A third man wanted in connection to a La Salle stabbing has turned himself in. Davion Douglas, 20, of Spring Valley, surrendered at the La Salle Police Department on Tuesday and was jailed on a mob action warrant before being released on pretrial conditions. Douglas, along with 19-year-olds Justin Qasem and William Vargas, both of Spring Valley, are linked to the late-September stabbing of a 17-year-old boy at 9th and Lafayette streets. The boy has since recovered. Qasem and Vargas were arrested over the weekend for felony mob action and released on Monday.
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Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc. will close its Streator factory, resulting in the loss of 152 jobs by Nov. 18. The plant, a key part of Streator’s history as the “Glass Container Capital of the World,” will stop commercial production but remain open for now. Affected employees will receive full pay and benefits through Dec. 20, with potential additional compensation per union agreements. Some union workers have bumping rights, while non-union employees do not. This closure is part of Owens-Brockway’s “Fit to Win” initiative to optimize operations, with more furnace closures expected later in 2024.
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The annual City leaf vacuum program will begin on Monday, November 4th, please make sure that leaf piles are free of sticks and other debris and are placed on the berm and not placed in the street or near storm drains or inlets. After rain events leaves can clog storm drains causing flooding issues. Residents are advised to use caution when traveling on streets in these areas and to be aware of periodic road closures. Please drive slowly when passing City crews for their safety and yours. To see the map and order of areas cleaned first visit this story on the 1430wcmy.com website.
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Streator officials are considering adding another investigator to the police department next year in response to rising gun violence. Since early October, there have been at least five reports of shots fired, causing property damage and one injury. During a public meeting, La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro emphasized that the police are “undermanned” and need more support. With only one full-time investigator, Streator lags behind smaller nearby towns like Peru and La Salle, which have more investigators. While Mayor Tara Bedei and City Manager David Plyman acknowledge the need, they also stress that financial constraints, declining population, and rising costs make additional hiring a challenge.
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Donavan Cotton, a 22-year-old from Spring Valley, pleaded guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm and was sentenced to 16 years and 6 months in prison, with credit for about a year already served through jail time and electronic monitoring. Cotton was arrested last November after Spring Valley police responded to a call at an apartment on East 3rd Street, where they found a man in his 20s suffering from gunshot wounds to the arm and chest. The victim was taken to OSF in Peoria and later released. Investigators reported that Cotton fled the scene but was arrested later that evening in Peru. The incident reportedly stemmed from a dispute over a woman, and Cotton was living at the apartment where the shooting took place.
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Peoria-area school students are being asked not to bring backpacks to school the rest of the week due to a “possible safety risk.” An email was sent to Washington Community High School parents saying a safety risk was being investigated by the school administration and the Washington Police Department. The risk was specific to yesterday. If students do bring a backpack, it will be searched.
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The DuPage County NAACP and Rainbow PUSH Coalition are seeking a federal investigation after African American students in west suburban Oak Park allegedly were given cotton during a history lesson. Both civil rights groups attended last night’s District 97 school board meeting, where several community members spoke out against the action. Oak Park District officials have not mentioned whether it has taken action regarding the teacher involved in the history lesson.
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Livingston County Sheriff’s Office drug investigation resulted in charges against Sinead Jones of Spring Valley and Tiearra Jenkins of La Salle. The investigation, initiated last month by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, led to the seizure of multiple firearms, including a “Ghost” 9mm handgun without a serial number, rifle magazines, hollow point rounds, and over 100 Suboxone strips. Jones, 33, faces charges of being a felon in possession of a weapon, having a defaced serial number on a firearm, and unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. Jenkins, 29, is charged with a defaced serial number and drug-related offenses. Both women, who have pleaded not guilty, are out on pretrial release awaiting jury trials this winter.
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A Rock Falls man convicted of setting a deadly 2020 fire in Sterling is appealing his life sentence. Steven Coleman was sentenced to three consecutive lifetime sentences with no possibility of parole after a Whiteside County jury found him guilty of murder and arson charges in July. Carrie Hose, eight-year-old Shayla Walker, and 13-year-old Celina Serrano all died in the blaze at the Western Apartments on West 3rd Street. A hearing for the appeal is set for November 18th.
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Cross-examination in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is expected to continue. Federal prosecutors are expected to unveil close to 200 secretly recorded conversations. Some of the calls involve Madigan and his associates allegedly plotting the ouster of former state Representative Lang in 2019. The prosecution also plans to call Lang to the witness stand. The feds say that the ex-legislator was being urged to step down following an accusation of sexual harassment.
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A grand jury has indicted 31-year-old Zachary Frickey of Streator in connection with a recent shooting incident. He faces charges of aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and remains in custody without pretrial release. Court records indicate that Frickey fired shots in Streator on October 6th, during a period when police were responding to multiple shots fired reports in the area.
