Open Table United Church of Christ, in partnership with Trinity Lutheran Church, will host a free concert featuring folk/pop musician Bobby Jo Valentine at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, in the sanctuary of Trinity Lutheran Church, 717 Chambers St., Ottawa.

The Illinois Valley Sportscard and Collectibles Show will return next week on Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Peru Mall.

SRCCF has continued to create opportunities for artists and arts organizations across La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties. SRCCF’s component fund, the Arts of Starved Rock Country, is the primary driver of this, according to a SRCCF news release.

Week 2 in The Times coverage area includes the on-field debuts of Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland and Dwight, Marquette's home opener and Streator visiting Ottawa to continue the state's third-oldest rivalry.

Illinois Valley residents are invited to take part in the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Jordan Block in downtown Ottawa.

Revenue from the storage facility may help fund a $1.5 million extension of Centennial Drive, improving access to the site. While no construction timeline has been announced, this approval marks a key step forward for development in north Ottawa.

The Ottawa City Council approved demolition and asbestos abatement at the former Illinois Valley PADS homeless shelter during their meeting on Tuesday night, clearing the way for construction of a new facility funded by a $2 million state grant.

The program meets on Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. Parents are asked to drop off children by 7 p.m. and return for pickup at 8 p.m.

The second installment of La Salle County real estate taxes is due Tuesday, Sept. 9.

Are the roads safer? La Salle County is poised to have fewer fatal accidents in 2025 thanks to tumbling DUIs and increased patrols, among other factors.

Area Catholic schools issued assurances students will be kept safe after two children were fatally shot, and many more injured, in Minnesota.

Candidates in the Illinois primary race to replace longtime US Sen. Dick Durbin will address La Salle County Democrats on Saturday, Sept 27 in Utica.

Hardee’s sixth annual “Run Today for Tomorrow Run/Walk to Fight Suicide” on June 28 in Ottawa raised over $30,000 and attracted 216 finishers.

Michelle Duttlinger of Ottawa won the Hometown National Bank “Hometown Hero” sweepstakes on Friday, Aug. 23, 2025, at Hy-Vee in Peru. Each year, the public is invited to nominate people who have made a positive impact within their community. Six finalists are honored at an event at Your Peru Hy-Vee, with one grand prize winner winning a 2-minute Hy-Vee shopping spree.

La Salle County will host a free electronics recycling event from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 20, at the La Salle County Government Center, 707 E. Etna Road in Ottawa.

Here's a game-by-game look at Week 1 across The Times area, with games including Streator, Ottawa, Marquette, Seneca, Fieldcrest, Dwight, Sandwich and Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland.

Ottawa postal workers were surprised to find a never-delivered postcard that had been stamped in 1953. They've located the sender: an Ottawa High grad who became a doctor and retired to the Idaho panhandle.

Ottawa YMCA CEO/Executive Director Joe Capece will retire at the end of November 2025, the YMCA Board of Directors said in a news release.

Survivors of sexual assault in Illinois will have stronger protections under a new law spearheaded by state Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa.

Illinois Valley Community College campuses in Oglesby and Ottawa will be closed for the Labor Day holiday on Monday, Sept. 1, according to an IVCC news release.

Teams from La Salle-Peru, Ottawa, Streator and St. Bede all competed during the Streator Bulldog Invitational on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 at Eastwood Golf Course in Streator.

NCI ARTworks will hold mobile displays in Utica and Seneca. In a Monday news release, NCI ARTworks announced partnerships with Lumber Lane Gallery in Seneca and Heritage Corridor Destinations Welcome Center in Utica to present the work of Doug Dalrymple.

The Women Inspired Network, an initiative of the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation, has opened its annual grant season and is accepting applications through Sept. 22.

The Wallace-Dickey Cemetery Preservation Association will host two fall fundraising tours of the Wallace-Dickey Cemetery and The Oaks, the Wallace family’s historic home.

After five days of weather delays, 174 skydivers successfully broke the 10-year-old 164-way vertical skydiving world record on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa. The new record was set during a meticulously coordinated jump that brought together athletes from around the globe. Organizers confirmed the achievement on Facebook following official review, marking a major milestone in the sport. The previous record, set in 2015, had stood for a decade. Check out these photos from MaKade Rios.

Take a look at some of the week’s best photos, captured by Illinois Valley photographers from Sunday, Aug. 17, through Saturday, Aug.23.

Al Ruhland of Ottawa died Monday, his 82nd birthday. Ruhland was remembered as co-owner, with wife Pat, of Bianchi’s World Famous Pizza in Ottawa.

Stephanie and Dave Stacy took ownership of Garden’s Gate in 2009.

Mosquitoes collected from three La Salle County municipalities have tested positive for West Nile virus, the La Salle County Health Department reported Thursday.

A group of international skydivers attempted to set both a world and a state record during jumps over Skydive Chicago in Ottawa on Wednesday. Skydivers were unable to perform the attempt on Tuesday due to weather conditions. The first attempt aimed to break the world record for a vertical formation but was unsuccessful. Later, divers exited the aircraft again to surpass the Illinois state record for the largest belly-to-earth formation. That attempt also did not result in a new record. Skydive Chicago is a frequent host of large-scale skydiving events and record attempts.

Reddick Public Library District in Ottawa announced the schedule of events for the first week of September.

A new law led by state Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, will make it easier for Illinois farmers to use large farm equipment during harvest by extending the time temporary workers can use commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for farm work.

The Ottawa City Council will meet for their regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday to vote on agenda items tied to development and the city’s annual Festival of Lights plans.

Members of the Illini Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Ottawa took part in the Grand Ridge Parade on Sunday, Aug. 17.

Community members are invited to attend “Dish with the Dietitian,” a free lunchtime session with registered dietitian Anne Lauterjung, on Wednesday, Aug. 20, from noon to 1 p.m. at the OSF Center for Health, 111 Spring St., Streator.

Dr. Susan Buchanan of the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health said lead found in paint used inside older homes remains the primary source of lead exposure for children

Browse through some of the most hazardous intersections across the Illinois Valley region.

Families gather for the kickoff youth soccer ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, at Peck Park in Ottawa. Check out these photos by MaKade Rios.

Where in your city do drivers need to be most cautious? Police chiefs in the Illinois Valley had no trouble identifying the problem spots.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news and sports in minutes. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The long-planned renovation of Stage 212 is now underway.

Ottawa Postmaster Mark Thompson has seen a few waylaid pieces of mail but, until Friday, never one lost for 72 years. His staff received a postcard postmarked in 1953.

A parking lot located on the south side of the 200 block on West Main Street in Ottawa will be closed beginning Monday, Aug. 18, city officials announced on Thursday.

Lorraine McCallister, president of the Reddick Mansion Association, will discuss the Lincoln-Douglas debates at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17 at the Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum.

Sweet Tooth in Morris carries nostalgic candy, gourmet chocolate and more. Hey Sweetie in downtown Ottawa offers a variety of candies and ice cream.

The University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists will host a nocturnal hike from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Nell’s Woodland, 200 Alexis Ave, Ottawa.

OSF HealthCare has temporarily postponed plans to move inpatient obstetric services from OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa to its Peru hospital due to a delay in state approval.

The Republic Services Teamsters strike in Ottawa has officially ended, Union President Chris Richter confirmed Wednesday.

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

As community colleges take on an evolving role in recent years, Shaw Local News Network is providing details on the compensation of presidents who lead 10 of these publicly funded schools in northern Illinois.