The Marseilles City Council has allocated nearly $180,000 for security measures at 200 Riverfront Drive, which includes the Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall and the city’s new offices and police station. Contracts were awarded to Per Mar Security for $35,662 and Ficek Electric for $139,497 to install video cameras and related equipment. Commissioner Jim Buckingham acknowledged the need for security due to ongoing vandalism. Additionally, Commissioner Michael Scheib discussed upcoming road projects funded by the motor fuel tax and highlighted a potential $300,000 repair on Williams Avenue. General obligation bonds will finance renovations at Broadway Park, a sidewalk project on Rutland Street, and infrastructure for “Safe Schools.”
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The River Bend Food Bank and The Community Food Basket of Ottawa are bringing a refrigerated semi-packed with food to OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa for a drive-thru distribution this Saturday. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., with distribution starting at 10 a.m. in the hospital’s lower parking lot. Open to everyone, regardless of residency, attendees are asked to remain in their vehicles for a smooth and efficient process.
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The Streator Police Department is providing firearm trigger locks for community members on a first-come, first-served basis. To get a trigger lock, visit the records window at the police station. The records window is accessible Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM. There are around 40 trigger locks available.
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Chastity Furar, 23, of Spring Valley, is set to stand trial on May 19th for her alleged role as the getaway driver in the June 5, 2023, shooting death of Eric Clements in Ottawa. Charged as an accessory to first-degree murder, Furar is accused of driving the shooter, Nicolaus Phillips, to the scene and supplying the firearm used in the crime. Following a mental health evaluation that delayed her case for over a year, she was deemed fit for trial. If convicted, she faces a potential sentence of up to 75 years, including a 15-year enhancement for firearm involvement. Phillips is scheduled to stand trial on May 5th.
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Jamie Danley, 38, from Mendota, appeared in court in Ottawa, opting for a private attorney over a public defender. A status hearing is set for March 20. She faces charges of home invasion and aggravated battery against a victim over 60 from an incident on May 14th, when deputies responded to a reported home invasion and found an injured woman. Danley, arrested after a standoff, is currently out on pretrial release but is facing a motion for a mental fitness evaluation.
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A murder suspect from Decatur was arrested in Streator on Wednesday morning. Timothy Chatman, 28, was found in the 100 block of 9th Street and taken into custody on a homicide warrant from Macon County. He is accused of fatally stabbing 26-year-old Jamarcus Golden on January 30th. After his arrest, Chatman was held overnight in the La Salle County Jail before being returned to Decatur.
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Illinois hospitals are overwhelmed by a surge in respiratory illnesses, including influenza A, COVID-19, and RSV. The CDC reports a “High” respiratory activity level, with nearly 20% of emergency visits related to these illnesses. OSF HealthCare has noted high inpatient counts and confirmed flu-related deaths. Experts warn against complacency, as respiratory illnesses can lead to severe complications. Health officials urge good hygiene practices and immediate emergency care for severe symptoms like difficulty breathing or chest pain.
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Archer-Daniels-Midland says they plan to cut their global workforce by 600 to 700 employees over the next three to five years to cut costs. ADM says they’ll also be reducing services and purchased materials, and improving manufacturing expenses. The company says the moves should save them 500-750 million dollars. ADM employs hundreds of Iowans in Clinton, Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines.
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The Illinois Department of Transportation and law enforcement around the state are reminding football fans to get home safely following the Super Bowl. Officials say everyone should designate a sober driver or make other arrangements for a safe ride before the game or party starts. Partygoers should also not let friends and family members drive impaired and report impaired drivers to law enforcement.
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The Trump administration is taking legal to challenge the sanctuary status of Illinois, the City of Chicago, and Cook County. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit yesterday in Chicago federal court claiming local and state laws violate federal immigration law. The DOJ argues that sanctuary policies are designed to interfere with the Federal Government’s enforcement of federal immigration law in violation of the Constitution. Governor Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle have all vowed to uphold the state and city’s sanctuary laws.
