The Serena softball team first rallied to force extra innings, then stunned top-seeded Marquette with a single run in the ninth inning of a 2-1, regional-championship upset of the Crusaders on Friday in Serena.

The Seneca Fighting Irish softball team defeated the Bishop McNamara Fightin’ Irish 9-2 in the IHSA Class 2A Seneca Regional championship game Friday to win its third straight regional title and sixth in the last 10 years.

Ottawa's Gwen Jimenez in the shot put and Sandwich senior Sunny Weber in the 1,600-meter run each advanced to Saturday's finals at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals held Friday in Charleston. Plus more results from around the Times area.

Morris senior Connor Barth captured his third straight singles title at Class 1A La Salle-Peru Boys Tennis Sectional on Friday at the L-P Sports Complex. Princeton's Jackson Mason and the Ottawa doubles team of Kaden Araujo and Ayden Sexton each placed third.

The open house features DAR speakers. Coffee, cake and water will be served.

Ottawa Township High School recognized 64 seniors in the graduating class of 2026 for their awarded scholarships at its 2026 Honors Night event on Wednesday, May 6.

The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and more than 200 law enforcement agencies throughout the state are teaming up to remind the public to buckle up and drive sober over the Memorial Day weekend.

The Reddick Public Library District in Ottawa will host several events and programs in June.

A quintet of Times-area track and field athletes representing Seneca, Somonauk/Leland and Dwight moved on to the finals of the IHSA State Finals, while Dwight, Seneca and Streator softball all took losses in The Times Thursday Roundup.

Weatherford was selected for the honor from the Ottawa Township High School Social Science department.

The Streator City Council officially approved the hiring and welcomed Yates McLaughlin as the city’s next city manager during Wednesday night’s meeting.

The Streator City Council heard a proposal during their meeting Wednesday night to move and improve the Canteen memorial, A.K.A “Coffee Pot Lady” memorial which currently sits near the former Santa Fe Depot site.

Illinois Valley Community College announced the creation of the Roger Hustis Memorial Scholarship in honor of former Ottawa Dental Laboratory employee Roger Hustis.

From 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, 2026, the Loch Countryside Kennel is welcoming all to a 15-year anniversary celebration, complete with a live, radio remote broadcast from WALLS 102, free food, giveaways, a special guest and an open house of the facility.

At the IHSA Class 2A Pontiac Sectional on Wednesday night, Morris won a pair of events and qualified five athletes for state, while Ottawa, Manteno, Joliet Catholic, Coal City and Streator also sent qualifiers on to Charleston.

The Seneca boys track and field team won the Class 1A Seneca Sectional title on Wednesday and will be sending nine athletes to the state finals. Marquette's Jacoby Gooden also qualified for three events at state. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

The Streator softball team had its season end as it couldn't come overcome a trio of costly miscues in a 3-1 loss to Metamora in Wednesday's Class 3A Streator Regional semifinals at the SHS Athletic Fields.

A Mendota woman was recognized for nearly four decades of service at OSF HealthCare as part of National Health Care Week.

A nurse at OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center in Mendota was recognized for providing compassionate care during a patient’s final moments.

Illinois Valley residents may participate in one of the local Memorial Day observances in honor of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Engle Lane Theatre will host a “Cookout Cabaret” to celebrate its 2026 season at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at the William C. Schiffbauer Center for the Performing Arts, 1012 Columbus Road, Streator.

Commissioner Marla Pearson said the city appreciates the community’s patience as staff prepares the facility.

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

Ottawa baseball won its seventh straight while dealing Streator its fourth consecutive loss Tuesday, with Adam Swanson and Aleixo Fernandez combining for five hits and eight RBIs in the Pirates victory.

The Earlville and Newark softball teams earned Class 1A Walther Christian Regional semifinal wins Tuesday and will face each other Saturday for the title, while Marquette baseball won for the 31st time this season. Plus more results from around The Times area.

The Marquette softball team exploded for eight runs on eight hits in the third inning on the way to a 11-0, five-inning victory over Momence in Tuesday's Class 1A Serena Regional semifinal.

The University of Illinois Extension will offer children a Fossil Fun program from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at the Seneca Public Library.

Traffic was slowed Tuesday afternoon on Route 251 north of Peru by a vehicle crash, but Peru police said there were no significant reports of injury.

The University of Illinois Extension will offer community members an Accessible Hike from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Nell’s Woodland in Ottawa.

Congratulations to The Times Athlete of the Week, Streator baseball senior Clay Christoff!

Ottawa pitcher Addie Russell and Pirates' pitching coach Sloan Gayan both say having trust in each other's abilities has been the key to the junior having back-to-back solid seasons.

The University of Illinois Extension will hold a free cyanotype workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 6, at Nell’s Woodland.

The Seneca baseball team earned a walk-off victory over St. Bede in their Tri-County Conference finale on Monday, while the Ottawa boys tennis team topped Mendota. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

The Ottawa baseball team scored four runs in the sixth - the big blow a two-run double by Adam Swanson - to defeat Kaneland 6-4 in the Interstate 8 Conference contest at King Field on Monday. With the win the Pirates earned a share the league championship with the Knights.

Within 15 minutes of arriving on the scene, Geiger said that the fire was under control, and the fire was almost entirely extinguished around 12:45 p.m.

The IESA held its Class 1A and 2A State Meet over the weekend for both seventh- and eighth-graders At EastSide Centre in East Peoria. Multiple Times-area student-athletes earned state medals for top-eight finishes in their respective events.

A Streator man died late Friday night after being struck by a train near the Main and James Street crossing, according to the Streator Police Department.

The Ottawa softball team split a doubleheader with Normal University on Saturday, while the Seneca softball won and lost at the Rockridge Spring Classic. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

Nell’s Woodland in Ottawa is currently accepting applications for its “Art in Nature” Young Artist Mentorship program, set from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, July 10, through Sunday, July 12.

Judge Greg Sticka was sworn in Friday, May 15, 2026, during a ceremony at La Salle County Circuit Court. The 54-year-old will hear cases in Bureau County, however.

Kelsey Cuchra continued her strong season with a double, home run and four RBIs to help power Marquette softball to a victory over Newman on Friday, while Seneca also rolled to its 32nd win. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

The Morris softball team scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning in a come from behind 6-4 Interstate 8 Conference triumph over host Ottawa on Friday afternoon.

Casey left the courtroom on Friday without a new trial setting but with a hearing on a motion to dismiss charges on the grounds of tainted evidence.

The Marseilles Spring Rummage Sales will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The La Salle County Sheriff’s Office is joining law enforcement agencies across Illinois for the 2026 “Click It or Ticket” campaign running May 15 through the 26 during the Memorial Day travel period.

The Streator Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies across Illinois for the 2026 “Click It or Ticket” campaign running May 15-26 during the Memorial Day travel period.

Seniors Andrea Espinoza, Kathysha Perez and Xina Perez earned the Seal, and seniors Perla Gutierrez and Paul Stallman received the Commendation of the Seal of Biliteracy, which recognizes students making significant progress towards that proficiency.

Here is the list of La Salle County couples who applied for marriage licenses from May 1 through May 13, 2026.

In almost every event in the 1A Seneca Sectional on Thursday night, a Fighting Irish track and field athlete was competing for the lead and producing points en route to another championship while advancing multiple girls to state.

Both FCW's Abbi Armstrong and Fieldcrest's Pru Mangan won individual sectional titles, Marquette and Ottawa softball picked up road wins, Dwight baseball doubled-up Peotone, plus more in The Times Thursday Roundup.