The City of Ottawa water main replacement program will be starting on Monday, May 6th for the 2000 Block of Elm Lane. Contractors will be installing a new water main and services. Access on this Dead End street may be limited at times for the duration of the project.
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An item on the agenda for Tuesday night’s Ottawa City Council meeting indicates Tom Ganiere, Commissioner of Public Safety and Fire, plans to introduce a resolution to express the City of Ottawa’s formal opposition to plans from OSF St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center to replace the current Ottawa hospital with a smaller facility to be built across East Norris Drive from the current hospital location. The Ottawa City Council meets at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow in council chambers at Ottawa City Hall.
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A campaign to raise funds for Illinois Valley Community College’s Foundation is geared toward the College’s centennial celebration and gaining speed. Tracy Beattie, Executive Director of the IVCC Foundation, says in the last eight years, more than 2,000 students have been awarded scholarships worth nearly $3 million. Another $400,000 is expected to be awarded this year. To donate, visit https://www.ivcc.edu/givetoivcc/. An employee-giving effort kicked off the ALL IN campaign last winter, raising nearly $12,000. IVCC turned 100 years old on April 24.
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Lincoln Christian University in Lincoln is set to close at the end of the month. The university hosted its final commencement ceremony over the weekend after announcing its closure in October. Academic operations will end on May 31st.
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The campaign of Liz Bishop, the Republican candidate for Representative in the 76th House District has announced the scheduled opening of the main campaign headquarters. An official opening is planned for Thursday, May 9th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 729 LaSalle Street in downtown Ottawa. The site will serve as the central hub for all campaign activities going into the November election. Bishop is vying for the State Representative seat being vacated by outgoing Democratic State Representative Lance Yednock of Ottawa. Bishop’s Democratic opponent is Amy ‘Murri’ Briel of Ottawa.
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President Joe Biden is returning to Chicago this week. The president is stopping by the Windy City on Wednesday for a fundraiser. Biden was last in Chicago on April 8th for a fundraiser that raised about two point five million dollars for his re-election bid. He will head to Chicago on Wednesday after making a stop in Racine County, Wisconsin.
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The LaSalle County Health Department says May is “Lyme Disease Awareness Month”. Experts advise it’s important to take precautions against tick bites and the illnesses they can carry. Illnesses like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme disease, and others can cause mild symptoms or severe infections. In LaSalle County, Lyme disease is the tick-related illness seen most commonly. There were 14 cases of Lyme disease confirmed in the county in 2023. The Health Department says people should conduct a thorough tick-check for themselves, their children, and their pets after spending time in areas where ticks could be found.
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Major General Rodney Boyd is making history after becoming the first person of color to command the Illinois National Guard. The Chicago native takes over for Major General Neely, who is retiring from the military after 40 years of service. Boyd is now responsible for the training, preparation, and deployment of Soldiers and Airmen in support of combat and contingency operations worldwide. He is a combat veteran who has served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait.
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Pro-Palestinian encampments remain at Chicago-area campuses. Counter-protesters confronted the demonstrators at multiple universities in recent days, including DePaul and the University of Chicago, where brief scuffles broke out on Friday, prompting campus police to show up in riot gear. Nearly 70 protesters were arrested Saturday as police cleared an encampment at the Art Institute of Chicago. Student organizers say all of the demonstrators have been released from police custody.
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A Streator woman has a court date after being arrested Saturday morning. 45-year-old Jennifer L. Barry was picked up in the 2400 block of North Bloomington Street on a charge of trespassing and was released with a court date.
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No injuries in a single-vehicle accident in Miller Township just after 1:30 a.m. on Thursday. LaSalle County Deputies say 59-year-old Josephine Hogue of Marseilles lost control of her vehicle and struck a guardrail near East 29th and North 3050th Road.
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Mendota Police responded to an apartment at 701 Meadowview Drive Friday night after several 911 calls with no emergency reported. 63-year-old Denise Holzner was charged with Disorderly Conduct Misuse of 911 and was released with a notice to appear in court.
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42-year-old Jesse Vidergar of Streator was charged with Disorderly Conduct by Streator Police after an incident during the noon hour in the 1400 block of North Sterling Street. He was released with a notice to appear in court.
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A traffic stop Saturday morning by Mendota Police near 20th Street and First Avenue resulted in a Mendota woman being issued several charges. 61-year-old Beth M. Kerchner was cited for Driving on a Suspended License, Resisting Arrest, and Aggravated Battery of a Police Officer. She was released with a court date.
OBITUARIES:
Domingo Villarreal “Mingo” Sanchez, age 80, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, May 1st, at Ascension Saint Joseph Medical Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 A.M. today at St. Columba Church. Interment will follow in St. Columba Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:30 A.M. today at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home.
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Michael S. Farrell, 65, of Ottawa, passed away Thursday, May 2nd, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 8th, from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will follow at 5:00 pm. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Arla Elaine Severson, 92, of Ottawa, passed away on Monday, April 29th, at Pleasant View. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 9th at the First Presbyterian Church in Ottawa. Burial will follow at Deer Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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SPORTS:
Softball
Ottawa 3, Dunlap 0: At Dunlap
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Baseball
Marquette 10, Newark 1: At Newark
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Track and field
Marquette at Mooseheart Relays: 14 top-three finishes.
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The Chicago White Sox scored four runs in the top of the seventh during a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The game was tied at one entering the frame before Eloy Jimenez hit a go-ahead solo shot to put the Southsiders on top. Paul DeJong, Braden Shewmake, and Robbie Grossman all drove in insurance runs later in the inning. Garrett Crochet earned his second win after striking out six and holding St. Louis to one run on three hits in six innings. The Sox have won two in a row to improve to 8-and-26. They take on the Rays at 5:50 PM tonight.
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The Cubs shut out the Brewers 5-0 to claim their series from Wrigley Field. Javier Assad earned his third win of the season after giving up four hits over six innings. The bullpen allowed just one more hit over the final three frames. Dansby Swanson crushed a solo homer, while Nico Hoerner drove in a pair of runs with a fifth-inning double. Christopher Morel also tallied an RBI as Chicago remains second in the NL Central at 21-and-14. Justin Steele takes the mound for the Northsiders when they host San Diego tonight.
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Lonzo Ball is remaining on the Bulls roster. ESPN is reporting that the point guard picked up his 21-point-four million dollar player option over the weekend. Ball has not appeared in an NBA game in over two seasons due to a knee injury that has required three surgeries so far. There is some hope that he might be able to return next season, but there’s also a chance he might not be able to play at the NBA level again. He averaged 13 points and over five assists per game during his most recent season in 2021-22.
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The Chicago Sky dropped their preseason opener against the Minnesota Lynx 92-81 at the Target Center on Friday. Lindsay Allen led Chicago with 17 points off the bench. Angel Reese had 13 points in her team debut, while fellow first-round pick Kamilla Cardoso had six. Chicago wraps up the preseason with a game against the Liberty tomorrow night.
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Former Chicago Bears quarterback Bob Avellini is dead at the age of 70. Avellini passed away due to cancer. He spent his entire NFL career with the Bears, playing from 1975 until 1984. He completed just over 50 percent of his passes during his career for 33 touchdowns and 69 interceptions and led the Bears to their first playoff appearance in over a decade during the 1977 season.
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COLLEGE BASEBALL
IVCC 15-6, Prairie State 7-1:
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COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Kishwaukee 15, IVCC 9 (8 inn.)
IVCC 8, Prairie State 5