Ottawa Taking Your Input on Amenities for New Dayton Bluffs Master Plan

If you’re a fan or frequent visitor to Dayton Bluffs and you’ve felt like it’s missing something, you’ll want to make plans to be at a public meeting later this week.

The City of Ottawa and Upland Design are putting together a new master plan for the Dayton Bluff Preserve and they’d like your input. Specifically they’re looking for feedback on what types of amenities and activities you’d like to see.

There are some restrictions though. The preserve has been designated as a Land & Water Reserve, which means some things like baseball, ziplines, and a dog park wouldn’t be possible.

The meeting will be Thursday at Ottawa’s City Hall, and it’s set to start at 7:00.

LaSalle County Health Department Group Asking for Your Help in Opioid Battle

If you or someone you know has been impacted by opioid abuse, you can voice your concerns in a new survey.

The LaSalle County Medical Reserve Corps has put together an online survey focusing on “awareness and attitudes” toward the issue of opioids. If you want to participate your results would be confidential and the survey would only take 5-10 minutes to complete.

The survey runs through December 16, and overall results will be published and made available on the LaSalle County MRC’s website.

You can click here to learn more or to take the survey.

Chris Kringle Market to Coincide with Ice Odyssey in Ottawa

Ottawa’s annual winter festival continues to grow, as evidenced by a market that will be part of this year’s festivities.

Mayor Bob Eschbach will be announcing the city’s planned “Chris Kringle Market” Wednesday morning. The market is based on a German tradition that’s already been adopted in Chicago and Naperville.

The City Council approved the purchase of 10 wooden huts for the market back in October. Vendors will use the huts to sell specialty gift items.

The market is scheduled for December 10^th and 11^th, the same weekend as the city’s Ice Odyssey.

Peru moving closer to getting rid of eyesore hotel

A longtime eyesore on the north end of Peru could be coming down in a few months.

The Peru City Council approved a development agreement for the old Econo Lodge property near Arbys in which the future property owner demolishes the hotel by March of next year. The cost of tearing down the hotel along May Road could cost $750,000. The developer would take on that cost.

Mayor Scott Harl says they are close to finding a developer for the rundown hotel that’s sat empty for well over a decade. He’s not sure if the potential new owners want to open another hotel or look to add a retail store.

Latest on fatal Route 251 crash in Peru

The exact cause of Friday’s fatal crash in Peru is still under investigation.

Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei says there’s no indication that 53-year-old Danny Foster of Tennessee was texting before he rear-ended 49-year-old Richard Shambaugh of La Salle at the intersection of Route 251 and Ben Samek Road. An accident “Reconstructionist” from the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office is looking into the cause of the crash.

Foster was killed after the impact with Shambaugh caused him to spin into oncoming traffic. He was hit by 31-year-old Abby Pantenburg of Peru.

Pantenburg and Shambaugh were treated at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru for minor injuries.

Illinois Valley get semi annual safety grades

If you or a loved one heads to a hospital in the Illinois Valley, you’re in good hands.

The patient safety watchdog group called “Leapfrog Group” has put out grades for over 100 hospitals statewide. St Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley, Morris Hospital and OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Ottawa all received an “A”. Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru received a “B” while OSF St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota and Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton weren’t graded. Hospital scores were based on 30 safety issues like patient falls, dangerous bed sores, accidental cuts and communication.

St. Margaret’s safety grade improved from a “B” last year while OSF St. Elizabeth and Morris Hospital kept their “A” grades. The “B” grade for IVCH is the same as they got last fall.

If you want to look at the safety scores, click Hospital safety grades