The investigation continues into a gunshot fired Wednesday night after 8:30 p.m. near the lower parking lot just west of the north end of Veterans Bridge in downtown Ottawa. A news release Friday morning from the Ottawa Police Department said a call came into 9-1-1 of a gunshot being heard near the carnival area. After responding, police collected evidence along with witness statements and a video of the incident, which allowed officers to develop a person of interest. Thursday, Ottawa Police arrested the male juvenile person of interest in the 200 block of 18th Ave. in Naplate, in connection with the reported gunshot. The male juvenile was also wanted on a LaSalle County probation violation warrant at the time of the arrest. The male juvenile was taken to the LaSalle County Detention Home on the probation violation warrant along with additional charges for Reckless Discharge of a Firearm and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 21. Additional charges may be pending as the investigation into the incident is ongoing. A juvenile detention hearing is being scheduled. The single gunshot into the air is believed to be an isolated incident and there were no reported injuries. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Ottawa Police Department detective division.
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No injuries in a two-vehicle accident last Thursday afternoon after 3 p.m. in Dimmick Township. LaSalle County Deputies say 30-year-old Austin Spoor of Arlington was westbound on N 33rd Rd. when his vehicle was struck by 24-year-old Renee Cardenas of Mendota who was northbound on E 3rd Rd. Cardenas was ticketed for disobeying a stop sign.
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Ottawa Police arrested 45-year-old Damien J. Spandet of Spring Valley at the Ottawa Wal-Mart Thursday on a charge of retail theft. He was released with a notice to appear in court.
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Illinois’ unemployment rate is up slightly. The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s jobless rate went up 0.1% last month to 4.9%. Non-farm payroll jobs increased by more than 12,000 in April.
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Streator Police arrested a man this morning in the 1000 block of Lundy St. in Streator for disorderly conduct. 34-year-old Gregory S. Longoria of Streator was given a notice to appear in LaSalle County court.
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LaSalle County Deputies conducted a traffic stop in E 2089th RD and E 2153rd Rd. in Dayton Township on Saturday at approximately 12:04 a.m. The driver, 26-year-old Dylan Thomas, of Serena, IL was arrested for driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. Dylan also has a warrant out of LaSalle Country for driving with a suspended license and four out of Kane County; one being for non-consensual dissemination of private sexual images and three for violation of an order of protection. Dylan was also charged with aggravated DUI (previous suspension for DUI) and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (possession of a firearm with a suspended FOID). Dylan is currently being held at the LaSalle County Jail on his outstanding warrants and charges.
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Illinois men’s basketball is adding a top recruit for next season. Will Riley announced his commitment to the Illini and officially signed his letter of intent yesterday. The six-foot-nine, five-star wing from Canada reclassified to the 2024 class and will suit up for Illinois next season. Riley chose the Illini over Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky and professional opportunities.
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Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain is back on after being vandalized over the weekend in an apparent protest against the ongoing war in Gaza. The Chicago Park District announced yesterday that the iconic fountain located in Grant Park was fully operational after being closed for a day to be drained. Officials say the vandalism happened Friday night into Saturday morning. The water in the fountain was dyed red and Pro-Palestinian graffiti was also discovered in and around the fountain.
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Authorities are investigating a shooting in Peoria. Police say officers located a man with a gunshot wound early Friday in the 21-hundred block of North Linn. Investigators learned that there was an altercation between the man and a woman inside of an apartment that resulted in the man being shot and the woman suffered significant injuries during the struggle. Both remain hospitalized.
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Work begins today to permanently remove the Nettle Creek Road bridge over I-80 in Grundy County. The bridge is located about one mile west of the Seneca interchange. The one-point-three-million-dollar project is expected to be completed next Thursday.
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WEATHER
Today
Patchy fog before 8 a.m. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 88. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
A 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
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SPORTS
White Sox Get Crushed By Tigers
The Chicago White Sox continued their pathetic season with an 11-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park yesterday. The Southsiders gave up five runs in the first and four in the second to dig themselves into an early hole. Nicky Lopez had two hits and two RBI in the losing effort, while Jonathan Cannon allowed five earned runs and three unearned runs on seven hits in an inning-plus. Chicago is in fifth place in the AL Central at 21-and-58. Garrett Crochet starts for the Sox against the Dodgers tonight.
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Cubs Fall To Giants
The Chicago Cubs surrendered three home runs during a 5-2 loss to the New York Mets at Wrigley Field. New York scored three runs in the top of the third, and the Cubs trailed the rest of the way. Christopher Morel homered in the losing effort, and Javier Assad was charged with his third loss after surrendering four runs on seven hits in four-and-a-third innings. The Northsiders are in fourth place in the NL Central at 37-and-41. Justin Steele starts for the Cubs against San Francisco tonight.
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Sky Come Back To Defeat Fever
The Chicago Sky overcame a 15-point second-half lead during an 88-87 win over the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena. Chicago outscored Indiana 24-15 in the final quarter, and Angel Reese put the Sky up for good with a lay-up in the last minute of regulation. Reese poured in 25 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, while Chennedy Carter finished with 23 points. Chicago is tied for seventh place in the WNBA at 6-and-9. The Sky host the Aces on Thursday.
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Fire Get Extinguished By Orlando City
The Chicago Fire FC surrendered three first-half goals during a 4-2 loss to Orlando City at Inter&Co Stadium on Saturday. The Fire trailed by three at halftime before Maren Haile-Selassie and Hugo Cuypers both scored to get within two goals. Chicago is in last place in the Eastern Conference with four wins, six draws, and nine losses for 18 points. The Fire visit Seattle next Saturday.