At about 2:00 o’clock Sunday afternoon, emergency services from Earlville responded to a report of a gunshot victim at a residence located in the 1100 block of U.S. 34. Upon arrival, responders discovered a 52-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. Details surrounding the incident remain limited as the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office has taken the lead in the ongoing investigation. Further updates are expected as authorities work to piece together the circumstances of this event.
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A Princeton man is dead following a two-vehicle crash in LaSalle County. David Camp died following the accident just after 1:00 o’clock Friday afternoon at the intersection of Illinois 23 and North 32nd Road north of Ottawa. Four people were sent to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center – Ottawa with serious injuries.
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The Illinois State Police Blackhawk Area Task Force Friday afternoon two Ontario, Canada men on charges of possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and cocaine trafficking. 27-year-old Vanshpreet Singh and 36-year-old Manpreet Singh were stopped on eastbound Interstate 80 in Henry County for a commercial motor vehicle inspection on a Volvo truck-tractor semi-trailer combination. During the inspection, the trooper observed numerous indicators of criminal activity. A subsequent search revealed suspected cocaine. The total approximate weight of the cocaine located was 1,146 pounds and it has an approximate street value of more than 40 million dollars. The two suspects were taken to Henry County Jail pending a pretrial release hearing. ISP notified Homeland Security Investigations, which responded and is providing assistance.
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Ottawa police and firefighters responded to a residence in the 1500 block of Pine Street on Thanksgiving night at around 8:00 o’clock. As emergency crews worked to extinguish the fire, officers interviewed the residents and confirmed that no one was home when the blaze began. Police, firefighters, and the state fire marshal concluded that the fire had been intentionally set. Consequently, 21-year-old Takeisha White, who had been living at the home temporarily, was taken into custody. She faces two counts of arson.
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Streator police swiftly apprehended a suspect in a burglary case on Thursday night. Sixty-five-year-old Charles Rogers, a resident of Streator, was arrested around 9:30 PM on Friday at a home located in the 1100 block of North Otter Creek. Rogers faces charges of Criminal Damage to Property, Possession of Burglary Tools, and Burglary in connection with an incident at Anna’s Pizza, situated at 207 Pratt. Authorities report that he is a known sex offender. Following his arrest, Rogers was released and is scheduled to appear in La Salle County Court.
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County Highway 15 (E. 22nd Road) (St. Mary’s Road) will be closed for a culvert replacement beginning Monday, December 9, 2024. The culvert is located 300 feet north of County Highway 5 (N. 17th Road) (Richards Road). The work is expected to take 2 weeks to complete, weather permitting. Motorists are advised to use alternative routes around the construction site.
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Former Chicago Alderman Daniel Solis is set to be cross-examined today by defense attorneys in Michael Madigan’s racketeering trial. Solis has already spent four days on the witness stand. During that time, he has answered questions from a prosecutor about the recordings he made of Madigan. The trial is resuming following an extended Thanksgiving break.
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State police are investigating after police shot and killed a man armed with a chainsaw at a St. Charles assisted living facility. Authorities say officers responded yesterday morning to the River Glen of St. Charles on a report of a man armed with a chainsaw entering the lobby of the facility and confronting residents. Police used a taser on the man, but he continued to attack residents and officers. An officer then shot the man, who died at the hospital.
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23-year-old Miguel Govea of Belvidere was arrested by Ottawa Police Friday in the 2100 block of Somerset Drive on a charge of criminal trespass to state-supported property.
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22-year-old Thalia Barnhart of Princeton is charged with driving on a suspended license and driving an uninsured vehicle after a traffic stop by Ottawa Police Friday in the 100 block of East Norris Drive.
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31-year-old Darrick U. Montgomery was arrested by Ottawa Police Thursday at 1522 Pine Street on a charge of violation of conditions of pre-trial release.
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WEATHER:
Monday
A chance of flurries, mainly after noon. Cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 27. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 16. Westnorthwest wind around 5 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Elizabeth “Betty” (Bretag) Pandolfi, 96, of Ottawa, passed away on Saturday, November 30th, at Heritage Woods in Ottawa. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4th, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, December 5th, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ottawa. Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery in Ottawa.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
BOYS BASKETBALL
Ottawa Pirates claimed the title of the Dean Riley Shootin’ The Rock Thanksgiving Tournament on Saturday.
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La Salle-Peru 82, Plano 53: Cavaliers to a victory in the fifth-place game of the Dean Riley Shootin’ the Rock Thanksgiving Tournament in Ottawa.
