LaSalle County Treasurer Jim Spelich says Mobile Home Tax Bills are due this Wednesday, May 1st. The Tax can be paid at the Treasurer’s Office in the Etna Road Governmental Complex between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm by cash, check, or credit card. There is also a drive-through drop box in the north end of the East parking lot at the county offices at 707 East Etna Road. The county also has a pay-by-phone service for credit card or e-check at 815-393-2688. The $25 per month delinquency is $25 per month up to $100 beginning May 2nd.
———————————
Ottawa has been named a 2023 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management. The City of Ottawa has been recognized as a Tree City since 1999, commemorating its 25th anniversary of the recognition. The criteria for Tree City USA designation includes a community tree board, a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of $2-per capita, and hosting an Arbor Day event annually.
———————————
The LaSalle County Democratic Central Committee held their bi-annual convention on April 17th and re-elected Kathy Ford as Chair, Scott Miller as Vice-Chair, Tom Ganiere as Treasurer, Janice Wolff as Secretary, and Mike Phillips as Sergeant-At-Arms. The 2024 campaign season will kick-off June 1st with a Democratic candidate Open House at Prairie Fox Book Store in downtown Ottawa. The LaSalle County Democrats meet the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30 pm in the LaSalle VFW. The website is lasallecountydemocrats.org.
———————————
LaSalle County Emergency Management Agency Director Fred Moore has been named Illinois’ Emergency Manager of the Year. The O.D. Troutman Award is named in honor of O.D. Troutman, a trailblazer in the field of emergency management. Moore has been the Executive Director of the agency for two years and oversees the county’s emergency management department with Deputy Director Corban Flynn.
———————————
Following a few local incidents of scams involving phone calls to LaSalle County residences by imposters posing as representing law enforcement, and similar occurrences around the state, the Illinois State Police last week issued a public warning of the on-going scams. The scam involves a person claiming to be an ISP investigator telling them their identity has been stolen and asking for personal and financial information to resolve the situation. State Police stress that if a call of this type is received, ask for the caller’s name, badge number, and phone number. Then, hang up. If you believe you may have provided personal or financial information to a caller or if you suspect your identity may have been stolen, ISP says to contact the three credit bureaus to put a free security freeze on your credit. This will stop anyone from opening credit in your name. There is more information about the scam on the Illinois State Police website, isp.illinois.gov.
———————————-
One person was injured in a single-vehicle accident just before 8:30 Saturday night in Miller Township near East 24th and North 31st Roads about a mile north of Interstate 80. 34-year-old Teran Brito of Aurora was northbound on East 24th when his vehicle went off the roadway to the east, he overcorrected, and overturned. A passenger, 28-year-old Jasson Montano of Aurora, was ejected from the vehicle landed in the southbound lane. Brito was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove and was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Montano was taken to St Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Ottawa.
————————————-
Respiratory virus levels are way down in Illinois. As respiratory virus season winds down, the overall respiratory virus level is now minimal and all counties in the state are at Low level for COVID-19 hospitalizations. The total number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Illinois declined 22-percent for the week ending April 20th.
————————————-
The Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Department of Public Health are on alert following the detection of the H5N1 influenza virus in dairy herds in eight states across the U.S. There are no confirmed cases reported in Illinois. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration emphasizes that the commercial milk supply is safe because of the pasteurization process, which destroys bacteria and viruses in milk. Illinois is home to more than 600 dairy farms.
————————————-
OSF HealthCare is excited to announce the addition of Kelsi Mendez, APRN, to its behavioral health staff, enhancing services for Ottawa and neighboring areas. Mendez’s arrival at OSF Saint Elizabeth – Behavioral & Mental Health, situated at 1207 Starfire Drive in Ottawa, Illinois, ensures expanded access to vital behavioral health care. With a medical degree from OSF Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing and board certification as a Psychiatric-
Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Mendez brings extensive expertise to her role. Appointments with Mendez or any of her dedicated care team members can be conveniently scheduled for both new and existing patients by calling (815) 434-4382.
————————————-
Emily Hardee’s “Run Today for Tomorrow 5K” is just one of over 100 funds managed by the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation (SRCCF). Scheduled for June 22 in Ottawa, this year’s event will support the Molly Lenora Yacko Memorial Scholarship. On May 2, SRCCF will host its inaugural online Giving Day, aiming to sustain its administrative functions, bolster support for local nonprofits, and extend its reach across La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam counties. The foundation’s endeavors encompass scholarships, mental health initiatives, local history, fine arts, theater, downtown revitalization, and disaster relief. Donations can be made by visiting srccf.org/make-a-donation and selecting the “2024 Spring Appeal”