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Illinois State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting in McLean County. Officers were alerted yesterday morning to a vehicle believed to have been involved in an armed robbery in Texas traveling on I-74 in Champaign County. Officers began to track the vehicle as it headed into McLean County. The vehicle stopped at a gas station in Lexington and 19-year-old Joseph Hernandez exited the vehicle and entered the gas station. Officers attempted to arrest Hernandez and the driver, 18-year-old Ryan Hurst. Hurst pointed a gun at the officers, who fired shots, hitting Hurst. Hurst was taken to the hospital in stable condition, while Hernandez was taken into custody for further investigation.
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Illinois is celebrating a fourth consecutive year of record-setting cannabis sales. Officials announced that dispensaries reported that more than two billion dollars of cannabis products were sold in Illinois in 2024. That is a two-point-five-percent increase from the previous year. The two-billion-dollar product includes a record-setting amount of adult-use cannabis sales.
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A Clinton man faces child porn charges in Bloomington. Police say David Breeden was arrested this week on nine counts of various child pornography offenses. The arrest followed an investigation that began when a technology company made a report to the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Detectives executed several search warrants and located evidence of Breeden producing child pornography.
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A Bolingbrook woman is going to prison for defrauding the state out of more than two million dollars in Medicaid funds. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office prosecuted LaTeena Smith, who was sentenced to three years behind bars after pleading guilty in December to one count of Managed Health Care Fraud. Smith was previously the owner of Power Positive Youth Development, a clinic located in Bolingbrook. Prosecutors say from June 2021 to February 2023, Smith submitted fraudulent bills for psychotherapy services she didn’t provide to recipients of Medicaid-managed care.
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A Rock Island woman accused of falsely reporting that her child went missing last month is in custody in Rock Island County. Princess Ilunga was arrested last week during a traffic stop in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Court records show she has been transferred to the Rock Island County Jail. Rock Island Police says Ilunga falsely reported that her daughter was inside a vehicle that was stolen in Rock Island on January 16th.
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A juice cleanse may not be as beneficial as you think. A new study out of Northwestern University finds that a vegetable and fruit juice-only diet can change gut and oral bacteria linked to inflammation and cognitive decline. The research showed that the changes could happen after just three days. It suggests that stripping the fiber out of fruit can cause imbalances with negative consequences. The study was published in the journal Nutrients.
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Authorities are identifying the three people killed in a wrong-way crash on I-74 in Knox County. Authorities say the crash happened January 30th on I-74 near when a Cadillac sedan collided with a Toyota SUV head-on. Todd Graves of Ohio and Steven Youngquist of Galesburg died at the scene. Christine Youngquist was pronounced dead later at the hospital. The crash remains under investigation.
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Peru police arrested two individuals for burglary of a motor vehicle on Wednesday, February 5th. Alan Garcia, 21, of LaSalle, was taken into custody at 3:59 p.m., followed by a 15-year-old male juvenile from LaSalle at 4:00 p.m. The arrests occurred after officers responded to a call at 1414 Bluff St. in Peru. Both suspects face charges of burglary of a motor vehicle.
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Streator police recently apprehended a man wanted for burglary in La Salle County. Nineteen-year-old Talan Weber, a resident of Streator, was arrested and taken to jail in Ottawa on a burglary charge.
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Streator Police arrested 35-year-old Jason Arnold, also from Streator. The arrest occurred in the 1700 block of North Bloomington Street, where Arnold was cited for retail theft. After being processed, he was released with a notice to appear in La Salle County Court.
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Streator Police arrested 35-year-old Heather Haygood of Streator. Haygood was picked up on a warrant for failing to appear in court regarding a battery charge. The arrest took place in the 1100 block of East Livingston Street, and she was subsequently taken to the La Salle County Jail.
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The Streator Police, located at 130 S. Park, arrested Jason M. Arnold, a 35-year-old resident of Streator, on charges of disorderly conduct. A notice to appear (NTA) was issued, scheduling a court date in LaSalle County.
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A second arrest this week by Ottawa Police has resulted in a second retail theft charge against 30-year-old Santos Gregario-Santiago of Ottawa. He was arrested Thursday at 1120 Canal Street.
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38-year-old Kiley Burke of Marseilles was arrested by Ottawa Police at his residence at 1012 Bratton Avenue in Marseilles Thursday on a charge of retail theft.
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42-year-old Albert W. Hettel, the third, of Marseilles, has charges from Ottawa Police after his arrest Thursday at 1001 East Main Street in Ottawa. Hettel has two charges of driving under the influence as well as a charge of unlawful possession of cannabis by a driver.
