After 28 years of devoted service, Chief Brent Roalson signed off yesterday and has retired from the Ottawa Police Department, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering dedication to community safety and the mentorship of future officers. The City of Ottawa and its citizens are deeply grateful for his exceptional leadership and commitment. As we bid farewell and wish Chief Roalson a well-deserved retirement, we also welcome Mike Cheatham as the new Chief of Police. Formerly serving as captain, Chief Cheatham will bring his expertise and vision to the role, and you will hear from Chief Cheatham every month on WCMY.
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Residents of Wenona have been notified that the city’s water supply contains levels of combined radium exceeding drinking water standards. While the violation is not considered an emergency, those with specific health concerns are encouraged to consult their doctor. The city assures residents that there is no need to switch to an alternative water supply and attributes the issue to outdated equipment at the water treatment plant. Efforts are already underway to replace and update the equipment, with officials expecting the problem to be resolved within 120 days.
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The Streator City Council approved a four-year contract with the Streator Fire Department, effective Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2028. Firefighters will receive a $5,000 base pay increase in the first year, 4% annual raises, and stipends for emergency medical certifications. Starting salaries will rise from $48,973.31 in 2025 to $55,088.31 by 2028. The contract also updates post-retirement health benefits, adds flexibility for non-transport emergency medical services, and includes pay increases for promotions. The council also reappointed two Park Board members and approved December 2024 financial reports.
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Marseilles is progressing on funding for city projects, including Broadway Park improvements. Commissioner Jim Buckingham said the park is 75% complete, with final work, including grass planting and a pickleball court, set for spring. A 360-degree video camera will help deter vandalism. The council approved $101,860 for park work and proposed a $400,000 bond to replace a prior bond, supplementing a $600,000 state grant to cover the park’s $1 million+ cost. Funds will also support the Rutland Street sidewalk and Main, Commercial, and Broadway intersection projects. Additionally, $276,273 was approved for 2024 street maintenance.
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Waltham Elementary School has 10 weeks to persuade Utica voters to approve a $10 million annex to ease overcrowding. On Wednesday, the District 185 Board named Skip DeMaso as president, following Jim McCabe’s resignation after 20 years. Voters will decide on April 1 whether to approve the $9.96 million referendum, which would raise taxes by 38 cents per $100 of assessed value. Superintendent Kristi Eager said survey feedback has been mixed, with results coming soon on the district’s website. The board is also seeking applicants for McCabe’s vacant seat and will meet again on Feb. 19.
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A new bill in Illinois is being proposed where drivers won’t have to take a driving test to renew their license until the age of 87. Illinois is the only state in the country that requires a behind-the-wheel driver test for seniors once they reach 79. Groups like AARP say the current standards are discriminatory. State Senators Ram Villivalam and Jeff Keicher are co-sponsors of the planned legislation. It would require drivers aged 81 to 86 to visit a DMV facility every two years for a vision test but no driving exam would be required. The measure could be voted on in late March or early April.
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Illinois State Police (ISP) are investigating a crash on Interstate 55 involving two troopers whose squad cars were struck while handling an earlier accident. The troopers were on the northbound left shoulder near Harlem Avenue with emergency lights activated when a Honda Accord failed to move over, hitting one squad car and sideswiping another. Minor injuries were reported by one trooper and their canine partner. Already in 2025, there have been two ISP crashes related to Move Over Law violations, following 27 in 2024 with 12 troopers injured and one fatality. Violators face fines between $250 and $10,000, with potential license suspension if injuries occur.
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Illinois is launching a new initiative designed to increase access to behavioral health care for families in the state. The Behavioral Health Care and Ongoing Navigation Care Portal is a centralized resource for Illinois youth and families seeking youth mental health services and care. That includes state agency support and community-based programs. BEACON can be accessed at beacon.illinois.gov.
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The Illinois Department of Revenue will begin accepting 2024 state tax returns on January 27th. That is the same date that the IRS begins accepting federal individual income tax returns. Illinois will be participating in the IRS Direct File program this year. Eligible taxpayers will be able to use the program to electronically complete their 2024 federal tax returns for free. If a taxpayer electronically files an error-free Illinois return, they should receive a direct deposit refund in approximately four weeks.
