Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

David’s Clubhouse, a local nonprofit focused on autism-inclusive indoor play and community support, is partnering with W Social Club to sponsor sensory-friendly training for one barber and one stylist this fall.

A tornado benefit that brought Streator residents together Sunday has raised at least $7,000 for local recovery efforts, with organizers still tallying the final count.

Police said they clocked him at more than 90 mph and he then fled on foot into Earlville. Arresting officers smelled alcohol and charged Julian Murray with aggravated DUI, elevated to a felony because his license was revoked.

The Putnam County volleyball team has a strong core returning from last year's squad that went 21-16-1 and played in a regional final.

La Salle County farmers are heading into the final stretch before harvest with healthier crops after receiving beneficial rains over the past month, according to the latest Farm Bureau crop report.

The Ottawa Visitors Center has appointed Donna Reynolds as Executive Director, effective July 1. Reynolds has worked at the center since October 2009 and was named Tourism Office Manager in August 2022.

An experienced, cohesive, self-motivated Bureau Valley volleyball squad is intent on rising to a new competitive level in 2026.

After closing out longtime head volleyball coach Andy Puck’s 24-year tenure at Princeton with a regional championship last fall, the Tigresses are performing a hard reset to start this season as they look to extend their success on the court into a new era.

The Ottawa boys golf team - led by medalist Bryer Harris - opened its season with a win over Morris on Tuesday, while Streator captured a triangular victory, and Fieldcrest's Carter Senko captured the individual tile at St. Bede Early Bird Tee-Off.

The St. Bede boys golf team won its Early Bird Tee Off Classic at Spring Creek Golf Course, plus more golf results in Tuesday's NewsTribune/BCR roundup.

A fugitive was remanded Tuesday to La Salle County Circuit Court. Jaquaya Roy will be sentenced Oct. 9 and faces up to 3 years for a 2021 crash that critically injured an Earlville police officer.

City Clerk Emily McConville announced at Monday night’s Mendota City Council meeting that the City will be picking up yard waste for residents, if they have it out on their curbs by Thursday morning.

The $550,000 in federal funding secured by Underwood will reimburse the pantry for new refrigeration, freezing and storage amenities, and open the door for future improvements.

“We want our community to enjoy the holiday weekend safely and responsibly,” Mandujano said.

There are plenty of boys and girls golfers from around the Times area worth keeping an eye on this fall. Here are five of our picks to watch in the 2026 season.

Check out our team-by-team boys and girls golf previews with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team for the 2026 season.

St. Bede announced it hired Jason Goode as its next baseball coach, replacing Bill Booker. Goode was IVCC baseball coach from 2013-23.

At Monday night’s meeting, the Mendota City Council approved the request from Reimagine Mendota to close Illinois Avenue from 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.

The La Salle City Council voted Monday to authorize the emergency repair work of a broken sewer at the intersection of 5th Street and Bucklin Street.

Musician and historian Chris Vallillo will perform “Abraham Lincoln in Song” at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Abbey, located at 113 E. Lafayette St. in Ottawa.

Peru City Clerk Jamey Mertel announced Monday that petitions will be available for pickup starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25 for aldermanic posts.

Carter Senko led Fieldcrest's boys golf to victory, Streator's boys competed in Peoria, and Seneca's girls bested Marquette and St. Bede for a season-opening triumph.

The Mendota boys golf team beat Princeton and Putnam County to start the season, plus more results in Monday's NewsTribune/BCR roundup.

With another school year underway, the issue of artificial intelligence isn’t going away anytime soon, and districts are taking notice.

The high school boys and girls golf seasons began last week across Illinois. Here are five storylines we’ll be watching in The Times coverage area in 2026.

Underwood was able to secure $1,020,800 in Community Project Funding from the federal government for the “Clean Water Project in Oglesby” to help the city replace 2,100 feet of water pipes impacted by lead and/or asbestos-cement.

King was denied pre-trial release at a Monday detention hearing.

LaSalle County Soil and Water Conservation District and American Farmland Trust will host a Soil Health Field Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 25 at the Earl Township Building, located at 1506 E. U.S. Highway 34 in Earlville.

He told police it was a joke. Minnesota authorities didn’t think the threat against the state’s lieutenant governor was funny. Caden Sluder of Oglesby now is on probation.

Naturalists at Starved Rock State Park will hold an interpretive hike Sept. 7 honoring the workers who constructed park trails and buildings.

The La Salle County Board has proclaimed August 2026 as National Emergency Management Month, recognizing the important role emergency management professionals, first responders, volunteers, and members of the public play in keeping the community safe and prepared.

With the opening day of the 2026 high school girls volleyball season fast approaching, here are just five of the storylines The Times Sports staff will be watching when the first serves go up next Monday evening.

Two members of the Starved Rock Foundation have been selected as 2026 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Volunteers of the Year in recognition of their service to Starved Rock State Park and its visitors.

Batteries and Things is preparing to open a smaller temporary retail store between the former location and the Paramount Club, located at 2411 St. Vincent Ave.

Monmouth-Roseville is the defending champion in the Three Rivers Conference Mississippi Division, Rockridge the defending champion in the Rock Division. Here is a preview of all the Three Rivers teams, including E-P, Hall, Morrison, Newman and Princeton.

This summer marks 25 years since the last vehicle crossed the historic lift bridge in La Salle.

Illinois Valley Community College’s Continuing Education Center will offer a 12-session, in-person Private Pilot Ground Training course at the main Oglesby campus from 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays from Sept. 8 through Dec. 1.

The $5,064 grant will go towards buying essential equipment and hardware.

Moore-McKee was selected for her commitment to local educational and community projects.

While I couldn’t find the value in their songs and lyrics, they claim they couldn’t even understand what bands in my generation were singing, and that the volume of our music was leading them to early hearing loss.

Harper said the conceptual drawings are meant to generate excitement and community input and that it is too early to determine a timeline or phasing plan.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Aug. 9-15. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The event features a reading, an opportunity to meet the author and a question-and-answer session. Signed book copies also will be available to buy.

With the boys golf season underway, here’s a look at all the teams in the NewsTribune/BCR area for the 2026 season.

Attendees can hike through the refuge’s wetlands and watch the refuge’s bird species’ seasonal migration patterns. Participants also are encouraged to bring binoculars and wear walking shoes.

The Streator Chamber of Commerce recently elected to donate the proceeds of its annual golf outing at the Eastwood to Streator’s Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.

Throughout most of our lives, our hair makes a statement. It tells the world who we are or how we feel or who we refuse to be.

Attendees can learn about the state of Illinois 13 bat species, why the bat populations are declining and how to help.

A new class of Master Naturalist volunteers has graduated on July 31 from the University of Illinois Extension program serving Bureau, La Salle, Marshall and Putnam counties.

With the girls golf season underway, here’s a look at all the teams and individual players in the NewsTribune/BCR area for the 2026 season.