The Ottawa City Council recently passed ordinances declaring surplus Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds in three districts, namely North TIF District, East TIF District, and Route 71 TIF District. These surplus funds will be returned to La Salle County for proportional distribution to various taxing bodies such as schools, townships, and libraries. Mayor Robb Hasty explained that this annual process involves fulfilling contractual obligations and redistributing any remaining funds to the county, which in turn allocates them to the appropriate entities. Additionally, the council authorized the sale of five properties acquired through different means, demolished the structures on them using grant funds, and will soon advertise the availability of these vacant lots for sale. Last night as well the council addressed various agreements and proposals related to City infrastructure, a WGN-TV weather monitoring station, maintenance, and intergovernmental cooperation. We will talk about these topics and more with Ottawa Mayor Robb Hasty in the 9 am hour today.
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Starting Thursday, early voting commences in La Salle County, offering voters the choice between traditional paper ballots or touchscreen technology for casting their votes. This change comes as the county updates its aging electoral hardware due to growing concerns about cybersecurity threats across various domains. With the approval of the La Salle County Board, new voting machines have been acquired utilizing federal COVID-19 relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Upon arriving at your precinct, expect to provide your name and sign a form, following the standard procedure of previous election cycles. Subsequently, an election judge will inquire whether you prefer a paper ballot or touchscreen voting. Opting for the touchscreen method will generate a lengthy slip of paper displaying your votes, which should not be folded or treated as a receipt but rather as your active ballot. To ensure your votes are counted, this ballot must be inserted into the tabulator provided.
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Jonni Stricklin, RN, was recently honored with the prestigious DAISY award at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa, recognizing her exemplary clinical expertise and compassionate patient care. With nearly a decade of dedicated service in the ICU, Stricklin, based in Grand Ridge, embodies the values of empathy and excellence. Heather Bomstad, VP, and Chief Nursing Officer, lauded the significance of acknowledging the daily contributions of compassionate nurses like Stricklin. OSF HealthCare underscores the importance of recognizing exceptional caregivers through the DAISY award program, which spans over 2,000 healthcare facilities globally, highlighting the profound impact of individuals who go above and beyond in their commitment to healthcare excellence.
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Illinois Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin, a Morris Republican, is set to introduce legislation aimed at mitigating the perceived detrimental impacts of social media platforms on young individuals. Titled the “Safe Screens, Healthy Minds” bill, Rezin will reveal key components of the legislation today in Springfield. The presentation is scheduled for 10 am in the Capitol Blue Room, with live streaming available on blueroomstream.com.
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It’s the weekend of the big game, and the Peru Police Department urges football fans and party attendees to prioritize safe driving by choosing designated drivers to combat the risks of impaired driving. If your celebration involves alcohol or marijuana, ensure a ride home with a sober friend. Whether you’re hosting or attending a gathering, safety should remain paramount. Remember, impaired driving is never acceptable; designate a sober driver, and use public transportation or a ride service. If you spot an impaired driver, alert law enforcement, and always buckle up for safety.
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You can help shape the broadband future of North Central Illinois by taking a quick 5-minute survey from the North Central Illinois Council of Governments. Your input is crucial as they develop a Broadband Strategic Plan to enhance connectivity across the region. Reliable high-speed internet is essential for education, business, healthcare, and overall quality of life. Your participation will identify key gaps in broadband access, informing decision-making. Surveying in partnership with TPMA and the University of Illinois Extension, they aim to gather insights in the seven-county region. Complete the survey by Feb. 11 at the link in this story at the 1430 WCMY website or on our Facebook page. https://go.illinois.edu/ConnectNorthCentralIL
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L-P students aspiring to become engineers now have access to a fresh scholarship aimed at easing the financial burden of post-secondary education. Thanks to the generous contribution of $100,000 from the Etzenbach family, a new scholarship has been established specifically for graduating seniors from L-P who intend to pursue a college degree in engineering, with an annual award of $5,000. This scholarship serves as a tribute to L-P alumni William and Gerry Etzenbach, with William’s legacy as a seasoned civil engineer and former city engineer in Peru and beyond being celebrated. Graduating seniors interested in applying for this scholarship, alongside numerous others, can find further details on the L-P website.
