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North Central Illinois Update

Man and Dog fall through ice on Lake Mendota
MENDOTA – A dog and his owner both went through the ice on Lake Mendota Sunday. Around noon the Mendota Fire Department and Mendota Police were called to the south side of the lake for a report

L-P student wins IVCC art competition
OGLESBY – Alaina Stasiak of LaSalle-Peru High School recently won Illinois Valley Community College’s annual High School Art Exhibit and Portfolio competition. Stasiak submitted ten works in pen and marker, gouache and watercolor, digital media and India

Annual Healthcare and Pre-med Scholarships coming to IVCC
OGLESBY – Dr. Kamal Kishore, owner of Illinois Retina & Eye Associates of Peru, Peoria and Galesburg, has established annual healthcare and pre-med scholarships with the Illinois Valley Community College Foundation. The ten, $1,000 Kamal Kishore MD

Ag and Cannabis Academic Showcase coming to IVCC
OGLESBY – Illinois Valley Community College’s Admissions Office will host an Agriculture and Cannabis Academic Showcase at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March. 9 via Zoom. Current and prospective students and their parents are encouraged to attend sessions with

Reddick Mansion to open for tours Friday
OTTAWA – The Reddick Mansion Association Board of Directors has announced they will be reopening for tours on Friday. Reservations are not required, but visitors will only be allowed into the building 15 minutes prior to each

Gas prices up 30 cents from a year ago
CHICAGO – As winter wanes gas prices remain higher than the pandemic influenced price from a year ago according to the American Automobile Association. LaSalle County averaged $2.80 per gallon, lower than both Bureau and Putnam County

IVCC ag students train with ag sprayer simulator
OGLESBY- Ag students at Illinois Valley Community College got hands on training in the use of spraying equipment with a simulator on loan to the school from GRAINCO FS. The simulator provides training in driving, field navigation

Mendota Police Deputy Chief & Sergeant complete additional training
MENDOTA – Two commanding officers of the Mendota Police Department have completed additional training programs. Deputy Chief Tyler Kent and Sergeant Amy Mann took the 100 hours of ‘Police Mid-Management Role in the 21 Century’ class

Rezin files FOIA request regarding LaSalle Veterans’ Home COVID-19 outbreak
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Sue Rezin announced Wednesday that she has filed an Illinois Freedom of Information Act request with the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs for communications related to the COVID-19 outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’

Princeton man dies in Bureau County crash
PRINCETON – A man from Princeton is dead after a crash in rural Bureau County. The Bureau County Sheriff’s Office stated in a press release Wednesday that they were called to US Route 6 near Park Ave

14-year-old flees traffic stop in stolen vehicle in Mendota
MENDOTA – A 14-year-old is facing a number of charges after allegedly fleeing a traffic stop driving a stolen vehicle in Mendota on Tuesday morning. The Mendota Police Department say a car without lights on at 1

Electronics recycling event coming up in LaSalle County
OTTAWA – An opportunity to dispose of electronics in LaSalle County will be coming up in a couple of weeks. The county Environmental Services department will be holding the event at the LaSalle County Government Center on

Weekend gunfire being investigated in Streator
STREATOR – Authorities are investigating a home that allegedly was struck by gunfire in Streator. On Saturday morning around 3:20 AM Streator Police were called to the 100 block of East 10th Street for the incident where

IVCC to host Accounting and Business Academic Showcase online
OGLESBY – Illinois Valley Community College’s Admissions Office will be hosting an Accounting and Business Academic Showcase at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 3 via Zoom. Current and prospective students and their parents are encouraged to attend sessions

Water main break in LaSalle-Peru located at high school
PERU – A water main break on the east side of Peru that began Wednesday still has many residents without water and some under a boil order. The city announced Thursday that the water issue was located

Adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccine close school for a day
GRANVILLE – An area school was closed Thursday due to a staff shortage after a number of adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine. Putnam County School District #535 Superintendent Carl Carlson said too many employees are dealing

State releases hemp harvest numbers for 2020 growing season
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Agriculture released final harvest numbers from the 2020 hemp growing season. Hemp farmers reported 2,734 acres planted, with 1,278,000 pounds of flower, 39,000 pounds of seed, 8,500 pounds of grain and

Area libraries and schools awarded CARES Act Grants from Secretary of State
SPRINGFIELD – Area libraries and schools have been awarded CARES Act Grants from Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White. Libraries could apply for grants to help purchase cleaning and PPE supplies to offset costs

State Senator Bailey announces bid for Governor
EFFINGHAM – State Senator Darren Bailey announced on Monday that he will be seeking the Republican nomination for Governor. The downstate farmer from Xenia was elected to the state legislature in 2018 and represents the 55th district.

Ottawa woman arrested after stabbing incident
OTTAWA – An Ottawa woman is facing battery and deadly weapon charges after an investigation into an alleged stabbing Monday morning. The Ottawa Police Department say they were called to the 2100 block of Somerset Drive where