The LaSalle County Clerk says 15,609 ballots were cast in Tuesday’s Consolidated Election, a turnout of just over 20%
In Peru, Ken Kolowski secured a decisive victory in the mayoral race, garnering 2,108 votes out of a total of 2,920 cast. His opponent, Doug Bernabei, managed to receive 812 votes.
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Over in La Salle, Jeff Grove emerged victorious against Gary Hammers and Jamie Hicks, receiving 1,277 votes out of 1,802 total votes, while Hammers and Hicks trailed with 386 and 107 votes, respectively.
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In Spring Valley, Melanie Malooley Thompson claimed the mayoral seat with a total of 823 votes, leaving Debra Perino with 162 votes.
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Mendota’s mayoral election saw David Boelk receive 501 votes, making him the winner in a total of 672 votes cast. Shallen Gross followed with 171 votes.
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Voters in Granville elected Robert Bruch as Village President, who received 239 votes, while Jared Baker received 139 votes.
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Tonica’s Village President race concluded with Eric Skinner winning 132 votes, while his competitors Arthur Foltynewicz and John Coons received 23 and 74 votes, respectively.
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For the IVCC Trustees position, which allowed voters to select two candidates, William Hunt led the pack with 11,908 votes. Lynda Marlene Moshage closely followed with 11,082 votes, and Todd Volker amassed 11,031 votes, contributing to a total of 34,021 votes cast.
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In Streator City Council elections, Scott Scheuer and Daniel Danko emerged victorious, receiving 468 and 769 votes respectively in a total of 1,932 votes.
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A referendum in Oglesby regarding the adoption of a managerial form of government drew 961 total votes, with 678 residents voting against the proposal and 283 in favor.
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Finally, a measure proposing a $9.9 million bond for the Waltham School District was also on the ballot. Voters rejected the proposal, with 488 votes against and 296 in favor, from a total of 774 votes cast.
These results provide a snapshot of the political landscape in the region as local officials take their posts in the coming weeks.
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Residents of Marseilles are expressing concerns over City Council Member Bobby Kaminski’s use of the derogatory term “Martucky” in his DJ business branding. This includes the web address martucky.com, which redirects to his business site, Boomin DJ. The term is widely recognized as offensive and was condemned by city officials, including the mayor and other council members, during a WCMY interview in 2021. Local citizens argue that Kaminski’s continued use of such divisive language contradicts his previous public statements and raises ethical questions about profiting from it. In a letter submitted to WCMY and presented to the Marseilles City Council, residents are urging city leadership to address what they consider a troubling lapse in judgment. They are also calling for a reaffirmation of the city’s commitment to inclusivity and respect within the community. Mayor Jim Hollenbeck is scheduled to appear on the WCMY morning show on Thursday at 9:15 AM.
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Emergency crews rescued a family that fell at French Canyon in Starved Rock State Park on Tuesday evening. Around 5:57 p.m., a 7-year-old child with special needs fell nearly 30 feet, prompting the child’s mother, a 37-year-old from Tinley Park, to attempt a rescue but she also fell, suffering serious injuries. The father then tried to help but sustained minor injuries and declined treatment. Both the mother and child were airlifted to OSF St. Francis in Peoria with life-threatening injuries, though they were conscious during the rescue. Multiple agencies, including Oglesby and Ottawa Fire, assisted at the scene.
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The Streator Elementary Board of Education and the Streator Education Association met for more than seven hours Tuesday to finalize a contract agreement, with both sides reporting progress but no deal yet in place. Board President Angela Risley expressed optimism, stating the union now better understands the district’s financial limitations. Another negotiation session is expected as the board awaits the union’s response to its latest offer. Meanwhile, the SEA has given formal notice of its intent to strike as early as April 1, following months of procedural steps, including a January vote to start the 45-day strike countdown and a February submission of required public posting documents to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board.
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Fire crews from multiple departments rushed to the scene of a structure fire Tuesday morning in the 600 block of U.S. Route 6. The blaze broke out in a one-story duplex, prompting a rapid response just before 2:30 a.m. Firefighters from La Salle, Peru, Utica, Troy Grove, Wallace, Spring Valley, and Oglesby worked together to contain the flames as thick smoke filled the early morning air. Officials have not yet reported any injuries or the cause of the fire as the investigation continues.
