Ladd

The Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund is set to award grants to eight organizations this spring, including a combined $6,000 to theater groups in La Salle, Streator and Princeton.

Ladd Lanes, 212 S. Main St. in Ladd, announces its summer hours.

Charro Taco Mexican Restaurant will soon reopen in Ladd following 2023 fire.

Ladd Grade School unveiled a fully restored 1890 school bell on Monday, May 19, 2025. The bell was restored by Valley Fabrication Inc. and weighs just shy of 1,000 pounds. It was from the 1890 school building. The bell sat outside next to a farmhouse for two decades before being restored to its current condition. Through the donation by the Neill family, the bell will remain at Ladd Grade School.

Established in 1936 by Sylvio “Rip” and Emma Gualandri, the establishment in Ladd has been serving chicken, crispies, pickles, fried appetizers, beer and liquor for 89 years.

Ladd welcomed Amore Pizzeria to town.

On Saturday, May 10, volunteers will be headquartered at the Food Pantry, 500 N. Terry St., Spring Valley, as well as following carriers collecting donations.

First responders from multiple agencies were on scene Sunday night near the Spring Valley/Ladd exit of Interstate 80 after a crash.

The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation recently played a role in the 38th Annual Teen Showcase at Illinois Valley Community College.

A blood drive is scheduled for the American Red Cross from 1 to 6 p.m. Friday, May 2, in the main room at the Ladd Community Center, 303 S. Central Ave., Ladd.

The following property transfers were recorded March 1-15, 2025, at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

Sci-Fest, Naturescapes art exhibition, Route "Flute" 66 and Easter egg hunts are among the events in the Illinois Valley this weekend.

Easter is Sunday, April 20. In the weeks prior to the holiday, there are several Easter egg hunts and opportunities to meet the Easter bunny throughout La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties. Here is a list of upcoming events.

High-speed fiber optic internet service from Surf Broadband soon will be available to residents and businesses in the village of Ladd.

The Ladd American Legion Auxiliary, Post 938, will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at the Legion Hall, 111 S. Main St.

Firefighters responded to a structure fire at the former Platform 31 tavern on Monday on Water Street in Peru. The fire broke out just after 8:30 a.m. Peru Fire upgraded the scene to a third alarm, summoning fire departments from La Salle, Utica, Mendota, Tonica, Ottawa, Ladd, Spring Valley, Lostant, Cedar Point and Troy Grove.

A semi tractor trailer caught fire Sunday near the Route 89 Ladd and Spring Valley exit on Interstate 80.

The following property transfers were recorded Feb. 18 through Feb. 28 at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

The following property transfers were recently recorded at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

Nestled in the Illinois Valley, a rich cultural tradition brought by Sicilian immigrants is quietly fading – but it deserves to be remembered, honored and revived.

For the Fall 2024 semester, the following students were named to the Presidential Honors list at Illinois Valley Community College. 

For the Fall 2024 semester, the following students were named to the Academic Honors list at Illinois Valley Community College. 

Last fall, a total of 162 students earned 185 degrees and certificates from Illinois Valley Community College. 

St. Patrick’s Day is approaching, so the Ladd Police Department is teaming up with the Illinois State Police and Illinois Department of Transportation for a stepped-up traffic safety campaign.

The second annual Illinois Valley Library Road Trip begins April 6.

The annual spring cleanup at Ladd Cemetery will begin Monday, March 24.

St. Bede Academy boys and girls track and field teams will be hosting a Lenten Fish Fry on from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 21, at the Ladd Moose, 1528 E. Cleveland St. 

Gateway Services is hosting a fundraiser Wednesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 20, at Rip’s Tavern in Ladd, 311 N. Main Ave.

Amore Pizzeria, owned by Frankie Alfano, opened this month in Ladd at 105 N. Main Ave.

Dani Holland, program director for Shaw Local Radio and host at WALS 102, was named The MusicRow Reporter of the Year.

Schools in and around La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties have announced closures and e-learning days ahead of a predicted snowstorm Wednesday.

The following cases were considered by the Bureau County Grand Jury on Jan. 17.

Ladd Public Library will host a meet and greet with Noah and Julie Hollinger at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, to learn all about their book, “Mangiamo!”

DePue and Spring Valley firefighters responded to their second structure fire in a 24-hour span Monday afternoon in DePue.

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.

Several Sauk Valley-area students have been named to the dean’s list.

The following property transfers were recently recorded at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

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

The following property transfers were recorded Nov. 18-30, 2024, at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

Matt Wilhelm, a national BMX Rider, Guinness World Record holder and America’s Got Talent semifinalist performed tricks during an assembly on Monday at Ladd Grade School. Wilhelm shared his powerful message to the school while focusing on kindness, positivity and the differences that one person can make.

In celebration of its 25th anniversary Year, the 2025 Illinois Municipal Utilities Association Scholarship Program and Essay Contest will feature four $2,500 scholarship awards, one each to the competition’s top four finalists. 

A truck-tractor cow hauler rolled over Thursday on Interstate 80 near the Spring Valley exit, leading to an additional crash and causing the interstate to be closed in both directions.

Multiple semi trucks rolled over on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, near the Spring Valley exit on Interstate 80 near Ladd. A cattle hauler tipped over allowing cows to roam on Interstate 80. The interstate was closed in both directions for quite some time.

With the holiday season just around the corner, Ladd police has joined forces with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Drive High, Get a DUI enforcement campaign to ensure that festive gatherings don’t end in tragedy.

Lighted parades and Christmas walks in Oglesby and Ladd part of eventful weekend that includes holiday-themed performances.

Ladd will be Christmas central on Saturday, Dec. 14, with a number of holiday activities, including a lighted parade.

The following property transfers were recently recorded at the Bureau County Recorder of Deeds’ office.

Area residents, businesses or organizations are invited to participate in a lighted Snowman Parade at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, as part of “There’s Snow Place Like Ladd” 2024 Ladd Christmas Walk.

Here is a roundup of Christmas activities across La Salle and Bureau counties and some surrounding communities.

Decorate your Ladd home and/or business for the holidays.