A 104-year-old Chicago woman made history Sunday afternoon by setting a world record for the oldest person to skydive. After several delays due to weather, Dorothy Hoffner made her tandem jump with one of the instructors at the Skydive Chicago Airport northeast of Ottawa. The centenarian was born and raised in Chicago and this experience wasn’t new to her. She made her first skydive at Skydive Chicago when she was 100.
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The tourism engine of the I&M Canal National Heritage Corridor, Heritage Corridor Destinations, has announced President Bob Navarro has been appointed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to the Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission. The Commission was established in 2019 to plan and coordinate events and activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026. As a commissioner, Navarro will work with tourism officials, local governments, and other stakeholders along the route to promote tourism and economic development opportunities surrounding the milestone anniversary.
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Illinois residents who own assault weapons can now submit an endorsement affidavit online. Residents are required to register their assault weapons under the new ban in Illinois. That includes assault weapons, assault weapon attachments, 50-caliber rifles, and 50-caliber cartridges. Those individuals are required to submit an endorsement affidavit through their FOID card account before January 1st, 2024.
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A filing regarding a change in administrative rules announced last week by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias would increase the age at which a driver is required to pass a driving test when they renew their license, raising it from 75 to 79. The rules would keep in place a state policy that went into effect during the pandemic and was set to expire on October 1st. Illinois is the only state in the country that has a driving test requirement for people over a certain age. The secretary of state’s office also issued a report on driving safety among older drivers, which found that drivers aged 75 years and older were involved in fewer crashes – even after the temporary rule change went into effect – than drivers aged 16 to 69 years.
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One man is in custody after two people were shot in Kewanee. Police say the shooting happened early Sunday. Both victims were sent to the hospital, where one was treated and released. Investigators identified Javon Porter of Chicago as a suspect and arrested him at a home in Kewanee. He faces multiple charges, including Aggravated Battery and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
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A 17-year-old boy is charged in a shooting that left a 16-year-old boy wounded in Rock Falls late last week. Police say the teen was found wounded Thursday in a residential neighborhood. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Authorities announced the next day that the under-age suspect had been arrested on multiple gun charges.
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Streator Police arrested 65-year-old Daniel Graham in the 100 Block of West 12th Street Sunday evening on a charge of domestic battery. Graham was released with a notice to appear in court.
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36-year-old Matthew Goetz of Streator man was charged with criminal damage to property after an incident Saturday night in the 100 block of West 12th Street.
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A 35-year-old Streator man faces a retail theft charge. Ryan D. Norman was charged by Streator Police at the Walmart Super Center late Saturday night.
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Daniel J. Kelly of Streator ended up in the LaSalle County Jail just after midnight Sunday. The 37-year-old was picked up for failure to appear on a retail theft charge.
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70-year-old William S. Billis of Streator was stopped by Streator Police at Bloomington and Hickory Streets Saturday evening and cited for driving under the influence. Billis was released with a court date
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WEATHER:
Today – Sunny, with a high near 87. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tonight – Clear, with a low around 61. South-southeast winds around 5 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Ronald Slafer, 79, passed away on September 26th, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Visitation will be today, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will take place at 1:00 p.m., at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park.
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Emily Slonek, 37, of Ottawa, passed away at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center surrounded by her family. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the 4th, at St. Columba Church in Ottawa. Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. before the service. Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery in Ottawa. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Football
Ottawa 28 Vs. Woodstock North 27
Ridgewood 26 Vs. Marquette 36
Streator 54 Vs. Lisle 21
LPHS 14 Vs. Woodstock 17
Hall 32 Vs. Illinois Valley Central 24
St. Bede 49 Vs. Elmwood Park 26
Mendota 35 Vs. Riverdale 14
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Boys soccer
La Salle-Peru 5, Serena 2: At Serena, the Huskers led 2-1 in the second half before the Cavaliers scored four unanswered goals.
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JV girls tennis
Ottawa captures the I-8 Tournament title: Ottawa wins the Interstate 8 Conference championship at the L-P Sports Complex.
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PRO SPORTS:
>>White Sox Fall To Padres In Extras
(Chicago, IL) — The White Sox finished their season with a 2-1, 11-inning loss to the San Diego Padres at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Southsiders held San Diego scoreless through nine innings before giving up a run in the top of the tenth. Zach Remillard had an RBI single to tie the game in the next half-inning, but the Padres took the lead for good on Jurickson Profar’s go-ahead hit in the 11th. Chicago finished the year fourth in the AL Central at 61-and-101.
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>>Cubs Miss Out On Postseason, Lose Finale
(Milwaukee, WI) — A day after getting eliminated from postseason contention, the Cubs ended their season with a 4-0 loss to the Brewers in Milwaukee. The Cubs had just five hits in the loss. Drew Smyly was charged with his 11th loss after surrendering three runs on two hits in the third of an inning. Chicago lost five of its last six games and finished a game back of Arizona for the final NL Wild Card spot. The Cubs ended the 2023 campaign with an 83-and-79 record, and they now head into the offseason.
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>>Bears Collapse In Second Half
(Chicago, IL) — The Bears remain winless after blowing a 21-point lead during a 31-28 loss to the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field. Justin Fields threw four touchdowns to give Chicago a 28-7 lead in the third quarter, but the Bears defense let Denver tie the game with about seven minutes left in regulation. The Bears got into field goal range on their next drive but decided against kicking a 35-yard field goal on fourth-and-one in the red zone, and they ended up turning the ball over on downs. Denver marched down the field to kick a go-ahead field goal, and Fields threw a pick on Chicago’s final possession. Fields had 335 passing yards in the losing effort, while DJ Moore caught eight passes for 131 yards and a score. The Bears visit the Commanders on Thursday.
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>>Fighting Irish Beat Duke
(Durham, NC) — The number-11 Notre Dame Fighting Irish scored a last-minute touchdown to beat number-21 Duke 21-14 at Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday.
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>>Northwestern Gets Crushed By Penn State
(Evanston, IL) — The Northwestern Wildcats fell apart in the second half of their 41-13 loss to number-six Penn State at Ryan Field on Saturday.
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Northern Illinois lost to Toledo 35-33
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>>Blackhawks Get Blasted By Red Wings
(Detroit, MI) — The Blackhawks couldn’t slow down the Detroit Red Wings during a 6-1 preseason loss at Little Caesars Arena. The Blackhawks gave up the first five goals of the contest and didn’t score until the third period. Louis Crevier scored Chicago’s lone goal in the losing effort. The Hawks are 1-1-and-1 in exhibition play, and they host Detroit tomorrow night.