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OSF HealthCare is pleased to announce the expansion of the OSF Medical Group – General Surgery to Peru, which will improve access to specialized surgical care for residents of the Illinois Valley. The new office is located at 920 West Street, Medical Office Building B, Suite LL2, Peru, IL, and is now open to provide high-quality surgical care to local patients. Dr. Robert Wojcik will be seeing patients at this new location, further enhancing access to surgical services in the region.
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A Joliet native is one of four U.S. Army soldiers killed in a training accident last month in Lithuania. Army Officials say Sergeant Jose Duenez Junior and the other soldiers disappeared the morning of March 25th. They were found dead days later in their armored vehicle, which was submerged in a bog near a training area. The soldiers were in Lithuania in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
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A judge is allowing several lawsuits filed by a group of victims of the deadly July 4th shooting in Highland Park to proceed. The Lake County judge partially denied a motion to dismiss the case by Smith & Wesson. The group filed multiple lawsuits against the suspected shooter, Robert Crimo the Third, Smith & Wesson, two firearms dealers, and Crimo’s father. The suits claim the shooting was preventable, arguing that gun-maker Smith & Wesson illegally targeted young men at risk of violence like Crimo with ads for firearms.
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A 23-year-old Erie man has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges of sexual abuse involving minors. Dallas N. Jones admitted in court Tuesday to sexually abusing a teenager in 2020, as well as charges in two other cases—one involving possession of an explicit video of a minor in February 2021 and another for engaging in sexual activity with two 16-year-olds at his apartment in January 2021. Prosecutors say the incidents stem from encounters with teens he met while in high school, occurring between 2020 and early 2021.
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Bureau County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a Cambridge man on an outstanding warrant for domestic battery. Authorities took 50-year-old Stephen Clong into custody in the 300 block of North Depot Street in Buda. Meanwhile, deputies also responded to a separate incident at the home of 45-year-old Philip Kowalski, who was arrested on an aggravated assault charge. According to the sheriff’s office, Kowalski was booked and later released.
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Officers with the Peru Police Department took 36-year-old Logan C. McDaniel of Rock Island into custody on Monday morning, March 31, at 11:16 a.m. McDaniel was arrested at the Public Safety Complex on an active Rock Island County warrant for failure to appear (FTA) related to a charge of driving with a suspended license. Authorities confirmed the warrant and detained McDaniel pending transport to the Rock Island County Jail.
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Police in Streator cited and released a local man following allegations of harassment and disorderly behavior. Officers responded to the 300 block of North Park, where they arrested William C. Morton, 33, on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Harassment Through Electronic Communications. Authorities say Morton was cited and released with a notice to appear in court.
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Deputies also investigated a disturbance in the area of E 2750th Rd and N 4450th Rd (Northville Township). Dakota Klotz, 24, of Sandwich, was arrested for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, operating a vehicle with suspended registration, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and illegal transportation of alcohol. Passenger Charles Kappeler, 23, of Somonauk, was arrested for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Both were transported to the LaSalle County Jail and were subsequently released with a notice to appear (NTA).
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A routine traffic stop Friday night led to the arrest of a 24-year-old homeless man on multiple charges, including unlawful use of a weapon. Trenton J. Schultheis, originally from LaSalle, was pulled over at the intersection of IL Route 251 and Shooting Park Road around 8:12 p.m. Authorities say he was initially stopped for speeding but was found to be driving with a suspended or revoked license and without insurance. During the stop, officers discovered an illegal weapon in his possession. Schultheis also allegedly provided false identification, leading to an additional charge of obstructing identification. He was taken into custody and is awaiting further legal proceedings.
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LaSalle County deputies conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of US Route 6 and E 12th Rd (Ottawa Township). Jordan Heintz, 29, of Ottawa, was cited for speeding in a construction zone and was released from the scene.
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Deputies stopped Gerardo Gavina, 28, of Mendota, in the area of IL Route 251 and N 35th Rd (Ottawa Township). He was cited for speeding in a construction zone and was released from the scene.
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Michael Illingworth, 32, of Granville, was cited for speeding in a construction zone during a traffic stop at IL Route 18 and E 7th Rd (Richland Township) and was released from the scene.
