An audience estimated at nearly 10,000 settled themselves into every spot around the junction of the Fox and Illinois Rivers in downtown Ottawa Thursday night for the annual fireworks show sponsored by the non-profit group, Ottawa First. Over 3,000 viewers filled the bleachers at Ottawa High School’s King Field to view the arrival of skydivers from Skydive Chicago. It was also the 15th, and final, fireworks show funded by donations raised by Ottawa First volunteers. Efforts are underway to attract interested groups to pick up the fundraising effort for Ottawa’s annual 4th of July sky show. The City of Ottawa stresses that fireworks over the rivers downtown will continue.
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Highland Park is remembering the victims of the deadly Fourth of July Parade shooting two years ago. Community members gathered yesterday for a remembrance ceremony before lining the streets for the first July 4th parade since seven people were killed by a gunman during the city’s Independence Day parade in 2022. Last week, the shooting suspect, Robert Crimo the third, rejected a plea deal. Prosecutors said he had agreed to plead guilty to seven counts of first-degree murder before backing out of the deal.
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The Illinois Secretary of State is upgrading the Princeton DMV facility. The new “One-Stop-Shop” design aims to offer a more customer-focused and efficient DMV experience. The DMV will be temporarily closed from July 8th to July 30th during the renovations. During that time, people can use the pop-up location at 400 North Main Street.
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Illinois leaders are touting a record-high cash balance. Governor Pritzker announced the state ended the fiscal year 2024 with four-point-67-billion-dollars in General Funds. That is up from the three-point-85-billion dollars at the end of June 2023. Improved fiscal conditions have led to lower credit spreads and reduced cost of borrowing for Illinois taxpayers.
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Governor Pritzker and other Democratic governors are standing behind President Biden. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the governors have Biden’s back after meeting with him at the White House Wednesday. The gathering was scheduled to address concerns over the President’s poor debate performance last week. A spokeswoman for Pritzker said he called the meeting “candid” and that “he appreciated hearing directly from the president.”
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The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office has released some early holiday traffic arrests highlighting one from Wednesday the 3rd. 25-year-old Dante Cox of Rochester was charged with speeding 101 mph in a 55-mph zone on Wednesday evening at Illinois 170 and North 18th Road in Brookfield Township. Deputies had promised increased patrols over the Independence Day weekend, resulting in 14 speeding charges, though no others exceeded 80 mph in 55-mph zones. The sheriff’s office also reported no DUI arrests through Thursday morning, continuing a trend toward a record low in La Salle County, which may see fewer than 300 DUI arrests for the first time.
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36-year-old Brandon P. Burnett of Ottawa was picked up by Ottawa Police Wednesday in the 500 block of East Norris Drive on a LaSalle County failure to appear warrant on a charge of driving on a suspended license.
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An eight-year-old is dead following a multi-vehicle crash on I-74. State police say the accident happened Wednesday night on I-74 between Bloomington and Downs when a car crossed the center median and hit a delivery van and a semi. The child who died was in the car. Two other people were sent to the hospital with serious injuries and the crash is under investigation.
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40-year-old Joshua R. Bishop of Mendota has a charge of driving on a suspended license are a traffic stop Tuesday by Mendota Police at 5th Street and 8th Avenue. Bishop was released with a notice to appear in court.
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An Ottawa woman was arrested by Ottawa Police Thursday at Clay and West Main Streets. 24-year-old Skylar Whittier was wanted on a LaSalle County warrant for failure to appear in court on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
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A 31-year-old Rockford woman was arrested by Peru Police shortly before 6:00 Tuesday morning at the Super 8 Motel. Jasmine C. Phillips was wanted on a Henry County warrant for failure to appear in court on charges of driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. She was taken to the LaSalle County Jail.
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A homeless Ottawa man has charges of unlawful possession of a weapon and driving on a revoked driver’s license. 41-year-old Joshua Davis was stopped by Ottawa Police at Clay and West Main Streets Thursday.
