Local Headlines

OTTAWA – Park goers in Ottawa will be able to play chess and checkers thanks to a new community project.   Washington Park had a ribbon cutting Tuesday on the two new stone chess tables.  The project was the brainchild of Ottawa 8th grader Eleanor Hasty. Eleanor said, “I want it to

LASALLE – By next year more upgrades will be coming to parks in LaSalle. LaSalle City Engineer Brian Brown says those fishing at Prairie Lake will get to use an ADA-compliant pier that should be installed in the springtime. At Rotary Park garbage cans will be placed along walkways as well

MENDOTA – Schools in Mendota will be gaining a few extra days of Christmas break in an effort to combat rising COVID-19 cases.  All Mendota students in the grade school and high school will have their last day be this coming Friday, with no school scheduled next week as originally

EARLVILLE – An uptick in positive COVID-19 cases has forced Earlville School District to transition to remote learning.   It was announced on Monday that they have a total of 17 positive cases and 88 close contacts.  Remote learning will continue for the rest of the week, with all sports

OTTAWA – COVID-19 cases in LaSalle county are on the rise. LaSalle County has moved just above a 5% positivity case rate this past week with 640 new cases, up from 160 last month. The age group with the highest positive cases are those under thirteen years old. Total positive coronavirus

CHICAGO -The 2021 Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism had an awards ceremony at Navy Pier in Chicago, and some local organizations were honored. Honorees were selected by their industry peers who voted via the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism Facebook page. Each

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Agriculture is offering in-person and online pesticide exam options. Online pesticide exams are available and utilize an online exam service. There will be a fee of $12 for those who take the online exam. “The pandemic required us to find alternative

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Emergency Management Agency are reminding students and community members about a new program to help improve school safety in Illinois. Safe2Help Illinois is a information sharing platform that is available 24/7. Students can use a free app, text/phone, or the website

OGLESBY – A new scholarship has been created to honor an area teacher who passed away in September.  Family and friends of the late Lori Tipton of Dalzell are creating an Illinois Valley Community College Foundation scholarship for future teachers.  Tipton was an elementary and special

  STREATOR – Poco a Poco is hosting its first-ever fundraiser, a Christmas Singing Telegram. Folks have until midnight Saturday to buy a special video message professionally recorded and sung by Executive Director and professional mezzo-soprano Kate Tombaugh. The student-based musical