Local Headlines

  OTTAWA – The city of Ottawa’s Thornton Park improvements project is in full swing. The master plan for the over $600,000 project includes upgrades like a splash pad, remodeling tennis, pickleball courts as well as general landscaping. The city was also awarded a $300,000 grant

PERU – Mayor Ken Kolowski made his official entrance as Peru’s Mayor at Monday night’s city council meeting. The newly elected mayor was sworn in by former Mayor Scott Harl and lead the council in their meeting for the first time.

  STREATOR – The old Ritchie Furniture building in Streator is to be transformed into a live performance venue. Resident Siobhan Elias made an announcement to the city council that she and her husband Kevin plan to turn the building on  Main Street into a venue that would host local

  OGLESBY – Appointments are still available for the Pfizer vaccine on Tuesday and the Moderna vaccine clinic on Thursday at Illinois Valley Community College, hosted by the LaSalle County Health Department. Residents must be 16 years or older to be eligible. Click the link here to

  STREATOR – While the demand for blood remains constant year-round, currently, the need for donors is especially high. Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center (MVRBC) will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m until 3 p.m., Thursday, April 29, in lower level/basement, Conference Room –

  SPRINGFIELD – County unemployment rates remained steady in March according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. LaSalle County remains the highest in unemployment locally at 7.3% but remains low from 8.5% at the start of the year. Putnam and Bureau County are averaging

  UNDATED – “No Parking Tow-Away” zones will be strictly enforced this year, namely along IL Rt 178 and IL Rt 71 near Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks. According to Illinois State Police Dist. 17,  The large volume of visitors at the state parks has resulted in