A follow-up to the story we had yesterday on WCMY. A 38-year-old man from Oswego, identified as Albert Cramer, fell to his death at Illinois Canyon in Starved Rock State Park last Saturday. No foul play is suspected, and an autopsy conducted by the La Salle County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Cramer died from injuries sustained in the fall. Cramer, who was part of a group that ventured into a restricted area on the upper bluff of the canyon, fell about 55 feet. The incident is under investigation by the La Salle County Coroner’s Office, Illinois Conservation Police Department, and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
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The $1.2 million project to improve Allen Park is almost finished and should be completed around mid-September. The $1.1 million improvement plan at Peck Park is also close to completion. The Allen Park project is focusing on making the park less vulnerable to flooding due to its location near the Illinois and Fox rivers. The plans for Allen Park also include installing benches, bench swings, shelters, new sidewalks, and a quarter-mile hiking trail. The Peck Park paving and concrete renovations for the tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts, splash pad, and parking lot expansion are complete. Crews are currently installing playground equipment, and the project should be finished in about three weeks.
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State Representative Bradley Fritts, R-Dixon, has announced his 2024 Summer Tour events. The tour will include traveling office hours and coffee and conversation sessions at local coffee shops and restaurants from now to August 30. Notable sessions include an event at Ziggie’s Family Restaurant in Mendota on Wednesday, August 21, from 8 to 10 a.m., and office hours at the Earlville city building on Thursday, August 15, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
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OSF HealthCare is hosting a blood drive on July 31st from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the OSF Medical Group parking lot in Peru. To schedule an appointment, call (800) 747-5401 or visit www.bloodcenter.org. Donors must be 17 or older (or 16 with parental permission), weigh at least 110 lbs., and be in good health.
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Sonya Massey’s father and others are demanding the resignation of Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell after former deputy Sean Grayson shot and killed Massey in her own home. Grayson’s troubled history, including two DUI convictions and a discharge from the U.S. Army for serious misconduct, has led to calls for his resignation. The union representing the county’s deputies wants Grayson reinstated and fully compensated. Meanwhile, Grayson faces murder and other charges.
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Chicago is preparing for this year’s Lollapalooza at Grant Park this week. The festival starts Thursday and runs through Sunday. Several road closures will begin today and run through the end of the annual festival. All of this year’s street closures and more information can be found on the Lollapalooza website.
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Illinois is working to improve access to pre and post-natal care in order to close the maternal health gap. Governor Pritzker signed the Birth Equity Initiative into law. The bill is designed to ensure competitive Medicaid reimbursement rates for community-based care providers who help new mothers before, after, and during birth. The maternal mortality gap refers to data that shows Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.
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Illinois is expanding Medicaid coverage. The expansion was made possible after the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved the state’s application to amend and extend an existing waiver to include services newly-eligible for federal Medicaid match. As a result, Illinois will soon provide assistance designed to address root causes of health disparities. That includes housing and food insecurity, and helping individuals transition from incarceration.
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Governor Pritzker doesn’t believe a deal for a new taxpayer-funded Bears stadium in Chicago will get done this year. The governor says talks will probably have to wait until next spring. Pritzker added that the team has yet to make a proposal that he believes would be acceptable to lawmakers. The governor has repeatedly expressed his reluctance to use public funds to build private stadiums.
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Work is underway on Illinois Route 71 in Kendall County. Crews are reconstructing more than four miles of Route 71, from Orchard Road in Oswego to Illinois Route 126 in Yorkville. The nearly 33-million-dollar project will reconstruct Route 71 from a two to a four-lane highway with a raised median. It is scheduled to be completed in late 2026.
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LaSalle County Deputies investigated a single-vehicle accident involving 24-year-old Ashley Erwin of Bureau, IL. Erwin was driving west on RT 351, attempted to make a left turn onto RT 251, and struck a stop sign with the front right corner of her vehicle. No injuries were reported.
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LaSalle County Deputies cited 47-year-old Robert Morales of Sheridan for disobeying a stop sign and having no valid registration during a traffic stop at the intersection of RT 71 and RT 52 in Mission Township.
