The first major winter storm of the season will impact LaSalle County in two different waves this week. The first snow event will arrive tomorrow morning and continue into the early hours of Thursday before leaving more than six inches of accumulation. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect beginning at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday and continuing to 3:00 a.m. Thursday. The second snow event will move in Friday night and continue through the day Saturday with another several inches of accumulation possible. Driving could become a challenge by midday Wednesday and continue through the afternoon and evening.
—————————————————————–
The alley in the 600 block of Court Street in downtown Ottawa, spanning from Court to Columbus Street is closed to all traffic as crews work on a water service connection. The closure is expected to last through Thursday with the alley reopening once the project is complete. The weather could impact the work and delay the reopening.
—————————————————————–
The name of the victim of the Lostant vehicle and bike accident has been released. Jacob Crouch, 46, of La Salle, died Sunday evening at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center-Peru, about an hour after being struck by a car on Route 251 north of Lostant, according to the La Salle County Coroner. Illinois State Police report that Crouch was riding his bicycle south in the southbound lane when he was hit by a vehicle traveling in the same direction, driven by a 35-year-old man from Lostant. The driver and his young passenger were uninjured. Authorities continue to investigate the fatal crash. There is no word of if any citations were issued.
—————————————————————–
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) plans to upgrade Route 170 from Route 6 south to South Street near the Illinois River, including a full pavement replacement—its first since 2001. Additionally, the Route 178 bridge over the I&M Canal in Seneca, originally built in 1940 and last repaired in 1989, will be replaced, requiring a temporary closure of both the canal and its multi-use trail. Maps, drawings, and project details are available for review at the IDOT District 3 office in Ottawa during regular business hours. Public comments can be submitted by Friday, February 28, to be included in the public record.
—————————————————————–
Illinois State Representative Liz Bishop of La Salle is shifting her political focus closer to home, announcing Monday her bid as a write-in candidate for La Salle City Clerk. With no official candidate on the April ballot, Bishop hopes voters will take a moment to write in her name. Citing her background in finance and community involvement, she believes she is well-equipped for the role. The position is opening as current City Clerk Amy Quinn steps down after serving one term.
—————————————————————–
The Sangamon County Board will vote today on whether to approve a ten-million-dollar settlement for the family of Sonya Massey. The agreement was reached through mediation. The 36-year-old Black woman was shot and killed last July inside her home in an unincorporated neighborhood of Springfield. Former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting.
—————————————————————–
The recent funding freeze on aid payments to organizations across scores of federal agencies is hitting Midwestern farmers hard. Officials with the Illinois and Iowa Soybean Association say grant payments that were promised them for their current contract commitments remain on hold, even though the government rescinded the freeze. Officials say the interruption in payments may be the tipping point for farmers to decide if they can plant another year.
—————————————————————–
President Donald Trump is granting a full pardon to former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. The pardon announced Monday comes nearly five years after Trump commuted his prison sentence. Trump said it was his honor to do it, adding that the former governor was – in his words – “set up by a lot of bad people.” Blagojevich was released from custody in 2020 after serving eight years for federal corruption charges, including trying to sell Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat. Trump is considering naming the former governor as his ambassador to Serbia.
—————————————————————–
A new law in Illinois is designed to take guns out of the hands of accused domestic abusers. Governor Pritzker signed Karina’s Law yesterday. The law requires law enforcement to confiscate guns within 96 hours from people who have an order of protection granted against them. The law is named after Karina Gonzalez, a mother from Chicago. Her husband is charged with shooting and killing her and her 15-year-old daughter in 2023. At that time, Gonzalez had an order of protection in place against her husband.
—————————————————————–
Jurors are entering the tenth day of deliberations in Michael Madigan’s landmark corruption trial. Jurors have been deliberating since January 29th. The former Illinois House speaker and co-defendant Michael McClain face charges accusing them of conspiring to participate in an array of bribery and extortion schemes.
—————————————————————–
A proposed global monument to honor people impacted by COVID-19 is planned to be erected in Chicago. The 25-foot stainless steel structure is expected to be placed in the city’s Illinois Medical District later this year. The monument will display a design that looks like the COVID-19 virus, a dandelion puff. An unveiling is planned for this fall.
—————————————————————–
A Rock Island woman who was charged with falsely reporting that her child went missing last month has been released from the Rock Island County Jail. The mother — 37-year-old Princess Ilunga — was arrested last week during a traffic stop in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Rock Island Police says Ilunga falsely reported that her daughter was inside a vehicle that was stolen in Rock Island on January 16th while her child was safe at home. She was released from jail Friday.
—————————————————————–
LaSalle County Deputies conducted a traffic stop in the area of RT-23 & Main ST (Ottawa TWP). Jullian Hilt (24) of Chatsworth was cited for operating a motor vehicle while registration suspended, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and was released at the scene with an NTA.
—————————————————————–
Leanna L. Martinez, 25, of Princeton, IL, was arrested at the intersection of Midtown Road and Pointe Boulevard in Peru, IL. Martinez was charged with driving on a suspended or revoked license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and failing to wear a seatbelt as both a driver and passenger.
—————————————————————–
LaSalle County Deputies conducted a traffic stop in the area of Park St & Broadway ST (Bruce TWP). Austin Vitas (32) of Streator was cited for expired registration and was released at the scene.
—————————————————————–
Michael J. Phillips, a 42-year-old male from Gibson City, IL, was arrested at the Fairfield Inn, located at 4385 Venture Dr., Peru, IL. Officers responded to a report of an unwanted subject and took Phillips into custody on an active warrant issued by Will County.