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Chicago-based McDonald’s stock is down after at least 49 people caught E. coli linked to Quarter Pounders in 10 states. It fell five percent in afternoon trading. One person, an older adult in Colorado, has died, and ten have been hospitalized. That’s according to the CDC. An internal memo shared on McDonald’s website says the company is taking “swift and decisive action.” McDonalds was aware of the contamination late last week but did not release information to the CDC until earlier this week.
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A man is dead and another person was wounded in two incidents in DeKalb Wednesday. The man is dead following a shootout with police in DeKalb. Rockford Police say officers investigated shots fired call Tuesday night in the 48-hundred block of Creek View Road. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office was notified that the suspect’s vehicle’s registration was linked to a DeKalb address. DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputies spotted the vehicle at the address and attempted to stop it, but the driver fled the scene, initiating a chase that ended on Rich Road, west of Nelson Road. Officers determined the suspect was holding a hostage inside the vehicle. After several hours, the hostage was released, but the suspect remained in the car. He suddenly fired several shots at police, who returned fire, killing the suspect. And, State police are investigating a police shooting at a DeKalb Toyota dealership. Authorities say several employees at Brian Bemis Toyota were attacked by a man yesterday. One employee was wounded after being stabbed. When officers arrived, the suspect walked toward them without dropping the knife. Officers then shot the man, who remains hospitalized but is expected to survive. The employee who was stabbed was treated for a non-life-threatening injury and released at the scene.
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The Ottawa Salvation Army is inviting needy families with children 12 and under to sign up for participation in its “Angel Tree” program. Application times are 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Proof of address and proof of income is required.
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WEATHER:
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 66. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night
A slight chance of showers before 10 pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10 pm and 1 am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 am. Low around 51. Southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%—new rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.
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OBITUARIES:
Sherri Bossen, 56, of Mendota, passed away surrounded by family on October 20th, at the Morris Hospital. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
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Harold Mercker, 66, of Ottawa, passed away on October 15th at OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. A visitation will be on Saturday, October 26th, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Ottawa Funeral Home. The luncheon will follow at The Knights of Columbus in Ottawa. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Adam Walter Koziel, 53, of Ottawa, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, October 22nd. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 26th at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home with Pastor Sherry Stevenson officiating. Interment will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, October 25th at the funeral home.
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Cynthia A. Arbisi, 78, of La Salle passed away on October 23rd, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa. Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 26 at St. Hyacinth’s Church in LaSalle. Burial will be at St. Vincent’s Cemetery in La Salle. Visitation will be in the church on Saturday from 9:00 AM until the time of services. The Hurst Funeral Home in LaSalle has been entrusted with her arrangements.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Marquette vs Dwight/Gardner-South Wilmington
When: 7 p.m. Friday at Gould Stadium
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Girls volleyball – Tuesday
Ottawa 2, Sycamore 0: At Sycamore,
Roanoke-Benson 2, Marquette 1: At Bader Gymnasium
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Boys Soccer – Tuesday
Streator 4, Ottawa 2: at Ottawa
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PRO SPORTS:
The Chicago Bulls struggled to start the second half during their 123-111 season-opening loss against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. The Bulls trailed by just one at halftime before getting outscored 36-25 in the third quarter. Zach LaVine poured in 27 points in the losing effort, while Nikola Vucevic finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds. The Bulls are off to a 0-and-1 start. They visit the Bucks tomorrow night.
The Bulls will not extend a contract extension to recently acquired point guard Josh Giddey. The four-year backcourt player was eligible for a rookie extension. Giddey, who was the number six overall pick by the Thunder in 2021, is expected to enter restricted free agency at the end of the season.
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The Chicago Bears were missing a pair of defensive backs during their first practice of Week Eight yesterday. Jaquan Brisker and Kyler Gordon were both out with injuries. Five other players were limited participants, including cornerbacks Terell Smith and Tyrique Stevenson. The Bears go up against the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
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The Chicago Blackhawks are gearing up for their game against the Nashville Predators at United Center tomorrow night. The Hawks just lost to the Vancouver Canucks 6-3 at home on Tuesday. Chicago is in seventh place in the Central Division with five points and a 2-4-and-1 record. Tomorrow’s game begins at 7:30 PM.
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COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Illinois men’s basketball program is facing high expectations heading into the 2024-25 season. The Fighting Illini were picked as the number-24 team in the preseason coaches poll yesterday. Illinois went 29-and-9 overall last season before losing to UConn in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The Illini tip off the season against Eastern Illinois on November 4th.
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City of Ottawa Leaf Vac Schedule:
Areas N-1, S-1, and W-1. City leaf vacuum crews will proceed through Areas N-1 to N-4, Areas S-1 to S-4, and Areas W1 to W-3 simultaneously. Once all areas are completed, the process will be repeated in the same order.
