42-year-old David E. Jones of Sheffield faces up to 10 years in prison for allegedly threatening to shoot up a government office in Ottawa. Jones has been charged in La Salle County Circuit Court with three felonies, including intimidation and threatening a public official, both Class 3 felonies carrying extended prison terms of two to 10 years due to his criminal history. He also faces a charge of harassment by telephone, a Class 4 felony with a potential term of one to six years. According to court records, Jones made a call to the Department of Children and Family Services in Ottawa on September 3rd, leaving a message that threatened violence if anything happened to his children. Though he admitted to making the call, Jones denied any intent to follow through and claimed he had no access to firearms as a convicted felon who had served four prior prison terms. A warrant was issued, and Jones was taken into custody Friday, with a medical evaluation pending and a detention hearing scheduled for today. The La Salle County State’s Attorney has filed a petition to deny him pretrial release, seeking to hold him in custody pending trial.
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One person is wounded following a shooting at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Police say the incident happened early yesterday in a parking lot on the west side of campus. The victim was hospitalized with “non-life-threatening” injuries. Their condition hasn’t been released and there is no word of any arrests.
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A Fulton man was seriously injured in a one-vehicle crash Friday night in Mendota after his pickup truck crashed through a guard rail at 12th Street and Augustine Avenue, landing on its driver’s side in a creek between the road and railroad tracks. Mendota police, along with fire departments from Mendota, Troy Grove, Peru, and Sublette, responded to the scene around 8:30 p.m. Emergency crews had to extract 45-year-old Jonas W. Hobbs, the sole occupant, from the heavily damaged vehicle. Hobbs was initially transported to OSF Saint Paul Medical Center and later airlifted to another hospital for further treatment.
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Illinois State Police are mourning after a trooper died in the line of duty. Authorities say Trooper Corey Thompsen was finishing a traffic enforcement detail Friday when his motorcycle was hit by a truck being driven by Helen Torres at the intersection of 1300 East and Leverett Road. Thompsen died at the hospital, while Torres was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. She was cited for Failure to Yield Right of Way and No Valid Driver’s License.
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County Highway 51 (N. 2753rd Road) (Canal Road) will be closed for a culvert replacement on Wednesday, October 23rd. The culvert is located ½ mile East of Heritage Harbor in Rutland Township. The work is expected to take 1 day, weather permitting. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes around the construction site.
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Opening statements could take place today in the racketeering trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Two more alternate jurors must be selected before that happens. Madigan and longtime confidant, Michael McClain, are charged with conspiring to participate in an array of bribery and extortion schemes. The trial is expected to last 11 weeks.
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Illinois’ unemployment rate remains steady. The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s jobless rate was unchanged last month at five-point-three-percent. Non-farm payroll jobs increased by 71 hundred in September.
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The Illinois Department of Public Health is confirming that a rare tickborne illness was discovered in Lake County. The state’s active tick surveillance system identified the first tick in the state to test positive for EME, a bacteria transmitted by black-legged tick bites. EME is a severe disease that can cause complications if not treated quickly.
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WEATHER:
Today
Sunny, with a high near 82. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. South wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 10 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Judy Whitney passed away peacefully on October 16th, at OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center. A private memorial will be scheduled at a later date. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Harold Mercker, 66, of Ottawa, IL, passed away on October 15th, at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. A visitation will be on Saturday, October 26th, from 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. The luncheon will follow at The Knights of Columbus in Ottawa.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Football
Marquette 6, Seneca 21:
Ottawa 10, Rochelle 64:
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Marquette vs Dwight/Gardner-South Wilmington
When: 7 p.m. Friday at Gould Stadium
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Boys Golf
Ottawa Township High School’s boy’s golf team accomplished the feat in the 2A state final at Illinois State’s Golf Course.
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Girls cross county
Ottawa girls place 2nd at I-8 Conference meet:
Streator finishes 5th at the ICE meet:
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Boys cross county
Ottawa boys place 6th at I-8 Conference meet:
Streator finishes 4th at the ICE meet:
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Girls Tennis
Ottawa junior Zulee Moreland won the Class 1A Ottawa Sectional singles championship on Saturday.
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PRO SPORTS:
The Chicago Bears return from their bye week to start preparing for their Week Eight game. Chicago goes up against the Commanders this Sunday. The Bears are on a three-game winning streak, but they remain in last place in the NFC North at 4-and-2. This Sunday’s game kicks off at 3:25 PM.
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Police say former NFL Quarterback Jay Cutler attempted to flee a minor traffic accident before offering the other driver two grand not to report it. Franklin, Tennessee police say after he refused a field sobriety test, he was taken to a nearby hospital and was booked when a blood sample revealed he was intoxicated. Police charged him with DUI and for possession of a handgun while intoxicated after finding two firearms during a search of his vehicle. Cutler was originally selected by the Broncos in the 2006 NFL Draft, then spent most of his 12 NFL seasons with the Bears. He’s now a broadcaster for the CW Network’s Inside the NFL series.
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The Chicago Blackhawks gave up a game-winning goal late in the second period during a 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at United Center on Saturday. Chicago is in sixth place in the Western Conference with five points and a 2-3-and-1 record. The Blackhawks host the Canucks tomorrow night.
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The Chicago Bulls wrapped up preseason play with a 139-137 overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at United Center on Friday. The Bulls open up the regular season with a game against the Pelicans on Wednesday.
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COLLEGE SPORTS:
Number-11 Notre Dame is on a five-game winning streak after a 31-13 win over Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. Notre Dame improved to 6-and-1 with the win. The Irish take on the number 24 Navy this weekend.
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The number-21 Illinois Fighting Illini had three takeaways during a 21-7 win over Michigan at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The Illini are 6-and-1 overall and 3-and-1 in the Big Ten. They visit number-one Oregon this weekend.
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The Northwestern Wildcats had just 209 yards of offense during a 23-3 loss to Wisconsin at Martin Stadium on Saturday. The Wildcats dropped to 3-and-4 overall and 1-and-3 in the Big Ten. Northwestern visits Iowa this Saturday.
In other college football action over the weekend, Northern Illinois lost to Toledo 13-6, and Illinois State beat Murray State 40-32.