Second fire destorys Oglesby home, sparks investigation

A house in Oglesby that was damaged by a fire a couple of years ago has been totaled following another fire.

A neighbor called 911 at about 1:30am Friday for the fire on Hazen Avenue.  Oglesby Fire Chief Ron Popurella says the blazed damaged the siding on neighboring homes.

Popurella says the house had been undergoing restoration and no one had been living there.

It’s being investigated by the State Fire Marshall and Oglesby Police Department.

Ottawa Chamber using survey to gather community feedback

City officials in Ottawa want to know what people think of the place they call home.

The Ottawa Chamber of Commerce has put together a 25 question, online survey to get feedback from the public.  The survey asks to rate various things including: appearance of the city; the downtown; shopping; quality of public schools and taxes.

The survey is available until November 14^th.

Halloween brings Trick-or- Treat to area communities

Wondering when you should have your kids ready for trick-or-treat?

Trick-or-treat will be from 5pm-7pm Sunday in La Salle, Peru, Oglesby and Utica.

In Mendota, it is from 4pm-6pm Sunday.

In Spring Valley, Naplate and Grand Ridge trick-or-treat is from 6pm-8pm Sunday.

Ottawa Pavilion will allow trick-or-treating from 5pm-6pm Sunday.  Ottawa city-wide trick-or-treat hours are from 6pm-8pm.

Streator and Marseilles trick-or-treat is from 5pm-8pm Sunday.

The Peru Mall is holding trick-or-treat from 4pm-6pm Sunday.

More railroad repairs planned for Ottawa

Railroad improvements will cause more traffic headaches in Ottawa.

CSX Railroad will work on crossings at Guion and Champlain Streets starting Sunday.  These crossings will be closed to traffic for about a week.

The crossings are on the east side of town.

Candidates working through the weekend leading up to election

A congresswoman who’s working to hold on to her seat in the 11^th District says she won’t stop until the poles close Tuesday evening.  Trick-or-Treating isn’t on the agenda for Democratic Debbie Halvorson who’s facing tough competition from Adam Kinzinger, a Republican.

Halvorson says there are a lot of people to see, in eight counties.

You can hear results of this congressional race and others during AM 1220 WLPO’s Election Connect Tuesday evening starting at 8pm.

Ottawa celebrates “Pumpkin-palooza”

If you want to get a jump start on trick or treating this weekend, downtown Ottawa’s the place to be.

The Downtown Merchants Association of Ottawa along with CHOAS is putting on “Pumpkin-palooza” Saturday starting with trick or treating at 10am.  Downtown businesses will be handing out candy until noon.

Also going on Saturday in Ottawa is the final farmer’s market of the season at Washington Park.  Happening this afternoon around the Jordan Block area is a pumpkin carving contest, costume contest and lighting of pumpkins at dusk.