The Flood Warning continues on the Illinois River from Heritage Harbor through Starved Rock Lock & Dam and continuing downstream to the confluence with Big Bureau Creek. Monday night, the reading at Ottawa was 7/10 of a foot above flood stage with a forecast to fall below flood stage today while the Illinois at LaSalle was 5.6 feet above flood stage and is forecast to gradually fall over the next few days before dropping below flood stage. As the river has fallen east of Starved Rock Lock and Dam, the LaSalle County Highway Department has reopened Dee Bennett Road between Illinois 178 and the LaSalle County Nursing Home.
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Between 12 Midnight and 6:00 am Thursday, a portion of downtown Ottawa will experience a temporary power outage as Ameren conducts scheduled maintenance. The power interruption will affect La Salle and Columbus Streets from Main Street to Canal Avenue. The affected area encompasses the region between the I&M Canal to the south and the downtown Ottawa LaSalle County Courthouse, bordered by the downtown one-way streets. No other information has been released by the City of Ottawa or Ameren on the specifics of the repairs or upgrades.
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On Saturday at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa, over 160 courageous individuals participated in the Penguin Plunge, collectively raising almost $80,000 to support Make-A-Wish Illinois. The generous contributions from plungers, donors, and sponsors will aid the organization’s noble cause. Donations will be accepted until the end of February. This year’s event witnessed an increase in both the fundraising total and the participation numbers, surpassing the achievements of the previous Penguin Plunge.
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Members of Teamsters Local 916 who are employees for IDOT District 3 will have an informational picket in front of the Transportation Department headquarters on East Norris Drive in Ottawa at Noon on Wednesday. For nearly nine months, DOT District 3 employees have been working without a contract. Despite efforts, an agreement remains elusive between Teamsters Local 916, IDOT, and Central Management Services. The union says while non-union executive staff received significant pay raises last year, the Governor’s office continues to urge state workers to undertake one of the most substantial state highway construction programs with minimal pay increases and benefits reductions
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The Illinois State Board of Elections is expected to vote today on a petitions seeking to remove former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden from the state’s primary ballot in March. The vote comes after retired Kankakee County judge Clark Erickson recommended over the weekend that the courts should dismiss a voters’ petition to remove Trump from the ballot due to his involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot. The petition to seek Joe Biden’s removal from the Democratic primary ballot is being centered around the Biden campaign usage of a Notary Public in the District of Columbia to approve the candidate filing papers which, the petitioners claim, is in violation of Illinois Election Law requiring an Illinois notary signature.
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Exactly one year and a day since its closure, OSF HealthCare Saint Elizabeth Medical Center Peru on West Street has established a definitive reopening date, tentatively set for April 7. The initial phase will be limited, focusing on emergency services and a restrained number of inpatient beds. OSF HealthCare’s acquisition of the former Midtown Plaza complex, Midtown Clinic, and Granville Clinic in July has already seen the opening of OSF PromptCare, OSF Medical Group – Primary Care locations, OSF Occupational Health, and OSF Rehabilitation. This month, new primary care facilities opened in Spring Valley and Oglesby, alongside OSF Medical Group – Obstetrics & Gynecology in Peru. To staff these facilities, OSF HealthCare has successfully hired over 450 former employees, physicians, and advanced medical providers from St. Margaret’s Health.
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A residence in Oglesby sustained significant damage due to an early Monday fire, the origin of which remains undetermined but is not considered suspicious. Oglesby Assistant Fire Chief Steve Maltas reported that firefighters were called to 526 Hayden Ave at 6:41 a.m., responding to a vacant house undergoing renovations. The fire was brought under control within 33 minutes, with the scene cleared by 9:54 a.m. Fortunately, there were no injuries to personnel from Oglesby, Utica, Peru, and Tonica fire departments, while Spring Valley manned the Oglesby station during the incident. The Office of the State Fire Marshal will investigate to determine the cause.
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One week after a fire at LSC Environmental Products in Lostant, emergency responders were once again summoned to the facility situated off Route 251. Chief Andy Forrest of the Lostant Fire Department revealed that a cleanup crew on-site urgently requested the assistance of firefighters to douse a rekindled hotspot on Monday afternoon. The firefighters swiftly contained and extinguished the flare-up, concluding their mission approximately 30 minutes after the initial call for aid. Formerly recognized as Phoenix Paper Products, the plant suffered extensive damage during a major blaze last Monday, resulting in an operational shutdown and significant property loss. Despite the safe evacuation of workers during the noon-hour incident, Chief Forrest remains without new insights into the root cause of the initial substantial fire.
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In a bold and innovative initiative, LaSalle Peru Township High School has taken a groundbreaking step by eliminating final exams for qualifying students in a strategic effort to enhance academic performance. Students who achieve an 80% or higher grade in a class and maintain three or fewer excused or unexcused absences will now have the option to exempt themselves from the final exam scheduled for May. The attendance tracking for this exemption will begin today and will be assessed on a period-by-period basis. Seniors at the high school will receive an additional benefit, as they will be exempt from finals in SAT-tested areas where they attain a “Meets or Exceeds Standard” rating. Those meeting or exceeding standards in both SAT sections will enjoy final exam exemption across all classes, irrespective of their grades and attendance. This innovative policy aims to incentivize improved attendance and course grades, contributing to an overall enhancement of the school’s graduation rate. School officials are enthusiastic about creating a more positive and rewarding academic environment through these incentives, anticipating a transformative impact on student engagement and success at LaSalle Peru Township High School.
