Category Archives: WCMY News
Green St. to be closed Thursday to prepare for major project
Green St. from Chapel St. to Canal Rd. will be closed Thursday for tree removal. Ottawa City Commissioner Marla Pearson says that's so a contractor can remove trees ahead of the project to elevate Gre...
Mar 15, 2023 WCMY file photo of Green St. in Ottawa during a flood. The city plans to raise the street above the floodplain and have a passage to let water flow under it.
Arts of Starved Rock Country fund application period opens
If you represent an arts organization that might need money this year, you can start applying to the Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund. Starved Rock Country Community Foundation President Pamela Becke...
Mar 15, 2023
Election judges still needed in LaSalle County
LaSalle County Clerk Jennifer Ebner needs about four dozen more election judges. She has a lot more Democrats than Republicans on her list now, so to balance the numbers, she'd like 40 Republicans and...
Mar 14, 2023
Longtime Ottawa resident honored in hometown Grandview for long career as lawyer and judge
A building in Grandview, Illinois is now named for Justice Robert L. Carter of Ottawa. Carter grew up in the village now surrounded by the state's capital city. The village's municipal building is ren...
Mar 14, 2023
SMH closure affecting Peru Fire Department; mayor says city hasn't forgotten
Peru Fire Chief Jeff King says the closure of St. Margaret's Hospital is staring to affect the fire department. He told the city council last Saturday a couple was ringing the fire station doorbell be...
Mar 14, 2023
Ottawa mayoral candidates questioned on TIF's, outsourcing, tourism, canal, more
Is Ottawa borrowing too much money? The three candidates for mayor answered that question at a candidate forum at Central School tonight. Robb Hasty says yes. He says there's been a rush to spend mone...
Mar 13, 2023 Ottawa mayoral candidates, left to right: incumbent Dan Aussem, Len Newell, Robb Hasty
LaSalle County buying Oglesby building for coroner's office
LaSalle County Coroner Rich Ploch asked for more office space and he'll get it in Oglesby. The County Board today approved buying a former medical building for $250,000 from St. Margaret's Health. Plo...
Mar 13, 2023
Kentucky coffee tree in Catlin Park not named tallest in the state; but it's being reconsidered
A Kentucky coffee tree located in Catlin Park could've been the tallest one in the state. But right now it's not according to the University of Illinois. Parks Director Ken Henze says the university d...
Mar 13, 2023 CircaSassy / CC
Bids being looked at for downtown LaSalle County Courthouse fire escape painting
It could cost only $39,500 for the fire escapes on the downtown LaSalle County Courthouse in Ottawa to be repainted. The LaSalle County Board Property Committee expected the project to cost $116,000. ...
Mar 13, 2023
Local landmark status considered for downtown Ottawa building
If one building in downtown Ottawa gets recognition for being historic, should others? Ottawa Community Development Specialist Tami Koppen asked that question at a Historic Preservation Commission mee...
Mar 13, 2023 The Knuessl Building on W. Main St. in downtown Ottawa