Incumbent Republican LaSalle County Board Chairman Don Jensen will face either Democrat from Peru Joe Oscepinski Jr or Ottawan Brian Dose depending on who wins their democratic primary race Tuesday, March 19th. Dose is currently the La Salle County Board Member for District 21 which serves a corridor south of Ottawa along Route 23 almost to Streator.
December 4th is the last day candidates can throw their hat in the ring. So far, running unopposed are Democrats, State’s Attorney Joe Navarro and Coroner Rich Ploch. And Republican Auditor Stephanie Jo Thompson, Circuit Clerk Greg Vaccaro, and Recorder Karen Miller. So if you think you can do a better job, you have until Monday to file.
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Alexis Ferracuti on the Food Pantry Board of Directors was on Jay’s Show yesterday. She discussed the buying power you have when you buy in bulk. Ferracuti said that for a dollar she can buy about three cases of mac n cheese for the one small container of Mac n Cheese you buy in the store for that same buck.
So if you want to make an impact, come on over to the WCMY building on Friday, we are holding Freezin for a Reezin right here.
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Good news for ambulance drivers shuttling patients back and forth along route 6, they will be marking their calendars, OSF St Margaret’s Health medical clinic in Spring Valley will reopen on January 11th. The clinic in Oglesby will reopen on January 16th A women’s clinic in Peru is set to open on January 9th.
The closing last January 28th that had everyone talking was the hospital in Peru. Currently, there is no reopen date for it even under limited capacity. Plans are afoot now just to install basic networking and IT, and a deep cleaning to prep for a visit from the Health Department. Once that hurdle is cleared, a license can be applied for.
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Hunters in Illinois harvested a total of 53,348 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois firearm deer season between Nov. 17-19. That’s up about 1,000 deer from last year.
Illinois’ seven-day firearm deer season will conclude Nov. 30-Dec. 3
Archery deer season began October through Jan. 14 but not during November 30th through December 3rd so it does not overlap with the last week of firearm deer season.
Illinois Valley numbers were all up. Deer hunters in Bureau County bagged an additional 86 deer from last year for a total of 695. Putnam County deer taken numbers were up about 15 deer more than last year. And here in La Salle County, almost 500 deer were taken from the forest, that number is up by 72.
The benefit of deer hunting is population control. Without proper management, deer populations can quickly grow out of control and cause damage to forests, crops, and even vehicles on roadways. Hunting helps keep the deer population in check so that they are not overgrazing or causing harm to human communities.
Visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website for more details about deer hunting, open counties, and other information.
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If you have ever had thoughts of joining the trades to obtain a well-paying job down the road, Illinois Valley Community College Welding Department will be hosting a welding registration from 5 pm until 7 pm on Tuesday, December 5th at the central campus in Oglesby room 124.
You’ll be registering for the Spring 2024 semester. The session on December 5th will help instructors and administrators determine what type of experience you do have though no previous experience is necessary.
The program is ideal for beginners who have never welded and for those with some welding experience says Theresa Molin. Classes are offered mornings, afternoons, and evenings Monday through Thursday.
Graduates in the past have found employment in industries all around the Illinois Valley.
Spring classes begin January 11th.
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WEATHER:
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 39. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Wednesday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 28. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Donald Winslow, 90, of Ottawa, passed away Sunday, November 26th, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Visitation will be today from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. Visitation will also be from 11:00 am until noon on Thursday, the 30th at the funeral home. A funeral ceremony will follow at noon at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will be at 2:00 pm in the Sheffield Cemetery in Sheffield, IL.
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Kenneth Duane Lane, 75, of Lake Placid, FL, formerly of Marseilles, IL, passed away on Wednesday, November 22nd at AdventHealth in Orlando, FL. Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 3rd at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Military honors will be accorded at the funeral home by the Ottawa American Legion honor squad.
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Elizabeth Ann “Bette” (Bader) Meyer, 91, of rural Marseilles, passed away on Saturday, November 25th, at her home, surrounded by her family.
Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 2nd, at St. Columba Catholic Church in Ottawa. Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, December 1st, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, at the funeral home. The Catholic Daughters of America will recite the Rosary at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, at the funeral home.
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John M. “Ol Man” Logsdon, 81, of Marseilles, passed away on Monday, November 27th, at his home. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tomorrow at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. The burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery in Ottawa.
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Edmund Braxton Thornton, of Ottawa, Illinois, peacefully departed this life on Friday, November 24, 2023, at the age of 93. Edmund is widely remembered by the public as a champion of local conservation and heritage projects, an influential voice within Illinois politics, and a proud Marine. Those close to him enjoyed the privileges of his generous and determined spirit, traits that defined Edmund even in his final days. A private celebration of Edmund’s life will be arranged at a later date.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Girls basketball
Our featured game of the week is the Ottawa Lady Pirates taking on the Dixon Duchesses at Kingman Gym. 7 pm Tip-off with Andrew Evola on the call and our newest sports team member David Bergeson along for the ride.
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Henry-Senachwine 35, Streator 14: At Henry, the visiting Bulldogs suffered the loss. Varsity is at Home vs. Reed Custer on Thursday.
