The La Salle County Board got to work Thursday, appointing members to key roles for the next two years. New member Ali Braboy of La Salle joins the Mental Health 708 Board, the Tri-County Opportunity Council alongside reappointed David Torres of Oglesby, and will serve as the board’s liaison to the County Health Department. Brian Dose of Ottawa remains on the Court Appointed Special Advocate Board, while Mike McEmery of Marseilles continues with the Business Employment Skills Team Board. Doug Stockley of Earlville and Arratta Znaniecki of Ottawa will collaborate with the University of Illinois Extension. Additionally, the board voted to seek approval from the Illinois Department of Transportation to retain County Highway Engineer Don Ernat for another six years, a requirement in the hiring process for such positions.
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A significant change to Oglesby’s city government is now set to appear on the April ballot following a court ruling on Thursday that verified the validity of a referendum petition signed by numerous residents. During a hearing at La Salle County Courthouse, Circuit Judge Jason A. Helland confirmed that the petition met all statutory requirements, including exceeding the necessary threshold of over 10% of voters from the last election with more than 1,000 signatures. The ballot will pose the question of whether to transition from the current commission form of government to a city manager model, which would restructure the roles of the mayor and city council. Currently, Mayor Jason Curran and the four city commissioners handle responsibilities that would be transferred to a hired city manager if the proposal gains voter approval. Curran indicated that the matter will be an important topic in upcoming City Council meetings, as they aim to keep residents informed about the potential implications of this significant governance shift. The next council meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 16th, and Monday, Jan. 6th.
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Ransom Village President Randy Stillwell, who was nearing the end of his term after being elected in 2021, passed away Thursday morning. The village’s official Facebook page announced his death, noting, “No details at this time, will post when we have more.” Stillwell had previously run for the position in 2013 but was unsuccessful before his eventual election.
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Tracy Bedeker of Seneca has been appointed the fifth chair of the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation (SRCCF) for the years 2025 and 2026. A member since 2019 and a prominent supporter of the foundation, she previously served as vice chair and treasurer. Bedeker is the vice president of marketing at First Federal Savings Bank in Ottawa and has been active in the Ottawa Noon Rotary. Pierre Alexander of Granville will take on the roles of vice chair and treasurer; he is the CFO at Heritage Harbor in Ottawa. The foundation, established in 2015, has made significant impacts in the community, contributing over $2.6 million in grants and scholarships and creating 124 charitable funds in partnership with local nonprofits.
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Marquette Academy formally announced the retirement of Tom Jobst, who has been the Head Football Coach for the past 15 years. This retirement signifies the conclusion of a significant chapter in the history of Marquette Academy Football. Coach Jobst’s unwavering commitment, leadership, and enthusiasm for the game have made a profound impact on the school, its athletes, and the surrounding community. He assumed the role of head coach in 2010, steering the football program to impressive achievements over the years. Beyond cultivating skilled athletes, he emphasized essential values such as teamwork, discipline, and perseverance that resonate beyond the field. His innate ability to connect with players, along with his role as a mentor, has garnered him immense respect and admiration from students, parents, and fellow coaches.
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As the holiday season approaches, the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office has teamed up with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High, Get a DUI” campaign, running from December 13th through January 2nd. With a zero-tolerance policy against impaired driving and an emphasis on seat belt use, Sheriff Adam Diss urges everyone to prioritize safety: “If you plan to drink or use impairing substances, arrange for a sober ride home.” The Sheriff’s Office encourages using designated drivers, local sober ride programs, and reporting impaired drivers to keep our roads safe. Let’s celebrate responsibly this holiday season, ensuring everyone gets home safely. This campaign is funded by federal highway safety programs through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by IDOT.
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A crash at the Peru Mall on Wednesday caused damage to a mall sign, and the driver of the vehicle is currently missing. The incident occurred around 11:15 p.m. when a Ford F-150 pickup truck collided with a brick-and-cement post supporting a sign on the building’s east side. When emergency crews arrived, the driver had already fled the scene on foot. While law enforcement has identified the owner of the vehicle, who lives outside of Peru, local police are working with the La Salle County Sheriff’s Department to locate the person responsible for the crash.
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The Illinois Audubon Society has expanded the Green River Lowlands Preserve in Lee County by purchasing 60 additional acres, bringing the total to over 1,000 acres of diverse ecosystems. This new parcel, adjacent to the 130-acre Queen of the Prairie tract acquired in 2022, will undergo grassland restoration, attracting species like Lark Sparrows and Eastern Meadowlarks. The preserve protects rare ecosystems formed by glacial activity 17,000 years ago. Volunteers have found native plants such as New Jersey tea and prairie drop seed, underscoring the need to protect these habitats. Founded in 1897, the society has invested $20 million to protect 7,330 acres across Illinois, fulfilling its mission to preserve native plants, animals, and their habitats.
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President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of two fraudsters in Illinois. Former Dixon Comptroller Rita Crundwell and Eric Bloom both received commutation from the President. Crundwell was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison in 2013 for stealing nearly 54 million dollars from Dixon over two decades. She was released to a halfway house in 2021 after serving about eight years behind bars. Most recently, Crundwell has been living in a house owned by her brother outside of Dixon. Bloom is the one-time leader of a Northbrook management firm that defrauded investors of more than 665 million dollars. Prosecutors called it the largest financial fraud case ever prosecuted in Chicago’s federal court. Bloom was sentenced in 2015 to 14 years in prison.
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A federal judge is denying Paul La Schiazza’s bid for acquittal. The ruling comes three months after the judge declared a mistrial in the case of the former AT&T Illinois president accused of trying to bribe ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. It sets the stage for a potential retrial. La Schiazza was indicted in October 2022 for conspiring to pay a former state lawmaker 25 hundred dollars a month in consulting fees as part of a plan to win Madigan’s backing of legislation in Springfield. Madigan is currently in the middle of his racketeering trial.
