Beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, March 11, the 600 block of West Jefferson Street, situated between Chestnut and Sycamore Streets, will be inaccessible to through traffic due to sewer repair works overseen by the City of Ottawa contractors. However, residents of the affected block will maintain access to their properties throughout the repair process. Should the repairs extend beyond Monday, the block will reopen temporarily to through traffic by day’s end, only to close again on Tuesday morning. Completion of the repairs is anticipated by the end of Tuesday, thereby restoring regular traffic flow.
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Starting Monday, expect construction and one-lane roads in western Starved Rock Country as the Illinois Department of Transportation kicks off a two-year, nearly $37 million resurfacing project spanning almost ten miles of I-80 in Bureau County. This extensive endeavor will involve repairing bridges and culverts from the Bureau-Henry County line to the east of the Illinois 40 interchange. Initially focusing on the eastbound lanes, workers aim to complete this phase by late fall, with eastbound traffic diverted onto westbound lanes during construction. The following year will see a reversal of traffic flow. Motorists navigating this zone should anticipate delays and intermittent stops.
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Next week, Ottawa’s population will grow by three as the Khudaverdiiev family—Arif (49), Parvana (16), and Alekber (18)—arrives from a refugee camp in Germany, escaping war-torn Ukraine. With support from the Ottawa chapter of Welcome NST and the community, they’ll land in Chicago on March 12th, aiming to reach Ottawa by dinnertime if all goes smoothly. Despite language barriers, efforts are underway to integrate them, from securing housing to finding employment. The community’s generosity and assistance are crucial as they begin rebuilding their lives in safety. You can hear Karen Rhodes full interview with Ottawa Welcome director Jordan Johnson about this family on the WCMY Soundcloud page.
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Oglesby acquired a state-of-the-art 2024 Pierce Freightliner tanker boasting a capacity of 3,000 gallons of water, complemented by a powerful pump capable of emitting 1,000 gallons per minute. This new addition marks a significant upgrade from its predecessor, a 1994 vehicle lacking a pump system. The procurement of this $432,000 asset was made feasible through a $200,000 grant from the La Salle County Board, utilizing funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Additionally, the Oglesby Fire Protection District contributed $200,000 towards the acquisition, with the remaining portion financed by the city of Oglesby.
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Local non-profit organizations gathered at Peru City Hall on Thursday in response to an invitation extended by GAF, the roofing manufacturer newly established north of Peru, to introduce its “Community Matters” program. Plant Manager Gary Ashley addressed a full council chamber, outlining the company’s commitment to community engagement. GAF’s initiatives include compensating employees for volunteer work, offering roofing training programs, and providing materials for eligible projects. Interested parties can reach out to Erin Moultray, GAF’s administrative assistant, to initiate discussions with the Peru manufacturer.
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Illinois’ exceptional agricultural educators, dedicated to nurturing student passions, were honored as finalists for the Golden Owl Award by Illinois FFA, Illinois Association for Vocational Agriculture Teachers, Compeer Financial, Farm Credit Illinois, and Nationwide. Nominations were accepted from Sept. 1 to Nov. 15, with Joe Steffen of Newark named District 2 finalist for 2023-2024. Each finalist received a personalized plaque and a $500 check. They now vie for the title of Illinois Ag Educator of the Year, which comes with an additional $3,000 prize and the prestigious Golden Owl Award trophy, sponsored by Nationwide.
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U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, announced $12,662,536 in Community Project Funding secured for Illinois’s 14th District in the 2024 appropriations bills. The funding, addressing pressing needs, includes projects in Ottawa, La Salle, and Newark totaling $1,869,000. Ottawa will receive $1 million for rural health care infrastructure, La Salle $500,000 for a new water well, and Newark $369,000 for water tank rehabilitation. Underwood highlighted the importance of these investments in improving emergency response, water accessibility, and public health. She emphasized the positive impact on the community’s safety and economic development. Underwood also commended the removal of controversial policies from the bills, focusing on enhancing community safety, combating inflation, and supporting the economy.
