While the vacant Streator city manager role was filled with a new face, the next fire chief will be a familiar one. After a short stint as the interim chief, Captain Bryan Park has been named the next fire chief, the Streator Fire Department announced Tuesday morning.

As Shaw Media celebrates its 175th anniversary, we looked back at four front pages from May 26. These archives serve as a time capsule, capturing everything from historic infrastructure projects to local public school shifts and global postwar conflicts

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.

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.

The University of Illinois Extension will hold a Grilling and Summertime Salads program series for residents to learn about ideas and practical tips for healthy summer meals.

The Streator High School Class of 2026 held its annual commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Pops Dale Gymnasium.

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 Streator Food Truck Festival was held on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Streator City Park. The festival started in 2017 as a fundraiser for the Streator Walldogs Murals. The event continues to raise funds for murals and public art in Streator.

The purpose of this group is to provide men and women 55 and older with programs that are informational and or entertaining. The club hopes to offer an opportunity to socialize with old friends and to make some new ones.

Poison frontman Bret Michaels will headline Streator Fest on Saturday, Aug. 8. Other weekend performers include country star Jo Dee Messina and rock band Skillet.

Woodland High School in Streator recently held its Academic Honors Night on Wednesday, May 6.

Streator Fire Department Captain Bryan Park will serve as the interim fire chief following the appointment of Chief Gary Bird as interim city manager.

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

Streator High School recently held its prom and recognized its prom royalty.

After serving as chief of the Streator Police Department since 2022, John Franklin announced his retirement from the department on Friday, with Deputy Chief Robert Wood set to serve as interim chief while city officials search for a permanent replacement.

Frozen Jr. is set to sweep into Streator’s Engle Lane Theatre later this month, bringing a cast of kids from all over the Illinois Valley together for a familiar Disney favorite and Engle Lane’s first show of the year.

Years of community effort in Streator will culminate later this month with the grand opening of Logan’s Oasis Playground at Marilla Park later this month.

The Streator City Council will meet Wednesday night to continue the discussion of updating city laws regarding non-highway vehicles.

For many in Streator, the arrival of the brown UPS truck often meant more than just their package being delivered- it meant seeing a familiar and friendly face. For almost half a century, that face belonged to Spring Valley native Jim Bezely.

The meal is free and open to the public. There are dine-in or carryout options available.

As Shaw Media celebrates its 175th anniversary, we are diving into our archives to examine four front pages from early May

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

As Shaw Media celebrates its 175th anniversary, we looked back at four front pages from May 1

The Streator Public Library will hold an event for community members to receive May Day baskets from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2.

The Streator Public Library recently announced its upcoming events and programs for the first full week in May.

Liberty Village of Streator has been named the Streator Chamber of Commerce’s Member of the Month for April 2026.

Shaw Local Radio’s Day Jones interviews Derek Barichello, the director of the Streator Area CEO Program, and Julianna Chavez, Colin Cunningham, and Abigail Galvan, three students in the program

As Shaw Media commemorates its 175th anniversary, we looked back at four front pages from April 29

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School in Streator announced its honor and high honor rolls for the third quarter of the 2025-2026 school year.

Shaw Local Radio's Dani Holland interviewed Bill Zenns with the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce (IVAC) about the upcoming Lemonade Day this weekend. More than 50 student entrepreneurs from across the Illinois Valley will be setting up shop in Utica on May 3

As Shaw Media celebrates its 175th anniversary, we looked back at four front pages from April 27

The Streator Leading Ladies held its monthly meeting Thursday, April 16, at Chipper’s Grill.

The Streator Lions Club recently held its bi-monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 15, at Chix.

The Streator Fire Department has added a third ambulance to its fleet in an effort to improve service response times during periods of high demand.

Residents are being asked to weigh in on the future of downtown Streator through a community survey tied to an ongoing revitalization effort.

Paul Nolley, the Democratic nominee challenging Republican incumbent Darin LaHood in Illinois’ 16th Congressional District, will hold a meet-and-greet Saturday in Streator aimed at families.

The Streator Area CEO program will host its annual trade show from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, May 4, at The Eastwood, 2000 Eastwood Ave in Streator.

Construction has begun on Logan’s Oasis playground at Marilla Park in Streator. The playground has been in the works for almost two years. The project is spearheaded by Melissa Crank and family members in memory of her late son, Logan Crank.

Streator has appointed Fire Chief Gary Bird as interim city manager as longtime manager David Plyman prepares to retire at the end of the month.

Installation is underway for Logan’s Oasis Playground at Marilla Park in Streator, with completion and a ribbon cutting expected by late May.

At 9:11 p.m., a severe squall line capable of producing tornadoes and extensive straight-line wind damage was located along a line extending from near Grand Ridge to near South Streator to Flanagan to near Gridley, moving east at 45 mph, the weather service said.

Streator City Council approved work for the Park and Bilger Street bridges after the city secured $1 million in federal funding through the office of Darin LaHood.

As Shaw Media celebrates its 175th anniversary, we looked back at four front pages from April 15. These archives serve as a time capsule, capturing everything from the tension of the Space Race and the outbreak of global conflict to the grit of local elections

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

The Streator City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15 at City Hall with a bridge project expected to be the main focus.

As Shaw Media celebrates its 175th anniversary, we looked back at four front pages from April 14

America’s favorite teacher could be teaching in the science wing of La Salle-Peru High School.

As Shaw Media celebrates its 175th anniversary we looked back at four front pages from April 13. These archives serve as a time capsule, capturing everything from the polio vaccine’s arrival to the local and national mourning following the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Dani Holland from Shaw Local Radio interviewed Grace McCormick from Safe Journeys. The “Well, What Were You Wearing?” Gallery will be held at Open Space Art Gallery and Studios for the month of April