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The 2024 Z Tour Bike Ride, where registration is now open! This annual fundraising event, in its 12th year, will take place from 5:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, starting at Zearing Park in Princeton. Supporting the Zearing Child Enrichment Center, this ride has already raised over $175,000 for early childhood education. Take advantage of early registration discounts – adults can register for $30 until Friday, February 16th, while youths aged 12 and under ride for free.
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NCI ARTworks in Peru for the opening reception of the 3 Views exhibition, featuring photographers Greg Malm and Ray Cox, alongside abstract/digital artist Lorena Malm. The event will be held on Friday, Feb. 9th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the NCI ARTworks gallery in the Westclox building in Peru. Admission is free for the public. Lorena Malm, a renowned abstract fine artist, will showcase her captivating digital imagery alongside Cox’s decades-spanning photography journey. Greg Malm, known for his keen eye for architectural marvels, will also present his work. Beyond the opening reception, the exhibit will be available for private viewing by appointment.
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Northern Illinois University is expanding eligibility for a program that allows students to pay no tuition costs or general fees for their first year. Illinois high school seniors who graduate with an overall GPA of three-point-zero or above qualify for NIU’s AIM HIGH Huskie Pledge program. Program eligibility requirements have included a family-adjusted gross income at or below 75 thousand dollars. The university has now raised the ceiling of that threshold to 100 thousand dollars.
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Illinois lawmakers are pushing to eliminate the subminimum wage for tipped workers. The proposed legislation would raise the hourly rate for tipped workers to minimum wage. The measure would phase out the subminimum wage over two years. The proposal mirrors one recently passed in Chicago.
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Illinoisans are being encouraged to take advantage of savings offered by the newly expanded Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit. The EITC is a benefit that helps low to moderate-income workers get a tax break. For tax year 2023, coverage has been expanded to include taxpayers with an IRS-issued Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, as well as workers ages 18 to 24 and over 65. Those claiming Illinois EITC this year will also see their amount of tax relief increased to a 20-percent match of the amount given federally.
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Shortly past 4 a.m. on Tuesday, firefighters from Tonica and Oglesby swiftly responded to a detached garage ablaze just south of Lowell. Within minutes, they managed to bring the fire under control, preserving most of the contents and the structure of the garage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the incident.
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At the Illinois Valley Community College Regional Academic Challenge sponsored by Eastern Illinois University, Ottawa High School, Seneca High School, and St. Bede Academy clinched victories in their respective team divisions. Ottawa triumphed in Division 1500, followed by Streator, while Seneca secured Division 700, with Mendota and Hall high schools trailing. St. Bede emerged victorious in Division 300, with Marquette Academy in tow. A total of 158 students from eight schools competed, with top performers advancing to the Eureka College sectional on March 11th and the state finals on April 8-11th at EIU. Ron Groleau, IVCC Academic Challenge Coordinator and dean of Natural Sciences and Business, noted that participants tackled exams across seven disciplines, including biology, English, math, computer science, physics, engineering graphics, and chemistry.
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Peru Fire Chief Jeff King informed the Finance Committee meeting that the department had lost a full-time firefighter to Ottawa. King disclosed receiving the resignation letter on Monday and requested the council to include the matter on the agenda for the upcoming City Council meeting on the 12th. Expressing concerns about the increasing trend of personnel moving to Ottawa due to higher salaries, King emphasized the challenge of retaining staff amidst competitive salary offers. He highlighted the risk of Peru becoming a mere training ground for neighboring departments and stressed the importance of maintaining competitiveness in compensation to prevent talent drain. King pointed out the aggressive hiring practices of departments like Ottawa and Aurora, where entry-level firefighters are offered substantially higher salaries and growth prospects, making it challenging for Peru to retain skilled personnel.
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A complimentary free lunch, courtesy of Park Deacons and Hardscrabble Lions Club, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, the 10th, at Park Place, in Streator. The menu will feature chicken noodle soup, oyster crackers, bread with butter, dessert, and a beverage of your choice. All are welcome to join for dine-in or carryout.
