Construction begins Monday at the I-39/I-80 interchange. Crews will be patching the outer interchange ramps and replacing the shoulders. The ramps will be closed during the weekday. A posted detour will direct traffic to use the inner loop ramps during the project, which is scheduled to be completed in late November.
—————————————————————–
The victim of a hit-and-run near Ladd has not been identified, but the injuries were not life-threatening. The search continues for the white SUV that fled the scene after striking and injuring a cyclist. The case is still under investigation, and authorities are requesting surveillance footage from residents and businesses along specific streets. The Ladd police department expressed gratitude for the tips and information provided and forwarded all gathered information to the relevant agency for investigation.
—————————————————————–
A 4-year-old child was seriously injured on Wednesday evening after being attacked by a pit bull at a home in northeastern Streator, as reported by the Streator Police Department. At the time of the attack, the child was in the care of an adult who was also the owner of the dog. Emergency responders quickly arrived on the scene, and the child was airlifted to OSF HealthCare in Peoria for surgery to treat facial injuries. The child’s parents have since joined their child at the hospital. In response to the attack, the dog was taken by Streator Animal Control and euthanized the following day, as is standard procedure for such incidents. The remains of the dog are being tested for diseases that could affect the child’s medical care, according to a police news release. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack. Streator police are emphasizing that the dog was not owned by the victim’s family.
—————————————————————–
A 66-year-old Texas truck driver was severely injured after being hit and run over by a semi at Love’s Travel Stop in Utica. A deputy applied a tourniquet to the victim’s legs, which had sustained severe injuries, saving the man’s life. The injured truck driver was airlifted to OSF HealthCare in Peoria and is expected to survive. Further details about the accident have not been released by the authorities.
—————————————————————–
30-year-old Darnell C. Williams of Oglesby faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated battery for striking a 33-year-old Ottawa man in the head with a miniature sledgehammer, causing a major ear injury. Williams entered a blind plea in La Salle County Circuit Court and will be sentenced on Nov. 26th, where he could request probation, though prosecutors may seek the maximum sentence.
—————————————————————–
25-year-old Destine Phillips from South Holland, with a Chicago address, appeared in La Salle County Circuit Court on Wednesday. She contested the legality of a vehicle search that resulted in the discovery of 2.6 pounds of suspected cocaine. Phillips was initially stopped for speeding by Master Sgt. Michael Kasprak, who conducted a field sobriety test passed. However, during the stop, Kasprak noticed an open bottle of tequila in her purse, which led to a further search, uncovering the cocaine in the trunk. Phillips’ defense argued that the search was illegal as the traffic stop had effectively ended after she passed the sobriety test. Prosecutors maintained that the discovery of open alcohol gave Kasprak the right to proceed. Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. ruled in favor of the prosecution, stating that the search was lawful. Phillips, charged with a Class X felony, could face up to 60 years in prison if convicted. She is scheduled to return to court on October 3 for a status hearing.
—————————————————————–
The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office has released its August statistics. During the month, there were 266 direct 911 calls, and deputies responded a total of 1160 various emergency and non-emergency calls. The Lasalle County corrections office booked 181 suspects and had a daily prison population of around 72. Additionally, the sheriff’s office responded to 71 crashes and made 10 driving while under the influence, and 6 domestic battery arrests in the month of August.
—————————————————————–
United Way of Eastern LaSalle County is excited to announce the first annual United Way Day on September 10th, at Ottawa’s Washington Park from 9 AM to 10 AM. The event will celebrate community members, volunteers, donors, and agency partners working together to support the local community. Attendees can learn more about United Way of Eastern LaSalle County’s initiatives and enjoy complimentary coffee and donuts. The day also marks the launch of United Way of Eastern LaSalle County’s 2024 campaign with a goal to impact 13,007 people in their service area, a 15% increase from the previous year. WCMY’s very own Karen Rhodes will be broadcasting live from the event.
—————————————————————–
The next free recycling event for LaSalle County residents will take place on October 5th from 8 to noon at the La Salle County Government Center on Etna Road in Ottawa. A variety of items will be accepted, including phones, chargers, laptops, and stereos. There’s a strict limit of two TVs per vehicle. Pre-registration is required lasallerecycling.as.me
—————————————————————–
A man is in custody following a long standoff and police shooting in Macomb near Western Illinois University. Authorities say Macomb officers were serving a search warrant Wednesday when two officers were shot by the suspect inside a home. The suspect, identified as Shaiking Mathis, barricaded himself inside the home and after more than 20 hours of negotiations surrendered to officers. He is charged with four counts of aggravated battery to a police officer and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm. Both officers were treated and released from the hospital and are expected to make a full recovery.
—————————————————————–
A man faces charges following a long violent standoff in Freeport. Police say officers were called out Wednesday to an apartment complex for a welfare check. An officer determined that a female was in an apartment with a man identified as Grady Clark. After the female was removed, the officer learned that Clark had firearms inside the apartment and had threatened to kill the female. Clark then threatened that he had hostages, was suicidal, and would shoot officers who made entry. He also fired two rounds from a rifle out of a window of his 10th-floor apartment and tossed Molotov cocktails and other items out of the apartment window. Following a 12-hour standoff, Clark surrendered.
—————————————————————–
A suburban Elgin high schooler is accused of bringing a gun to school. The teenage suspect is charged with three counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful use of a weapon. Elgin High School officials say a resource officer was notified that the defendant was noticed with a firearm. Shortly after an unloaded firearm was recovered from the student. No threats were reportedly made toward students and staff.
