On Thursday morning, the Ottawa City Council convened a Town Hall meeting to disclose the outcomes of a study conducted by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, commissioned earlier in the summer. The study focused on the optimal placement of a third fire station within the Ottawa Fire District. Through an examination of EMT and fire calls over a specific one-year period, adhering to a four-minute response time rule, the study determined that the most effective location for the prospective fire station would be north of Route 80, specifically in the 500 to 800 blocks of Dayton Road. Factors such as proximity to railroads, bridge accessibility to points in Ottawa, and anticipated areas of growth, primarily to the north and east of the city, were taken into account when calculating response times. The next phase involves a meeting with architects scheduled for later in January, as Mayor Robert Hasty reported. Funding options, including grants and other methods, are currently under exploration, with Representative Lauren Underwood contributing $1,000,000 in support of the project. Fire Chief Brian Bressner highlighted that the addition of a third station would necessitate an increase in trained first responders from 27 to 36, and much of the equipment required for the new station could be accommodated through the redistribution of existing resources.
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Fire/EMS received a late call to aid an individual trapped in a collapsed trench in northern La Salle on Thursday Morning. The unidentified man, engaged in a project on Viakable property situated west of Airport Road and south of Raccuglia Drive, had encountered the emergency. Upon the La Salle Fire Department’s arrival, they discovered the man had managed to extricate himself from the trench and was conscious and alert. Despite his apparent well-being, he was transported to OSF St. Elizabeth’s in Ottawa. The man’s current health status remains undisclosed, and he was an employee of a private contracting company.
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The Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development is organizing a Meet the Candidates Forum on Wednesday, January 24th, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event will take place at the Illinois Valley Community College Cultural Center in Oglesby and aims to provide voters with a platform to directly engage with the candidates vying for the 76th District, covering La Salle, Bureau, Putnam, and DeKalb counties, including Ottawa, La Salle, Peru, DeKalb, and Spring Valley. State Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa) currently holds the seat but has opted not to seek reelection. The forum will feature all five candidates—Cohen Barnes, Liz Bishop, Carolyn Zasada, Crystal Loughran, and Murri Briel—and will offer participants the chance to pose questions directly to the candidates. In the spirit of fostering an informed community, Bill Zens, Executive Director of IVAC, emphasizes the importance of citizens engaging with the candidates to make well-informed decisions about the district’s future. The event is open to the public, and there is no cost to attend. Interested individuals can register or find more information by contacting the chamber office at 815-223-0227 before noon on Friday, January 19.
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Millstone Bakery in La Salle is gaining increased recognition on a statewide level. Recently included in the Illinois Made Program by Governor JB Pritzker, the bakery is set to be featured on PBS’ “You Gotta See This” series, a show that spotlights noteworthy businesses. Owners Erin and Kent Maze shared insights about their passion for breads, pastries, and coffee in an interview for the program. Millstone Bakery, which opened its doors in downtown La Salle in 2022, received the Illinois Made Program designation in November. Notably, one of their talented bakers, Anna Harmon, achieved recognition as a finalist in the prestigious Greatest Baker competition, highlighting the bakery’s commitment to excellence. Keep an eye out for updates on the airing of the PBS program to catch a glimpse of Millstone Bakery’s story.
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Start the New Year by looking at the beauty of Starved Rock State Park through the eyes of the lens. A photography exhibition at the Starved Rock State Park Visitor’s Center will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until January 6th, excluding New Year’s Day. Each captivating photograph within the collection narrates a unique story, inviting viewers to embark on a visual journey. This showcase features an impressive array of over 97 photographs submitted by more than 30 talented photographers from Illinois, making it the largest exhibition to date. The entries span various categories, including North American Parks and Landscapes, North American Bodies of Water, North American Trees and Fungi, North American Plants and Flowers, North American Mammals, North American Birds, North American Insects, Fish, Reptiles and Amphibians, Illinois Parks, Preserves and Habitats, and Illinois Icefalls and Waterfalls.
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On Thursday morning, a residence situated to the east of Marseilles experienced damage due to a fire in the attic. Fire Chief Dave Parrott reported that upon arrival, the firefighting crew discovered burning floor joists in the attic, promptly extinguishing the fire. The occupant, detecting a burning odor, had ventured outside, observed smoke emanating from the attic, and promptly sought assistance. Collaborative efforts from Wallace, Seneca, and Ottawa aided Marseilles in managing the situation. Thankfully, there were no injuries or pets affected. Chief Parrott estimates the incurred damage at $5000, rendering the house uninhabitable for the foreseeable future.
