Illinois Valley misses out on heavy rain

How much rain did you get in the last day or two? The Illinois Valley missed out on the heavy rain.

According to the National Weather Service, between 2 to 4 inches fell in the suburbs but most places in the Illinois Valley saw an inch or less. Amboy and Sublette had just over an inch of rain Thursday into Friday morning while Mendota, Marseilles, Ottawa and Streator had just over a half inch.

There was just under an inch of rain in Oglesby, La Salle and Peru.

Plenty of competition for medical marijuana licenses

If it seems like there’s a lot of interest in growing medical marijuana in the Illinois Valley that’s because there is.

Out of the 22 state police districts, District 17 covering La Salle, Bureau and Putnam Counties has the second most cultivation center applications with 13. Only the police district covering Will, Grundy and Kendall Counties has more applications with 14. Only one cultivation center will eventually get a license per district.

When it comes to dispensaries or places for patients to buy the medical marijuana, the Illinois Valley has four applications. There will only be one marijuana dispensary in District 17.

The state’s expected to announce cultivation center and dispensary license winners before the year is over. Actual medical marijuana should be ready for patients early next year.

Work progresses at La Salle’s newest park

Unless you visit La Salle Rotary Park often, it’s probably changed since the last time you were out there. The park off of the Troy Grove Blacktop had quite a few visitors during a recent weekday afternoon.

It’s turned into a place for soccer practice and the handicapped accessible playground is popular with parents of small children. A senior league baseball field, bag toss area, and a third shelter are the most recent features, though they’re not ready to be used.

If you want to plan an afternoon at La Salle Rotary Park, you can pack a soccer ball, kite or a Frisbee. You could also have lunch in one of the shelters that have picnic tables. Dogs are welcome in the dog park.

College Night returns to IVCC

Everyone from the University of Illinois to United States Naval Academy will be represented at this year’s Illinois Valley Community College “College Night”.

Recruiters will be at IVCC looking for potential students Thursday night from 6:30 until 8. There’s supposed to be around 50 public and private colleges and universities along with military academies.

During the “College Night” there’s also a financial aid workshop starting at 7. IVCC officials will be around to talk about transfer options.

Hear about Ottawa’s haunted past during a walking tour

Who doesn’t like a good ghost story? Next weekend you can take a walking tour of downtown Ottawa and hear all kinds of ghastly tales.

“Ghosts of Ottawa Past” is being put on by members of the Reddick Mansion Association. The guided tour next Saturday night starts at the mansion and then goes to various haunted spots covering a half-mile. You’ll hear about the last public hanging in Ottawa and visit a haunted funeral parlor.

There will be two different tours, one leaving from the mansion at 7 the other at 9. It’s ten dollars a person. Because of the subject matter being talked about, you should be at least 13 to go on the tour.