Ottawa

The Ottawa Special Events Committee has announced the schedule for its 2025 Music in the Park concert series, bringing live music to Washington Park every Saturday evening this summer.

A new Chipotle restaurant is officially coming to Ottawa after Ottawa City Council gave final approval Tuesday night, following a recommendation from the plan commission last week.

Roosty’s Chicken & Shakes, a relatively new fast-casual restaurant is set to open a new drive-thru location at 2749 Columbus Street in Ottawa, the former site of a Dunkin’ Donuts.

The intersection of St. James Street and Island Avenue in Ottawa will be closed to through traffic beginning Thursday, June 5, for curb replacement work, city officials announced on Wednesday.

After months of discussion and revisions, the Ottawa City Council voted Tuesday to approve a solar farm on the city’s south side, greenlighting a project that has been under review since March.

Crews are expected to complete the project and reopen the block to traffic by early afternoon, weather permitting

Illinois Extension nutrition and wellness education Susan Glassman will offer air fryer cooking sessions for beginner and seasoned cooks in Ottawa on June 12, Buda on June 20 and Princeton on June 24

Logan’s Oasis will host a Motorcycle Run on Saturday, June 14, beginning at Mugshots, 809 S. Illinois St.

Ottawa resident Hank Walsh has written a new nonfiction book, A History of Walsh Park, shares stories and photos from when the land was his family’s farm and how it became a city park.

On Monday, prosecutors showed some of Logan’s five-hour interview with Marseilles Police Sergeant Dan Ellis.

Jamie Schmitt won the 77th annual Pine Hills Invitational at Pine Hills Golf Course in Ottawa on Sunday. Schmitt, after shooting a 2-under-par 70 on Saturday, roared to a second-round 66 to win his first championship at the event.

NSG Group recently announced its newest photovoltaic solar array at Pilkington, its Ottawa facility, which will supply about 3.9 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity annually.

Illinois Valley Community College will begin its Ed’Venture summer camps in June, offering over 40 camps for kids aged 5 to 17.

Children and their families across La Salle County will receive extra groceries in part thanks to a recent grant awarded by the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation.

Braveheart Children’s Advocacy Center in Princeton was awarded a $1,500 Starved Rock Country Community Foundation community grant to help it serve victims of child abuse and their families.

State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, whose district covers La Salle, Bureau and DeKalb counties, introduced a new bill that will target deceptive sales on sexual assault survivors.

Ottawa will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, June 3, to celebrate the opening of its new dog park, Bill’s Barking Lot, located at 401 E. Lafayette St.

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.

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

Illinois Valley Public Action to Deliver Shelter temporarily move its Ottawa operations to the former YMCA building on Jackson Street while construction begins on a new shelter facility.

OSF staff attended a blessing event of the new OSF Resilient Healing care program that will represent hope, healing and a renewed commitment to the recovery of sexual assault survivors in the I‑80 Region on Friday, May 30, 2025 at OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center in Mendota. OSF Resilient Healing care is offered at two locations: Ottawa and Mendota. These strategically chosen sites ensure that survivors throughout the region can get the care they need in a supportive, safe and accessible setting.

Two people were charged with money laundering Friday after a lengthy financial investigation by La Salle County authorities.

The final phase of Ottawa’s Green Street elevation project is set to begin Monday, June 9, resulting in a full closure of the road for four months.

A 14-year-old child riding an electric bike in Ottawa was injured Tuesday afternoon in a collision with a semi tractor-trailer on the city’s west side, according to the Ottawa Police Department.

The Ottawa Fire Department welcomed its newest member this week as Matt Murphy was officially sworn in as a firefighter.

After over two months of deliberation, the Ottawa Plan Commission has once again voted to recommend a proposed solar panel project on the city’s south side, sending the project back to Ottawa City Council for a final decision next week.

West Lafayette Street in Ottawa will close to through traffic starting Wednesday, May 28, as a major water main replacement project gets underway.

Sam’s Pizza is hosting a block party Sunday to celebrate 50 years.

The life of an Ugandan family can be transformed with a pair of piglets through "Believe in UGanda" of Ottawa, an addilifilate of the Starved Rock Community Foundation.

Here is the list of La Salle County couples who applied for marriage licenses from May 1 through May 16, 2025

American Legion Post 33 hosted a parade along Main Street followed Memorial Day Ceremony at War Memorial north end Washington Square on Monday, May 26, 2025 in Ottawa.

Marquette Academy held its annual commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in the school's Bader Gymnasium in Ottawa.

Combat veterans from across the country rode through La Salle County on Saturday to honor fallen service members as part of an annual Memorial Day weekend tradition.

A genealogy project turned into a book for a Peru resident when she discovered the gripping letters of a Civil War soldier home to La Salle.

With chillier temperatures preventing Memorial Day weekend openings, La Salle County-area pools are still gearing up for opening day.

Ottawa Township High School held its Class of 2025 commencement ceremony on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Ottawa High School.

La Salle County residents may participate in one of the local Memorial Day observances in honor of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. A list is available here.

A new city rule adopted this week looks to fight neighborhood blight in Ottawa by requiring owners to register vacant homes before they become rundown.

Korean War Memorial in Streator to receive landscaping upgrades thanks to local business

A new Italian restaurant focusing on fresh pasta, wine and bringing a culinary twist to classic Italian dishes and drinks is opening at the former JJ’s Pub in Ottawa.

The inaugural Ottawa Food and Wine Festival is May 31 in downtown Ottawa. Enjoy award-winning wines, small bites and live music.

Margie Francisco has started Illinois Valley Nurse Honor Guard. One call to Francisco and she’ll arrange for a group of nurses in starched whites, decorative capes and caps to appear at a memorial and recite, in unison, the Nightingale Pledge.

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday, May 20, 2025, and returned the following indictments.

Ottawa is showing support for veterans through the annual Poppy Days campaign, which will raise funds for local veterans services and the Honor Flight program. Mayor Robb Hasty officially recognized the effort with a proclamation during Tuesday's council meeting.

Ottawa‘s Iniga Pizzeria is planning to open a second location in DeKalb.

Catch-a-Cajun, the food truck from the owners of the shuttered Cajun Connection of Utica, will not return this summer.

Goetsch’s Fresh Fruits & Veggies Farm Stand in Ottawa is moving to a new location.

Hundreds of Catholics jammed churches in Seneca, Utica and La Salle as the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage made its way into Peoria Diocese.

Weather permitting, the intersection of Caton Road and North 30th Road in Ottawa will be closed to through traffic starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, for water main extension work

A Spring Valley man charged in the Ottawa shooting death will stand trial for murder on Sept. 8; but the jury won’t hear a tainted confession he gave police.