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Three juveniles have been detained at the La Salle County Detention Center following their connection to a series of vehicle thefts and burglaries spanning four months. According to La Salle police, a 17-year-old from Mendota faces charges of motor vehicle theft and burglary to a motor vehicle, stemming from incidents occurring in September and November. Additionally, in December, two 15-year-old girls, one from Tonica and one from La Salle, were charged with motor vehicle thefts. Police stated that the investigation is ongoing and anticipate further charges against additional individuals. Collaboration from Mendota police and the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office aided in the investigation, with an adult, Ethan D. Brown, 18, of Mendota, seeing an upgrade in charges from criminal trespass to burglary to a motor vehicle. La Salle police issued a reminder to residents to secure their vehicles when left unattended.
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WEATHER:
…DENSE FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM…
* WHAT…Visibility is one-quarter to one-half mile in dense fog.
* WHERE…Portions of central, north-central, and northeast
Illinois.
* WHEN…Until 11 AM CST Wednesday.
* IMPACTS…Hazardous driving conditions due to low visibility.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Temperatures dropping to near or just below
freezing could lead to icy spots developing on
untreated surfaces and roadways.
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Wednesday
Areas of dense fog before noon. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
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Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 42. South southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
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 today, 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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Charles “Mike” McGuire, 84, of Ottawa, passed away on Thursday, February 1st, at his home. A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, February 9th, at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa. Visitation will be from 12 to 2 p.m. on Friday, at the funeral home.
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Thomas Moore, 53, of Marseilles, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, January 30th, at his home. A celebration of life will be held on March 2nd, from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm at the American Legion in Marseilles. Cremation rites have been entrusted to Ottawa Funeral Home.
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LOCAL SPORTS:
Boys basketball
Marquette 75, Serena 66: Marquette defeated Serena in double overtime on Tuesday at Bader Gym.
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Ottawa 48, Dunlap 41: At Kingman Gym, the Pirates got the win, which tied coach Mike Cooper with Dean Riley for the most boys basketball coaching wins in program history with 332.
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Seneca 68, Newark 40: At Seneca, the Fighting Irish improved to 20-8 on the season with the win over the Norsemen.
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Kewanee 56, Mendota 48: the Trojans lost a Three Rivers Conference East Division game in Mendota.
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La Salle-Peru 57, Minooka 50 (OT): The Cavaliers earned a nonconference win in overtime Tuesday in La Salle.
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Bureau Valley 59, Hall 48: The Storm spoil the Hall Senior Night in Three Rivers Conference East Division play.
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Girls basketball
Roanoke-Benson 58, Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland 47: At rural Streator, FCW get the loss to the Rockets on Tuesday night at the Warriors Dome.
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Morris 51, Serena 32: At Morris, the Huskers fell to 23-4 on the season with the road loss.
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Somonauk-Leland 42, Streator 34: At Somonauk, the Bobcats outscored the Bulldogs 14-6 in the third quarter on the way to the victory.
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Newark 47, Putnam County 44: At Newark, the Norsemen pick up the close win over the visiting Panthers.
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Harvest Christian Academy 57, Earlville 25: At Elgin, the Red Raiders dropped the road game to the Lions
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PRO & COLLEGE SPORTS:
The Bulls overcame a 23-point deficit during a 129-123 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at United Center. Chicago visits Memphis tomorrow.
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The Blackhawks return from the All-Star break with a game against the Minnesota Wild at United Center tonight. Tonight’s game starts at 8:30 PM.
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The Winter Classic is returning to Wrigley. ESPN is reporting that the Blackhawks will host the 2025 Winter Classic at the home of the Cubs next season. Chicago will take on the St. Louis Blues in the contest. Wrigley was the host venue for the second Winter Classic game in 2009. It will be Chicago’s first outdoor game since New Year’s Day of 2019.
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The Northwestern Wildcats aim to avoid their third loss in a row when they host Nebraska at Welsh-Ryan Arena tonight. Tonight’s game tips off at 8:00 PM.
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will go for the upset against number-ten Duke when the two teams meet at Cameron Indoor Stadium tonight. Tonight’s game begins at 8:00 PM Central Time.
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Northern Illinois 62, Miami (OH) 59: the Huskies to a Mid-American Conference victory in Oxford, Ohio.
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The Cubs are clearing up a roster space. The team shipped relief pitcher Michael Rucker to Philadelphia in exchange for cash considerations yesterday. Rucker spent the last three seasons in Chicago. He was 2-and-1 with a 4.91 ERA in 35 games last season.