—————————————————————–
Ottawa Police charged 26-year-old Timothy Shepherd of Ottawa with driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured vehicle after a traffic stop Thursday in the 1900 block of Canal Road.
—————————————————————–
Two Streator residents were charged with retail theft by Streator Police Thursday. 41-year-old Lainee R. Hallowell was arrested late Thursday afternoon at Wal-Mart. 41-year-old Jacob P. Sokol was arrested at Circle K in the 900 block of East Main shortly before 9:00 Thursday night. Both were released with court dates.
—————————————————————–
A rural Ottawa man is charged with theft of less than $500. 45-year-old Joshua Boaz was arrested by Ottawa Police Thursday in the 100 block of West Stevenson Road.
—————————————————————–
56-year-old Ronald Thompson of Spring Valley is cited for expired registration after a stop by LaSalle County Sheriff’s Deputies Thursday near the I-80/Illinois 23 interchange in north Ottawa.
—————————————————————–
WEATHER:
Today
A 20 percent chance of showers after 1 pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low of around 43. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low of around 40. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 74. Light west-southwest wind becoming west at 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night
Clear, with a low of around 47.
—————————————————————–
OBITUARIES:
Joseph Lubshina, 73, of Ottawa, passed away suddenly at home on Sunday, September 1st. A visitation/celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 7th, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home.
—————————————————————–
Joan Adams, 92, of Ottawa, formerly of Wilmington, IL, passed away Tuesday, September 3rd, at Pleasant View Lutheran Home.
Following Joan’s wishes, no services will be held. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
—————————————————————–
Charles Hearn was born on October 31st, 1930 in Paducah, Kentucky. He was an Elder in the Ottawa Church of Christ for many years and a long-time Bible class teacher. He was a member of the Ottawa Kiwanis Club for 35 years and a sponsor of the Ottawa High School Key Club for many years. There will be a private family memorial held to celebrate Charles Hearn’s life.
—————————————————————–
HS SPORTS:
Join us tonight as the Ottawa Pirates take on the Streator Bulldogs in Streator. This will be the 103rd meeting and the state’s third-oldest rivalry in high school football. Hunter O’Dell and Chris Pagakis will have the call, Kick-off will be at 7 pm
—————————————————————–
Girls volleyball
Marquette 2, Lowpoint-Washburn 0: At Washburn,
Woodland 2, St. Bede 1: At rural Streator,
Seneca 2, Midland 0: At rural Varna,
Serena 2, Hiawatha 0: At Serena,
Somonauk 2, Earlville 0: At Somonauk,
—————————————————————–
Boys golf
Marquette 181, Yorkville Christian 221: At Deer Park Golf Course,
Streator 165, Lisle 206: At Lisle,
Sandwich 172, Earlville 223: At Edgebrook Golf Course,
—————————————————————–
Girls tennis
Rock Island Alleman 4, Ottawa 1; Geneseo 3, Ottawa 2: At Geneseo,
—————————————————————–
Boys soccer
Ottawa 2, LPHS 1: at Ottawa High School.
Lisle 2, Streator 0: At the James Street Recreation Area in Streator
—————————————————————–
PRO SPORTS:
The Chicago White Sox look to get a winning streak going when they visit the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park tonight. The Sox just lost a series to the Baltimore Orioles earlier in the week. Chicago is in last place in the AL Central at 32-and-109 and remains on pace to finish with the worst record in the history of the modern MLB. Davis Martin starts for the Southsiders tonight. The first pitch is at 6:10 PM, we will not have the White Sox game tonight due to Ottawa Pirate football.
—————————————————————–
The Chicago Cubs continue their playoff push when they host the New York Yankees at Wrigley Field this afternoon. The Cubs are coming off a series loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this week. Chicago is four games back of the Mets and the Braves for the final NL Wild Card spot at 72-and-68. Jordan Wicks starts for the Northsiders today. The first pitch is at 1:20 PM.
—————————————————————–
A new era begins in the Windy City this weekend. The top pick from the 2024 NFL Draft will be making his regular-season debut when Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears host the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field. Williams joins an overhauled offense that features veteran wide receiver Kenan Allen and fellow first-round rookie Rome Odunze. Chicago had the top pick after making a deal with the Carolina Panthers before the 2023 draft. The Bears finished last season 7-and-10. Sunday’s game kicks off at noon.
—————————————————————–
COLLEGE SPORTS:
USC is retiring the jersey number of current Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. The number 13 is now on display at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The rookie QB won the 2022 Heisman Trophy as a sophomore at USC.
—————————————————————–
Illinois hosts 20th-ranked Kansas tomorrow night at Memorial Stadium. The Fighting Illini routed Eastern Illinois 45-0 in the team’s season opener. The Jayhawks opened their season with a 48-3 win over Lindenwood. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
—————————————————————–
The number-seven Notre Dame Fighting Irish will try to stay undefeated when they host Northern Illinois at Notre Dame Stadium tomorrow. The Irish are 1-and-0 after opening up the season with a 23-13 victory over previously-ranked number-20 Texas A&M last weekend. Notre Dame has never played against Northern Illinois. Tomorrow’s game kicks off at 2:30 PM Central time.
—————————————————————–
The Northwestern Wildcats return to Martin Stadium when they host the Duke Blue Devils tonight. The Wildcats beat Miami of Ohio 13-6 last weekend to begin the season with a 1-and-0 record. Northwestern has lost its last five meetings with Duke dating back to 2017. Tonight’s game begins at 8:00 PM.