The Wind Chill Warning was extended late Monday morning to Noon today prompting schools to make schedule changes which range from a traditional snow day with no students in attendance to e-learning days and, in some cases, remote learning. Illinois Valley Community College is closed today as is Illinois State University. The complete list of school announcements, closings, and cancellations is online at 1430wcmy.com. The National Weather Service says to expect dangerously cold wind chills as low as 35 degrees below zero today.
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A boil order has been mandated by the City of LaSalle for residences situated in the region south of 11th Street, encompassing the area between Bucklin and Lafayette streets, along with the adjacent areas, as stated in an official announcement on the city of La Salle’s Facebook page. The post identifies the homes affected by this measure. The notification explains that a water main has ruptured, and city crews are actively working to rectify the situation promptly. Residents are advised that roads might be slippery due to water on the streets. In case of discolored water, it is recommended to run your water until it becomes clear.
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In the recent week, the La Salle County Health Department has confirmed one fatality attributed to the virus. A man in his 80s died from complications related to COVID-19, the La Salle County Health Department said Monday. Additionally, health officials have reported 84 new cases of COVID-19 within La Salle County during the same period. Since its emergence in 2020, the virus has been associated with a total of 528 deaths in La Salle County. According to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, both La Salle and Putnam counties presently exhibit “low” levels of hospital admissions related to COVID-19.
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At approximately 1:30 on Monday afternoon, firefighters responded to a fire incident at Sheridan Correctional Center. The housing unit affected was evacuated as emergency teams from Sheridan, Serena, and Newark swiftly arrived at the scene. According to dispatch reports, the initial responders discovered a small fire in the attic area, successfully extinguishing it using fire extinguishers. By 2 o’clock, all firefighters had completed their tasks, and fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.
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The Grundy County coroner’s office is investigating the case of a woman in Coal City who was discovered dead outside the city’s public library on Sunday morning. Coroner John Callahan says a maintenance employee, inspecting the library’s interior, came across an unresponsive female outside one of the entrances. Emergency services, including Coal City Police and Fire, were called to the library around 7:00 a.m. 41-year-old Katherine Munchalfen was pronounced dead at the scene approximately an hour later. Preliminary findings suggest that the victim had abruptly left a friend’s home on Saturday around 8:00 p.m. under unknown circumstances. It was noted that Munchalfen was not appropriately dressed for the prevailing weather conditions. An autopsy is scheduled for this afternoon, with toxicology results pending. The investigation into the death is ongoing, led by Callahan’s Office and the Coal City Police Department.
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La Salle County board member Beth Findley-Smith, a Republican from Northville Township, has raised concerns about the legality of President Joe Biden’s nomination papers in Illinois. In collaboration with Timothy Conrad, a resident of Will County, she filed a petition asserting that Biden failed to use an Illinois notary on his statement of candidacy, as mandated by the Illinois Election Code. The objection highlights that Biden utilized the services of a notary commission in the District of Columbia. Findley-Smith has scheduled a hearing for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17, in Springfield. The petition aims to have Biden’s name removed from the Illinois ballot for the Democratic nomination in the March 19 primary election. Findley-Smith, who also works as an organizer for La Salle County YANA! (You are Not Alone), submitted the objection before the Friday deadline. Other objections against Biden were filed last week, including one by former U.S. Senate candidate Peggy Hubbard. Additionally, challenges have been made against the candidacies of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump in Illinois. Trump faced removal from the Republican primary ballot in Maine and Colorado, as reported by the Associated Press.
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On Sunday night, shortly after 6:00, a worker on an Illinois River barge experienced severe hypothermia. Utica Fire Chief Ben Brown revealed that the worker hadn’t fallen into the river but had become wet and cold from working on the deck, leading to significant health concerns. The barge, moving downriver, likely passed Ottawa when the crew contacted rescuers. They arranged to meet the vessel at the Starved Rock Lock and Dam, the most accessible location
to ensure the barge worker’s safe evacuation. Collaborating with personnel at the lock and dam, Utica and Oglesby first responders successfully transported the man to OSF St. Elizabeth’s in Ottawa, where he is now reported to be in stable condition.
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Applications for the Joseph J. Hohner Scholarship for the 2024-2025 academic year are now accessible on the La Salle County Regional Office’s website at www.roe35.org Regional Superintendent Chris Dvorak emphasizes that applicants must ensure their submissions are completed in full and delivered to his office by 4:30 p.m. on April 16. Established in memory of Dr. Joseph J. Hohner, a dedicated Ottawa physician, the scholarship draws from a special trust fund, providing financial aid to full-time students who are legal residents of La Salle County. Since its inception, over 2.2 million dollars have been distributed. The scholarship encompasses diverse educational pursuits, ranging from parochial elementary and secondary school tuition to trade schools, bachelor’s degrees, and doctorates. Despite its annual nature, all applicants, including previous recipients, must submit a complete application. The Scholarship Committee will review submissions in May, and award notifications are scheduled for June. Recipients are encouraged to contribute back to the fund after graduation, supporting future students by sending checks to the La Salle County Regional Office of Education.
