charges including attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, harassing a witness, and felon in possession of a firearm. Prosecutors assert that the incident occurred on the evening of September 12th last year when Brito, noticing a vehicle driven by a witness in a separate cocaine-dealing case against him, instructed his driver to pursue the vehicle. Allegedly, Brito opened fire when the vehicles were alongside each other, damaging a windshield but thankfully not injuring anyone. He was apprehended the next afternoon following a standoff with law enforcement. Brito’s criminal record in La Salle County includes convictions for burglary, cocaine dealing, and aggravated fleeing.
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The unresolved case of a shooting at Mickey’s Massive Burritos in La Salle sees sixty-four-year-old Richard Venegas of La Salle returning to an Ottawa courtroom, with all parties consenting to reconvene for another status hearing on June 7th. Venegas, facing charges of felony reckless conduct causing great bodily harm for allegedly shooting his older brother Mickey Venegas inside the downtown La Salle restaurant last March, remains free pending trial. Despite sustaining serious injuries, Mickey Venegas survived the incident.
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La Salle County YANA! (You Are Not Alone) will mark its third anniversary on Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m., hosted at Jamie’s Outpost, 602 Clark St., Utica. The event will showcase guest speakers, Jim Marter, the Kendall County GOP chairman who recently secured the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, in the upcoming 14th Congressional District race, and Carol Davis, chairwoman of the Illinois Conservative Union and former national director for D.C.–based FreedomWorks Election Protection Initiative. Attendees can look forward to a special cake, a 50/50 raffle, and exciting door prizes.
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For 30 consecutive years, Laborers Local 393 in Marseilles has sponsored hunter safety courses, earning recognition from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources during Sunday’s class. David Raikes, spokesman for Local 393, expressed the significance of the certificate, emphasizing the lack of such programs when he was young. Originating in 1994 with the Marseilles American Legion, the program was later taken up by the laborers local and has since trained 3,000 students. Brett Taylor, IDNR safety education coordinator for Region 1, highlighted the vital role of partners like Laborers Local 393. The course, held at the Laborers Local 393 Union Hall, featured volunteer instructors covering various hunting techniques and firearm safety.
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Founded in 1999, Illinois Valley Animal Rescue celebrates 25 years of saving over 25,000 animals with its annual Building Care & Fund Auction on April 20th at Grand Bear Resort in La Salle. IVAR’s mission extends beyond rescuing animals to rehoming, preventing cruelty, and providing care and comfort. Volunteers, spanning all ages, contribute to various tasks, from cleaning kennels to fundraising. IVAR’s partnerships with law enforcement agencies have facilitated animal abuse convictions. Amidst rising costs, community support remains vital. Those unable to attend the auction can support IVAR by purchasing items from its Amazon Wishlist, donating via PayPal, volunteering, or contributing auction items. The organization expresses gratitude for 25 years of local support.
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A new Five Below store catering to teens and pre-teens is on its way to Peru, with preparations underway between Kohls and PetSmart north of Interstate 80. The paved parking spaces between the two stores have been removed and gravel is now in place to pour a foundation for the new store. Five Below stores offer a wide range of products, from makeup and clothing to candy, with many items priced at $5 or less. There is no word yet or signage that alludes to when the store will be completed. A previous news article from 2023 discussing the possibility of the store coming to Peru, it had loosely mentioned a 2024 December hard opening.
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Starved Rock Country Community Foundation recently held a poignant “Quilts of Valor” ceremony, paying tribute to five local veterans: Joseph Arjes from Paw Paw, who served in the Army; Nicholas Brolley, previously of Ottawa, who also served in the Army; Larry “Mick” Hartley from Mendota, an Army veteran; William Hunt from Oglesby, who served
in the Navy; and Harold Olsen from Arlington, an Army veteran. Handcrafted quilts, symbolizing the courage and sacrifices of these heroes, were presented by Terry Johnson of Princeton and Martha Patelli of La Salle, representatives of the Illinois Valley Quilts of Valor. Since April 2017, their chapter has bestowed over 700 quilts, each requiring over 100 hours to complete.
