Ottawa Hospital Gets State Approval To Merge With OSF

A final hurdle has been cleared for Ottawa Regional Hospital & Healthcare Center to become OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center May 1^st.

An agreement has been signed to have Ottawa Regional Hospital join the OSF HealthCare System.  Earlier today, the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved the merger application. Last month, corporate members of the Ottawa hospital approved the merger as well.

ORH Director of Marketing Karen Brodbeck says finances played a role in the merger. She says hospital employees will keep their jobs after the merger and keep the same seniority.

The hospital will officially become OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center during a blessing and dedication led by Reverend Bishop Daniel Jenky.

Rollover Near Streator Kills The Driver

A man and a teenager remain hospitalized after a car crash that killed the driver.  22 year old Isaiah Johnson is in critical condition and 15 year old Jasmine Casey in fair condition at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.  They were taken there after a crash Monday on Route 18.

La Salle County Sheriff’s Deputies say 24-year old Amier Davis rolled his car several times and died at the scene.

14 year old Garilynn Phillips was also injured but didn’t need to be taken to Peoria.

Politicians Back From Spring Break

After a long spring break, lawmakers are back in Springfield today.

State Senator Sue Rezin has plenty of bills that still need to make their way thru before becoming law.  The Republican is proposing an “Adopt-a-Park” law where groups can adopt sections of parks to keep them clean.  Rezin also is sponsoring bills to include Habitat for Humanity in tax check offs and open library memberships up to the homeless.  She’s also sponsoring a bill that stiffens penalties for selling drugs in a public park.

State Representative Frank Mautino has his share of notable proposed bills too.  He’s a co-sponsor in establishing an annual fee for using state parks.  Mautino also is among those leading the charge to finding an alternative funding source for regional offices of education.

Varna Man Facing Several Charges After Bar Fight

Things apparently got wild outside of a tavern in Varna.

Ronnie Deffenbaugh Jr. of Varna is in the Marshall County Jail after being arrested Saturday night.  Investigators say trouble started when Deffenbaugh got into a fight with a group of people Saturday morning outside Mommy’s VIP Tavern in Varna.  When driving away, he’s accused of swerving into three men and hitting them.  They were all treated and released at St. Margaret’s Hospital.

Deffenbaugh meanwhile was pursued by a deputy in Lacon before he ditched his car and fled on foot.  He was pulled over almost 24 hours later in Peoria County.

Deffenbaugh faces charges of failing to report a personal injury accident, three counts of reckless conduct with a motor vehicle, and aggravated fleeing and eluding police.  He was also wanted on warrants for disorderly conduct in Marshall County, aggravated battery in La Salle County and DUI in Peoria County.

Deffenbaugh has bond of 250 thousand dollars.

Local Drug Dog Killed By A Car

The search for a missing police dog ends with a bad outcome.

Eddy, a 16-month old German Shepard was found dead along Interstate 39 yesterday after being hit by a car.  A search began for the dog Monday after he got out of his kennel when the wind blew it over.

His handler, retired Peru Police Officer Derrick Benning says the dog belonged to the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s SAFE program and has only been in Peru for about one month.

 

Big Illinois Lotto Winner About To Be Revealed

RED BUD, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois Lottery says the final winner of the record Mega Million jackpot has come forward.

Lottery officials say the single winner is from Illinois and will be revealed tomorrow. The other two winning tickets already have been anonymously claimed in Maryland and Kansas.

The Illinois winner will be presented a check for $218.6 million in the small southern Illinois town of Red Bud, where the winning ticket was purchased at a convenience store.