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Governor JB Pritzker is collaborating with IBM to build a new National Quantum Algorithm Center in Chicago. The new center will aim to advance the exploration of quantum-centric supercomputing across industries. It will initially operate out of Discovery Partners Institute and the University of Chicago, and the IBM Quantum System Two will be located at Hyde Park Labs. After the state’s quantum campus is built, the center will move to the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park.
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A Danville firefighter is out of a job after being arrested. Officials say a sting operation by the Paxton Police Department targeting online child predators led to the arrest of probationary employee Dean Lambert. The 28-year-old was placed on administrative leave before being fired Tuesday. He was then arrested on charges of indecent solicitation of a child and sexual exploitation of a child. Authorities say the charges were filed after undercover officers posed as a 15-year-old girl online and arranged to meet with Lambert.
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A routine well-being check in the Village of Ohio led to the arrest of 43-year-old Adam Smith from Princeton on multiple charges. On Tuesday, Bureau County Sheriff’s deputies visited the 200 block of Grove Street, where they discovered Smith had an outstanding warrant for criminal trespassing. Additionally, he was charged with possession of meth, burglary, and theft. Smith was subsequently taken to the Bureau County Jail.
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Jaffeth Campos-Barrientos of DePue was stopped early Wednesday at Dakota and Power Streets in Spring Valley and ticketed for reckless driving, speeding, and driving without insurance. He was also charged with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition and for not having a valid FOID card. Campos-Barrientos was released with a court date.
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WEATHER:
Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 26. Wind chill values as low as -2. East wind 5 to 15 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. East wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday
Rain, mainly after noon. High near 39. East-southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch possible.
Saturday Night
Rain. Low around 38. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%.
Sunday
A 30 percent chance of showers before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 45. South southwest wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Sunday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 40.
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OBITUARIES:
Maria Rose Durdan, 72, of Ottawa, passed away on October 20th, at her home after battling Type 1 Diabetes for almost 63 years. A visitation will be held at Ottawa Funeral Home on January 18th, from 2 PM – 4 PM. The Celebration of Life will follow at 4 PM.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Shepherd Middle School
The 8th-grade Lady Rams took a tough loss in the sectional game Wednesday. They ended their PHENOMENAL season with a record of 22-2, as conference and regional champs.
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Girls basketball
Join us tonight night as we bring you our first featured basketball game of the season, as your Ottawa Lady Pirates take on the LP Lady Cavs, live from Kingman Gym with a 7 pm tip-off!
Marquette 57, Midland 49: At rural Varna
Serena def. Indian Creek: At Al Stegman Court in Serena
Seneca 40, Roanoke-Benson 32: At Roanoke
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Boys basketball
Newark 54, Indian Creek 46: At Newark
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Boys wrestling
Seneca 58, Clifton Central 17; Seneca 66, Dwight 12: At Dwight, the Fighting Irish picked up a pair of wins in a triangular.
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PRO SPORTS:
The Chicago Blackhawks were unable to come back from a four-goal deficit during their 5-4 loss to the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. The Blackhawks were down by one entering the third period, but they surrendered three goals in the first eight minutes of the frame to go down by four. TJ Brodie scored three minutes later, and Tyler Bertuzzi scored twice in the final 70 seconds of regulation, but Chicago wasn’t able to find the game-tying goal. Connor Bedard also scored in the losing effort. The Hawks are in last place in the Central Division with 20 points and a 9-18-and-2 record. Chicago is in New Jersey tomorrow.
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The Chicago Bulls aim to avoid a third loss in a row when they host the Charlotte Hornets at United Center tonight. The Bulls are coming off a 108-100 loss to Philadelphia last Sunday. Chicago is tied for ninth place in the Eastern Conference at 10-and-15. Tonight’s game tips off at 7:00 PM.
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The Chicago Bears are dealing with some injuries. Five players missed yesterday’s practice due to injuries, including starting running back D’Andre Swift and his backup, Roschon Johnson. Defensive back Elijah Hicks was limited in practice with an ankle injury while running back Travis Homer was a full participant. Chicago visits Minnesota on Monday.
In other Bears news, three northwest suburban school districts are approving a property tax agreement with the Bears. The boards for Northwest Suburban High School District 214, Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211, and Palatine Township Elementary District 15 all approved the deal, which brings the team a step closer to possibly building a new stadium on the former Arlington Park racetrack property. The agreement will lower the Bears’ annual property tax bill at Arlington Park through 2027.
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COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Illinois Fighting Illini look to knock off the top team in the nation when they host number-one Tennessee at State Farm Center tomorrow. The Illini just upset number 22 Wisconsin 86-80 on Tuesday. Illinois is 7-and-2 overall and 1-and-1 in Big Ten play this season. Tomorrow’s game tips off at 4:30 PM.
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The Northwestern Wildcats will try to get a winning streak going when they take on Georgia Tech in the MKE Tip-Off at Fiserv Forum on Sunday. Northwestern is coming off a 70-66 overtime win against Illinois last Friday. The Wildcats are 7-and-3 overall and 1-and-1 in Big Ten play. Sunday’s game tips off at 3:00 PM.
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In college basketball action tomorrow, DePaul hosts Wichita State, Bradley visits Santa Clara, and Valparaiso welcomes Central Michigan. On Sunday, Loyola hosts San Francisco, UIC visits Little Rock, Chicago State is at Mercer, and Illinois State is at home against Saint Louis.
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Men’s Basketball
IVCC 84, Illinois Central 77: The Eagles flew high in East Peoria behind Qu’amar Hobbs (21), Scooby Watson (19), and Roko Jurasovic (17).