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Illinois is launching a statewide initiative with Google Public Sector to improve access to children’s behavioral healthcare resources. Governor Pritzker announced the creation of BEACON. The online portal will allow Illinois families to access behavioral and mental health resources for children. The portal is powered by Google AI and cloud computing technology.
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40-year-old Parker Enlow of Ottawa was in jail over the weekend following accusations of engaging in violent behavior. Ottawa police took action on Saturday by apprehending Enlow at his residence on West Jackson Street. On Monday morning, Enlow was charged in LaSalle County Circuit Court with felony aggravated battery involving a law enforcement officer and a misdemeanor count of domestic battery. His next court appearance is scheduled for February 16th.
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Federal prosecutors are pushing for prison time for the longtime Chief of Staff of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Prosecutors asked a judge yesterday to give Tim Mapes between 51 and 63 months behind bars for lying under oath to protect his old boss. Mapes was found guilty in August of providing false material testimony under oath to a federal grand jury and attempting to obstruct an investigation that led to Madigan’s indictment in a racketeering case in 2022. Mapes is set to be sentenced February 12th
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WEATHER:
…FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM…
* WHAT…Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast.
* WHERE…Illinois River from Starved Rock Lock and Dam downstream
to the confluence with Big Bureau Creek, including the La Salle gauge.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– At 7:45 PM CST Monday the stage was 25.6 feet.
– Forecast…The river is expected to gradually fall over the
next several days, remaining above the flood stage.
– Flood stage is 20.0 feet
Tuesday
Intermittent drizzle with a slight chance of rain between 9 am and noon, then a chance of rain with intermittent drizzle after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 39. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
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Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 30. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Candy Dubach, 55, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, January 19th.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 31st, from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow at 6:00 pm at the funeral home.
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Leslie Roberta Streadwick, 66, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, January 22nd, at The Pavilion of Ottawa. Private burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home and Crematory.
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Brendin H. Miskell, 39, of Ottawa, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 21st, A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 3rd, from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm at the American Legion in Ottawa. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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William “Bill” Ganiere, 70, of Ottawa, passed away Friday, January 26th, at Pleasant View Lutheran Home in Ottawa. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm on Wednesday, February 7th, at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will follow at 7:00 pm at the funeral home. Private burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park. There will be a celebration of life at Splash & Go at a date to be announced.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Join us tonight for Marquette Boys Basketball as your Crusaders take on Woodland at 7 pm. Andrew Evola and David Bergeson are on the call.
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Girls basketball
Marquette Academy 43, Putnam County 40: At Bader Gymnasium, the Crusaders (16-8) picked up the Tri-County Conference victory over the Panthers.
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Manteno 41, Streator 14: At Pops Dale Gymnasium, the Bulldogs (1-25, 0-12) dropped the Illinois Central Eight Conference game to the Panthers on senior night.
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Serena 53, Earlville 18: At Serena, the Huskers improved to 21-2 overall and 5-0 in Little Ten Conference play with the win over the Red Raiders
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Plano 43, Sandwich 32: At Sandwich, the Indians fell to the rival Reapers
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St.Bede 57, Seneca 27: 10th consecutive win for St. Bede, which improved to 21-7 overall and 11-1 in T-CC play.
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Boys basketball
Serena 84, DePue 32: At Somonauk, the top-seeded Huskers (21-1) raced to the win over the No. 9-seeded Little Giants at the 105th annual Little Ten Conference Tournament. Serena plays Somonauk at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday in the semifinals.
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Somonauk 54, Indian Creek 41: At Somonauk, the No. 5-seeded Bobcats advanced in the LTC Tournament with the quarterfinal triumph over the No. 4-seeded Timberwolves.
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Serena 84, DePue 32: The No. 9-seeded Little Giants lost to the No. 1 Huskers in a Little Ten Conference Tournament quarterfinal in Somonauk.
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St. Bede 57, Roanoke-Benson 47: the Bruins to a Tri-County Conference victory in Roanoke.
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Hall 55, Putnam County 53: The Red Devils edged the Panthers in a nonconference game in Granville.
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Girls bowling
Streator 1,204, Mendota 1,186: At Mendota Elks Club, the Bulldogs earned the win over the host Trojans.
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At DeKalb: La Salle-Peru win their third consecutive Interstate 8 Conference Tournament at Mardi Gras Lanes.
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WRESTLING
Princeton 72, Mendota 12: Tigers earned a Three Rivers Conference victory.
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
The White Sox organization says that SoxFest is returning next year after a four-year absence. The fan event will be held on the weekend of January 24th and 25th. SoxFest will coincide with the 20th anniversary of the South Siders 2005 World Series championship, as well as the 125th anniversary of the organization.
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The Bulls look to get a winning streak going when they host the Toronto Raptors at United Center tonight. Tonight’s game tips off at 7:00 PM.
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The Blackhawks are heading into the All-Star Break as the worst team in the Central Division. The Hawks closed out the first half of the season with a 1-0 loss to the Calgary Flames on Saturday. Chicago’s next game will be against the Wild on February 7th.
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The number-14 Illinois Fighting Illini are back in action when they visit Ohio State at Schottenstein Center tonight. Illinois is 15-and-5 overall and 6-and-3 in the Big Ten.
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IVCC 90, Olive Harvey 87 (OT): Scooby Watson scored 27 points to help the Eagles to an overtime win in a nonconference game in Chicago.