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Seneca beat Marquette and won the inaugural Husker Hardwood Tip-Off Tourney championship.
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GIRLS BASKETBALL
La Salle-Peru 56, Rock Falls 16: Cavaliers cruised to a nonconference victory in Rock Falls.
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Girls wrestling
In the Normal Community Invitational, Ottawa Pirates junior Juliana Thrush won the 235-pound championship, while classmate Ava Weatherford placed third at 145.
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Boys bowling
Streator places 19th in Joliet: At Town & Country Lanes, the Bulldogs finish 19th at the Plainfield South Invite.
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PRO SPORTS:
The Matt Eberflus era is over in Chicago. The Bears fired the head coach after a 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. Eberflus was hired after the 2021 season. He led Chicago to a 14-and-32 record during his two-and-a-half seasons at the helm. The Bears got off to a 4-and-2 start this season before losing their last six games. Interim offensive coordinator Thomas Brown was promoted to interim head coach after Eberflus’ dismissal. Bears take on the 49ers this Sunday at 3:25 pm.
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The Chicago Blackhawks surrendered three goals in the third period of their 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at United Center. Connor Bedard gave Chicago an early lead with a goal in the third minute of the game, but Columbus scored twice before the second period. Craig Smith tied it up at two at the beginning of the second, but Sean Monahan put the Blue Jackets on top for good less than two minutes later. Nick Foligno also scored in the losing effort. The Hawks are in last place in the Central Division with 18 points and an 8-14-and-2 record. Chicago visits Toronto tonight.
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The Chicago Bulls had another rough game on defense during a 138-129 loss to the Boston Celtics at United Center on Friday. Chicago held a four-point lead in the fourth quarter before Boston went on a late run to put the game away. Nikola Vucevic led Chicago with 32 points and 11 rebounds, while Zach LaVine poured in 29 points. The 8-and-13 Bulls host Brooklyn tonight.
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COLLEGE SPORTS:
The number-five Notre Dame Fighting Irish extended their winning streak to ten games with a 49-35 win over USC at L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Saturday. The Irish led by seven in the fourth quarter when Christian Gray scored on a 99-yard pick-six to put the game away. Riley Leonard passed for 155 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in the victory, and he added a touchdown on the ground. Jadarian Price rushed for 111 yards and a score, while Jeremiyah Love had 137 yards of offense and a rushing touchdown. The 11-and-1 Irish will find out their playoff fate later this month.
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The number-23 Illinois Fighting Illini wrapped up their regular season with a 38-28 win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Saturday. Northwestern took a 10-7 lead on a pick-six from Devin Turner in the first quarter, but Illinois scored the next three touchdowns of the game to put it away. Aidan Laughery rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. The Illini are in fifth place in the Big Ten with a 6-and-3 conference record and a 9-and-3 mark overall. AJ Henning caught ten passes for 119 yards and a score in the losing effort. Northwestern ended its season in 16th place in the conference with a 2-and-7 Big Ten record and a 4-and-8 mark overall. The Wildcats season is over, while the Illini will find out their bowl fate later this month.
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In other college football action over the weekend, Northern Illinois beat Central Michigan 24-16, and Illinois State took down Southeast Missouri State 35-27.
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Basketball
MEN’S BASKETBALL
North Central Missouri 103, IVCC 79: Roderick Watson-Pearcey scored 20 points and dished out four assists as the Eagles lost in the NCMC Classic in Trenton, Missouri.
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are on a four-game losing streak following an 80-76 loss to number-19 Creighton at MGM Grand Arena on Saturday. The Irish took a one-point lead in the middle of the second half before Creighton went on a 10-0 run to go up for good. Tae Davis and Braeden Shrewsberry both scored 17 points in the losing effort. The 4-and-4 Irish visit Georgia tomorrow.
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The Northwestern Wildcats got back in the win column with a 66-61 win over UNLV at Mullett Arena on Friday. The Wildcats had a one-point lead at halftime and kept UNLV at arm’s length throughout the second half. Brooks Barnhizer finished the game with 23 points and 10 boards, while Jalen Leach chipped in with 15 points. The 6-and-2 Wildcats visit Iowa tomorrow night.
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In college basketball action on Friday, Northern Illinois lost to Eastern Illinois 72-59, DePaul beat Valparaiso 89-70, and Bradley crushed Judson 107-41. Chicago State fell to number 17 Wisconsin 74-53 on Saturday. Tonight, Chicago State is at St. Thomas.