Tonight’s Ottawa City Council workshop session is open to the public. It begins at 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria at Central Intermediate School. The workshop is the result of the City Council’s table at last week’s meeting of a resolution in opposition to a plan by OSF Healthcare to replace St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Ottawa with a smaller hospital across Norris Drive from the current location. In agreeing to table the resolution, the City Council asked for a public workshop meeting of the Council with representatives from OSF Healthcare. Up to one hour of public comment will be included in the agenda after remarks from the Mayor and commissioners followed by remarks from representatives of OSF Healthcare. Responses from representatives of OSF Healthcare will follow the public comment period. It is a working session, so no official action will be taken. The tabled resolution will be voted on at next week’s Ottawa City Council meeting.
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LaSalle County Coroner Rich Ploch has released the identity of a fatality in last Friday’s early-morning accident on Illinois 251 north of Peru near North 36th Road. Autopsy results show 25-year-old Jerome Johnson of Ottawa died of multiple injuries when he was struck by another vehicle after being ejected from the vehicle he occupied. The accident remains under investigation.
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Work is underway on the exit and entrance ramps at the I-80 and Route 47 interchange in Morris. Construction will be done nightly starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 6 a.m. There will be lane closures on the ramps and the project is expected to wrap up by the end of June.
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The General WHL Wallace Memorial Event in Ottawa, IL, slated for May 18-19, 2024, promises two exciting new additions. Attendees on Saturday can access the WHL Wallace Memorial window at Christ Episcopal Church and witness a Civil War-era flag display at the Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum on Sunday. Saturday’s Civil War encampment at the Reddick Mansion offers a glimpse into camp life with re-enactors showcasing various activities. Entry costs $5.00/person and $20.00/family. Sunday features Drew Jessen’s extensive collection of Civil War flags at the Museum, along with guided tours of the private Wallace-Dickey cemetery, shedding light on General Wallace’s history. Tours depart every 30 minutes from 10 am to 3:30 pm, costing $15.00/person and $25.00/family. Proceeds support the cemetery’s wall restoration. For more details visit genwallace.com.
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The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is changing its name in honor of a large donation it received in 2019. The Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry rebranding is in recognition of a 125-million-dollar gift from Ken Griffin, the founder and CEO of Citadel. The change comes after Griffin moved the hedge fund from Chicago to Miami in 2022 after more than 30 years in the Windy City.
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Illinois is paying tribute to firefighters throughout the state. Governor Pritzker and State Fire Marshal James Rivera attended the 31st Annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial and Medal of Honor Ceremony. The event honored and remembered five fallen firefighters and recognized those who went above and beyond their duties at the 31st Annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial and Medal of Honor Ceremony. Eight firefighters were awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest award given by the State of Illinois to a firefighter for an act of outstanding bravery or heroism.
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The state of Illinois is remembering an Aurora Firefighter Recruit who died in the line of duty. Governor Pritzker has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff from May 22nd through May 24th in remembrance of Cristian Medrano. The 27-year-old died unexpectedly on April 12h.
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An Illinois State Police trooper is recovering following a crash on I-55 in Will County. Authorities say the trooper’s stationary squad car was hit by a Toyota Corolla Monday night north of Route 59. The trooper was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Corolla, Asante Williams, was cited for the Move Over Law, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident, and Improper Lane Usage.
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DePaul University is canceling its 2024 FEST as pro-Palestinian protesters continue to gather on campus. The cancellation of the annual end-of-school-year music festival comes days after the university announced that negotiations with the demonstrators have stalled. FEST 2024 was scheduled to be held Friday on the quad, where the pro-Palestinian encampment encampment has been since April 30th.
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WEATHER:
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Northeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
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Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind 5 to 10 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Karl Laxfoss Howardson Jr, 55, of Seneca went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 7th, after a brief illness. A Celebration of Life for Karl Laxfoss Howardson Jr will be at Osborne-Nelson Funeral Home in Seneca, today. Visitation is from 9-11 am today, and the service for Karl Laxfoss Howardson Jr is at 11 am with full military honors to follow.
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Lori Ann Girard, 53, of Ottawa, passed away Wednesday, May 8th, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Visitation for Lori Ann Girard will be on Thursday, May 16th, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony for Lori Ann Girard will be held on Friday, May 17th, at 10:00 am at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial for Lori Ann Girard will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park.
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Carl Edward “Higgins” Dimmick, Jr., 64, of Ottawa, passed away on Tuesday, May 7th, at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral services for Carl Edward “Higgins” Dimmick, Jr will be private. Arrangements for Carl Edward “Higgins” Dimmick, Jr have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Thomas George Hughes, 60, of Ottawa, passed away on Wednesday, May 1st, at his home in Ottawa. A private burial took place for Thomas George Hughes at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa for the service.
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SPORTS:
Baseball
Ottawa 7, Streator 6:
Newark 6, Somonauk 5: At Newark
Indian Creek 8, Earlville 5:
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Softball
Seneca 15, Iroquois West 0 (4 inn.): At Seneca
Newark 8, Yorkville Christian 0: At Newark
St. Bede 14, Hall 0 (5 inn.):
Geneseo 15, La Salle-Peru 13:
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The Chicago White Sox picked up a win and a loss during their doubleheader against the Washington Nationals at Guaranteed Rate Field. In game one, the Sox fell 6-3. Eloy Jimenez homered in the losing effort, while John Brebbia was charged with the loss in relief. In game two, the White Sox blanked the Nationals 4-0. Andrew Vaughn drove in all four of Chicago’s runs with a three-run home run in the third inning and a solo homer in the eighth. Erick Fedde dominated his former team with seven innings of no-run ball and six strikeouts, improving to 4-and-0 in the process. The White Sox are still at the bottom of the AL Central at 13-and-30. Garrett Crochet mans the rubber for the Southsiders against Washington this afternoon.
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The Chicago Cubs were shut out for the second game in a row during a 7-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. The Cubs had just three hits in the losing effort, with Patrick Wisdom providing the club’s only extra-base hit with a double. Jameson Taillon was charged with his first loss after surrendering seven runs on seven hits in four innings. The Northsiders remain in second place in the NL Central at 24-and-19. Javier Assad starts for the Cubs against Atlanta tonight.
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The Chicago Sky begin the 2024 WNBA season with a game against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center tonight. The Sky are looking to get back into the postseason for the sixth season in a row. They finished 18-and-22 last season, losing to Las Vegas in the First Round of the playoffs. Tonight’s game tips off at 7:00 PM.
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The Chicago Blackhawks are facing a sexual harassment and fraud lawsuit. Former team employee Nina Sanders filed a lawsuit yesterday against the club. Sanders alleges that the team used her to create relationships with Native American organizations because of her Native American heritage. Once the relationships were formed, Sanders said that she was let go. Sanders also says that she was sexually harassed by another worker within the organization, adding that her reports to the team went unnoticed. The Blackhawks released a statement saying that the team investigated her claims of sexual harassment and found them to be unsubstantiated.