Weather permitting this morning, the eastbound lane of the 200 block of West Main Street, between LaSalle and Clinton Streets, in downtown Ottawa will be closed to traffic and parking beginning at 8:00 this morning. Roofing contractors working on the new building at 205 West Main Street expect to have their trucks and equipment removed and the street fully reopened by Noon.
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Saturday night at 9:45, LaSalle County Deputies responded to the area of the Sandy Ford Bridge in Farm Ridge Township for two missing kayakers. 19-year-old Dominick Coss of Streator and a 15-year-old male were on the Vermillion River when their kayak overturned. A 17-year-old male from Streator who was with them walked home and reported the incident. A short time later, Coss was located at home unharmed. After an extensive search involving multiple agencies, the 15-year-old male from Streator was located at home unharmed. Coss was charged with obstructing justice and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
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OSF HealthCare and KSB Hospital in Dixon have entered into exclusive negotiations, anticipating a full merger, as the two organizations will spend the next several months finalizing agreements and seeking the necessary regulatory approvals. The resulting agreement announced Friday afternoon includes $40 million in funding to support facility renovations, improve access to care locally, and create seamless referrals to subspecialties. Education, including the well-regarded residency programs at KSB Hospital, is also a key component of the agreement. When the merger is finalized, a local community advisory council will be established to provide advice and counsel to hospital management and OSF. The council will focus on insight, guidance, and the development of local strategies, in addition to providing feedback on the management of local facilities. Upgrades to technology and expanded digital care offerings are other innovations the organizations intend to provide.
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Negotiations are stalled between Pro-Palestinian protesters and DePaul University. The university’s president released a statement saying discussions with the Divestment Coalition student leaders are at an impasse. The president added they have worked to respond to each of the demands of the students but they are concerned they “are not on a path to understanding.” Demonstrators are vowing to remain on campus until the university meets their demands, which include the university cutting ties with Israel.
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A woman is in custody after bomb threats were made last month against two state facilities in Springfield. Gabrielle Williams was arrested last Thursday. Officials say the Illinois Department of Human Services received a call on April 22nd from someone saying a bomb had been installed at a public aid office building and the Illinois State Capitol. Authorities eventually cleared the grounds of the Capitol and secured the other state facility. Williams is being held in the Sangamon County Jail pending a pre-trial detention hearing.
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Two Illinois State Police officers from the Chicago area are accused of defrauding the federal Paycheck Protection Program. The Sun-Times reports the agency has filed complaints against the officers with the Illinois State Police Merit Board. The Paycheck Protection Program provided loans to businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the officers received a PPP loan for more than 17 thousand dollars after listing “babysitting” on his application. The other received a loan worth more than 20 thousand dollars by listing “handyman.”
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The rape case against former Illinois basketball star Terrence Shannon Jr. will go to trial. The Chicago native appeared in a courtroom in Douglas County, Kansas Friday for a hearing, where a judge found probable cause to send the case to jury trial. Shannon will stand trial on rape and sexual aggravated battery charges on June 10th. The charges accuse him of sexually assaulting a woman while attending a football game last September in Lawrence, Kansas. Shannon has pleaded not guilty.
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26-year-old Jeffrey L. Lewis of Ottawa has charges of driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license after an Ottawa Police traffic stop Sunday at LaSalle and Washington Streets.
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Mendota Police charged a 15-year-old juvenile with driving with no valid driver’s license after a traffic stop Saturday evening on U.S. 34 near the I-39 interchange. He was released with a notice to appear in court.
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A 40-year-old Ottawa man was stopped by Ottawa Police Saturday in the 2600 block of Columbus Street. Matthew R. Hughes was wanted on two LaSalle County warrants for failure to appear on a charge of delivery of a controlled substance and a civil contempt charge, along with a Grundy County warrant.
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29-year-old Logan M. Fuller of Carbon Cliff was arrested by Mendota Police late Saturday night near West Main and 16th Street on a charge of driving on a suspended license. He was released with a court date.
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Ninlil S. McGhee of Naplate has two charges for driving under the influence from Ottawa Police and a charge of improper backing following a traffic stop Friday in the 600 block of Catlin Street.