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Deputies stopped Jennifer Rivera, 30, of Montgomery, IL at RT 23 and RT 34 in Adams Township on Friday, July 26 at 10:49 a.m. She was cited for disobeying a stop sign.
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Robert Brust, a 45-year-old from Oglesby, was sentenced to three years in prison on Friday in Ottawa after pleading guilty to felony DUI and driving with a revoked license. Brust was arrested in November 2022 for these offenses and has a prior record in La Salle County that includes charges of burglary, forgery, and drug possession.
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WEATHER:
Tuesday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Heat index values as high as 98. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 10pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
John R. “Slim” Sipula, 57, of Ottawa, passed away on Sunday, July 28th, at his home. Private services will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Helen Newcomb, 78, of Ottawa, passed away Sunday, July 28th, at her daughter’s home surrounded by her loving family. Visitation for Helen Newcomb will be on Thursday, August 1, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A rosary for Helen Newcomb will be said by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas at 9:30 am on Friday, August 2nd, at Ottawa Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial for Helen Newcomb will follow at 10:30 am at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. The burial for Helen Newcomb will be in St. Columba Cemetery.
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Linda Kay (Larimer) Lindeman, 81, of Ottawa, passed away on Thursday, July 18th, at OSF St. Elizabeth in Ottawa. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:40 a.m. on Saturday, August 3rd, at the First Presbyterian Church in Ottawa. Visitation FOR Linda Kay (Larimer) Lindeman will be before the service starting at 10:10 a.m. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Charles “Art” Barth, 79, of Ottawa, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 25th, at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa. Memorial services for Charles “Art” Barth will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 3rd, at the Mueller Funeral Home. Burial for Charles “Art” Barth will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at the funeral home before the service.
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Mrs. Virgine “Jean” (Powell) Johnson, age 81, of Ottawa, died in her home, surrounded by family, on Saturday, June 8th. Visitation for Virgine “Jean” (Powell) Johnson will begin at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 3rd, followed by a funeral service at 11:00 AM at Crossbridge Community Church. Interment for Virgine “Jean” (Powell) Johnson will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home is honored to serve the Johnson family.
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Evelyn Jakubek Zabawa, formerly of Ottawa, IL, passed away peacefully early Tuesday morning, July 23rd, in Kennewick. Evelyn’s visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 10th, at Ottawa Funeral Home. Evelyn’s Zabawa Liturgy of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM on Saturday, August 10th, at St. Francis of Assisi Church. Evelyn’s burial will follow at Ottawa Cemetery.
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SPORTS:
The Chicago White Sox are on a 15-game losing streak following an 8-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field. The Sox led by three entering the top of the eighth before Kansas City scored six runs. John Brebbia fell to 0-and-6 after giving up three runs in one-third of an inning out of the bullpen. Andrew Vaughn hit his 12th home run in the losing effort. The Southsiders are at the bottom of the AL Central at 27-and-82. Jonathan Cannon starts for Chicago against Kansas City tonight.
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The Chicago White Sox are having a fire sale leading up to today’s trade deadline. The Southsiders completed a three-team deal with the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday. The Sox sent starting pitcher Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham to St. Louis, and they shipped reliever Michael Kopech off to the Dodgers. Chicago received infielder Miguel Vargas and infield prospects Jeral Perez and Alexander Albertus to complete the deal. Vargas is hitting .239 with three home runs and nine RBI this season.
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The White Sox are in the record books. The Southsiders broke a team record for consecutive losses in a season with 15 after the defeat to the Royals. The Sox also fell 54 games under .500 for the first time since 1932. The 27-and-82 White Sox have a .250 winning percentage, which is equal to that of the 1962 New York Mets, who went 40-and-120.
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The Chicago Cubs had just three hits during a 7-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Reds scored the first seven runs of the game before Michael Busch hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth. Jameson Taillon was charged with his sixth loss after giving up six runs on six hits in four-and-a-third innings. The Cubs are in last place in the NL Central at 51-and-57. Justin Steele starts for the Northsiders against Cincinnati tonight.
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The Chicago Blackhawks are bringing back a pair of players. The Hawks signed defensemen Isaak Phillips and Louis Crevier to one-year deals yesterday. Phillips had six assists in 33 games with Chicago last season, while Crevier finished with three assists in 24 appearances.