Category Archives: WCMY News
Retirements bring new LaSalle County animal control team
There's a new animal control team in LaSalle County. Sheriff's Deputy Doug Goebel is now the Animal Control Officer. His administrative assistant is Elizabeth Linowski. Gary Wind retired from the anim...
Apr 30, 2022 Now retired Animal Control Officer Gary Wind and also retired Administrative Assistant Sharon Christy. LaSalle County Sheriff's Dept. photo from Facebook
Coroner warns of animal tranqulizer in street blends of drugs
LaSalle County Coroner Rich Ploch says street drugs are getting more dangerous as people mix more dangerous things with the opioids they sell. He says the county has had five overdose deaths linked to...
Apr 30, 2022
White Oak Tree planted at Central Intermediate School for Arbor Day
The Ottawa Tree Board celebrated the 150th year of Arbor Day by planting a tree at Central Intermediate School Friday. Chairmen Brent Barron spoke in front of students next to the baseball field along...
Apr 30, 2022
Convicted--Donald Fredres faces life sentence
Judge H. Chris Ryan doesn't have any leeway when he sentences 38-year old Donald Fredres for murder. The law says Fredres must get a life sentence at a hearing scheduled for July 1st. The only other o...
Apr 29, 2022 Don Fredres, 38, Sandwich, accused of killing his former in-laws in their Sheridan home walks into the courtroom at the La Salle County Government Complex on Thursday, April 28, 2022 in Ottawa. Shaw Media photo for LaSalle County courts coverage pool
Committee recommends $100 per meeting for county board member pay
The LaSalle County Board Salary and Labor Committee is recommending $100 per meeting as the pay for board members starting in December. That would be a change from $60 per day on meeting days. Someone...
Apr 29, 2022 WCMY file photo of a LaSalle County Board meeting. In this one in June 2021, people who wanted LaSalle County's parks to stay open showed up to make their feelings known.
New memorial marker in Marseilles honors laborer who died and creation of a union
An Illinois Historical Society roadside marker has been unveiled in Marseilles. Laborers Local 393 held an event for the unveiling of the marker with several guest speakers like Mayor Jim Hollenbeck a...
Apr 29, 2022
State rests; defense calls no witnesses in Sheridan murder case
In his interview with police, the jurors heard Donald Fredres's own description of how he shot Gregory and Brenda Barnes. Fredres also mentioned how he shot Greg Barnes first. He told detectives durin...
Apr 28, 2022 Don Fredres, 38, Sandwich,
DNA on gun came from Fredres; forensic analyst can't say who fired it
Donald Fredres's DNA was on the gun linked to the murders of 62-year olds Brenda and Gregory Barnes. The forensic analyst who testified about that this morning said she couldn't determine when the DNA...
Apr 28, 2022
Health department asks for COVID relief funds for security upgrades
Among the projects LaSalle County Board members are considering spending COVID-relief funds on is a security improvement at the county health department. Director Julie Kerestes would like safety glas...
Apr 28, 2022
IVCC board approves new computer purchases as part of an annual plan
The Illinois Valley Community College Board approved spending about $453,000 to purchase new computers through Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds. It will include 350 desktops, 80 faculty laptops...
Apr 28, 2022