Drivers Having Difficulty Dodging Deer on Illinois Valley Roads

Earlier evenings mean you may have to keep a closer watch for deer when you’re out and about.

Monday morning the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office was called to respond to two incidents involving deer. Thirty-three year old Jose Avalos from LaSalle reported hitting a deer in Farmridge Township around 2:30.

Shortly before 6:00, police and EMS were called to a single vehicle crash on North 17^th Road near Bruce Township. According to police, 24-year old Aleycia Pederson from Kankakee refused treatment, saying she had swerved to avoid a deer. She wasn’t ticketed.

The Bureau County Sheriff’s Office says they’ve had to deal with a few incidents of deer strikes in the past week too. Johnathan Gosch of Sheffield hit a deer in Providence, then Donald Reuter from Ohio hit one while driving North of New Bedford. Earlier in the week, Kevin Wilson, also from Sheffield, had a run-in with a deer while driving in Tiskilwa.

Reddick Holiday Preview Party to Showcase Mansion’s Decorations

With the winter holidays on the horizon, do you plan to check out the displays at any Illinois Valley Landmarks? You’ll be able to do that in Ottawa as early as Friday.

The Reddick Mansion Association is holding their third annual Holiday Preview party later this week. According to the association, volunteers have put in more than 200 hours to set up the decorations in the mansion’s more than 20 rooms.

There’s a new twist to the party this year. The so-called “period rooms” are being lit only with candles and tree lights to help give them a more authentic feel.

If you’d like to check out the party, a donation of $10 is suggested by the association.

Quarter Auction Thursday to Benefit Christmas 4 Kids

The last big fundraiser for Christmas 4 Kids is Thursday, and it may be enough to help the program pass its fundraising goal.

It’s a quarter auction that will be Thursday at the Streator Moose. All money raised from the event goes to the program, which helps kids all ages from birth to 16 get clothing, hygiene products, and sometimes school supplies and food. Each year they try to take 50 kids shopping.

The Christmas 4 Kids program was established by the LaSalle County Sheriff’s MAP 723 in 2005. This year, the program is $1,500 shy if its $10,000 goal.

If you’d like to donate but can’t make it Thursday, you can send your donation to the Sheriff’s Office at 707 Etna Road in Ottawa.

Manlius Woman Faces Forgery, Theft Charges

A Manlius woman is looking at a couple of serious charges after trying to skirt the law.

Twenty-six year old Julia Brown was arrested last Thursday after being caught at a Sheffield business. She was taken in for forgery and theft of more than $500.

She was taken to the Bureau County Jail where she’ll need to come up with $2,000 to get out.

City Council to Hold Public Hearing on Alley Vacation

As plans move forward with for a new pharmacy in Ottawa, the city is also looking for your input.

The proposed CVS will be built where a couple homes and the Family Video stands now, but the project also requires the clearing of an alley. The city is holding a public comment period at their next City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 15^th at 7:00. An ordinance vacating that alley is also on the agenda.

Also up for consideration are a couple of equipment requests. One is a request for the Ottawa Police Department to purchase a new detective vehicle, and the other is a request from the Ottawa Fire Department to purchase radios.