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Someone could finish off 2023 by winning a hefty Powerball jackpot. The jackpot for the last Powerball drawing of the year, Saturday, December 30th, has grown to $760 million. If won, it would be the third-highest Powerball jackpot of the year and the sixth largest in the game’s history. The Powerball jackpot was previously won on October 11th, 2023, when a single ticket in California won a $1.765 billion grand prize. In Illinois, eight Lottery players have won prizes of $1 million with Powerball so far this year.
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La Salle’s Stage 212 is set to grace the stage once again, presenting the 2024 rendition of “Falsettos” by William Finn and James Lapine. This musical, known for its blend of humor, heartbreak, and unique storytelling, explores themes of family, relationships, bar mitzvahs, baseball, and AIDS. Directed by Reid Tomasson, the production will premiere at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, January 5th, and Saturday, January 6th, with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 7th. Catch the performances at Stage 212, located at 700 First St.
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The La Salle Public Library is set to host renowned cookie activist Jasmine Cho virtually on Tuesday, Jan. 9th, at 6 p.m. During the event, Cho will share her unique personal story through a broader historical perspective, shedding light on lesser-known narratives of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. She will explore how sugar became a powerful platform for her journey of healing and empowerment. Based in Pittsburgh, Cho is a multifaceted author, artist, and cookie activist recognized for using portrait cookies to enhance the representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Her work has been showcased at the Heinz History Center and the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, gaining international media coverage on platforms such as NPR, CBS This Morning, and The Korea Daily. ATT Institute. The program is free and open to the public.
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Illinois men’s basketball star Terrence Shannon Junior is suspended from the team after being charged with rape. Officials say the Douglas County District Attorney in Kansas issued an arrest warrant for Shannon on Wednesday over allegations of a sexual assault that happened in September while Shannon was attending an Illini football game against the Kansas Jayhawks. His attorney says he has cooperated with law enforcement since the accusations surfaced. Shannon leads 9th-ranked Illinois in scoring at over 21 points per game.
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Peru Police arrested Carlos Aquino and Humberto Ismael, residents of Mexico passing through the area for the holidays. Both were apprehended and charged with retail theft at the Peru Walmart, and released with notices to appear in court.
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Peru Police detained Veronica Levine, a 40-year-old Dalzell resident, initially reported for trespassing. Following a brief investigation, Levine was arrested for both trespassing and a warrant related to failure to appear in La Salle County court for a retail theft charge. She was released with two scheduled court dates in January.
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WEATHER:
Friday
A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 41. North wind 5 to 15 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind around 5 mph.
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Saturday
Partly sunny, with a high near 39. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 28. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
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Sunday
A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 33. West northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 25.
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OBITUARIES:
Donald E. Van Hoozer, 90, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, December 22nd, at the Illinois Veteran’s Home in La Salle. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm tomorrow, at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will take place at noon at the funeral home. Burial with military honors will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park.
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Ruth Marie Packham, 94, of Ottawa, went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 24th, at LaSalle County Nursing Home, surrounded by her family. Visitation will be tomorrow, from 9:00 am until 11:00 am at St. Columba Church. Mass of Christian burial will follow at 11:00 am. Private burial in Ottawa Avenue Cemetery will take place at a later date. Funeral Services are arranged by Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Francis L. Meagher, 85, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, December 27th, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center. Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 2nd, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will take place on Wednesday, January 3rd, at 10:00 am at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park.
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Margaret Gaffney, 97, of Ottawa, passed away Sunday, December 24th, at The Pavilion of Ottawa. Visitation will be on Saturday, January 13th, 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 be in Oakwood Memorial Park. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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Mark James Krueger, 64, of LaSalle, passed away Saturday, December 23rd at his home. A private family service and celebration of life will be held in the summer of 2024. Arrangements are entrusted to the Mueller-Pagani Funeral Home in LaSalle.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
For the eighth time in 14 events and the third consecutive occurrence, the championship game of the Marquette Christmas Tournament will feature a showdown between the top two seeds.