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The Streator Family YMCA invites the community to its annual Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 20, from 9 to 11 a.m. at 710 Oakley Ave. This free event, sponsored nationally by Peanuts, aims to promote healthy lifestyles for children and families as they kick off the summer season. In collaboration with local organizations such as Streator Public Library, and OSF Healthcare, various engaging activities and informative sessions will be offered. Attendees can learn about YMCA programs like aquatics, Junior Chefs, and Summer Camps, as well as avail themselves of Stay and Play services. The event will also feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Streator Area Chamber of Commerce for the relaunch of the Action Arcade, showcasing new youth fitness equipment. For more information, contact the Streator Family YMCA at 815-672-2148.
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During the onset of Global Volunteer Month, the La Salle County Board commended the 25 volunteers of the La Salle County Emergency Management Agency for their contributions. Through a unanimous resolution, the board appreciated their unwavering dedication to safeguarding the community during crises. The EMA expressed gratitude for the volunteers’ commitment, often unnoticed yet impactful, in ensuring residents’ safety. Furthermore, the board highlighted six exceptional individuals awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their remarkable contributions to emergency preparedness and response. These individuals, Dawn Watson, Anthony Sondgeroth, Tom Foust, Steve Hammerich, Lori Gane, and Hank Dorsett were acknowledged for their significant service hours, and embody the spirit of civic duty and community service.
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Aurora Democratic State Representative Barbara Hernandez advocates for legislative updates to Illinois’ child labor laws, aiming to encompass modern career paths not originally considered when the laws were established. House Bill 5563, proposed by Hernandez, is set for debate on the Illinois House Floor. Additionally, Hernandez is spearheading efforts to regulate hemp products and introduce a stipend for student teachers to support them in their journey toward teaching careers. This additional bill is also slated for debate on the House floor.
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It may soon cost more to mail a card or letter. The U.S. Postal Service is asking for approval to raise the price of stamps for the second time in six months. If the change gets the green light, a first-class stamp will jump from 68 cents to 73 cents in July.
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Family and friends are remembering the late Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough. Her family held a memorial service yesterday at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel at the University of Chicago. The trailblazing Maywood Democrat served as a state lawmaker before becoming the first Black person and woman to serve as Cook County clerk. She died earlier this month at the age of 73.
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A nine-year-old girl is dead and ten others are injured after a shooting at a family gathering in Chicago. Police responded to a call on the city’s Southwest Side late Saturday night after over a dozen gunshots were reported, and found several shooting victims at a family gathering. Authorities said at the time that it appeared to have been a targeted shooting. Mayor Brandon Johnson called the incident a “heinous and cowardly act of wanton violence.” No word on arrests yet.
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WEATHER:
Today
Sunny, with a high near 77. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
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Tonight
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4 am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 52. East wind 5 to 15 mph.
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Extended
Waves of scattered thunderstorms are forecast Tuesday through
Wednesday morning with an accompanying severe thunderstorm threat,
particularly late Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.
Localized flooding will also be possible.
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OBITUARIES:
Gary Vezain, 78, of Ottawa, passed away at Saint Anthony Medical Center on April 9th. Visitation will be held at Ottawa Funeral Home today, from 11-12 PM. The funeral service will be at noon. Burial will be at Oakwood Memorial Park following the service. A reception will be held at The American Legion at 1:30 PM today.
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*Out of State announcement:
Retired MSgt: Roy James Wagner, 66, of Jacksonville originally from Ottawa, passed away on Monday, April 8th, at his home. A Graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM today, at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Jacksonville North Carolina with full military honors. Jones Funeral Home in Jacksonville is handling all arrangements for the family.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Baseball
Marquette 7, El Paso-Gridley 5: At Masinelli Field, the Crusaders held off a late Titans’ rally to stay unbeaten on the season.
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Dunlap 19, Ottawa 0 (4 inn.): At King Field, the Eagles scored 12 runs in the second in the win over the Pirates (7-8).
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Washington 14, Streator 4 (6 inn.): At Washington, the hosts exploded for seven runs in the fifth in defeating the Bulldogs (4-10).
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La Salle-Peru 9, Boylan 8: The Cavaliers scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull out a nonconference victory in Rockford to snap a seven-game losing streak.
