Streator businesses and organizations are offering support to the community they serve in the aftermath of a tornado on Thursday.

After promoting Bryan Park to be the next fire chief, the Streator Fire Department still had some leadership positions to fill. This week, the department officially announced internal promotions to round things out.

A tornado that tore through south Streator Thursday evening damaged about 11 homes, several of them severely or completely destroyed, and injured four people, according to city officials on Friday morning.

A tornado had touched down Thursday in an open crop field off East 12th Street near South Streator, leaving those nearby scrambling for shelter.

Attendees can operate ham radios to connect with as many radio stations as possible. Ham radio exams are set for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27.

Thousands of Illinois Valley residents reported power outages as of Thursday afternoon following severe thunderstorms on Wednesday night.

A late Wednesday afternoon storm damaged multiple power lines in Seneca, leaving 463 residents without electricity.

The Streator Chamber of Commerce recently recognized Poco a Poco as its June Member of the Month as the annual music festival celebrates its 10th year in the community.

The Marquette baseball team hopes to stay hot when it faces St. Joseph-Ogden (38-2) in Friday’s IHSA Class 2A semifinals at 7 p.m. on Illinois Field in Champaign. The Crusaders, which are coming off back-to-back 1A state championships, enter the contest with a 37-3 record.

A free lunch is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Park Place, 406 E. Hickory St., Streator.

The Illinois Coaches Association this week announced its lists of ICA All-State selections from the recently completed 2026 softball season, with numerous Times-area standouts honored.

The Streator Elks Flag Day Ceremony will be at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 13 in the Plumb Pavilion in the Streator City Park. As usual, performing for the presentation will be the award winning Joliet American Legion Band.

Crowds larger than the population of Ottawa itself are expected to fill downtown this weekend as organizers prepare for the fifth annual Ottawa Family Pride Festival and Parade on Saturday.

After a delay, work on the Kelly Street Bridge in Streator has recently resumed and is expected to be completed this summer.

The Marquette baseball team earned a third consecutive trip to the IHSA State Finals with a 9-6 victory over Brimfield in Tuesday's Class 2A St. Bede Supersectional. The Crusaders entered the season back-to-back Class 1A champions.

The Streator Public Library recently announced its upcoming programs and events for the fourth week in June.

For every cake sold, $1 will be donated to North Central Area Transit.

Hip pain can make even simple daily activities feel overwhelming. Walking, climbing stairs, and even getting in and out of a car can become difficult.

Streator is considering increasing rental fees for the clubhouse at Anderson Fields Golf Course as officials look to expand use of the recently updated facility.

Congratulations to The Times Athlete of the Week, Marquette baseball's Anthony Couch!

A search warrant executed Friday, June 5, 2026, in Ottawa yielded 38 grams of crack cocaine and resulted in felony charges against four individuals.

Yes, we needed the rains that drenched us Sunday and Monday. But there is a severe weather watch looming Wednesday into Thursday and there could be problems if the rain keeps coming in heavy downpours.

Engle Lane Theatre in Streator will present Disney’s Frozen Jr. beginning Tuesday, June 9, with performances running through Sunday, June 14.

For those who live according to the liturgical calendar, seasons like Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time become guiding forces in our spiritual lives. In addition to these seasons, feasts and memorials throughout the year celebrate various saints and occasions, suc

Illinois Valley Community College will host an Express Registration for new students from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, at the college’s Ottawa Center, 321 W. Main St., Ottawa.

Grand Ridge Grade School announced its honor and high honor rolls for the fourth quarter of the 2025-26 school year.

The Seneca American Legion Kasal Post 457 will host its free annual outdoor “Breakfast in the Park” from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, June 14, at Crotty Park in Shipyard Road in Seneca.

Seneca seniors Lexie Buis, Camryn Stecken and Tessa Krull led the Fighting Irish softball team to a runner-up finish at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals at Peoria's Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.

As November nears, the Republican hopeful for Illinois Lieutenant Governor, Aaron Del Mar made a stop Thursday in La Salle County.

Illinois Valley Community College will begin its summer schedule in mid-June.

Woodland Elementary and Junior High School in Streator announced its honor roll for the fourth quarter of the 2025-2026 school year.

The Seneca softball team battled to the very end but came up just short in a 3-1 loss to Carterville in Saturday's IHSA Class 2A championship on OSF Healthcare Field inside the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria. The Fighting Irish ended the season 39-3.

Marquette pulled away from Wilmington for an 11-2 victory in the IHSA Class 2A Herscher Sectional championship on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

Seneca and Carterville clash for the 2A softball title Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Peoria. Carterville took the win 3-1 in a tight game.

The Streator Fire Department is looking to use grant money buy new equipment while some repairs to its training center following damage caused by a burst pipe last winter.

The Illinois Elementary School Association completed its 2025-26 school year with the Class 3A/4A IESA State Meet at Eastside Centre in East Peoria, with multiple area large-school student-athletes capturing all-state honors.

The future of Streator’s Canteen Memorial remained under discussion Wednesday night as city officials continued conversations about whether the memorial should remain near the former Santa Fe Depot or eventually be relocated.

Some unlikely heroes – and some likely ones too – came through when the Seneca softball team needed it most Thursday in the Fighting Irish’s wild 8-6 Class 2A state semifinal victory over IC Catholic at Peoria’s Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.

The Illinois Arts Council and the Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum will sponsor a concert and program about the Underground Railroad next week.

A Streator man charged with sexually abusing a dog has been granted pre-trial release, albeit with multiple conditions.

The Streator City Council spent part of Wednesday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting continuing work on a potential ordinance that would allow golf carts and other low-speed vehicles on certain city streets.

Here is the list of couples who applied for La Salle County marriage licenses from May 14, 2026, through May 31, 2026.

Marseilles will host the traveling “Remembering Our Fallen” memorial from June 16-21 in partnership with Patriotic Productions and the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial Marseilles Middle East Tribute Committee.

Longtime physical therapist at OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center in Mendota Jared Wise was recognized for the compassionate care and encouragement he provides to patients recovering from injuries and surgeries.

Congratulations to The Times Athlete of the Week, Ottawa boys track and field state qualifier Joey Liebhart!

The Marquette baseball team banged out 15 hits, including four home runs, in a 15-3 victory over IC Catholic Prep in Wednesday's Class 2A Herscher Sectional semifinal. The Crusaders will take on Wilmington at 10 a.m. Saturday in the championship game.

Mediacom Communications recently named Streator Township High School senior McKayla McBride as a recipient of its World Class Scholarship Program.

A Streator man faces up to three years in prison if convicted of sexually abusing a dog.

Tangled Roots Brewing Company, which has businesses in Ottawa and Lockport, is exploring the potential sale of the business, the ownership team said in a Tuesday news release.

The Streator City Council will continue discussions Wednesday night on a potential ordinance that would allow golf carts and certain low-speed vehicles to operate on some city streets.