Local Headlines

MENDOTA – Visitation is scheduled for Thursday evening for a Mendota teen who passed away Sunday.  Benjamin Bokus was heavily involved in sports at Mendota High School, where he graduated from in 2018.  Former Mendota High Football Coach Brock Sondgeroth said Monday that “Ben will

SPRING VALLEY – The city of Spring Valley approved of a property donation to make a park. The Casford family donated property north of Illinois River on Spaulding Street with the stipulation that it would be transformed into a park. Park Board members say they’re proud to have received a

LASALLE – The LaSalle City Council agreed to go forward with a pedicab business proposal at Monday night’s city council meeting. Ken Mollan of Starved Rock Pedicab, LLC spoke to council members about obtaining a business license for pedicabs to operate in downtown LaSalle. He explained

OTTAWA – The city of Ottawa will be upgrading its lift station, moving it out of a flood plain. In a city council meeting earlier this week a motion was passed, authorizing Basalay Cary & Alstadt Architects to design a new station north of the existing facility that could be

SPRINGFIELD – The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Illinois Chapter is asking state legislators for bipartisan support of Bills circulating the General Assembly. Ottawa Attorney, and member of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Alexis Ferractui, says the

SPRING VALLEY – One man is in custody after a Bureau County incident where a homeowner had to fire a pistol to scare off an intruder. According to the Spring Valley Police Department 22-year-old Austin J. Schmitt of Cherry allegedly broke down the door of a home located on the 400 block of

TONICA – The American Red Cross will host a blood drive in honor of a local volunteer firefighter. Evan Knoblauch of Oglesby, was diagnosed in 2017 with Ewing Sarcoma, a cancerous tumor that progressed to his lungs. Knoblauch is still undergoing cancer treatments and continues to fight for

OGLESBY – Making Industry Meaningful In College (MIMIC) was named a finalist for the Bellwether Legacy Award, which recognizes previous Bellwether Award winners that have been offered for five or more years and have been replicated elsewhere. Six years ago, the MIMIC project was a finalist

HARRISBURG- The body of a teen missing since March 3rd was found Friday in rural Gallatin County.   The Illinois State Police announced that they located the remains of 19 year-old Brooke S. Naylor after a multi day search.  Her vehicle was found abandoned last week.  An autopsy has been