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The OSF Medical Group – Primary Care office in Oglesby is set to commence operations on Tuesday, January 16, as announced in a Monday press release from OSF. Situated at 790 W. Walnut St., Oglesby, the office will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a 5 p.m. closure every other Friday. For additional information or to schedule appointments, individuals can contact 815-221-1330. The clinic will be staffed by a proficient healthcare team, including Patricia Blackburn, PA; Ricardo Calderon, MD; Britnae Lewis, APRN; and Elizabeth Stuart, APRN. OSF HealthCare reaffirms its commitment to delivering outstanding healthcare services, emphasizing the importance of the new clinic in supporting the well-being of the local community.
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A 37-year-old homeless man was arrested by Peru Police at the Illinois Valley PADS shelter in Peru Friday. Ismael D. Enriquez was picked up on two outstanding warrants out of McHenry County for failure to appear in court. He was taken to the LaSalle County Jail.
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A Peru man has charges from Peru Police after a late Friday night traffic stop at 4th and Rock Streets. 30-year-old Nicholas Wojciechowski has tickets for driving under the influence of alcohol, improper parking or standing in a roadway and driving an uninsured vehicle. He was released with a court date.
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WEATHER:
*NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE…A WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 AM WEDNESDAY…very cold wind chills are expected. Wind chills as low as 15 to 25 below zero. The lowest wind chills will be at night and during the morning.
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Tuesday
Patchy blowing snow after 8 am. Sunny and cold, with a high near 3. Wind chill values as low as -27. West southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
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Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a temperature rising to around 3 by 5 am. Wind chill values as low as -18. West southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Doris Jean (Foster) Carr, 89, passed away at her home on Friday, January 12th, after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 18th, at the Mueller Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the funeral home before the service.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Girls basketball
Marquette Academy 56, Seneca 46; St. Bede 60, Marquette Academy 47: At the Tri-County Conference Tournament in Henry, the No. 4-seeded Crusaders topped the No. 5-seeded Fighting Irish in the quarterfinals but fell to the top-seeded Bruins in the semifinals.
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Newark 54, IMSA 16: At the Little Ten Conference Tournament
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Boys basketball
Rockford Lutheran 80, Seneca 47; Bloomington Central Catholic 67, Seneca 64 (OT): At the Martin Luther King Jr. Showcase at Bloomington Central Catholic High School, the Fighting Irish dropped to 13-7 on the season with the two losses at the event.
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Boys bowling
Ottawa junior Wil Znaniecki advances to sectional: At the Plainfield North Regional at Joliet’s Town & Country Lanes, on Monday to finish 13th overall and earn one of the 10 spots for individuals not on an advancing team. Znaniecki, who now moves on to Saturday’s Rockford Jefferson Sectional at Don Carter Lanes
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At Morton: La Salle-Peru placed fourth at the Morton Regional on Monday to advance as a team to the Rockford Jefferson Sectional.
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At Joliet: Mendota made school history by placing fourth at the Plainfield North Regional at Joliet Town & Country Lanes.
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Bulls weren’t able to convert their 21-point comeback into a win during a 109-91 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Chicago was down by 21 in the third quarter before taking a brief lead in the fourth. However, Cleveland went on a 10-0 run to take control of the game once again. Coby White had 18 points in the losing effort, while Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic each finished with 17. The Bulls are in ninth place in the Eastern Conference at 19-and-23. The Bulls visit Toronto on Thursday.
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The Blackhawks aim to avoid their fourth straight loss when they host the San Jose Sharks at United Center tonight. The Blackhawks are coming off a 3-1 loss against the Dallas Stars on Saturday. Chicago is in last place in the Central Division with 26 points and a 12-29-and-2 record. Tonight’s game starts at 7:30 PM.
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The Cubs are building for the future. The team signed shortstop Fernando Cruz to a four-million dollar deal yesterday. Cruz is the fourth-ranked prospect in this year’s international pool. Scouts like his defense and speed, and he has the profile of a player who could hit 20-25 home runs a year at the Major League level. Cruz is just 17 years old.
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The White Sox are adding depth to their bullpen. The club signed former Rangers reliever Joe Barlow to a minor league deal that includes an invitation to Spring Training yesterday. The 28-year-old went 1-and-1 with a 4.66 ERA in 13 appearances last season. In other club news, the Sox inked number-11 international prospect Eduardo Herrera to a deal yesterday.
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish faded in the second half during a 63-59 loss to Boston College at Silvio O. Conte Forum yesterday. Notre Dame was outscored 34-23 after halftime. Markus Burton had 19 points in the losing effort. The Irish dropped to 7-and-11 overall and 2-and-5 in the ACC. Notre Dame hosts Miami on January 24th.
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In other college basketball action yesterday, Chicago State beat Stetson 77-70. Tonight, Northern Illinois hosts Kent State.