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Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago is celebrating after winning his first men’s title at the annual Nathan’s Famous 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island. Bertoletti won the mustard belt in the annual competition yesterday after chowing down 58 dogs and buns. The contest has received extra attention this year after 16-time champ Joey “Jaws” Chestnut bowed out over an endorsement deal with vegan brand Impossible Foods.
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Authorities are releasing the identity of a 44-year-old man found dead in a southwest suburban Joliet pump house. Warren Baker’s decomposed body was discovered Tuesday night. He had been reported missing on May 13. Police say Baker was unhoused and was last seen on April 28 in the 400 block of East Cass Street.
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WEATHER:
Today
A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
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Tonight
A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7 pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Russell James Martin of Bradenton, Florida passed away Friday, June 14th, at 87. A visitation for Russell James Martin will be held today from 9:00 am until 10:00 am at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Seneca. Mass of Christian Burial for Russell James Martin will be at 10:00 am, and burial with military honors will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Seneca.
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Gary English, 66, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, July 1st, at his home surrounded by his loving family. A visitation for Gary English will be held today from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Joseph William “Joe” Hoffman, 84, of Ottawa, passed away Sunday, June 30th, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford. Visitation for Joseph William “Joe” Hoffman will be from 8:00 to 10:30 AM on Saturday, July 6th, at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial for Joseph William “Joe” Hoffman will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 6th at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Ottawa. Burial for Joseph William “Joe” Hoffman will be at Oakwood Memorial Park with Military Honors by the Ottawa American Legion Post 33 Honor Guard.
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Richard Wayne Acuff, 70, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday, July 2nd, at his home. Funeral services for Richard Wayne Acuff will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 6th, at the Harvest Baptist Church in Ottawa. Burial will follow at Deer Park Cemetery. Visitation for Richard Wayne Acuff will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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SPORTS:
White Sox Fall To Guardians
The White Sox dropped the rubber match of their three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians. Chicago fell to Cleveland 8-4 at Progressive Field yesterday. The game was tied at one before the Southsiders surrendered four runs in the bottom of the third. The Sox trailed the rest of the way. Paul DeJong and Lenyn Sosa both homered in the losing effort, and Jared Shuster was charged with his first loss after giving up two runs on four hits in two innings. Chicago has dropped three of four and sits at the bottom of the AL Central with a 25-and-64 mark. Drew Thorpe toes the rubber for the Sox against Miami tonight.
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Happ Leads Cubs Past Phillies
The Cubs salvaged their series against the Philadelphia Phillies with a 10-2 win at Wrigley Field. Chicago erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fourth and added three more in the fifth to put the game out of reach. Ian Happ led the charge at the plate, going four-for-four with a double, two home runs, and six RBI. Jameson Taillon improved to 5-and-4 after striking out seven and holding the Phillies to just two runs on four hits in seven innings. The Northsiders snapped a three-game losing streak, but they remain in last place in the NL Central at 40-and-48. Justin Steele goes for the Cubs
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Sky Take On Storm
The Chicago Sky continue their three-game road trip with a game against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena tonight. The Sky have won three of their last five after coming away with an 85-77 win over Atlanta on Tuesday. Chicago is tied for seventh place in the WNBA at 7-and-11. Tonight’s game tips off at 9:00 PM. In other team news, Sky forward Michaela Onyenwere was added to Team Nigeria’s basketball roster for the 2024 Summer Olympics later this month.
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NASCAR Cup Series Invades Chicago For Street Race
Chicago will be filled with the sound of motors running and the smell of burning rubber this weekend. The NASCAR Cup Series field rolls into the city for the Chicago Street Race on Sunday. The Grant Park 165 is a two-mile course that takes drivers along Lake Shore Drive and features 12 turns. It’s just the second time NASCAR has held the event during the regular season. Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and Martin Truex Jr. are the Top Five in the Cup Series standings.