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Logan Goto, 21, of Ottawa, was cited for speeding in a construction zone during a traffic stop at IL Route 71 and E 2153rd Rd (Rutland Township) and was released from the scene.
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Nicole Zamarripa, 38, of Ottawa, was cited for speeding in a construction zone during a traffic stop at IL Route 23 and N 22nd Rd (Farm Ridge Township) and was released with a notice to appear (NTA).
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WEATHER:
Wednesday
Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 5 pm. High near 70. Breezy, with an east-southeast wind of 15 to 25 mph becoming south-southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 pm, then a slight chance of showers between 8 pm and 9 pm. Partly cloudy, with a low of around 45. West-southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
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OBITUARIES:
Carol Ann Jugenitz, 88, of Ottawa, passed away on Friday, March 28th, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center. A private service will be held at Oakwood Memorial Park. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Orrin Wiley, 98, of Earlville, died on Monday, March 24th, at LaSalle County Nursing Home, surrounded by his family. A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 4th, at the former Harding United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the Harding Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, at the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Angela Marie Duffy, 49, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, March 28th, at Parker Nursing Home after a courageous battle with cancer. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will take place in Oakwood Memorial Park at a later date.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
BASEBALL
Ottawa 9, Hall 5: At Ottawa
Marquette 11, Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell 0 (5 inn.): At Masinelli Field in Ottawa
Seneca 3, Henry-Senachwine 2: At Seneca,
Herscher 1, Streator 0: At SHS Athletic Fields
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Softball
Beecher 3, Ottawa 0: At King Field
Marquette 18, Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell 0 (4 inn.): At June Gross Field in Ottawa
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Girls soccer
Ottawa 9, DePue/Hall 0: At King Field
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PRO SPORTS:
The Chicago White Sox surrendered five runs in the sixth inning during an 8-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Rate Field. The Southsiders took an early 3-0 lead before giving up the last eight runs of the game. Nick Maton homered in the losing effort, while Penn Murfee was charged with the loss in relief. The 2-and-3 Sox send Sean Burke to the mound against Minnesota today. We will have a 12:30 on pre-game and a 1:10 first pitch weather permitting.
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The Chicago Cubs returned to .500 with a 7-4 win over the A’s at Sutter Health Park. Seiya Suzuki and Kyle Tucker both homered in the victory, while Justin Steele earned his second win after giving up four runs on seven hits in six-and-two-thirds innings. Ryan Pressly picked up his second save as the Northsiders improved to 4-and-4. Jameson Taillon starts for Chicago against the A’s today.
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The Bulls secured an Eastern Conference play-in spot after bashing the Raptors 137-118 from Chicago. Coby White led all scorers with 28 points. Talen Horton-Tucker sunk 27 off the bench as Chicago snapped a two-game losing streak. The Bulls are in tenth place in the Eastern Conference at 34-and-42. They host the Blazers on Friday.
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The Chicago Blackhawks aim to avoid their fourth loss in a row when they host the Colorado Avalanche at United Center tonight. The Blackhawks just lost to Utah 5-2 at home on Sunday. Chicago is in last place in the Central Division with 51 points. Tonight’s game begins at 8:30 PM.
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Braxton Jones will not be ready for training camp in July. The Bears left tackle is expected to miss the start of offseason activities after having surgery on an injured ankle. Jones missed the last two games of the 2024 season after suffering a setback in a December loss to Detroit. Jones started 12 games last season.
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The traffic plan for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race this summer is being revealed. Traffic and street closures related to building the course have been reduced to only 18 days this year. That is one day less than last year. The overall park build has been decreased by nearly two weeks. The third NASCAR Chicago Street Race takes place July 5th and 6th.
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COLLEGIATE SPORTS:
SOFTBALL
IVCC 16-8, Sauk Valley Community College 3-0: At Sauk Valley, the Lady Eagles won a pair of Arrowhead conference games.
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BASEBALL
IVCC 7-3, Sauk Valley 3-4: The Eagles split an Arrowhead Conference doubleheader in Dixon.
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TENNIS
IVCC’s Men’s team welcomes Sauk Valley for a conference match-up today.
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In college basketball action yesterday, DePaul was crushed by Cincinnati 83-61 in the College Basketball Crown tournament, and Loyola lost to Chattanooga 80-73 in the NIT.