2nd Annual Charity Basketball game scheduled

While the best high school basketball teams enter into March Madness, area doctors and rotary members will show off their moves on the court at Parkside School.

The Second Annual Charity Basketball Game between the Illinois Valley Community Hospital physicians and administration Rotary members from the Peru, LaSalle and Illinois Valley Sunrise Rotary Clubs is Friday, March 11 at 6:30pm.

Last year’s game raised nearly $1900 for area charities.  This year’s game will raise money for the Illinois Valley Food Pantry and the IVCH Foundation.

Jane Addams topic of IVCC program

March is Women’s History Month.  You can learn about an important woman in Illinois’ history during a program Tuesday evening at Illinois Valley Community College’s Ottawa Center.

Biographer Louise Knight will be talking about her latest book, “Jane Addams: Spirit in Action.”

The program runs from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at IVCC’s Ottawa Center, Room 104.  There’s no charge to get in.

Aggravated battery charge for man accused of struggling with sheriff’s deputies

It’s hard to run from the police when you’re at the courthouse.  La Salle County Sheriff’s Deputies say a man already in court tried to leave the governmental complex in Ottawa after it was realized he was wanted on a failure to appear warrant Friday morning.

29 year old Robert Matlock was arrested outside of the courthouse.  He was charged with aggravated battery after police say he hit a deputy.  He was being held in the county jail.

Route 178 work scheduled to begin Monday

Weather permitting of course, construction will start Monday on the Route 178 realignment in Utica.

IDOT Engineer Herb Jung says the project will last two construction seasons starting with the widening of 178 at the north entrance into Utica. The rest of phase one of the project is extending Lincoln Street from 178 to Mill Street and building new bridges over the I&M Canal and Clark’s Run Creek.  Stage two will extend Route 178 to the west of downtown while the final stage will be connecting the new Route 178 stretch to the existing road south of the canal.

Advance Asphalt in Princeton was awarded the $4.2 million construction job.

LC Republicans to hold Lincoln Day Dinner March 12

The annual Lincoln Day Dinner for La Salle County republicans is on March 12^th.

Newly elected State Treasurer Dan Rutherford will be the featured speaker during the dinner at Celebrations 150 in La Salle.  Other republicans like Congressman Adam Kinzinger and State Senator Sue Rezin are invited.

Dinner starts at 7 and tickets are available by contacting La Salle County Republican Chairwoman Susan Thornton.

Congressman Kinzinger making Ottawa stop

If you have something to say you think lawmakers in Washington should hear, Congressman Adam Kinzinger will be in Ottawa Saturday morning.

The Republican will be available at Ottawa City Hall from 10 until 11am.

Drifting snow on some rural roads

Depending on which roads you’re taking Saturday morning, you’ll want to give yourself a few extra minutes.

Rural roads, especially north-south roads, will be patchy with snow.  There’s drifting in some spots.

IDOT says Interstates 80 and 39 should be clear through La Salle and Bureau Counties.