The Lasalle County Highway Department released a statement yesterday saying the bridge that is located on County Highway 9 (E.12th Road) (Kaminky Road) on the Waltham/Wallace Township line that was closed for a bridge replacement has been completed and is now open to traffic.
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Starting August 8th, Ottawa High School will implement new traffic measures due to the Green Street closure. Students with parking permits will now enter via East Main Street, while drop-offs will occur in front of the school, with drivers looping back via Division Street. The north parking lot will be closed, and after-school pick-ups will be directed to the lower lots near Veterans Memorial Bridge, with no pick-ups allowed on Main Street, Fox River Bridge, or school lots, as these areas will be closed to traffic for an hour before and after dismissal. School will end at 2:05 p.m. from August 8-21 and at 3:06 p.m. from August 22, with early dismissals as needed. The Green Street and Canal Road closure, part of a project to elevate the roadway out of the flood zone, will last all day until at least November.
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Ottawa’s summer festival, previously known as “Riverfest,” kicks off Saturday with food, music, and drinks. Now called “Friendship Days,” the event spans seven days around Washington Square Park. This weekend features “Drinkin’ with Lincoln,” where visitors can enjoy live bands, local food, and beverages in downtown Ottawa. Sunday includes a “Touch-A-Truck” attraction. Next week’s lineup boasts more live music, a kids fishing rodeo, craft and vendor shows, a car show, and a “T Swift Dance Party.” For more information and event times, find Friendship Days on FaceBook.
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Kroger has completed a $1.9 million renovation of its Ottawa store on North Columbus Street and invites customers to celebrate the improvements this Thursday. The event will kick off at 8:30 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, food samples, and product demonstrations. Attendees can look forward to giveaways for the first 100 customers and the recognition of the store’s longest-serving associate, who has dedicated nearly 40 years to the community. Additionally, Kroger will announce a special donation to support local hunger relief efforts as part of its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste initiative. The celebration will happen at Kroger, on North Columbus Street in Ottawa.
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The Putnam County Public Library District is excited to collaborate with the Ravinia Festival to provide the community with free tickets for the 2024 Words & Music Program. These tickets offer complimentary lawn admission to fifteen concerts from July through September, along with free train fare on the Metra Union Pacific North Line to Ravinia. The tickets are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The concerts include performances by renowned artists such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Marin Alsop, Karen Slack, and Apollo’s Fire. Ravinia is a celebrated not-for-profit music festival known for showcasing world-class artists. To check availability, please contact the Granville Branch at 815-339-2038.
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New legislation in Illinois aims to keep residents safe during severe weather. A new law passed last week requires weather radios to be installed in all manufactured homes built after 2023. That includes mobile homes, or buildings constructed elsewhere and placed on a lot. The law also requires mobile home community operators to remind residents to replace batteries in weather radios and smoke detectors once a year.
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Unclaimed property up for auction in Illinois will be on display in Springfield. Potential bidders can attend the auction preview tomorrow at the Marine Bank Building. Items include a woman’s 18-karat yellow gold Rolex Oyster watch, Mike Singletary and Troy Aikman football cards, uncut sheets of American currency, and scores of collectible coins. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs will serve as guest auctioneer for some of the items at the live auction, which takes place August 17th at the Lincoln Stage on the Illinois State Fairgrounds.
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The Department of Justice is opening an investigation into the deadly deputy-involved shooting of Sonya Massey earlier this month in Springfield. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced the probe, while also revealing that Massey’s family met with Governor Pritzker and Lieutenant Gov. Juliana Stratton. Massey was shot and killed by now-former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson inside her home after calling 911 to report a possible intruder. Video of the incident was released on Monday. Grayson has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and official misconduct.
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In a recent update to yesterday’s story, authorities have identified the DeKalb man accused of threatening a public official. Forrest Brandon faces felony charges for threatening the life of Republican State Representative Jeff Keicher. Brandon allegedly left a threatening phone message concerning the DeKalb Senior Health Fair on July 15th, leading to his arrest last Friday. Previously, in 2022, Brandon was found guilty of making four false 911 calls. He remains in jail as the case proceeds.
