Weekend events include the second of three Jordan Block Jams in downtown Ottawa sponsored by the Special Events Office at Ottawa City Hall. The musical act features the Ripped Jeans Duo performing from 8:00 until 10:00 on the stage alongside the 100 block of West Main Street. The beverage sponsor is Floret Events with food trucks featuring Chicago Main Lobster and Tony’s Tacos. The food and beverage starts at 7:00 p.m. while the start of musical entertainment is pushed back one hour to 8:00 p.m. It’s also downtown Ottawa’s Third Friday event in the 200 block of West Madison Street. Saturday features the Marseilles Firefighters’ annual Car Show on Main Street. Cars can line up beginning at 3:00 with the show running from 4:00 until 8:00. Downtown Marseilles restaurants will have food and drink specials. And, it’s another Music In The Park event in downtown Ottawa’s Washington Square from 6:00 until 8:00 Saturday featuring the musical act Good Clean Fun. The food truck along the south side of the park on Jackson Street will be Labra’s Food Truck, featuring varieties of eggrolls.
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The National Weather Service is adding more tornadoes to the list that hit the Chicago area earlier this week. As of last night, a total of 22 tornadoes have been confirmed in the region on Monday. That ties the daily record for tornadoes in the forecast area. The same amount hit the Chicago area on June 30th, 2014, and March 31st, 2023.
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I-55 in Will County is back open. The interstate was closed in both directions between U.S. Route 6 and River Road due to downed power lines caused by storms earlier this week. ComEd crews removed and repaired the downed lines before lanes were reopened yesterday.
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LaSalle County Court Appointed Special Advocates, known as CASA, has accepted the resignation of Executive Director CiCi Chalus effective July 31st after 14 years of service advocating for children. Sally M. Van Cura has been named the new Executive Director effective July 22nd. Van Cura joins CASA from a position with the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation.
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Illinois is setting the framework for new environmental protections in the state. Governor Pritzker signed a landmark bill into law that creates nation-leading standards for safety and environmental protection for carbon capture, transport, and sequestration projects in Illinois. The measure will also drive investment in Illinois and create hundreds of jobs as companies are incentivized to move carbon capture to Illinois.
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Illinois’ unemployment rate is up slightly. The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s jobless rate went up from last month to five percent. Non-farm payroll jobs increased by more than ten thousand in June.
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The Illinois State Fair Grandstand will be hosting harness racing next month. Harness racing will kick off the 2024 grandstand calendar on August 8th. Admission into the harness races is free for fairgoers. The State Fair will be held from August 8th to the 18th in Springfield.
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The Whiteside County Health Department is reporting that mosquitoes collected in the county have tested positive for the West Nile virus. The collection was taken in Morrison on July 10th. This puts residents at a greater risk of exposure. This year’s first case of the West Nile Virus in Whiteside County was identified more than a month earlier than last year.
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30-year-old Kenneth R. Hacek of Earlville might face up to 15 years in prison following his arrest in a Thursday buy-bust operation. According to the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team, Hacek was charged with a Class 1 felony for the unlawful delivery of a controlled substance (cocaine), which carries a potential sentence of four to 15 years. He was apprehended after allegedly delivering about 3 grams of cocaine to an individual collaborating with agents near 4273 E. 16th Road in rural Earlville. Following the delivery, agents stopped Hacek’s vehicle and took him into custody. He was later released with a notice to appear in court.
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The Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees approved a tentative $41 million budget on Thursday, scheduling a public hearing for next month. This budget marks a 6.2% revenue increase from higher sales, service revenue, and investment income. Expenditures are projected at $45.1 million, a 16.8% rise from the previous fiscal year, mainly due to Master Plan initiatives. The operating budget is balanced at $29.7 million, which includes $1.7
million allocated for these initiatives. The public hearing and final budget approval are set for 5:30 p.m. on August 15 in Room C307, with the tentative budget available for inspection until then in the College Business Office (Room C-338) during normal business hours or on the College’s website.
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OSF HealthCare is expanding its Cardiovascular Institute by introducing more specialty clinics in the Illinois Valley. Starting Monday, July 22, the Institute will open a new office at 920 West St., Suite LL1, in the medical office building B in Peru. This new location aims to enhance accessibility and convenience for residents and will see patients from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. These providers will continue to serve patients at the Ottawa office temporarily, This expansion into Peru highlights OSF HealthCare’s dedication to providing convenient cardiovascular care to the community.
