Following an investigation into the report Sunday night of gunshots near Main and Everett Streets in Streator, , a search warrant was executed in the 700 block of East Bridge Street Thursday, today, resulting in the arrest of two subjects. 34-year-old Derek E. Dill, Junior has been charged with Attempted Armed Robbery, Vehicular Invasion, and Armed Habitual Criminal. 24-year-old Bryanna M. Stash has been charged with Attempted Robbery. They were both taken to the LaSalle County Jail for detention hearings. The Streator Police Department has been assisted in the investigation by TRI-DENT, the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office, and the LaSalle County State’s Attorney’s Office.
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36-year-old Travis A. Billups of Earlville is in the La Salle County Jail following arrest for violating his pre-trial release terms by allegedly delivering cocaine on two occasions in September. Billups, who was already facing a non-probationable armed habitual criminal charge with a potential 30-year sentence, sold 3.1 grams of cocaine on September 13th and 2 grams on September 19th while under GPS monitoring. Judge Michael C. Jansz ordered him detained without bail, citing a disregard for his release conditions. Billups is set to appear on December 5th for a pre-trial hearing related to the earlier charge involving a firearm incident. His case is similar to another La Salle County suspect who reoffended while on home confinement.
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The wife of a judge is accused of killing him in southeastern Illinois. Edwards County. Megan Valentine of Albion, in Edwards County, faces multiple charges, including murder. Authorities say she shot and killed her husband, Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael Valentine, earlier this week. The victim’s body was found lying outside a home in Albion on Tuesday. Megan Valentine is being held in the White County Jail in Carmi.
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United Auto Workers in Belvidere could be headed for a strike. UAW members voted yesterday to authorize a strike against Stellantis. The vote comes after UAW claims the automaker is backing out of an agreement to reopen the Belvidere assembly plant. Stellantis said it delayed the reopening due to market conditions.
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Illinois Republican leaders are reacting to Donald Trump’s return to the White House. State Party Chairwoman Kathy Salvi celebrated the former president’s victory Tuesday night by saying Illinois Republicans are building the party back. Trump’s victory nationwide is not reflected in races involving the Illinois Legislature. With several races still too close to call, Democrats have already locked up 76 state House seats. Mail-in ballots are expected to decide winners in six downstate and suburban matchups over the next two weeks. Meantime, hundreds of people met at Chicago’s Federal Plaza Wednesday night in the loop. The demonstrators stood on policies such as abortion access, immigrant rights, and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel. Protestors also accused Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, of abandoning progressive ideals they felt could have propelled them into the White House. And, Thursday Governor J.B. Pritzker responded to Tuesday’s presidential election with partisan remarks at a news conference Thursday, vowing to protect Illinoisans during President-Elect Donald Trump’s second term in the White House. Pritzker said he will fight the incoming Trump Administration to preserve the state’s protections on reproductive health, immigration and LGBTQ+ rights. The Illinois governor has been viewed as a possible future contender for the Democratic presidential nomination.
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Several indictments have been returned by the LaSalle County Grand Jury. Jason Pegues, a homeless man from Ottawa, has been indicted on two counts of criminal trespass to a residence. Pegues is currently out of jail on pre-trial release as he awaits further court proceedings. 39-year-old Salvador Rojas Silva of Leland has been indicted on a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm. Released from custody with a notice to appear, Silva is expected to face the charge in an upcoming court appearance. Trenton Schultheis has been indicted on several charges, including burglary, two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding, and aggravated DUI. The 24-year-old LaSalle man is out of jail with a notice to appear as his case proceeds through the legal system. And, Demitruce Saunders, a 24-year-old homeless man from Peru, faces charges of disarming a peace officer and resisting a peace officer. Saunders has been released with a notice to appear for future court proceedings.
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A nursing scholarship has been established with the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation in honor of Dolores “Dee” Heflebower, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2000. She is the daughter of the late Anne Baker of Peru and the wife of former Peru Mayor Don Baker. Created by her siblings, John Heflebower and Linda Gorr, the scholarship will award $3,000 annually beginning in 2025 to a nursing student from Illinois Valley Community College planning to work in oncology. Dee, a beloved sister, teacher, artist, and devout Buddhist, was known for her sweet nature and sense of humor. For more information about creating a fund with the Foundation, visit srccf.org or contact President Fran Brolley at (815) 252-2906 or fran@srccf.org.
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The City of La Salle is set to enchant visitors with its annual “Celebration of Lights” display, opening to the public this Monday from 5 PM to 9 PM at Rotary Park. This year, the event features around 400 dazzling light displays, perfect for getting into the holiday spirit, and it will run through January 1st. For those eager to experience the festive ambiance early, the “Run Run Rudolph Run & Walk” 5K event takes place this Sunday from 5 PM to 8:30 PM, offering a sneak peek of the impressive Christmas installations. To maintain a safe environment during the event, no vehicles will be permitted inside the park, so participants are advised to park at the L-P Sports Complex on Chartres Street and take a shuttle to Rotary Park. In-person registration is available for the 5K, and the first 500 participants to sign up will receive a commemorative ornament, generously provided by OSF HealthCare.
