Local Headlines

LASALLE – LaSalle’s City Council referred a petition to operate a marijuana dispensary to planning commission. Andrew Martinez is requesting a Special Use Permit from the city for a recreational marijuana dispensary set to be located on 853 First Street with the condition that the state

  SPRINGFIELD – Over 30 rural fire departments in Illinois including Oglesby and Utica were grant recipients for new equipment. The USDA Forest Service Volunteer Fire Assistance federal grant program provided matching funds to aid fire departments. Oglesby Fire Protection District

  LASALLE – The city of LaSalle could be home to a recreational cannabis dispensary. The petition is on the agenda for Monday night’s city council meeting. The request is from Andrew Martinez for a Special Use Permit to potentially operate a dispensary at 851 First Street.

SPRINGFIELD  – Local area hunters harvested a total nearly 2,000 deer during the second weekend of the Illinois Firearm Deer Season. According to the Department of Natural Resources, all together the counties brought in 192 less than last year. LaSalle County harvested 214 deer in the 2nd

STREATOR – Streator’s council is expected to pass their 2020 budget this week. According to City Manager David Plyman, the proposed general fund expense budget is at $9.8 million and revenue at $9.6 million leaving an over $200,000 deficit. Plyman says the budget anticipates staff

  OTTAWA – LaSalle County Farm Bureau President says farmers are ‘cautiously optimistic’ as tariff negotiations are in the works for US and China. The Phase One deal that officials announced on Friday, included agreements of agricultural purchases from the US, and a

OTTAWA – The employees of an Ottawa restaurant have the chance to earn part of a $50,000 reward in February. The Culver’s Restaurant announced that their location in Ottawa was one of five within the company to participate in the Culver’s Crew Challenge. Owner Bobby Maier said

PERU – A new treatment for vascular vein disease is now available at Illinois Valley Community Hospital. The wound center’s IV VeinCare will be using a minimally-invasive laser treatment in an outpatient setting according to Jill Smoode, the program director. Services now offered

OGLESBY – The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America made a $5,000 donation to provide technology upgrades for Illinois Valley Community College’s agriculture program. Compeer insurance officer Ryan Leifheit of Ottawa presented a symbolic check to IVCC President Jerry Corcoran and

OTTAWA  The jury in the trial of a former Ottawa fireman accused of drowning his wife has found him not guilty. On Friday afternoon, just before 2 p.m. jurors reached a unanimous vote to acquit 52-year-old Kenneth of first degree murder charges. Prosecutors claimed that Cusick was guilty of