Ottawa event raises $56,000

150 people had their heads shaved to bring in $56,000 in the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser at Jeremiah Joe’s in Ottawa.

Rita Choven directed the annual fundraiser Saturday that raises money for childhood cancer.   Choven says with what was collected – and what’s yet to come in – she is amazed.

Girls as young as 11 and 13 years of age shaved their heads in support of young cancer patients in Ottawa Saturday.  Two more St. Baldrick’s events are still to come.  Muffy’s Tap in Ottawa this Saturday and in the Mendota Knights of Columbus March 30^th.

Media Bobblehead

Second round voting ends today for 99.3 WAJK morning man Jon Shap and NewsTribune sportswriter Erik Hall.

Both are competing in the Peoria Chiefs promotion benefiting charities called “Media Madness”. Shap is trying to win for Cops 4 Cancer while Hall is in it for Ladd Baseball. Voting for round two goes until seven tonight. You can vote as many times as you want. Go to PeoriaChiefs.com to vote. If Shap and Hall both win, they’ll face each other in the next round. As of 3:15pm Sunday, Shap lead Aaron Frey of the Galesburg Register Mail by about 1800 votes. Eric Hall continued to comfortably lead WMBD-TV’s Marcus Bailey by 17% or some 15000 votes. Voting ends at 7pm tonite.

Hoops for Hounds results

A three on three basketball game in Princeton Saturday puts more money in the coffers of “Friends of Strays”. Frank Wolsfeld told AM 1220 WLPO news Sunday he was happy with the turnout and a collection of about one thousand dollars. That’s a preliminary total. The event was in Logan Junior High in Princeton Saturday afternoon. WAJK morning man, Jon Shap and Kay Townsend, Miller Media Account Rep participated. “Friends of Strays” is located just east of the Road Ranger on the north side of Princeton. The group was started in 1994.

Mom takes children on chase

20-year old Shelby Chalus of Ottawa took her two children on a ride Saturday – one that police don’t recommend. LaSalle County Sheriff’s office said deputies observed Chalus speeding and gave chase. Chalus was clocked at 100 mph during the brief chase. She was eventually stopped on North 27th road near Buffalo Rock State Park. Chalus was charged with two counts of speeding, having a suspended/revoked license, no insurance, two counts of endangering the life of a child and fleeing and attempting to elude police. Chalus went to the county jail. The two children were turned over to their father.

Late Friday night incident in LaSalle

A LaSalle man has lots of charges to answer for in court after an incident late Friday night in the 2400 Block of Hennepin in LaSalle. An ambulance was dispatched but transported no one. Steve Draffen of LaSalle was charged with two counts each of battery, disorderly conduct and resisting an officer. Dawn Timmons of LaSalle was charged with disturbing the peace. Timmons and Draffen each received notices to appear.

St. Baldrick’s weekend

One hundred fifty people didn’t lose their head Saturday at Jeremiah Joe’s in Ottawa – just their hair. Rita Choven is chairperson for the annual St. Baldrick’s head shaving in Ottawa. St. Baldrick’s raises money to help research and end childhood cancers. Choven texted our Jeremy Aitken that she was very pleased with the results and has estimated the group raised at least 56-thousand dollars Saturday. That’s a preliminary total.  Seneca’s Oak Ridge is hosting its’ own St. Baldrick’s event at 2pm Sunday.  Eight fire and /or ambulance crews are participating including Magnolia, Spring Valley, Utica, LaSalle and Oglesby.