A surprising announcement came Tuesday regarding the OSF Healthcare proposal to build a new, smaller hospital in Ottawa. The Illinois Health Facility and Services Review Board has postponed its decision on future services at OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa following significant community opposition. Ottawa Commissioner Tom Ganiere informed the City Council that OSF HealthCare had deferred its certificate of need application until the board’s September meeting to address the concerns raised. Initially, the board was to decide on August 8th regarding the construction of a new $120 million, a smaller hospital in Ottawa but plans to reduce surgical beds and intensive care services sparked criticism. Ganiere noted that the delay allows further discussions to align the hospital’s services with community needs, reflecting OSF’s willingness to engage with local officials.
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At its regular meeting Tuesday night, the Ottawa City Council approved several proposals, including a hotel market study by HVS Global Hospitality Services for the Ottawa Riverfront, aligning with the nearly complete amphitheater feasibility study. Mayor Robb Hasty highlighted the importance of this study for potential hotel developers. The council also greenlit a grant proposal with the Hitchcock Design Group for new park property acquisition, a $15,328 increase for Peck Park improvements, an agreement with Springfield Mass Transit for NCAT vehicle maintenance, a commercial lease with Horizon House Enterprises, the hiring of IT technician Zaia Chirkina, and a wastewater treatment plant permit renewal with Fehr Graham.
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The National Weather Service confirms that nearly a dozen tornadoes hit Northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana Monday night. Two tornadoes hit Marshall County Monday night. One touched down just north of Henry, which impacted a mobile home park and damaged trees. The other tracked through the Lake Wildwood area, causing extensive tree damage. Tornadoes touched down from Yorkville to Naperville, Sugar Grove to North Aurora, near Channahon, in the Bristol and Oswego areas, in Justice and Bridgeview, near Crown Point, Indiana, Crest Hill to Lockport, southern Winnebago County, Byron, Davis Junction and multiple locations in Chicago. The funnel clouds caused widespread damage and clean-up is still underway in many communities.
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Two days of heavy rainfall in the southern Illinois town of Nashville caused water to overflow and breach the dams of the city reservoir on Tuesday, resulting in extensive flooding and the evacuation of about 200 people from their homes in the town of about 3,000 residents 50 miles southeast of St. Louis. Initially described as a dam failure by local officials, spokespeople for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Washington County Emergency Management Agency later clarified that the dam system operated “as designed” for flooding scenarios. The 90-year-old city reservoir, which provides Nashville’s drinking water, includes a main dam with a spillway and a secondary earthworks dam. The design allows water to breach the secondary dam, diverting overflow to protect the main dam. In addition, a 15-mile stretch of Interstate 64 north of Nashville was shut down for several hours due to extensive flooding.
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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is warning residents to be on alert for scams related to storm damage repair work. Raoul cautioned residents that scammers often move quickly into communities to take advantage of people with damage to their homes or businesses. Scammers use the opportunity to pressure people into making quick and often expensive decisions about cleanup and construction work. The scam artists may be operating as public adjusters who offer “free” inspections to submit a claim to property owners’ insurance companies.
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A single-vehicle crash on Sunday north of Mendota resulted in the death of a 47-year-old Lee County man, David T. Gorman of Steward. Gorman’s vehicle veered off Route 251 and collided with a tree, leading to his death at OSF St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota, as reported by the La Salle County Coroner’s Office. The incident is currently under investigation by the La Salle County Coroner’s Office and the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office.
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Illinois is partnering with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to explore the potential of quantum computing in the state. The agreement will establish Illinois’ quantum campus as the site for a new Quantum Proving Ground program, where quantum computing prototypes will be tested and evaluated as part of DARPA’s new Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. Illinois will commit 140 million dollars in matching funds for the Quantum Proving Ground.