—————————————————————–
Amber N. Pool, a 42-year-old homeless woman from Chicago, was arrested at the Illinois Valley PADS homeless shelter in Peru, Illinois. During an encounter with authorities, Pool allegedly provided a false name to evade arrest on an outstanding Will County warrant for failure to appear on a DUI charge. She was taken into custody for obstructing justice and later transported to LaSalle County Jail for the warrant. Pool was released with a notice to appear on the local charge.
—————————————————————–
46-year-old Clinton A. Anders was arrested by Ottawa Police Monday at 102 West Etna Road. The homeless Ottawa man is charged with criminal trespass to land.
—————————————————————–
40-year-old Tausha Benckendorf of Marseilles was stopped by Ottawa Police Monday at 1100 East Norris Drive and charged with driving under the influence of drugs, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
—————————————————————–
WEATHER:
WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
* WHAT…Heavy snow is possible. Total snow accumulations of 6 or more inches are possible.
Tuesday
A slight chance of snow before 10 am, then a chance of flurries between 10 am and noon. Cloudy, with a high near 31. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday Night
A 20 percent chance of snow after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 23. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph.
—————————————————————–
OBITUARIES:
William T. Rosencrans, 95, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, February 3rd, at Arc in Streator. Mass of Christian Burial for Bill will be today, at 10:30 am, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Columba Cemetery. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
—————————————————————–
David Verona, 62, of Ottawa, passed away on Sunday, February 9th, at his home. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7:00 PM on Thursday at the Mueller Funeral Home, Ottawa. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, February 14th, at St. Patrick’s Church, Ottawa. Burial will follow in St. Columba Cemetery.
—————————————————————–
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. Ottawa Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
—————————————————————–
John Kelly, 67, of Ottawa, passed away on Saturday, February 8th, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa, surrounded by his family and dear friend Gina Crain. A Graveside service will take place at St. Columba Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements are entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
—————————————————————–
Ruth Lozano, 83, of Ottawa, passed away on Sunday, February 9th, at Pleasant View Lutheran Nursing Home in Ottawa. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
—————————————————————–
LOCAL SPORTS:
Join us on Saturday afternoon as your Marquette Crusaders travel to Hinkley-Big Rock for a 12:30 pm tip-off, with Andrew Evola on the call for the game.
—————————————————————–
BOYS BASKETBALL
Fieldcrest 60, Woodland 30: in Streator
—————————————————————–
Tonight:
Marquette at Serena
Ottawa at Dunlap
Seneca at Streator
Woodland at Le Roy
—————————————————————–
Girls basketball
Wilmington 49, Streator 27: At Wilmington
La Salle-Peru 56, Prairie Central 24: La Salle
—————————————————————–
Tonight:
Ottawa at Rochelle
Seneca at Newark
—————————————————————–
Ottawa Girl’s Basketball Games scheduled for Wednesday vs. Streator, are being rescheduled for Thursday. The Sophomore Game will begin at 5:30 with the Varsity to follow at 7:00.
—————————————————————–
BOYS SWIMMING
At Byron: The La Salle-Peru co-op placed second at the Northern Illinois Independent Invite on Saturday.
—————————————————————–
PRO SPORTS:
The Chicago White Sox get their 2025 campaign started tomorrow. Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Camelback Ranch in Arizona. The Southsiders are looking to bounce back after achieving the worst record in modern MLB history last season. Chicago begins full-team workouts next Monday. Our first White Sox spring training game will be on February 22nd as they take on the Cubs at 2 pm.
—————————————————————–
The Chicago Bulls aim to avoid a third straight loss when they host the Detroit Pistons at United Center tonight. The Bulls are coming off a 132-111 loss against the Golden State Warriors at home on Saturday. Chicago is in tenth place in the Eastern Conference with a 22-and-31 record. Tonight’s game tips off at 7:00 PM.
—————————————————————–
The Chicago Blackhawks will enjoy a couple of weeks off the ice. The Hawks are off until February 22nd due to the break for the Four Nations Face-Off. The Blackhawks entered the break with a 6-5 shootout loss to the St. Louis Blues on the road on Saturday. Chicago is in last place in the Central Division with 41 points and a 17-31-and-7 record. The Hawks return to action against the Blue Jackets on the 22nd.
—————————————————————–
Services for Bears owner Virginia McCaskey are set for today. Her visitation will take place in Des Plaines between 1 pm and 8 pm. McCaskey’s funeral will take place on Wednesday morning at St. Emily Catholic Church in Mount Prospect. She passed away last Thursday at age 102.
—————————————————————–
COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Illinois Fighting Illini look to get a winning streak going when they host UCLA at State Farm Center tonight. The Illini dropped out of the top-25 despite a 95-74 rout over Minnesota on the road last Saturday. Illinois is in seventh place in the Big Ten with an 8-and-6 conference record and a 16-and-8 mark overall. Tonight’s game tips off at 7:00 PM.
—————————————————————–
The Northwestern Wildcats look to get back in the win column when they visit the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena tonight. The Wildcats are coming off a 76-71 loss to the Washington Huskies on the road last Saturday. Northwestern is tied for 15th place in the Big Ten with a 4-and-9 conference record and a 13-and-11 mark overall. Tonight’s game begins at 10:00 PM.
—————————————————————–
In other college hoops action tonight, DePaul is at number-16 Marquette, Loyola visits Richmond, UIC is on the road against Murray State, and Northern Illinois hosts Buffalo. Tomorrow, Notre Dame visits Boston College.