Ottawa High School has an early dismissal at 10:33 this morning after closing early yesterday afternoon due to a shortage of certified food service personnel caused by illness preventing lunch from being served. Busses will run following the students’ release. The Girls’ Varsity Tennis “Night Light Invite” scheduled for later today is canceled.
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Waltham Elementary is facing a budget squeeze as enrollment climbs and teacher shortages persist, driving up payroll costs. The school unveiled a tentative budget Wednesday, revealing a projected $1.4 million deficit for the 2024-25 school year, with expenses estimated at $6 million against revenues of $4.6 million. The budget, which may be revised before finalization on September 25, reflects the lingering financial strain the Village of Utica couldn’t confirm if taxpayers would see an increase, pending levy numbers.
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Improvements at the Marilla Park pond area in Streator are set to begin this fall and finish by spring, following the Streator City Council’s approval of a $164,818 construction contract with Groundworks Contracting, Inc. The project, which came in under the estimated $245,232 cost, will feature gabion baskets, a new sidewalk, picnic shelters, and a resurfaced parking lot, all funded by a $219,900 Illinois Department of Natural Resources grant.
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Former La Salle Mayor Paul Murphy, who served from 1989 to 1997 has passed away at the age of 96. Murphy was instrumental in the city’s development, particularly east of Interstate 39, where he played a key role in establishing the J.C. Whitney site and extending city services like water and sewer. His efforts significantly expanded La Salle’s boundaries and brought in substantial revenue, including the development of the Senica’s Oak Ridge golf course. A La Salle native and World War II veteran, Murphy transitioned from being a barber to a successful career in real estate and politics.
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Andrew J. Mucci pleaded guilty Thursday in LaSalle County Court to aggravated battery for striking an Ottawa High School baseball coach last year. The 44-year-old Ottawa man was sentenced to 2 1/2 years of conditional discharge, which included completing an anger management evaluation and having no contact with the coach. The incident occurred on May 4, 2023, when Mucci confronted the coach over a roster decision and struck him in the face, knocking off his hat and sunglasses. Mucci apologized in court, expressing regret for his actions.
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Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias announced over $405,000 in grants to bolster library services across the 38th Senate District, which serves more than 256,000 residents. The funding, which includes annual per capita and equalization aid, as well as new technology grants, aims to improve resources, programming, and technological infrastructure in local libraries. State officials, including Senator Sue Rezin and Representative Lance Yednock, praised the grants for enhancing community access to essential services like internet, technology, and educational materials. Libraries receiving funds include $35,577 to Reddick Public Library in Ottawa, $26,729 to LaSalle Public Library, Peru Public Library will receive $14,707, and $3,644 goes to the Utica Public Library District.
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United Auto Workers led a rally near the shuttered Stellantis plant in Belvidere yesterday. Union officials plan to call on the company to keep its promise to re-open the shuttered plant. The automaker indicated last fall that it would make a multimillion-dollar investment to bring back the plant that closed in early 2023. The union says it will consider a legal strike to bring the plant back online. Stellantis, formerly Chrysler-Jeep, says it notified the UAW that the reopening of the Belvidere site would be delayed but that it is committed to opening it in the future.
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A group of nursing homes in Illinois are being fined for violations during the second quarter of this year. The Illinois Department of Public Health reports five facilities were cited with type “AA” violations. An “AA” violation is cited when there is a condition or occurrence at the facility that caused a resident’s death. The facilities include St. Anthony’s Nursing & Rehab Center in Rock Island, which was fined 75 thousand dollars.
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An unidentified man was rescued Wednesday after becoming trapped waist-deep in a grain bin in rural Sublette. The Technical Rescue Teams from La Salle, Bureau, Lee, and Ogle counties assisted the Sublette Fire Department for nearly three hours to free the man by about 3:00 o’clock. The man was airlifted to St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford by OSF Life Flight and was released later that evening.
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33-year-old Leslie Etheridge of Ottawa was stopped by Ottawa Police Thursday in the 1200 block of State Street and was given citations for driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured vehicle.
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41-year-old Joseph R. Kmetz of Streator has tickets for operating an uninsured vehicle and driving on a suspended license after a traffic stop by Ottawa Police Thursday in the 2500 block of Illinois 23.
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WEATHER:
Friday
Patchy fog before 8 am. Otherwise, it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 83. The calm wind is coming south around 5 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 10 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Saturday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Saturday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 70. South wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 10 mph.
Sunday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 71.
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OBITUARIES:
Francis “Rudy” Maierhofer, 95, of Seneca, passed away Monday, August 19th, at the home he lived in for 70 years. Visitation for Francis “Rudy” Maierhofer will be held on Sunday, August 25th, from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Seneca. During the visitation, there will be indoor seating away from the heat. Mass of Christian burial for Francis “Rudy” Maierhofer will be held on Monday, August 26th, at 10:00 am at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Burial with military honors will take place in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
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Lyle W. Hathorn, 97, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday, August 20th, at the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle. Visitation for Lyle W. Hathorn will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Monday, August 26th, at Fox River Lutheran Church, in Sheridan. Funeral services for Lyle W. Hathorn will follow at 11 a.m. Burial for Lyle W. Hathorn will be at 2:30 p.m. at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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HS SPORTS:
Boys golf
Serena 186, Marquette 195:
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Streator 173, Wilmington 212:
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St.Bede 184, Ridgewood 177:
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Girls golf
Seneca 201, Dwight 227:
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PRO SPORTS:
The Chicago White Sox will try to win consecutive games for the first time since June when they host the Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field tonight. The Sox are coming off a 6-2 win against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. Chicago is in last place in the AL Central at 31-and-97. Chris Flexen starts for the Southsiders tonight. We will have a 6:30 pm pre-game and the first pitch is at 7:10 pm.
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The Cubs claimed their series over the Tigers with a 10-2 win from Wrigley Field. Miguel Amaya blasted his first career grand slam and finished with five RBI. Pete Crow-Armstrong drove in a pair of runs as nearly every member of the starting lineup recorded at least one hit. Justin Steele earned the win after giving up two runs and punching out 10 batters over seven innings. Chicago has won four of six to stay third in the NL Central at 63-and-65. The Northsiders send Kyle Hendricks to the mound against the Marlins tonight.
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The Chicago Bears wrapped up an undefeated preseason by beating the Kansas City Chiefs 34-21 at Arrowhead. Velus Jones Jr. rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown during the contest, while Austin Reed passed for 63 yards and a score. The Bears went 4-and-0 in exhibition play. They begin the regular season with a game against the Titans on September 8th.
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The Chicago Sky will try to get back in the win column when they visit the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena tonight. The Sky are coming off an 86-68 loss to the Mercury on Sunday. Chicago is in eighth place in the WNBA at 11-and-16. Tonight’s game tips off at 6:30 PM.