Starting today, Ottawa High School will implement new traffic measures due to the Green Street closure. In the morning, parents will drop off students in front of the school on Main Street, then proceed east and make a left onto Division Street, another left onto Congress, another left at Shabbona, then right onto Main, and return to downtown across the Fox River Bridge. Students driving to school will enter the student parking lot through the new entrance only – it is between Division and Orleans. Once they are in the lot, drivers can proceed to an open parking spot. Students must have a parking tag to park in the student lot. After school, students being picked up will have to walk across the Fox River Main Street Bridge into downtown. Pick-up will be available in the lower lots. Students may access the lower lots by using the Riverwalk under Veterans Bridge. There will not be access to student pick-up on the campus. Ottawa High will end the school day at 2:05 p.m. through August 21st and at 3:06 p.m. beginning August 22nd, with early dismissals as needed. The Green Street and Canal Road closure, part of a project to elevate the roadway out of the flood zone, will last all day until at least November.
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Today marks the start of the school year for freshmen at LaSalle-Peru Township High School, and the implementation of the school’s new electronic device policy, where students will no longer be allowed to have their phones or other messaging devices with them in the classroom during the school day. The school has set up a live telephone operator for emergencies who will be available to assist families during school hours.
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Ottawa Commissioner Marla Pearson has announced that the tennis courts located at Lincoln-Douglas Park on East Norris Drive will be temporarily reserved from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday beginning Monday, August 12th through Friday, August 23rd. The courts will be used for Ottawa High School tennis practice while the tennis court resurfacing project at the OHS campus is being completed. Signs will posted at the L-D courts reminding others of the reservation for the OHS practice times.
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The Marseilles City Council Wednesday night voted on an issue that emerged when the city bought the old Illinois Valley Cellular building in Riverfront Plaza which includes the land that is home to the Middle East Conflicts Wall. The council has decided to continue working with the Marseilles Middle East Tribute Board of Directors for the maintenance of the site. The board will play an oversight role as the City Council retains the right of final decision. Also in play is the museum inside the building that will become the new Marseilles City Hall as well as the new home for the Police Department. Meantime, Phalen Steel continues its’ renovation work on the building. The Marseilles Council approved a $90,000-thousand dollar payment for the latest work to get the building ready for occupancy by the city and police department.
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The La Salle County governmental complex on Etna Road in Ottawa is experiencing flooding and mold issues in the basement, raising concerns about safety for jurors and voters. County officials are awaiting test results and will discuss the matter at a Property Committee meeting on Friday at 9 a.m. Last month, office heads reported unhealthy conditions for workers, prompting further questions about public access suitability. It has been suggested to consider a new courthouse complex due to ongoing structural problems, including poor drainage from an aging rooftop system. Early voting at the complex for the November General Election begins on Thursday, September 26th.
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The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office warns of a new scam where impostors posing as sheriff’s representatives contact individuals via calls, texts, or emails about fake warrants. The sheriff’s office will never reach out this way regarding warrants. If you encounter such a scam, ask for the caller’s name or badge number, and never share your financial information.
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This week, some iPass users in Illinois received scam texts from a 438 area code, falsely claiming they owed money on their accounts. The Illinois Tollway confirmed these messages, which purported to be from “Illinois Tollway Services” and threatened additional fees if an alleged debt was not paid, were phishing attempts. Tollway officials advised recipients to delete these texts and report them. To verify account status, users can check their accounts online at www.illinoistollway.com.
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Illinois continues to expand reproductive rights in the state. Governor Pritzker signed multiple bills designed to further protect reproductive rights in Illinois. The package of bills ensures that pregnant women can access needed emergency medical care, expands Illinois’ shield laws, and clarifies and expands the Illinois Human Rights Act to ban discrimination based on reproductive health decisions. Illinois already passed legislation that shields both providers and patients who travel to Illinois from being punished by states with abortion and gender-affirming care restrictions.
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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is calling on the Sangamon County Sheriff to resign over his handling of the case involving one of his former deputies killing Sonya Massey. Pritzker said that Sheriff Jack Campbell should have taken his leadership role more seriously. He added that he was not pleased with the sheriff’s responses to why ex-Deputy Sean Grayson was hired. The Sangamon County sheriff’s office was the sixth Illinois police department Grayson had worked for in less than four years. Massey’s murder has led to protests across the nation and renewed a conversation over the use of deadly force by police against Black people.
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The McLean County Health Department is reporting the first bird to test positive for the West Nile Virus in the county this year. Officials say the positive sample came from a dead crow in Normal. The health department will begin notifying residents about symptoms to watch out for.
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The 2024 Illinois State Fair kicks off today in Springfield. Performers include Shaboozey, Lil Wayne, Keith Urban, Motley Crue, the Jonas Brothers, the Smashing Pumpkins, and Miranda Lambert. Officials unveiled the treasured Butter Cow yesterday in the Dairy Building on the Fairgrounds. The fair runs through August 18th.
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Shortly after 12:30 Wednesday afternoon, a motorcyclist collided with a deer on East Union Street in Seneca. Seneca Fire and EMS stabilized the injured man and transported him to a nearby church parking lot, where a landing zone was set up for an incoming helicopter. Although the man’s injuries were serious, they are not believed to be life-threatening.
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WEATHER:
Today
Patchy fog before 8 am Otherwise, it is mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind coming northwest around 5 mph in the morning.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 54. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
Paul Anthony Forino, 78, of Ottawa, passed away at 6:15 PM on August 2nd. The funeral service will be held at the Ottawa Funeral Home on Friday, August 9th at 10:00 AM. There will also be a luncheon held at the Knights of Columbus at 11:30 AM following the funeral service.
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Robert “Bob” Edward Smith, 91 of Peru. Passed away peacefully on July 31st, in his home. Visitation will be 10 AM–12 PM on Friday, August 9th, in the Ptak Funeral Home with service to follow. The burial will be at 3 PM Friday, August 9th, at Oakwood Memorial Park in Ottawa. Ptak Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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Evelyn Jakubek Zabawa, formerly of Ottawa, passed away peacefully early Tuesday morning, July 23rd. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 10th, at Ottawa Funeral Home. Liturgy of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM on Saturday, August 10th, at St. Francis of Assisi Church. Burial will follow at Ottawa Cemetery.
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SPORTS:
Our coverage of the Chicago White Sox was cut short yesterday due to a technical issue on the White Sox side. But you didn’t miss much, as it didn’t take long for the Chicago White Sox to find their way back to the loss column. The Southsiders gave up three seventh-inning runs during a 3-2 loss to the Oakland A’s at Oakland Coliseum yesterday. Andrew Benintendi gave Chicago an early lead with a two-run homer in the second, but Touki Toussaint failed to get the job done and was charged with his second loss in relief. The Sox remain in last place in the AL Central at 28-and-89. They begin a series with the Cubs tomorrow night.
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The Chicago Cubs secured a series win with an 8-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Field. The Cubs scored three runs in the third and added two more in the fourth to take early control of the contest. Michael Busch and Ian Happ both went deep in the victory, while Jorge Lopez earned his second win in relief. The Northsiders have won three of four and are now in fourth place in the NL Central at 57-and-60. The Cubs visit the White Sox tomorrow night.
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The Bears are remaining silent on whether Caleb Williams will play against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday in preseason game number two. The rookie quarterback didn’t play in last week’s preseason opener against the Texans. Some believe the health of the offensive line will play a factor in whether he suits up Saturday in Buffalo.