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This week, members of the Pro-tech union at the Illinois Department of Transportation are poised to vote on a proposed agreement with the State. J.P. Fyans III, President of the Teamsters Local 916, indicated that in the event of a vote against the agreement, the union would seek to reopen negotiations. While specifics of the agreement were not disclosed by Fyans, it’s understood that discussions primarily revolved around wage matters and the exclusive utilization of state insurance by union members. Pro-tech encompasses surveyors, engineers, and technicians, including those situated in our region, though there’s no information provided regarding other unions representing road maintenance personnel.
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Streator City Council greenlit two applications on Wednesday to secure an extra $90,000 for its downtown facade grant initiative, alongside a $5,000 allocation for enhancing lighting in Central Park. The city aims to expand its downtown facade grant program by leveraging grant funds from La Salle County’s American Rescue Plan Act, with an application window open until March 15. Should Streator secure ARPA funding, it plans to offer six more grants, prioritizing downtown businesses to revamp storefronts in a pre-1950s style, bolstering a program that has already transformed the downtown area significantly since its inception in 2014. City Engineer Jeremy Palm noted one available facade grant in the 2024 budget, with two pending applications and two on file, potentially delaying approval until 2025 without additional funding. Additionally, Streator applied for $5,000 from ComEd’s Green Regions program for Central Park lighting and security upgrades, after an unsuccessful attempt in 2022. If granted, the city intends to install three globe light fixtures and security cameras, with a required matching grant contribution.
In other Streator news, from Monday, March 11, to Saturday, March 16th, the Streator Public Library premises will undergo renovations, necessitating closure to the public during this period. However, patrons can still access curbside services for material pickup and printing/copying by contacting the library.
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Less than half of Illinois hospitals are fully transparent regarding their pricing, according to a new report. Parents-Rights-Advocate-dot-org says only about 34 percent of hospitals in the state comply with a law requiring prices to be posted online. Many facilities have incomplete lists, or none at all. The same procedures at one hospital could be many times higher than at a different one, the report notes. The full list can be found at Hospital-Pricing-Files-dot-org.
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It’s the latest sign of the times. One Illinois lawmaker wants a new law to deal with AI campaign ads. Democrat Abdelnasser Rashid wants to make it a misdemeanor to manipulate video, audio, or pictures to mislead voters. He says AI can make people think they’ve seen something that never happened. There is a carve-out that would allow AI commercials as long as the commercials tell people the video has been tampered with. The proposal would make AI campaign commercials a felony after the third violation.
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Chicago’s first Inspector General Alexander Vroustouris is dead. He passed in Melbourne, Florida, from injuries suffered in a fall. Vroustouris was named by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1989 to the post of inspector general. He is credited with uncovering a drug-selling ring at City Hall, followed by charges that Skyway workers pocked tolls. Vroustouris resigned in 2005 and went to work with the Cook County state’s attorney’s office as an assistant state’s attorney
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A 42-year-old middle school teacher and wrestling coach from South Elgin, Kevin D. Lee, faces charges including burglary, sexual exploitation of a child, and grooming, as per the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office. Allegedly, Lee entered a locker room at the Norris Rec. Center in St. Charles without authority and made an inappropriate comment to a child. Currently detained in the Kane County Jail in St. Charles, Lee is scheduled to appear in court later this month.
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Several people face retail theft charges after arrests by Ottawa Police at Wal-Mart. 43-year-old Amy M. West of Odell and 23-year-old Destiny M. West of Streator were arrested Thursday. 32-year-old Anthony Hildy of Marseilles was arrested on Sunday.
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Ryan Mlady of Ottawa was arrested at an apartment on Hitt Street Saturday and charged with domestic battery.
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A traffic stop by Ottawa Police Sunday at Chestnut and Marquette Streets resulted in several charges for 29-year-old Tyler R. Arnold Ottawa. Arnold was cited for driving on a suspended license, operating a vehicle with suspended registration and no insurance, and illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.