Name Change Coming To Ottawa Regional Hospital

After 15 months of negotiations, an agreement has been signed to have Ottawa Regional Hospital join the OSF HealthCare System.

Ottawa Regional CEO and President Robert Chaffin says they’ve determined partnering with OSF enhances Ottawa’s ability to provide “outstanding medical care” and means access to “high quality, cost effective services”.  Hospital Board President Steven Gonzalo says the merger will make ORH more efficient.

Before the merger happens, Ottawa Regional’s corporate members must sign off on the agreement and the state must also sign off on it.

When the merger happens, the new name of the Ottawa hospital will be OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center.

Hospital officials say current employees in good standing will keep their job and there will be no effect on doctors and medical records.

Work underway to bring bridal store to former children’s shop

A store front that was once filled with children’s clothing will soon be filled with wedding gowns.  The old Gloria’s Children Store on First Street in La Salle is undergoing remodeling to be the new site of Marien Mae Bridal and Boutique.

Amanda Andreoni runs the dress store that was inside the Peru Trade Center until the New Year’s Eve fire.  Even before she opened in Peru, she was interested in La Salle.

Andreoni has temporarily set up shop in basement of Tri-City Frock Shoppe down the street.  Remodeling of the new store is underway.  The first floor will be used for bridesmaids and mothers’ dresses and the upstairs will be used for bridal gowns.

She says the owner of the building, Gary Hammer, has been helpful and there is positive energy in downtown La Salle.  She plans to open the new store in March.

Retrial delayed in Streator murder

Another delay in the retrial for a man once found guilty of shooting and killing his wife.  It’ll be March 19 before James Alvarado of Streator goes on trial again for the murder of his wife Angela.

Alvarado had a hearing before Judge H. Chris Ryan Thursday morning in La Salle County Court.  Ryan was unhappy with Alvarado’s attorney, Louis Bertrand.  The retrial was supposed to begin Monday.

Alvarado was found guilty of murder in 2007 and was sentenced to 45 years in prison, but was granted a new trial by the 3^rd District Appellate Court because they say State’s Attorney Brian Towne erred during his closing argument.

March 5 trial date given to arson suspect

The older of two teens accused of starting the Westclox blaze will go to trial March 5.  17 year old Steven Gallacher of La Salle was arraigned Thursday morning in La Salle County Court.  He was indicted Tuesday for felony aggravated arson.  Judge Cynthia Racugglia will preside over the trial.

Gallacher’s co-defendant, a 15-year old boy from Peru appears to be close to a plea deal.

Gallacher is being held in the county jail on $250,000 bond.  The 15-year old is at the county detention home.

Ottawa Bringing Back Wine And Jazz Festival

It wasn’t a major money maker but Ottawa is bringing back the “2 Rivers Wine Fest”.

The city council told Mayor Bob Eschbach to sign off on all contracts for the June 8^th thru 10^th festival that also includes live jazz music.  This year’s festival will be three days instead of two and the city will get 55 percent of ticket revenue this year compared to 25 percent last year.  The location is staying at the Jordan block.

Eschbach says the inaugural wine and jazz fest made 800 dollars for the city.  Around 3 thousand people attended with nearly 30 wine vendors.

Girl Scout Cookie Heist In Bloomington

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (AP) – 46 of 66 stolen boxes of Girl Scout cookies have turned up in Bloomington.

Police say they found the stolen boxes yesterday in some bushes about a half block away from where they were stolen out of a van.

The thefts happened sometime between late Monday and early Tuesday. Bloomington Police say the van was ransacked. The cookies are valued at $264.

Prison Time For Spring Valley Cocaine Dealer

Less than a week after being convicted on three counts of dealing cocaine in La Salle County, a Spring Valley man was sentenced to prison for drugs in Bureau County.

Alejandro Arteaga was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to selling cocaine to an undercover informant with TRIDENT last May.  He sold while out on bond from charges in La Salle County.

Arteaga will be sentenced in La Salle County March 2^nd.  He has to serve his five years from Bureau County on top of his La Salle County sentence.