Volunteers are sought for the 80th Red Stocking delivery in Ottawa and Streator on Saturday the 16th, by 8 a.m. This longstanding initiative, originating in 1923, raises funds exclusively for purchasing and distributing Christmas gifts, including toys, games, books, and food items, to families in need. The donations directly benefit registered children, and no funds are allocated for administrative or staffing costs. All aspects of gift preparation and delivery rely on volunteer efforts. Participants are to gather at 110 W. Jefferson St. in Ottawa for deliveries, and each volunteer typically handles eight to 10 deliveries. The Zonta Club, in collaboration with the Ottawa River Rescue and RPS Toys, has dedicated extensive time to ordering, stuffing stockings, wrapping gifts, and coordinating deliveries as part of this long-standing service project.
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On Wednesday night in La Salle, a power outage affected 969 customers for approximately 4 hours, starting at 5:43 p.m. and ending around 10 p.m. Ameren Illinois attributed the outage to maintenance and worker safety concerns, impacting customers north of 11th Street.
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Oswego Police responded to a report from Oswego East High School staff Tuesday morning regarding a loaded firearm found in a student’s backpack initially left with a classmate. Upon discovering the weapon, students promptly notified the school office, leading the school resource officer to secure the firearm and initiate a police investigation. A 15-year-old male student, the backpack’s owner, was taken into custody. The Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office approved multiple felony charges, including Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon. The student awaits a hearing at the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center.
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Want some holiday cheer this weekend? The Illinois Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Winter Concert is this Sunday at La Salle-Peru High School’s Matthiessen Memorial Auditorium. Directed by Rhoda Kay Roberts, the concert features students from the IVYSO ensembles, along with the Illinois Valley Youth Choir, and will include a medley of Christmas tunes and the Trans Siberian Orchestra’s “A Christmas Canon.” The concert begins at 4:30 p.m., with tickets available for $10 at the door.
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The December YANA! (you are not alone) meeting will feature La Salle County Sheriff Adam Diss and La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro on Tuesday, December 19th at 6 PM at Jamie’s Outpost in Utica. Topics to be discussed are the Illinois SAFE-T Act and Assault Weapons Ban and their effects on La Salle County residents. YANA! will be collecting new and unused newborn to teen-sized coats, gloves, and hats to donate to DCFS and the Youth Service Bureau of La Salle County. Anyone from any political party is welcome to attend the free event.
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Former President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to a grade school on Chicago’s South Side. The ex-commander-in-chief stopped yesterday at the Parkside Academy dressed as Santa. Obama also came bearing gifts including toys and winter accessories. He even had time to read a Santa book to several preschoolers.
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The woman accused of driving the getaway car in an Ottawa shooting, Chastity Furar, is awaiting a determination of her sanity at the time of the incident. The 22-year-old from Spring Valley appeared in court for a status hearing after requesting a mental health evaluation. Her lawyer, Karen Donnelly, sought the evaluation concerning the shooting death of Eric Clements in June. The assessment is still pending, putting trial dates on hold until the opinion is provided. Another status hearing is scheduled for January 12. Chastity Furar, charged with first-degree murder as an accessory, is accused of driving the alleged triggerman, Nicholaus Phillips, to Clements’ Ottawa home and providing him with the pistol used in the killing. While Furar did not reportedly fire the weapon, she could face up to 75 years in prison due to a 15-year enhancement. Phillips, set for trial on January 16th, faces a potential 85-year sentence if convicted of firing the fatal shot.
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The hearing to assess the mental fitness of 32-year-old Matthew Pairadee from Ohio has been rescheduled for February 16th. In March of the previous year, a judge in Bureau County declared Pairadee unfit for trial based on recommendations from two physicians. Pairadee is accused of fatally shooting 69-year-old Jerome Lauer, also from Ohio, in October 2022. The alleged confession by Pairadee suggests the killing was linked to a child custody dispute involving Lauer’s 10-month-old granddaughter, taken by Pairadee. The tragic incident led to a fatal shooting and an overnight standoff with the police.
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A 37-year-old Marseilles woman was arrested by Marseilles Police in the 700 block of West Bluff Street on a failure to appear warrant. Ryan C. Godwin has a charge out of Jefferson County for possession of methamphetamines. Godwin was taken to the LaSalle County Jail.
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33-year-old Cody Joe Emmet of LaSalle faces charges from Peru Police after a Tuesday night traffic stop at 4th and Schuyler Streets. Emmet is charged with driving under the influence, illegal transportation of alcohol, speeding, and having an expired registration ticket. He was released with a court date.
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A Peru woman is charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and failure to yield after a traffic stop Monday during the noon hour. 47-year-old Jennifer Cocking was stopped by Peru Police at 6th and Grant Streets.
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WEATHER:
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 50. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
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Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low of around 30. South southwest wind around 5 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Floyd E. Coffey, 88, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday, December 12th, at the Pavilion of Ottawa. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home Ottawa.
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Jenni Lynn (Keith) Harsted, 34, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, December 11th, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria after suffering complications from an autoimmune disease and pneumonia.
Visitation will be on TODAY from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A visitation will also be held from 10:00 am until the time of service on Friday. A funeral ceremony will be held on Friday, December 15th, at 11:00 am. Burial will follow in Oakwood Memorial Park.