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State Representative Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) introduced House Bill 1346 to improve school safety in Illinois by creating the School Resource Officer (SRO) Grant Program. The bill funds schools to hire certified active or retired law enforcement officers as SROs, serving as both protectors and mentors. Crafted with Kristina McCloy of Concerned Parents Illinois, the legislation addresses classroom vulnerabilities and provides financial support for safety measures. “Every child deserves a safe place to grow and learn,” said Davis, urging bipartisan support for this key piece of his Protecting Kids bill package, now awaiting action in the Illinois House.
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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is suing Deere and Company in order to protect farmers from high repair costs. Raoul filed the lawsuit in partnership with the Federal Trade Commission and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. The suit argues that the Moline-based agricultural equipment manufacturer used unfair practices to drive up equipment repair costs for farmers, while also depriving farmers of the ability to make timely repairs on critical farming equipment. John Deere responded to the lawsuit by saying the “complaint is based on flagrant misrepresentations of the facts and fatally flawed legal theories.”
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The number of shootings on interstates in Illinois is down for the third year in a row. The Illinois State Police reports interstate shootings statewide decreased 31 percent last year as compared to 2023. There has been a decrease in interstate shootings every year since there was a record high in 2021. State police cite a dedication of resources for the reduction in crime on interstates.
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The Lincoln Park Zoo is saddened after a harbor seal and a Chilean flamingo died as a result of the bird flu last week. The zoo says testing confirmed that avian influenza was the cause of death for both animals. Both were the first animals at the zoo to contract the bird flu. The sources of exposure are unclear.
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No one is hurt after an experimental plane made an emergency landing in a bean field in Byron. The aircraft landed yesterday in the 28-hundred block of East Stub Road. The plane had some visible damage but the pilot wasn’t injured. Investigators believe the pilot encountered a mechanical issue and made an emergency landing.
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A Streator man, 50-year-old Gerald Bedecker, was indicted by the La Salle County Grand Jury this week on multiple charges, including stalking, two counts of criminal damage to property valued between $500 and $10,000—both Class-4 felonies—and burglary, a Class-2 felony. Arrested and booked into the La Salle County Jail on January 6, Bedecker has been denied pretrial release and remains in custody.
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Mendota police responded Wednesday to a disturbance in the 1100 block of Sixth Street, where they arrested 53-year-old William H. Adams on a Department of Corrections warrant for a parole violation. Adams was transported to the La Salle County Jail, where he is expected to be sentenced to prison. Meanwhile,
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Joseph Urso, 51, of Montgomery, has been indicted on multiple charges for allegedly threatening a judge from the 13th Judicial Circuit. Arrested in December on a warrant, Urso was booked into the La Salle County Jail, where he remains held without pretrial release. This week, a La Salle County Grand Jury indicted him on two Class-3 felony charges: threatening a public official and intimidation. Additionally, he faces two Class-4 felony charges for violating an order of protection.
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46-year-old Damien Spandet of Spring Valley was arrested at the Peru Walmart on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, and violating pretrial release conditions in an unrelated case. Spandet also faces a felony retail theft charge and is currently being held in the La Salle County Jail.
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Jose R. Avila, 31, of Peru, Illinois, was arrested on Tuesday morning for driving on a suspended or revoked driver’s license. The citation stems from an incident on January 14, 2025. Avila was processed and released with a notice to appear in court. He is scheduled to appear before the LaSalle County Court on February 3rd.
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Justin N. Balaban, a 31-year-old male from Dixon, was arrested on charges of retail theft, possession of methamphetamine, and obstructing identification, and was apprehended on an Ogle County warrant. After being issued a notice to appear on the local charges, Balaban was transported to the LaSalle County Jail, where he is being held pending extradition on the warrant.
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A La Salle County grand jury convened, returning indictments against 13 individuals for various offenses.
