Drive-Thru dinner Sunday in Naplate

Do you have time to prepare a sit-down meal?  If not, Naplate Firemen have an answer.  A drive-thru dinner 4 – 7pm today at the Naplate Village Hall. That’s at 2000 Ottawa avenue.  You can get 2 grilled pork chops with baked beans, potato salad and apple sauce for $11.  Proceeds help the Fire Department cover training and equipment costs.

 

 

Woman suffers back injuries after fall Saturday

A 60 foot fall can break vertebrae and damage your spleen and kidney. A 21-year old Des Plaines woman knows that after an incident at Starved Rock State Park Saturday afternoon. Sgt. Phil Wire is with the Conservation Police.  He said Kathleen Bartsch was in critical condition after leaving a trail and falling in Pontiac Canyon.  She landed on sandstone and was later flown to OSF St. Francis in Peoria in critical condition. Since then, she has been moved out of the ER and was talking with a Conservation officer Saturday night.

Wire said the woman was hiking alone. Ottawa River Rescue helped transport the woman across the river. She will not be charged.

New Ottawa playground dedicated Saturday

A Sway Fun Glider, a We-Saw, an Omni-Spin Spinner and a Sensory Play Roller Table are now awaiting children near Riordan Pool. The OK-PIP playground – open to all children in Ottawa – was dedicated Saturday morning in Lincoln – Douglas Park. June Steder is spokesperson for the group overseeing the facility. Attending were Didi Contreras and Andrea Medrow, both who provided the inspiration for the project.  They are mothers of disabled children. Also speaking were Linda Johnson from “Make a Wish” and Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach.

Fundraising continues for Phase 2 of the Playground.  $100,000 is needed.  If you’d like to donate, make your check out and mail it to:  OK Foundation,  P.O. Box 2206 Ottawa  61350.

Lecture on Alexander Hamilton Sunday in Peru

A play about Alexander Hamilton seems all the rage these days. If you’re going to see it,  why not learn a bit more Sunday to enhance that experience?   Music Suite 408 is hosting local history educators, Bill and Sue Johnson Sunday at 2.  The Johnsons will explain who Alexander Hamilton is, the role he played in the early days of the United States and about his life and the times he lived in.

The program is family-friendly, open to the public and a free will offering will be accepted. Music Suite 408 is inside the Westclox building.

3 vehicle collision Saturday at Tonica caused no injuries

Tonica police and EMS were called to a 3 car collision Saturday afternoon on the north edge of town.  Tonica police say 55-year old Denise Flynn of Peoria was eastbound on North 20^th, known as the Ray Richardson Road, but failed to stop at the Route 251 intersection. The SUV entered the intersection and struck the front end of a southbound sedan driven by 71-year old John Rhodes.

Tonica police say that collision forced Rhodes into the side of a camper driven by 67-year old Gordon Buetsch of Rockford. Buetsch was stopped facing north waiting to turn west on Richardson road.  Flynn was cited for failure to yield at an intersection.  There were no serious injuries reported.

Area park almost closed Saturday

It appears the gloomy skies and an earlier threat of rain may hold down the number of visitors Sunday at Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks.  JoLyn Wise, Starved Rock’s Natural Resources Coordinator, said the Park almost closed Saturday as visitor numbers were quite high and several parking lots were full.  Some 7000 persons went through the Visitors Center.

Wise expects a slower paced Sunday since the weather may have discouraged the public.  Utica Fire personnel told “Classic Hits 103-9 WLPO” around 1pm that  Route 178 southbound traffic was not that heavy.