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WEATHER:
Today
Patchy fog before 8 am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 62. Westnorthwest wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 10 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 39. North wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east after midnight.
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OBITUARIES:
Emitt Richard “Shoe” Jordan, 82, of Grand Ridge, passed away on Monday, November 4th, at his home, with his special granddaughters by his side. Funeral services will be private. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Laura Ann Gelbuda, of Mundelein, IL, formerly of Ottawa, 45, died on Tuesday, October 22nd, of complications from lymphoma and kidney failure. Visitation will take place at Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa today, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Gloria W. (Ekstrom) Gregor, 96, of Ottawa, Illinois, passed away on November 1st. Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 9th, at the Oakwood Memorial Park Chapel from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. The funeral ceremony will follow at 2 p.m. Entombment will take place at Oakwood Memorial Park. Arrangements have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Martha J. Boaz, 92, of Marseilles, passed away Sunday, November 3rd, at The Pavilion on Main in Sandwich. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, November 9 at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at noon at the funeral home. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery in Marseilles.
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Thomas Francis Varney, 72, of Utica, passed away Wednesday, November 6th, at his home in Utica. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 10th, from 2:00 pm until 3:30 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will take place at 3:30 pm. The family asks for everyone to wear their favorite Bears or union apparel to the funeral ceremonies. Cremation rites will be entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
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PRO SPORTS:
The Chicago Bulls fell apart in the second half of their 135-119 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at United Center. The Bulls led by nine at halftime before getting outscored 79-54 the rest of the way. Nikola Vucevic had 25 points in the losing effort. The Bulls have lost four in a row to drop to 3-and-6. Chicago visits Atlanta tomorrow night.
Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball will be sidelined longer than expected. He was earlier diagnosed with a sprained wrist last week and was expected to remain out of the playing rotation for ten days. The team decided that they would take their time and move with extreme caution before returning Ball to the lineup. Bulls coach Billy Donovan says the swelling has gone down and his backcourt player is still in a brace and the splint. Ball has played in three regular-season games and was averaging nearly five points a game off the bench.
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Two of the NFL’s top rookies are set to square off in Week 10 when Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears host Drake Maye and the New England Patriots at Soldier Field on Sunday. The Bears selected Williams as the top pick in the 2024 draft, while the Patriots took Maye as the third overall pick. Williams has started all eight games for the Bears this season and has completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,665 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions. Chicago, which is last in the NFC North at 4-and-4, is hoping to put an end to its two-game skid. Sunday’s game kicks off at noon.
The Chicago Bears are going to be down a couple of defensive pieces for at least a month. The team placed defensive tackle Andrew Billings and cornerback Jaylon Jones on injured reserve yesterday. Billings is likely out for the season after tearing his pectoral muscle last week, while Jones is dealing with a shoulder injury. The Bears signed defensive back Tarvarius Moore to their active roster yesterday, and they added defensive back JT Woods to the practice squad.
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The Chicago Blackhawks struggled to slow down the Dallas Stars in a 3-1 loss at American Airlines Center. The Blackhawks were outshot 40-26 in the losing effort. Tyler Bertuzzi scored Chicago’s lone goal in the middle of the third period. Chicago is in seventh place in the Central Division with 11 points and a 5-9-and-1 record. The Hawks host Minnesota on Sunday.
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COLLEGE SPORTS:
Football:
The number-ten Notre Dame Fighting Irish go for their seventh win in a row when they host Florida State at Notre Dame Stadium tomorrow night. The Irish are coming off a 51-14 rout over Navy on October 26th. Notre Dame is 7-and-1 this season. The Irish have not lost to the Seminoles at home since 2003. Tomorrow’s game kicks off at 6:30 PM Central time.
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In another college football action tomorrow, Valparaiso will host Butler and Illinois State will be in Northern Iowa.
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Basketball:
The number-24 Illinois Fighting Illini looks to stay undefeated when they host SIU-Edwardsville at State Farm Center tonight. The Illini are off to a 1-and-0 start after crushing Eastern Illinois 112-67 in their season opener on Monday night. Tonight’s game gets underway at 7:00 PM.
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The Northwestern Wildcats will try to get a winning streak going when they visit the Dayton Flyers at UD Arena tomorrow night. The Wildcats are 1-and-0 after crushing Lehigh 90-46 on Monday. Tomorrow’s contest tips off at 6:30 PM.
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In college basketball action yesterday, DePaul crushed Prairie View A&M 92-59, Loyola beat Detroit 87-65, Northern Illinois destroyed Holy Cross 105-37, and Illinois State took down North Dakota State 77-68. Tonight, Bradley is at Washington State, Valparaiso hosts Concordia, and UIC welcomes Yale. Chicago State is at home against Youngstown State tomorrow, and Loyola has a home game against Eureka on Sunday.