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Representative Mary Miller of Oakland, who represents Illinois’ sprawling 15th Congressional District, is blaming the media for former President Donald Trump’s lack of popularity in Illinois. Talking to reporters yesterday, the Republican said the media has demonized President Trump and used name-calling against him. She said if gun owners showed up to vote Republican in Illinois, they could “flip the state red.” Miller is leading Illinois’ delegation at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
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A minor who attempted to rob an Ottawa smoke shop using a BB gun that resembled a real firearm admitted guilt and was placed on 18 months probation. The youth, relocating to Tennessee, was adjudicated on five felony counts, including aggravated robbery and theft, and was ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and avoid gang affiliations. Despite mixed behavior during detention, Judge Michael C. Jansz saw potential for rehabilitation. The incident, on June 16th at Columbus Smoke Shop, resulted in a non-life-threatening head injury to an employee, who restrained the minor and found the BB gun.
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25-year-old Miguel A. Sanchez of Streator was stopped by Ottawa Police early today at LaSalle and Lafayette Streets and cited for no valid driver’s license.
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A Peru man faces a domestic battery charge after an incident Monday night. Peru Police were called to the Tou-Rest Motel and arrested 29-year-old Antonio V. Becerra. He was taken to the LaSalle County Jail.
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WEATHER:
Today
Sunny, with a high near 81. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
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Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 57. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
William Ernest Graves, 92, of Seneca, passed away on Friday, July 12th, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Visitation for William Ernest Graves will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today, at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home in Marseilles. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Seneca. Burial for William Ernest Graves will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Seneca with military honors.
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Steven Lawrence Norsen, 57, of Marseilles, passed away on Monday, July 15th, at Morris Hospital. Visitation for Steven Lawrence Norsen will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 20th at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home in Marseilles. A Celebration of Life for Steven Lawrence Norsen will follow at 4 p.m. at the funeral home. A time of remembering will follow at the Lions Club in Marseilles. Burial will be in Nichol Cemetery at a later date.
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SPORTS:
Chicago White Sox Garrett Crochet’s has his first MLB All-Star Game is in the books. Crochet struck out one and gave up just one hit to keep the game tied at three in the top half of the inning. The Cubs return to action with a game against the Diamondbacks on Friday, while the White Sox visit the Royals that night.
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The Cubs and White Sox each selected ten players on the third and final day of the 2024 MLB Draft yesterday. The Northsiders picked an outfielder, seven pitchers, a first baseman, and a catcher. Meanwhile, the Sox chose six pitchers, two outfielders, a first baseman, and two-way player Lyle Miller-Green
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The Chicago Bears are off to a good start in training camp. The team reportedly signed first-round draft picks Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze when rookies reported to Halas Hall for camp yesterday. Williams’ rookie deal is worth 39 million dollars guaranteed over four years, and Odunze will be paid 22-point-seven million dollars over four years. Both deals include fifth-year team options. Bears veterans will report to training camp on Friday.
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The Bears are still pushing for billions of dollars in public funding to help build a new stadium along Chicago’s lakefront. The Chicago Tribune reports Team President Kevin Warren met privately with Governor Pritzker yesterday for the first time to discuss the five-billion-dollar project. The governor has publicly called the proposal a non-starter. Legislation on the Bears’ stadium proposal could be voted on by state lawmakers in November.
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The Chicago Sky knocked off the reigning WNBA champions with a 93-85 win over the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena. Chicago led by as many as 21 points in the first half before the Aces stormed back to take a one-point lead with three-and-a-half minutes left in regulation. However, Chennedy Carter scored ten points in the final 3:23 to pull the Sky ahead for good. Carter finished with 34 points, and Marina Mabrey chipped in with 15. Chicago is in eighth place in the WNBA at 10-and-14. The Sky’s next game will be after the All-Star and Olympic breaks on August 15th.
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The Chicago Bulls are on a two-game losing streak after falling to the Detroit Pistons 85-77 in Summer League action yesterday. The Bulls led by as many as 16 points before Detroit stormed back to win the game. Matas Buzelis scored 18 points in the losing effort, while DJ Steward finished with 15. Chicago takes on Atlanta in a Summer League contest this Friday.