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A Chicago man is going to federal prison for robbing cell phone stores throughout Illinois. Johnathan Byars was sentenced to 25 years. Prosecutors say Byars and his co-conspirators carried out six robberies and two attempted robberies of cell phone stores in 2019 and 2020. They stole cash, phones, and other merchandise. The robberies happened in Lansing, Bloomington, Rockford, Joliet, Coal City, and Mokena. Four other defendants were convicted and sentenced to prison.
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In Wallace Township Monday afternoon at about 4:30, LaSalle County Deputies responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of East 15th and North 31st Roads. 20-year-old Leo Volker of Ottawa, traveling west on North 31st, failed to yield at the intersection and struck a vehicle driven by 50-year-old Rebecca White, also of Ottawa, who was heading north on East 15th. No injuries were reported, and Volker was cited for failure to yield at a stop/yield intersection.
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LaSalle County deputies are investigating a car-coyote collision that occurred Monday night at 11:30 on North 15th Road near East 9th Road in Richland Township. 21-year-old Katelynn Missel of Lostant was driving westbound when a coyote crossed the road and was struck by the front right corner of her vehicle. Missel was uninjured.
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WEATHER:
Today
Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 7 am and 5 pm. Patchy fog before 8 am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming north-northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 50%.
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Tonight
A 10 percent chance of showers before 7 pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Elizabeth “Betty” Klieber, 69, of Wenona, passed away at home on July 20th. Cremation rites have been accorded and there will not be any services. The Hurst Funeral Home in Wenona is assisting the family with arrangements.
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Michael J. Sipula III, 55 of Ottawa, died at home on July 15th after a brief illness. Funeral services for Michael J. Sipula III will be private. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home.
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John V. Robinson passed away on the morning of July 22nd at the OSF Richard Owens Hospice Center in Peoria, IL while surrounded by his children. A visitation for John Robinson will be held at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home in Ottawa today, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A memorial service for John Robinson will follow at 7:00 pm. As it was John’s wishes, Aqua Cremation rites will be accorded after.
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Duane Eugene Hagie, 65, of Ottawa, passed away on Saturday, July 20th at his home. A Memorial Service for Duane Eugene Hagie will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 26th, at Crossbridge Community Church. Memorial visitation for Duane Eugene Hagie will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Linda Kay (Larimer) Lindeman, 81, of Ottawa, passed away on Thursday, July 18th, at OSF St. Elizabeth in Ottawa. A Memorial Service for Linda Kay (Larimer) Lindeman will be held at 11:40 a.m. on Saturday, August 3rd, at the First Presbyterian Church in Ottawa. Visitation for Linda Kay (Larimer) Lindeman will be before the service starting at 10:10 a.m. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home Ottawa.
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SPORTS:
The Chicago White Sox are on a nine-game losing streak following a 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. The Sox gave up two runs in the bottom of the first and trailed the rest of the way. Andrew Benintendi homered in the losing effort, and Garrett Crochet was charged with his seventh loss after allowing two runs on four hits in four innings. The Southsiders remain in last place in the AL Central at 27-and-76. Chris Flexen starts for Chicago against Texas tonight.
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The Chicago Cubs left ten runners on base during a 1-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. The Cubs went 0-for-five with runners in scoring position and gave up the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth. Jameson Taillon was charged with his fifth loss after allowing a run on four hits in seven-and-a-third innings. The Cubs are in fourth place in the NL Central at 49-and-54. They send Justin Steele to the mound against Milwaukee this afternoon.
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The area around the United Center is getting a makeover. The Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks announced a 10-year plan that will try to revamp the surrounding land. Michael Reinsdorf and Danny Wirtz announced plans for the 1901 Project. The seven-billion-dollar mixed-use development would include housing, retail, entertainment, and public open space on more than 55 acres of privately owned land surrounding the iconic arena. It would be the largest private investment on Chicago’s West Side. If approved, the first phase of the project would begin in spring 2025.