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WEATHER:
Friday
Partly sunny, with a high near 33. West northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.
Friday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low of around 25. Light east wind increasing to 5 to 10 mph in the evening.
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OBITUARIES:
William R. Dooley, Jr., 65, of Ottawa, passed away on Monday, February 3rd, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa. A private service will be held at the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum at Oakwood Memorial Park. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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William Joseph Anderson, 90, of Seneca passed away Tuesday, February 4th, at Lightways Hospice in Joliet. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
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James “Brownie” Brown, 100, of Grand Ridge, passed away Monday, February 3rd, in his home surrounded by his loving family.
Memorial Mass will be Friday, February 21st, at St. Mary of the Fields Catholic Church, Grand Ridge. Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11:30 am with the Mass beginning at 11:30. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Ottawa.
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Kevin Michael Leiteritz, of Ottawa, passed away, on Friday, January 31st at OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa. A celebration of life will be held on February 15th, from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm at the American Legion in Ottawa.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Girls basketball
Roanoke-Benson 63, Marquette 56: at Bader Gymnasium
Lisle 50, Streator 29: At Pops Dale Gymnasium
Seneca 69, Dwight 56: At Seneca
Erie-Prophetstown 34, Mendota 27:
St. Bede 45, Midland 29:
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Boys basketball
Marquette 63, Parkview Christain 52: At Aurora
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106th annual Little Ten Tournament at Somonauk
Hinckley-Big Rock 48, Serena 35:
Indian Creek 43, Newark 37:
Earlville 45, Lamoille 34:
Somonauk 60, Leland 39:
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IESA Boys Basketball Regional Championships:
Marquette 45, Mendota Holy Cross 23:
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PRO SPORTS:
The Bears are mourning the passing of the matriarch of the franchise, Virginia McCaskey. The principal owner of the team died yesterday at the age of 102. She was the oldest owner in the NFL at 102 and the daughter of team founder George Halas. McCaskey inherited the team from her father in 1983. She was the owner when the Bears won the Super Bowl at the end of the 1985 season.
In other team news, one-time Bears pass rusher Jared Allen was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday.
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The Chicago Bulls return to action with a game against the Golden State Warriors at United Center tomorrow night. The Bulls are coming off a 127-108 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road on Wednesday night. Chicago is in tenth place in the Eastern Conference with a 22-and-30 record. Tomorrow’s game tips off at 7:00 PM.
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The Chicago Blackhawks will try to snap a three-game losing streak when they host the Nashville Predators at United Center tonight. The Blackhawks picked up a point during a 4-3 overtime loss against the Edmonton Oilers at home on Wednesday. Chicago is in last place in the Central Division with 38 points and a 15-31-and-6 record. Tonight’s game starts at 7:30 PM.
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COLLEGE SPORTS:
The number-25 Illinois Fighting Illini look to get back in the win column when they visit the Minnesota Gophers at Williams Arena tomorrow evening. The Illini lost to Rutgers 82-73 on the road on Wednesday. Illinois is in seventh place in the Big Ten with a 7-and-6 conference record and a 15-and-8 mark overall. Tomorrow’s game starts at 5:00 PM.
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The Northwestern Wildcats will try to get on a winning streak when they visit Washington at Alaska Airlines Arena tomorrow. The Wildcats are coming off a 77-75 win over USC at home on Tuesday. Northwestern is tied for 15th place in the Big Ten with a 4-and-8 record in conference play and a 13-and-10 mark overall. Tomorrow’s game tips off at 9:30 PM.
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish aim to avoid a third loss in a row when they host Virginia Tech at Purcell Pavilion tomorrow. The Irish just lost to Florida State 67-60 on the road on Tuesday. Notre Dame is in 13th place in the ACC with a 4-and-7 conference record and a 10-and-12 mark overall. Tomorrow’s game tips off at noon Central time.
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In college hoops action yesterday, Chicago State beat Mercyhurst 85-78. Tomorrow, Loyola visits Duquesne, Bradley is at Evansville, UIC is on the road against Southern Illinois, Chicago State hosts St. Francis, Illinois State travels to Northern Iowa, Northern Illinois welcomes Louisiana-Lafayette, and Valparaiso is at home against Murray State.