La Salle County

Seneca Paxton Giertz, the reigning two-time Times Boys Basketball Player of the Year, has signed to play basketball and continue his education at Hillsdale College in Michigan. The Chargers are a NCAA Division II program and member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

OSB Community Bank and its employees donated to the United Way of Eastern La Salle County.

Derek Hornick cut a deal Friday that didn’t end all his legal troubles – he still faces up to 30 years for drugs – but which at least got him out of La Salle County Jail. He lasted four days.

One of the suspects in the COVID-19 relief scams still awaits a trial setting. James Forbes might have to first settle his lingering gun and drug charges from 2022.

For a kid who grew up just blocks from “White Sox park” in Chicago, baseball terms have a way of sneaking into my thoughts, especially when I reflect on life.

State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, announced her committee assignments and her continued role as Deputy Minority Leader for the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus.

The La Salle County Home and Community Education Association is offering a scholarship to provide some financial assistance to a La Salle County graduating high school senior, someone previously graduated, or anyone with a GED.

A 78-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene of a commercial fire Tuesday afternoon in Sheridan.

I understand the concept of “haters gonna hate” but I don’t always understand the reason. Most times it just comes off as sour grapes.

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday and returned the following indictments.

A 27-year-old Streator man was cited on a complaint of DUI following a two-vehicle crash Monday morning in Grand Ridge.

Marquette sophomore Griffin Dobberstein took a message to heart, scored a game-high 22 points, including six 3-pointers, to help the No. 6-seeded Crusaders top No. 3-seeded Woodland 58-46 in Tuesday's quarterfinals of the 98th Tri-County Conference Tournament in Granville.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police have a valuable tool for winter rescues on the icy Illinois, Fox and Vermilion rivers.

Students in third through fifth grades from Ottawa and Streator high school feeder schools will benefit from a $1,000 SRCCF community grant.

The University of Illinois Extension will be hosting an in-person watch party for the next Calling Frog Survey training from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, at the La Salle County Extension Office.

The Ottawa girls basketball team, after a tough first half shooting, used defense to create offense in the second half of Monday's 48-36 victory over Sandwich at Kingman Gymnasium.

Once while waiting for a train in the quaint Princeton depot, I noticed a large, middle-aged man knitting a maroon sock of fine wool, needles gently clicking. 

Nell’s Woodland and the University of Illinois Extension invites the community to attend a Winter Birding event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Nell’s Woodland, 2000 Alexis Ave., Ottawa.

Steven J. Brown of Ladd assumed the top job of Worshipful Master, as St. John’s Lodge No. 13 Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Peru held its 184th annual installation of officers during an open ceremony on Saturday at the Peru Masonic Center.

La Salle County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) announced a leadership transition. Kevin Nelson will serve as interim executive director.

Because of outstanding ticket requests, Stage 212 in La Salle has added two performances of its winter musical, “Tarzan,” with shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8.

Lawyers for Chester Weger have termed it a “mini-trial” and said they’ll introduce evidence, not available decades ago, showing Weger was wrongly convicted of murder. The mini-trial begins May 12.

The Voluntary Action Center of La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam counties has a new home at the former Peru Pizza House, 1702 Fourth St. in Peru, the nonprofit said in a Friday news release.

The Illinois Valley Quilts of Valor group will host its National Sewing Day for Quilts of Valor from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at the Princeton Moose Lodge, 1339 N. Euclid St.

The Serena girls basketball team defeated Hinckley-Big Rock 50-41 in Friday's Little Ten Conference Tournament title game at Earlville. It's the fourth consecutive championship for the Huskers.

Seneca sank 14 3-pointers, 10 in the first half, to blow away Roanoke-Benson in a Tri-County Conference showdown.

Fueled by fast starts to both halves, the Streator Bulldogs remained unbeaten in ICE Conference play with a 50-36 triumph over Reed-Custer.

The St. Bede girls basketball team used a 9-0 burst to start the fourth quarter in a 49-38 victory over Marquette in Thursday's championship game of the Tri-County Conference Tournament in Roanoke.

Was it a firecracker or a gunshot heard last summer at Hi-Tide Campground near Leland? A Streator man needs a judge to believe it was a firecracker or he could face prison.

By the end of February, employees at Horizon House will have to bundle up and load the moving vans, maybe when it’s bitter cold and snowing. And they can’t wait to get started.

Illinois Valley PADS is pleased to announce a $10,000 contribution by Midland States Bank. The grant, provided by the Midland States Bank Foundation, will support Illinois Valley PADS Ottawa Building Fund.

Chase away the winter chills with a bowl of soup.

The first history lecture of 2025 will be 2 p.m. Sunday Jan. 26, at the Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum, 1100 Canal St.

Enjoy a day on the slopes and trails at these downhill and cross-country skiing locations in the suburbs and northwest Illinois.

Peru's Johnny Derango is the cinematographer on Mel Gibson's new film, 'Flight Risk,' out on Friday.

The Woodland boys basketball team - with senior guard Connor Dodge surpassing 1,000th career points - used a huge third quarter to top Serena 61-58 on Al Stegman Court on Wednesday night.

There are complicated shows that scare off community theater companies. “West Side Story” and “A Chorus Line,” for example, are tricky to stage. But when has Stage 212 in La Salle ever shrunk from a challenge?

One of the Jan. 6 protesters pardoned on Monday is a La Salle County man who served part of an 18-month sentence.

With cold temperatures predicted Tuesday morning, schools in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties are taking precautions to keep students safe.

Newly inaugurated state Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, introduced her first bill, which she said aims to investigate the challenges facing rural health care.

The following events in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties have been cancelled, and these businesses and organizations will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.

While a new hospital is going to be built; why not build one that can service as many needs as possible of the local area?

Who am I? It is a pivotal question I am searching to answer even in my later years.

Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging and its Community Focal Points in its 10-county area, which includes La Salle, Bureau, Putnam counties, saved its clients a total of $4,338,014 during this year’s Medicare Open Enrollment.

The Illinois Valley Democrats are scheduled to meet 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan 23, at La Salle VFW, 2325 Donahue St.

La Salle County Sheriff Adam Diss will award one scholarship in the amount of $500.

Ottawa senior Marlie Orlandi scored 11 of her game-high 27 points in the opening quarter to help jumpstart the Pirates to a 55-48 Interstate 8 Conference victory over Morris on Saturday at Kingman Gymnasium.

Sycamore senior guard Unique Shaw netted eight of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to help the Spartans hold off visiting Ottawa 48-42 in Friday's Interstate 8 Conference game.

The Streator Bulldogs completed their first run through their 2024-25 Illinois Central Eight Conference schedule undefeated Friday night with a 58-21 handling of visiting Wilmington.

Lucas Craig and Matt Graham stepped up their scoring to lead Marquette to a win over Putnam County.