Peru

When Chad Deckert invited 10 TBM Avenger’s to Peru in honor of his 50th birthday in 2015, he never imagined it would transform into the city’s “signature event"

Girls track and field athletes from L-P, Mendota, Princeton and Henry-Midland qualified for state along with baseball, softball and soccer results in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

St. Bede junior Lily Bosnich qualified for state in four events out of the Class 1A Rockridge Sectional on Wednesday, breaking two area records in the process. Bureau Valley and Amboy also are sending athletes to state.

The Henry-Senachwine softball team improved to 20-3, the Hall baseball team scored late to win and more baseball, softball, tennis and soccer results in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Kaneland took advantage of 12 walks and seven errors by L-P to earn an Interstate 8 Conference win Tuesday.

The Putnam County baseball team is using technology to communicate, L-P's Taylor Vescogni and Henry's Lauren Harbison reached strikeout milestones and more in the NewsTribune baseball/softball notebook.

The L-P softball team clinched the outright Interstate 8 Conference title and more softball, baseball, soccer, tennis and track and field results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

A look at the top times, distances and heights in the NewsTribune area for girls track and field.

The L-P girls track and field team is celebrating PRs with its "Strive for Gold" program, several area athletes are ranked among the state's best and more in the NewsTribune girls track and field notebook.

The 25 Annual Kids Free Fishing Expo was held on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at Baker Lake in Peru.

St. Bede's Greyson Marincic was voted NewsTribune Athlete of the Week after four wins at the Bruins' senior night meet.

Henry senior Lauren Harbison broke the school record for career strikeouts in a nonconference win and more softball and baseball results in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Mendota and St. Bede baseball teams won in their last at-bat and more baseball, softball and track and field results in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

More than 75 students compete in Cultural Interpretation Contest at La Salle-Peru High School.

Mendota's Mariyah Elam won three conference titles in track, St. Bede softball won and more baseball, softball, track and field and soccer results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

Gino Ferrari threw a two-hit shutout as St. Bede edged Putnam County 1-0 on Thursday.

NCI ARTworks will host an opening reception for the month-long exhibition of art by award-winning artists Matt Jagitsch and Ryan Jandrey from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 9 at the NCI ARTworks Gallery.

Teaching dual credit courses for Illinois Valley Community College puts Vince Brolley back in high school, where he feels right at home.  

In a career of more than 30 years, John Beatty has taught and coached in schools big and small. Through it all he's enjoyed the interactions with students and 'pushing them to be the best they can be in the classroom as well as on the athletic field."

La Salle-Peru High School's Nancy Kochis class is the only of its kind offered at L-P, covering a wide range of topics including fingerprinting, fiber analysis, arson, trace evidence analysis and blood spatter patterns.

Trinity Catholic Academy's Dominic Giacobazzi had his heart set on being an athletic trainer, but a funny thing happened on the way to the NFL. He became a Catholic school teacher.

He was a rebellious student and "slacker" until he stumbled into auto shop. Now, La Salle-Peru High School's Mike Fisher runs the auto shop to teach his students accountability, professionalism.

Jenna Maierhofer has been a beloved teacher for over two decades. She will retire from Seneca High School at the end of the year.

Samantha Munks, a SOAR (Students Obtaining Achievement and Responsibility) high school teacher in Peru, pushes her students to be their best by inspiring them to dream and supporting them by meeting them at their level.

The Fieldcrest baseball team rallied for a win and more baseball, softball and girls soccer results in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

The L-P baseball team scored eight runs in the first inning and went on to beat Rochelle 16-4 in five innings on senior night.

A free kids fishing expo in Peru, vendors market in Sheffield, the Starved Rock Country marathon, a folk artist in Princeton and an art exhibit in Peru are among the activities this weekend in the Illinois Valley.

St. Bede's Lily Bosnich broke the 20-year-old Illinois Valley area record in the 100-meter hurdles in the Tri-County Conference Meet and more track and field, baseball and softball results in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

L-P will find out out more this week about senior Jacob Gross's possible return, Bureau Valley has tied the school record for wins and more in the NewsTribune baseball notebook.

A look at the top baseball players in the NewsTribune area.

Peru City council unanimously voted Monday, May 5, 2025 to terminate Economic Director Robert Vickrey's contract.

Peru City Council meetings will no longer be streamed on Facebook as the city has opted for posting on YouTube instead.

Lauren Harbison hit a grand slam and threw a shutout to lead the Henry-Senachwine softball team to a win, the La Salle-Peru boys and girls track and field teams won at home and more baseball, softball, track and field, tennis and soccer results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

The No. 3-ranked La Salle-Peru softball team extended its winning streak to 19 games with a 3-1 win over No. 4 Sycamore on Monday.

The Mendota girls soccer team is 14-5-1 and earned the No. 1 seed in its sub-sectional. The Trojans will host a Class 1A regional that also includes Princeton, Oregon and DePue-Hall.

A new restaurant with a focus on seafood has moved into the South Shore Boat Club in Peru.

Have you ever met a pope? If you go to church in Peru, then there’s a slim chance you’ll be able to say you met one back in 2018.

A total of 167 school staff members were recognized May 1 at the 37th Annual Excellence in Education Awards Ceremony for La Salle, Marshall and Putnam counties.

First responders from multiple agencies were on scene Sunday night near the Spring Valley/Ladd exit of Interstate 80 after a crash.

Retro Bricks is opening soon at the Peru Mall.

The Music Suite 408 flute ensembles, under the direction of Natalie Lindig, Becky Weiler and Sue Gillio will present the 32nd annual Spring Flute Fling at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, at the Zion United Church of Christ, Peru.

The L-P softball team routed Alleman, the L-P boys and girls track teams won in Mendota and more baseball, softball and track and field results in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

Ottawa turned an inning-ending double play to escape a jam in the sixth inning and rode the momentum to a 10-run seventh in a 14-3 win over La Salle-Peru on Wednesday.

An Ottawa woman pleaded guilty Friday to trying to break into an ATM in La Salle, and to shoplifting at the Peru Walmart, and was placed on reporting probation.

The Illinois Valley Youth Choir will be hosting a public concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 4, in the Matthiessen Auditorium at La Salle-Peru High School.

An Ottawa man who allegedly fired a gun through his floor – and through his neighbor’s ceiling – was ordered detained until his jury trial, now set for July 14.

The St. Bede girls track and field team won its home meet, Princeton boys tennis won and more results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

Crews are working to remove a semi from the median at mile marker 74 on Interstate 80 near Peru.

La Salle-Peru and Serena high school students took home blue ribbons from the Illinois Valley Community College Art Show, which completed its two-week display of college and high school artwork on April 18. 

Beginning next week a Peru icon will have new owners.