Streator Youth Girls’ Basketball 3/4 grade and 5/6 grade will each have a scrimmage at the Varsity halftime
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Seneca 52, Reed-Custer 38: At Braidwood, the visiting Fighting Irish (5-2) topped their old conference foes.
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Plano 48, Sandwich 27: At Plano, the visiting Indians were defeated.
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Boys basketball
Seneca 63, Morris 54: Morris never managed to catch up in a 63-54 loss to the Fighting Irish.
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Woodland 49, DePue 27: The Little Giants suffered a nonconference loss in Streator.
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LPHS 73, Hall 51: The Cavaliers crushed the Devils in interconference play.
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Girls bowling
Ottawa 2,736, Morris 2,215: At Detorre’s Town Lanes, the host Pirates opened their conference season with a victory.
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Boys bowling
St. Bede 3,026, Streator 2,654: At Illinois Valley Super Bowl.
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Yorkville 3,140, La Salle-Peru 2,610: The Cavaliers lost a nonconference match at the Illinois Valley Super Bowl in Peru.
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WRESTLING
At Morris: Princeton opened the season with a pair of dual victories Tuesday. The Tigers defeated Reed-Custer 47-36 and topped Morris 49-29.
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
>>Bulls Get Crushed By Celtics
(Boston, MA) — The Bulls were competitive for half a quarter during a 124-97 loss against the Boston Celtics in an In-Season Tournament game at TD Garden. The two teams were tied at 13 with six-and-a-half minutes left in the first before Boston took over. Chicago trailed by as many as 35 points in the losing effort. DeMar DeRozan and Coby White both had 19 points to lead Chicago. The Bulls are in 13th place in the Eastern Conference at 5-and-14. Chicago hosts Milwaukee tomorrow night.
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>>Blackhawks Beat Kraken
(Chicago, IL) — The Blackhawks got back in the win column with a 4-3 win over the Seattle Kraken at United Center. The Blackhawks got two early goals from Boris Katchouk and Jason Dickinson, but Seattle battled back to tie the game heading into the second period. Tyler Johnson and MacKenzie Entwistle both scored in the second to give Chicago the lead. After Seattle got within a goal in the third, the Blackhawks turned aside a late two-man advantage for the Kraken to seal the win. Petr Mrazek had 33 saves in the victory. Chicago remains in last place in the Central Division with 14 points and a 7-13-and-0 record. Chicago visits Detroit tomorrow night.
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>>Blackhawks Cut Perry
(Chicago, IL) — Corey’s Perry short time with the Blackhawks is coming to an end. The team waived the forward yesterday, announcing that Perry will be released if he clears the waiver wire. Chicago cited inappropriate and unacceptable conduct by Perry as the reason for the move, but the team declined to go into further detail. The Hawks traded for Perry in the offseason, and the 38-year-old ended up playing just 16 games for Chicago. In other team news, the Hawks traded for Vancouver forward Anthony Beauvillier yesterday.
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>>Bellinger, Hendriks Win Comeback Player Of The Year Awards
(Chicago, IL) — Cody Bellinger and Liam Hendriks are both being honored for their 2023 seasons in Chicago. The MLB announced yesterday that Bellinger won the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award playing with the Cubs, while Hendriks took home the American League honor for the White Sox. Bellinger signed with the Cubs last offseason after putting up poor numbers in back-to-back seasons with the Dodgers. The outfielder hit .307 with 26 home runs and 97 RBI in 130 games with Chicago. Meanwhile, Hendriks returned to the mound in May after announcing that he was diagnosed with Stage Four non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in January. Hendriks pitched in five games before suffering a season-ending elbow injury.
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>>Braun Wins Big Ten Coach Of The Year Honors
(Evanston, IL) — David Braun is being recognized by his fellow peers and members of the media after his first season leading Northwestern. The Wildcats football coach won both Big Ten Coach of the Year awards yesterday. Big Ten coaches vote on one award, while media members vote on the other. Braun became the team’s head coach after Pat Fitzgerald was fired due to hazing allegations this past summer. Braun took over a team that went 1-and-11 in 2022 and turned them into a 7-and-5 team in 2023, making them bowl-eligible for the first time since 2020.
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>>Notre Dame Falls To South Carolina
(Columbia, SC) — The Notre Dame Fighting Irish struggled from the field during a 65-53 loss against South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena. Notre Dame shot under 33 percent from the field and went six-of-21 from beyond the arc. Tea Davis had 15 points in the losing effort. The 3-and-3 Irish visit number-eight Miami on Saturday.
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>>College Basketball Round Up
In other college basketball action yesterday, Loyola beat Chicago State 62-53. Tonight, Bradley is at Murray State, and Valparaiso hosts Drake.
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>>Bears Begin Bye Week
(Lake Forest, IL) — Chicago Bears players have the week off after playing a game in each of the last 12 weeks. Chicago has a bye in Week 13 before entering the home stretch of the season. Chicago is at the bottom of the NFC North at 4-and-8. When the Bears return in Week 14, they’ll host the first-place Detroit Lions.