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Arthur J. Preci, 68, of Ottawa, passed away December 6th, at OSF St. Elizabeth with his wife by his side. Funeral services will be on December 15th, at 6 p.m. at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home with Father Nicolas Wilson officiating. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until the time of service.
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Reverend Eugene E. Owsley, 94, of Ottawa passed away on December 10th, at the LaSalle County Nursing Home, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 15th at noon. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until noon on Friday. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park with military honors presented by the American Legion Post 33 Honor Guard.
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Jean M. Myer, 86, of Marseilles, passed away on December 10th, at the LaSalle County Nursing Home. Funeral services will be on Saturday, December 16th, at 11 a.m. at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the funeral home. Entombment will follow at the Shrine of Rest Mausoleum at Oakwood Memorial Park.
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Gordon Jameson, 94, of Earlville, passed away on Sunday, December 10th, at OSF Saint Paul Medical Center in Mendota. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 16th, at Freedom Lutheran. Burial will follow at Freedom Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 until 10:30 a.m. at the Family Life Center, located behind the church. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Birdie Caroline (Reynolds) Goodchild, 81, of rural Ottawa, passed away on Sunday, December 10th, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 18th, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, at the funeral home and one hour before the service, on Monday.
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Georgiann Kobiella, 82, of Ottawa, passed away Saturday, December 9th, at her home with her family by her side. Visitation will be on Saturday, December 18th, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will take place at noon at the funeral home. Burial will follow at St. Columba Cemetery.
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Porntip Sadkowski, 80, of Ottawa, IL, passed away on December 13th, 2023 surrounded by her loving family at her home in Ottawa. The funeral service will be on Monday the 18th at 6:00 PM at Ottawa Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 3-6 PM at Ottawa Funeral Home.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Shepherd Boys Basketball
7th grade defeated Sandwich by a score of 38 to 27. Leading the way: Luca Fernandez with 16 points and 4 assists, Keandre Miller with 9 points, and Marquise Davis and Henry Farabaugh both had 3 points. 7th grade is now 10-4.
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8th grade lost to Sandwich 44-27. Leading the way: Nevan Holloway with 19 points, Nico Kimes with 4 points, and Carson Keylard with 2 points. 8th grade is now 8-6.
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Girls basketball
Ottawa 69, Rochelle 42: At Kingman Gym on Wednesday, the host Pirates recorded the Interstate 8 Conference triumph, leading by eight after one quarter before pulling away in the final quarter.
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Newark 55, Somonauk/Leland 16: At Somonauk, the visiting Norsemen (6-3 overall, 3-0 Little Ten Conference) roared to the league triumph.
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Boys basketball
Sandwich 57, Harvard 39: At Harvard, the visiting Indians (2-6 overall, 1-2 KRC) notched the Kishwaukee River Conference win.
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Earlville 61, St. Bede 39: At Peru, the visiting Red Raiders (10-0) reached double-digit wins without a defeat.
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Woodland 63, LaMoille 42: At LaMoille, the visiting Warriors improved to 8-2 on the season. Ten players scored for Woodland, which hosts St. Bede on Friday.
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Flanagan-Cornell 73, Lowpoint-Washburn 62: At Washburn, the visiting Falcons earned the nonconference win.
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Sycamore 52, Mendota 43: Sycamore got the nonconference win over Mendota on Wednesday.
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Boys wrestling
Seneca 51, Reed-Custer 21; Seneca 55, Pontiac 21: At Braidwood, the Fighting Irish picked up a pair of team wins.
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Girls bowling
Ottawa 2,724, DeKalb 2,276: At Sycamore, the visiting Pirates notched the victory.
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Boys bowling
Mendota 3,284, Ottawa 3,063: At Dettore’s Town Lanes, the host Pirates fell to the Trojans.
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Bulls aim to avoid their third consecutive loss when they take on the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center tonight. The Bulls are on a two-game losing streak after losing to the Denver Nuggets 114-106 on Tuesday night. Chicago is in 12th place in the Eastern Conference with a 9-and-16 record. Tonight’s game tips off at 6:30 PM.
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The Blackhawks will try to get back in the win column when they visit the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena tonight. The Blackhawks have dropped their last two games, including a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Oilers on Tuesday night. Chicago is in last place in the Central Division with 19 points and a 9-18-and-1 record.
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The Bears’ top receiver was one of two players that missed practice because of injuries yesterday. DJ Moore did not participate because of an ankle injury, and fellow wide-out Equanimeous St. Brown also missed practice with a pectoral injury. Additionally, safety Jaquan Brisker was limited by a groin injury. The Bears also announced that pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue will miss the rest of the season with a broken ankle. Chicago visits Cleveland on Sunday.
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The Northwestern Wildcats were knocked off by Chicago State 75-73 at Welsh-Ryan Arena yesterday. The game was tied at 67 with under 90 seconds left in regulation when Chicago State’s Wesley Cardet knocked down a go-ahead three that put the Cougars up for good. Boo, Buie had 23 points in the losing effort, while Ryan Langborg finished with 18. Cardet poured in 30 for Chicago State. The Wildcats fell to 7-and-2 overall, and they visit DePaul on Saturday.
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Notre Dame’s consensus top-ten draft pick has officially declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. Offensive tackle Joe Alt announced yesterday that he will skip the Sun Bowl against Oregon State to start preparing for April’s draft. Alt only allowed four sacks in 25 games during his time with the Irish.