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Seneca 6, Somonauk 0: At Seneca, the Fighting Irish (11-4) with the win over the Bobcats.
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Westmont 12, Newark 1 (5 inn.): At Newark, Jackson Walker singled for the Norsemen’s lone hit.
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Sandwich 11, Genoa-Kingston 0 (5 inn.): At Sandwich, the Indians (8-5) put the game away with an eight-run fourth.
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Sherrard 8-18, Hall 6-8: The Red Devils (7-6) dropped both games of a doubleheader in a Three Rivers crossover in Sherrard, falling 8-6 in the opener and 18-8 in the nightcap.
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Riverdale 9, Mendota 1: the Trojans suffer a Three Rivers Conference crossover loss in Riverdale.
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Softball
Ottawa 10, Yorkville Christian 0 (5 inn.); Ottawa 11, Yorkville Christian 0 (5 inn.): the Pirates improved to 11-5 on the season with the doubleheader sweep.
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Bishop McNamara 3, Seneca 1: At Kankakee, the Fighting Irish (11-1) suffered their first loss of the year.
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Mendota 9, Plano 8: the Trojans to a nonconference victory in Mendota.
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At Woodstock: La Salle-Peru went 1-2 at the Woodstock Tournament, beating Johnsburg 17-0 in five innings before losing 8-6 to Crystal Lake Central and 4-3 to Harlem.
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GIRLS SOCCER
At Genoa: Mendota placed second in the Genoa-Kingston Tournament.
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Track and Field
Ottawa 9th at own ABC Invitational: At King Field, the Pirates scored 74 1/2 points to place ninth in the 15-team event. La Salle-Peru finished 15th among 15 teams at Ottawa’s ABC Invitational. Sycamore won the meet with 201 points.
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Sandwich boys fifth at Hub Relays: At Rochelle, the Indians scored 52 team points to finish fifth in the eight-team event.
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
The White Sox were tagged for 11 hits during an 11-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Sox gave up four runs in the third and trailed for the rest of the game. Mike Soroka was charged with the loss after giving up five runs on five hits and six walks in four-and-two-third innings. Dominic Fletcher had two hits and an RBI in the losing effort. The 2-and-13 Southsiders send Nick Nastrini to the mound against Kansas City tonight. In other club news, the Sox are reportedly nearing a deal with free-agent outfielder Tommy Pham.
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The Cubs earned a series win over the Seattle Mariners with a 3-2 rubber-match victory at T-Mobile Park. Michael Busch hit a two-run home run in the fourth to help give Chicago a 3-0 lead, but Jorge Polanco went deep in the sixth to bring the M’s within one. The Cubs bullpen gave up just one hit in three-and-a-third scoreless innings to give Chicago the win. Javier Assad earned his second win after holding Seattle to two runs on four hits in five-and-two-thirds innings, while Adbert Alzolay picked up his third save. The Northsiders have won three of five to improve to 9-and-6. They send Ben Brown to the mound against the Diamondbacks tonight. In other team news, the Cubs signed pitcher Julio Teheran to a deal over the weekend.
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The Bulls wrapped up their regular season with a 120-119 overtime loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden yesterday. DeMar DeRozan missed a game-winning floater with three seconds left in OT to give New York the win. DeRozan poured in 30 points in the losing effort, while Nikola Vucevic finished with 29. Chicago finished the season in ninth place in the Eastern Conference at 39-and-43. The Bulls host the Hawks in the Play-In Tournament on Wednesday.
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The Blackhawks surrendered three goals in the third period of their 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at United Center. Andres Athanasiou gave Chicago a 2-1 lead with a goal in the second minute of the third, but Seth Jarvis scored a pair of goals for Carolina to give the Canes the lead. An empty netter at the end of regulation sealed Chicago’s fate. The Blackhawks are in last place in the Central Division with 51 points and a 23-52-and-5 record. They visit the Golden Knights tomorrow night.
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COLLEGE BASEBALL
Black Hawk 7-7, IVCC 3-4: The Eagles were swept in an Arrowhead Conference doubleheader in Peru, losing 7-3 and 7-4.