Richard S. Sievert, 63, of Peru, for aggravated battery;
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Quenten A. Harmon, 25, of Green Ridge, Missouri, for unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and possession of a controlled substance;
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Joseph J. Urso, 51, of Montgomery, for threatening a public official, intimidation, and two counts of violating an order of protection;
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David R. Snyder, 52, of rural Marseilles, for domestic battery;
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Christopher M. Berlepsch, 37, of rural Oglesby, for two counts of possessing child sexual abuse images;
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Constantine Darsaklis, 66, of Rockford, for burglary;
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Brandon J. Dawson, 39, homeless, for burglary and possession of a controlled substance;
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Charles A. Rogers, 65, of Streator, for burglary and possession of burglary tools;
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Gerald E. Bedecker, 50, of Streator, for stalking, two counts of criminal damage to property, and burglary;
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Timothy W. Seefeldt, 50, of Ottawa, for burglary;
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Todd C. Gray, 34, of Streator, for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated battery;
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William R. Byrne, 44, of La Salle, for resisting a peace officer;
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Jesus Duarte, 48, of La Salle, for driving while revoked.
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WEATHER:
Thursday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
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Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 21. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Richard John Freeman, 84, of Lostant, passed away on Monday, January 13th, at the Arc of Streator. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM TODAY at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Tonica. Additional visitation will be held 10-10:50 AM Friday at the church.
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Juanita Marie (Ruiz) Muffler, passed away peacefully on January 10th, in Ottawa, surrounded by her loving family after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. A Celebration of Life will be held on a future date in the Spring, as yet to be determined. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Donna Jeane (Carstens) Lindenmuth, 84, of Ottawa, passed away on Monday, January 13th, at her daughter’s home in Marseilles. Private services will be planned for a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Maria Rose (Juchniewiez) 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 Noon to 1 PM. The Celebration of Life will follow at 1 PM. 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa
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Catherine “Kate” Schwarz, 68, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday, January 14th, at her home surrounded by family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 20th, at St. Mary’s Church in Utica. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Join us for Girls Varsity basketball coverage!
Tonight – Marquette @ Seneca – Girls – 7 pm – PBP – Andrew Evola
1/18 – Ottawa vs Morris – Girls – 2:30 pm – PBP – Andrew Evola
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GIRLS BASKETBALL
The OTHS Freshman Girls Basketball team improved to 11-0 for the season and 4-0 in the conference, with recent victories over Princeton and Rochelle. The freshman are next in action Saturday at home versus Morris.
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Kaneland 58, LPHS 29: At Sellett Gym
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Tonight
Ottawa Lady Pirates travel to take on Limestone
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BOYS BASKETBALL
Princeton Christian Academy 57, Ottawa Christian Academy 42: at Howard Hoffman Memorial Gymnasium.
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Newark 53, Aurora Christian 52: At Newark
Byron 67, Mendota 51: At Byron
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Boys wrestling
Seneca 78, Manteno 0; Seneca 68, St. Bede 12: At Seneca
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PRO SPORTS:
The Chicago Bulls struggled in the second quarter of a 110-94 loss to the Atlanta Hawks at United Center. The Bulls trailed by two after one before getting outscored 34-22 heading into halftime. Chicago trailed the rest of the game. Coby White scored 16 points in the losing effort. The Bulls are in tenth place in the Eastern Conference at 18-and-23. They host Charlotte tomorrow night.
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The Chicago Blackhawks aim to avoid their fourth loss in a row when they visit the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena tonight. The Hawks just lost to the Calgary Flames 5-2 on Monday night. Chicago is in last place in the Central Division with 30 points and a 14-28-and-2 record. Tonight’s game begins at 7:00 PM.
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The Chicago Bears are casting a wide net in their search for their next head coach. The team interviewed former Cowboys and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith for their open position yesterday. Smith was fired from Atlanta following the 2023 season and spent 2024 as Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator. McCarthy and the Cowboys parted ways earlier this week. Chicago is looking to replace Matt Eberflus, who was fired in November.
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The Chicago Cubs are parting ways with one of their minor-league pitchers. The team traded right-hander Michael Arias to the Yankees yesterday. The Cubs received cash considerations in return. Arias was designated for assignment on Monday after the team inked Colin Rea.
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COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Northwestern Wildcats will try to snap a three-game losing streak when they take on Maryland at Welsh-Ryan Arena tonight. The Wildcats just lost to number-12 Michigan State 78-68 on Sunday. Northwestern is 1-and-4 in Big Ten play and 10-and-6 overall this season. Tonight’s game tips off at 8:00 PM.
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In college hoops action yesterday, Loyola edged Rhode Island 81-77, Bradley destroyed Indiana State 118-65, UIC took down Murray State 97-93 in double overtime, and Illinois State fell to Drake 66-62.