Thousands of dollars raised by St. Jude runners

Runners from the Illinois Valley and other parts of the state ran for a cause Saturday.

The annual St. Jude Run had runners take turns running 3 to 6 miles from Ottawa and Peru down to Peoria. Each runner raised money to donate to St. Jude’s efforts to treat children who battle diseases.

La Salle-Peru runners raised $50,000 while taking part in the St. Jude run for the 31st year. Runners took off for the first time from Ottawa and brought in over $13,000. The St. Jude Run from Minonk collected $139,000.

National Night Out celebrated this week

Marseilles and Spring Valley are each hosting “National Night Out” festivities this week.  A free swim and cook out at Marseilles Pool starts at 5pm Monday.  The 3 hour event has music, food and a bounce house.

On Tuesday night,  “National Night Out” will be focused in Spring Valley’s Kirby Park.  The 23^rd annual outing boasts of giveaways and kids games.  You can show your support by leaving your porch light on.  “National Night Out” promotes police-community partnerships to make neighborhoods safe.

 

Circuit Clerk website displays changes Monday

LaSalle County Circuit Clerk Jim Olson says to look for changes on his website Monday that benefit you.   On the forms page, the list of forms has been streamlined to show Civil and TR/Criminal  forms.  Each of those divisions have been further streamlined.

Olson says the website will have more functionality for an online court search.  The software vendor has added additional criteria to make searches easier and straightforward, a newly designed case overview screen will summarize each case,  more clarity using the participant’s birth date to verify identification and a full view of the docket sheet.  These improvements, says Olson, will provide more access and save the public driving to either of the 2 courthouses in Ottawa.

 

 

Millions of $$ lined up for November election

Dozens of Illinois state House lawmakers face re-election challenges in November which will determine whether Democrats can impose their will on Gov. Bruce Rauner or the Republican gains traction on his ideas. Each side has millions of dollars to devote to the battles, which could define the remaining two years of Rauner’s first term.

Festival parking restrictions start Monday in Ottawa

This kind of closure is necessary for a town festival, but it can try the patience of residents as well.  The City of Ottawa is announcing the following closures and no parking announcements that start Monday at 6am to prepare for Riverfest.  Woodward Memorial Drive, Woodward Memorial parking lots,  the west end of Woodward Memorial Drive alley, Clinton and Canal streets south of Main will be closed to parking and traffic through August 8.

The lower parking lot on the west end of Lincoln Place Permit only parking lot by Veterans Memorial Bridge and the west end of Lincoln Place will be closed to all parking.  Lincoln Place will be open though to through traffic through Monday, August 8.

French to stand trial Monday for Oglesby man’s death

Why was a bow and arrow used to kill an Oglesby man?  We may get an answer when the Varna man accused of Joshua Scaman’s death begins trial proceedings Monday.  22-year old Bradley French appeared in court Friday for a pre-trial hearing.

Jury selection starts Monday in which French will be tried for killing Scaman with a bow and arrow on Father’s Day in an IVCC parking lot last year. States Attorney Brian Towne believes the trial will be concluded by week’s end. French is in the LaSalle County jail on 2 million dollars bond.

Ottawa leaders looking into downtown noise

Is there a point where live music and entertainment may actually keep some people out of a city? The Ottawa City Council looked into that very question at a workshop Thursday morning.

Part of the boom in downtown Ottawa has come from businesses building loft apartments on the second floor of their buildings, while keeping the business itself on the first floor. However, music from bars and other live music over the summer led to the council hearing an increasing number of complaints about noise in recent weeks.

The complaints have led the council to look into ways to minimize the effect of what they’re calling “downtown amplified sound” on people who live in the area. The idea is in the early stages and no specific plan is being considered currently.

Longtime retailer named Grand Marshal of Mendota parade

The Grand Marshal of this year’s Mendota Sweet Corn Festival Parade was a clothing store operator for many years.

Mitch Kaleel opened Kaleel’s Mens Wear on Illinois Avenue in Mendota in 1962. He got interested in retail from his father. Kaleel’s at one point had 95% of its stock made in America. Mitch closed his store and retired in 1995. The building is now Pro Care Home Health Services.

The 87-year-old Kaleel will preside over the Sweet Corn Festival Parade on Sunday, August 14th.

Semi driver okay after crashing on Interstate 80 near Utica

The latest trouble on Interstate 80 near Utica involved a semi getting caught up in the median.

A call went out to state police just after 7 Saturday morning about a semi tangled up in the median wiring. The crash immediately started affecting westbound traffic.

The semi driver wasn’t hurt.

Governor signs off on marijuana “decriminalization” law

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Despite no votes from State Senator Sue Rezin and State Representative Andy Skoog, Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed legislation that makes marijuana possession in small amounts punishable only with fines and no jail time.

The new law means possessing 10 grams or less of marijuana will be punishable with a fine of up to $200. The governor’s signature makes Illinois the 17th state to treat possession of marijuana in small amounts as a civil offense rather than a criminal one.

Rauner signed the so-called marijuana “decriminalization” law on Friday.