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I was cleaning celery the other day and thought about my mom.

Here are five Times area athletes who can have a gigantic girls track season.

The Streator Elementary Board of Education announced Tuesday negotiations with the Streator Education Association aren’t quite there, but it is hopeful a deal is on the horizon. 

Daniel Danko and Scott Scheuer are the apparent winners in the Streator City Council race, according to unofficial election results.

Here are preview capsules of girls track and field teams from around the Times coverage area.

Results of Grand Ridge, Earlville, Wenona, Leland, Ransom, Tonica contested races.

The Marquette baseball team topped Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell in Tri-County Conference play on Tuesday, while Serena, Somonauk and Newark all triumphed in Little Ten Conference action. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

The Ottawa baseball team stayed hot, improving to 7-1 on the season, with a 9-5 victory over Hall on Tuesday afternoon at King Field in Ottawa.

The Streator Bulldogs shocked Herscher on Monday with a surprisingly lopsided loss to open the Illinois Central Eight Conference softball season. Early Tuesday evening, the Tigers returned the favor.

Polls have closed across the Illinois Valley. Here are five spotlight races we’ll be following.

Voter turnout was solid, if not spectacular, in La Salle-Peru thanks to contested mayoral races. Outside L-P, however, foot traffic at the polls was spotty, at best.

Ottawa Friendship House - April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time dedicated to increasing awareness, fostering understanding, and promoting the inclusion of individuals on the autism spectrum.

The Woodland Education Foundation announced three new members will be inducted into the Woodland Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees are John Mortland, Diana (Burkett) Hallam and Paul Webster.

The Streator softball team — behind the pitching of Makenna Ondrey — captured its Illinois Central Eight Conference opener on Monday, while the Newark and Somonauk baseball teams started the Little Ten Conference slate with wins. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

The Streator school board said a state-approved mediator has agreed to meet with representatives of the board and the Streator Education Association on Tuesday, April 1, for contract negotiations.

La Salle County CASA, an organization dedicated to ensuring every child, who has experienced abuse and neglect in the La Salle County Court system, has their voice heard, announced the appointment of Alexandria Wamhoff as its new executive director.

This system seemed frustratingly flawed to me. It’s a system that appears to prioritize medication over prevention, a system that could be improved.

The Starved Rock Pop Singers will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 5, at Central Intermediate School, 711 E. McKinley Road, Ottawa.

The Reddick Library in Ottawa will host Cooking for One or Two for adult patrons 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 3.

The Streator Public Library will be hosting a caterpillar scavenger hunt the week of March 31.

Illinois Valley Indivisible members will be participating in a Hands Off! march at noon Saturday, April 5, in downtown Ottawa. 

Poco a Poco hosts its third annual Sampler Fundraiser Event from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, at Park Presbyterian Church, 201 N Vermillion St., Streator. 

Zonta Club of Streator held its third annual Youth Leadership Awards night on March 11 at Bruce Township Hall.

Streator FFA members Joyce Walkling and Palmer Phillis were named the State FFA Food Service and Ag Communications State Proficiency Award Winners.

State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, is kicking off the Emerging Professionals Council from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 25, at her district office, 628 Columbus St., Ottawa.

The Streator and Marquette baseball teams earned doubleheader sweeps, while the Bulldogs softball squad split a twinbill with Newark on Saturday. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

Honoring 25 of the area's best high school boys basketball players as selected by The Times Sports staff, here is the 2024-25 Times All-Area Boys Basketball Team.

Seneca senior Paxton Giertz is the 2024-25 Times Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

A Streator teen saved his younger siblings and his home from a fire on Friday afternoon, the Streator Fire Department said.

It’s been more than 22 years since Dalton Mesarchik, a 7-year-old Streator boy was abducted and murdered. The FBI and ISP continue to seek the public’s assistance in identifying the individual(s) responsible for the disappearance and death of Dalton Mesarchik.

Back in the 1980s, my younger brothers and I religiously listened to Kasem’s America’s Top 40, every Sunday on the radio.

It was a lightning moment, sparked by a few words. A simple sentence. I cannot recall all those specifics, but I remember the words, who said them, and the overwhelming feeling that washed over me.

The Ottawa softball and baseball teams earned wins over Newark on Friday, while Seneca's Lila Coleman won three medals at the Top Times Indoor Track and Field meet in Bloomington. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

Lin Garden, 305 W. Main St., Ottawa, has temporarily closed because of a family emergency. 

A Streator man charged with felony weapons offenses after a shooting – two rounds were fired into a Streator home – is headed to prison for three years.

A Streator man accused of strangling a woman still is trying to find a lawyer. Joshua Casey’s detention hearing was moved to April 17 while he looks for one.

Honoring 25 of the area's best high school girls basketball players as selected by The Times Sports staff, here is the 2024-25 Times All-Area Girls Basketball Team.

Ottawa senior Marlie Orlandi is the 2024-25 Times Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Eagle Scout Ayden Lawless completed a project that will benefit the community for years to come.

Godspell Jr. will be presented 7 p.m. Friday, March 28; 7 p.m. Saturday, March 29; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School, 410 S. Park St., Streator.

Serena High School’s National Honor Society wrapped up Mental Health Week with an assembly promoting Down syndrome awareness and a Polar Plunge fundraiser, raising $6,001 for the Special Olympics.

The Ottawa baseball team topped Pontiac to improve to 5-1, while Marquette dropped a heartbreaker to Marmion Academy to fall to 5-1 on Thursday. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

In a pitcher's duel between Ottawa sophomore Addie Russell and Streator senior Makenna Ondrey on Thursday, the Pirates were able to come away with a 2-0 win at King Field.

The Streator Education Association and Streator Elementary School Board are scheduled to meet Tuesday, April 1, for a mediation session in pending labor negotiations. The parties, however, will have to move forward without the service of a federal mediator.

The Seneca softball team improved to 3-0, while Newark rolled to its first win of the season on Wednesday. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

The Marquette softball team, keyed by a pair of two-run homers by Taylor Cuchra, slugged past Serena 13-3 in five innings on Wednesday in Serena.

River Valley Players bring the unbelievable-but-true story of Frank Abagnale Jr. to the stage in Henry with, "Catch Me If You Can."

The Prairie Singers are hosting a series of concerts starting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3 at St. Michael's in Streator, 2 p.m. Sunday, April 6 at St. Bede in Peru, 7 p.m. at St. Patrick's in Ottawa, and then at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13 at St. Patrick's in Seneca.

Enrollment is open for the April session of Rock Steady Boxing at the Streator Family YMCA.

A Streator man accused of strangling a woman was indicted Tuesday for murder.