Serena 60, Flanagan-Cornell 41
The Huskers (14-0) led 13-7 after the opening eight minutes but then exploded for a game-changing 26-11 second-quarter advantage to hold a 39-18 margin at halftime. Serena will take on Lexington in the championship game at Bader Gym at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.
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Lexington 67, Earlville 52
Earlville (13-1) jumped out to a 13-9 lead after one quarter and held a 30-26 margin at halftime. Lexington took its first lead since the opening moments with a minute to go in the third and held a 45-41 lead heading to the fourth.
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Marquette Christmas Tournament
5th place – Hall vs. #4 Marquette, 5 p.m.
3rd place -#3 Earlville vs. #5 Flanagan-Cornell, 6:30 p.m.
1st place – #2 Lexington vs. #1 Serena, 8 p.m.
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Join us today at 12:30 for Ottawa Pirates boys Basketball from the Plano tournament. Andrew Evola and Bryer Lehr with the call, and TonyB back at the WCMY studio.
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Streator played a dominating opening half Thursday, and that was more than good enough to comfortably move the Bulldogs past No. 4 Northridge Prep 67-46 and into the Plano Christmas Classic’s final four.
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Plano slipped past Burlington Central, 64-60, during Thursday’s quarterfinal in the 60th annual Plano Christmas Classic.
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Sixth-seeded Marmion Academy defeated third-seeded La Salle-Peru 46-42 Thursday night despite shooting 36.2%, being outrebounded 38-27, and not having a scorer in double digits.
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It was his offense that sparked the Storm to a 62-56 win over rival Princeton in the fifth annual County Christmas Classic at the Storm Cellar Thursday night.
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LaMoille Holiday Classic – 1st place – Lowpoint-Washburn (11-4) vs. Annawan (12-2), 6 p.m.
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Girls basketball
Newman 55, Mendota 28: At the Amboy Holiday Tournament, the Comets rolled past the Trojans on Thursday to meet Amboy in Friday’s championship game.
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Amboy 51, Somonauk 35: At the Amboy Holiday Tournament, Addison Pertell poured in 23 points to lead the Clippers in a semifinal win over the Bobcats.
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Amboy Holiday Tournament – Friday’s games
1st place – Newman vs, Amboy, 6 p.m.
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons will try to fight off elimination when they go head-to-head at Soldier Field on Sunday. The 6-and-9 Bears need to win their final two games of the season to have a slight shot at making it into the postseason. Chicago is coming off a 27-16 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16. Justin Fields has put together another average season with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, but his rushing yard totals have been cut in half from a season ago. Sunday’s game kicks off at noon.
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The Chicago Bulls weren’t able to slow down Tyrese Haliburton during a 120-104 loss to the Indiana Pacers at United Center. The Bulls trailed by 25 points in the middle of the third quarter before coming back to take a three-point lead early in the fourth. However, Chicago was on the wrong end of a 12-0 run that gave Indiana the lead for good. Patrick Williams scored 22 points in the losing effort, while DeMar DeRozan finished with 21. Chicago remains in tenth place in the Eastern Conference at 14-and-19. The Bulls host Philadelphia tomorrow.
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The Chicago Blackhawks will try to get a winning streak going when they visit the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center tonight. The Blackhawks just beat the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 in overtime on Wednesday. However, Chicago is still in last place in the Central Division with 23 points and an 11-22-and-1 record. Tonight’s game starts at 7:00 PM.
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The Chicago White Sox are bolstering their bullpen. The club signed reliever Tim Hill to a one-year contract worth one-point-eight million dollars yesterday. The six-year veteran spent his last four seasons with the San Diego Padres. He was 1-and-4 with a 5.48 ERA in 48 appearances in 2023.
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The number-16 Notre Dame Fighting Irish wrap up their 2023 football season when they take on number-19 Oregon State in the Sun Bowl in El Paso today. The Irish went 9-and-3 during the regular season. Notre Dame is 0-and-2 all-time against Oregon State, although the two teams haven’t played since the 2004 Insight Bowl. Today’s game kicks off at 1:00 PM Central Time.
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In college basketball action Today, Northwestern hosts Jackson State, Illinois State is at number-ten Kentucky, Northern Illinois visits Iowa, tomorrow, Notre Dame welcomes Virginia, DePaul is at home against Chicago State, Loyola has a home game against Central Michigan, and UIC is on the road against Southern Illinois.