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Actor and comedian Bob Newhart is dead at the age of 94. The Oak Park, Illinois passed away in Los Angeles after a series of short illnesses. His TV series “The Bob Newhart Show,” set in Chicago, was a hit in the 1970s. He had another ratings winner with “Newhart” in the 1980s. Newhart was known for his deadpan and sometimes stammering delivery. He was a fixture on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson” and won his first Emmy in 2013 for a guest spot on “The Big Bang Theory.”
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The Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy charged in the deadly shooting of Sonya Massey is pleading not guilty. Sean Grayson was denied pretrial release yesterday in court, where he entered the not-guilty plea. Massey faces multiple charges, including murder. Authorities say he shot and killed Massey at her home after she called 911 on July 6th to report a possible intruder. Body cam videos of the incident will be released on Monday.
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The Justice Department is suing an Illinois landlord for sexually harassing female tenants and housing applicants. Michael DeWitte of Washington, Illinois, has managed residential rental properties in Peoria and other central Illinois counties since at least 2002. A lawsuit filed in federal court claims DeWitte subjected female tenants and applicants to unwelcome sexual harassment. The suit seeks monetary damages, civil penalties, and a court order barring future discrimination.
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A Chicago woman won’t face trial on August 29 for allegedly possessing 2.6 pounds of cocaine during a traffic stop. The lawyer for 25-year-old Destine Phillips argues the drugs were seized unlawfully and seeks to have the case dismissed. Phillips, who appeared in La Salle County Circuit Court, faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted. During the March 29 stop on Interstate 80, police reportedly found the drugs after spotting an empty tequila bottle when Phillips retrieved her license. Her lawyer, Hallie Bezner, claims Phillips wasn’t read her rights, making her statements inadmissible. A hearing to suppress the evidence is set for September 4. Despite her criminal record from a juvenile offense, Phillips is currently out of custody.
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26-year-old Kaleigh Cox of rural LaSalle was charged by Ottawa Police Wednesday with driving on a suspended license and driving an uninsured vehicle after a traffic stop at Sycamore and Jackson Streets.
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A traffic stop by LaSalle County Deputies Thursday afternoon at 1:30 in Eagle Township resulted in charges against two passengers in a vehicle. 34-year-old Keith Gullens of Streator was cited for an obstructed front windshield due to illegal tinting. His passenger, 38-year-old Daniel Kelly of Streator was arrested on two LaSalle County failure to appear warrants for retail theft and a failure to appear warrant for driving on a suspended license. Kelly also had an outstanding warrant from Will County for failure to appear on a retail theft charge and two Grundy County warrants for retail theft. Kelly was taken to the LaSalle County Jail.
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WEATHER:
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 78. Calm wind.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Calm wind.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 62. Calm wind.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 63.
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OBITUARIES:
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. tomorrow 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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Clarice (Johnson) Abernathy, 93, of Ottawa, passed away on Monday, July 15th, at the home of her daughter Joanne, in Sycamore.
Funeral services for Clarice (Johnson) Abernathy will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 21st, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Visitation for Clarice (Johnson) Abernathy will be from noon until the time of the service at 2 p.m. Private burial will take place at Oakwood Memorial Park on Monday.
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SPORTS:
The Chicago White Sox are back in action with a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium tonight. The White Sox are in last place in the AL Central with a 27-and-71 record. Chris Flexen mans the rubber for the Southsiders tonight. The first pitch is at 7:10 PM.
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The Chicago Cubs return from the All-Star Break with a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field this afternoon. The Cubs are in fifth place in the NL Central at 47-and-51. Justin Steele takes the mound for the Northsiders today. In other team news, the MLB announced that the Cubs will begin the 2025 season in Japan with a series against the Dodgers.
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The Chicago Bulls aim to avoid their third straight loss when they take on the Atlanta Hawks in Summer League action from Sin City tonight. The Bulls just lost to the Detroit Pistons 85-77 on Tuesday and are 1-and-2 in Summer League play tonight’s contest tips off at 5:00 PM.
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Former Bulls general manager Pat Williams has passed away at age 84. He died yesterday from complications related to viral pneumonia. Williams spent four years with the Bulls starting in 1969. He is credited with creating the mascot Benny the Bull. Williams also was one of the organizers who brought an expansion NBA team to Orlando.
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Angel Reese is getting ready for her first All-Star Game. The Sky rookie forward will participate in the WNBA All-Star Game at Footprint Center tomorrow. Reese is averaging 13-point-five points and 11-point-nine rebounds per game in 24 starts this season. She will be teammates for the first time with Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark. The All-Star Game tips off at 7:30 PM tomorrow.