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The 17th Annual Illinois Product Farmers Market kicks off this week. The event begins with “Opening Day” at the Market on Thursday at The Shed on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The Illinois Product Farmers Market will be held every Thursday through September 26th excluding July 1st, August 1st, and the two Thursdays during the Illinois State Fair.
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WEATHER:
Today
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 pm. High near 78. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. The chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
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Tonight
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 am, then showers likely. Low around 55. South southwest wind around 5 mph becoming east-northeast after midnight. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.
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OBITUARIES:
Larry Dean Kane Sr., 75, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, May 8th, at his home surrounded by his family. A graveside service for Larry Dean Kane Sr will take place at 10:00 am at St. Columba Cemetery today. Cremation rites for Larry Dean Kane Sr have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Karl Laxfoss Howardson Jr, 55, of Seneca went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 7th, after a brief illness. A Celebration of Life for Karl Laxfoss Howardson Jr will be at Osborne-Nelson Funeral Home in Seneca, on Wednesday, May 15th. Visitation is from 9-11 am, and the service for Karl Laxfoss Howardson Jr is at 11 am with full military honors to follow.
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Lori Ann Girard, 53, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, May 8th, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Visitation for Lori Ann Girard will be on Thursday, May 16th, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony for Lori Ann Girard will be held on Friday, May 17th, at 10:00 am at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial for Lori Ann Girard will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park.
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Carl Edward “Higgins” Dimmick, Jr., 64, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday, May 7th, at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral services for Carl Edward “Higgins” Dimmick, Jr will be private. Arrangements for Carl Edward “Higgins” Dimmick, Jr have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Thomas George Hughes, 60, of Ottawa, passed away on Wednesday, May 1st, at his home in Ottawa. A private burial took place for Thomas George Hughes at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa for the service.
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SPORTS:
Baseball
Marquette 8, Somonauk 2: At Masinelli Field,
Newark 6, Sandwich 0: At Newark
St. Bede 3, Putnam County 2 (8 inn.):
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Softball
Marquette 14, Forreston 1 (5 inn.): At Forreston,
Normal Community 11-5, Streator 5-4: At Normal
Hononegah 15, Seneca 7 (5 inn.): At Taylor Ridge
La Salle-Peru 2-9, East Peoria 9-7: in La Salle
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Boys tennis
The Ottawa Pirates finished fourth at the Interstate 8 Conference Tournament at the L-P Sports Complex.
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Ottawa High School athletic director Mike Cooper will retire on June 1 after 18 years in the position.
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The Chicago White Sox managed just six hits during a 7-0 loss to the Cleveland Guardians at Guaranteed Rate Field. Andrew Vaughn hit a double in the losing effort, while Zach Remillard finished with two hits. Mike Soroka was charged with his fifth loss after surrendering four earned runs and one unearned run on four hits in five-and-a-third innings. The Southsiders remain in last place in the AL Central at 12-and-29. They send Chris Flexen to the mound against the Nationals tonight.
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The Cubs claimed their series against the Pirates following a 5-4, extra-inning win from Pittsburgh. Patrick Wisdom slugged a solo homer, while Cody Bellinger and Mike Tauchman drove in runs as part of a three-run 10th inning. Adbert Alzolay survived a disaster and notched his fourth save of the season despite giving up a two-run homer in the bottom half. Hector Neris earned the win out of the pen as Chicago remains second in the NL Central at 24-and-17. Shota Imanaga starts for the Northsiders against the Braves tonight.
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The Chicago Bulls know where they’ll be picking in the upcoming NBA Draft. Chicago earned the number 11 pick in the NBA Draft lottery yesterday. Chicago had less than a ten-percent chance to move into the top four of the draft, and a two-percent chance to win the lottery. The NBA Draft begins on June 26th.
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The Chicago Bears finished their rookie minicamp on Saturday. The Bears got their first look at their first-year players over the weekend, including first-round picks quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze. The rookies will have a week-long break before OTA workouts begin on May 20th.
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The Women’s College World Series bracket was announced over the weekend. The Northwestern Wildcats will travel to Texas and play in the Austin Regional. Their first game will be against Saint Francis of Pennsylvania. The College World Series begins on Friday.