A decade of news: The Times select top local stories of the 2010s

Several stories in the last decade have had a lasting impact in Starved Rock Country. The Times reviewed the past decade looking for the stories that have had the most impact to readers. Here is what we put together.

2019

Starved Rock murderer gets parole

After 59 years in prison, Chester Weger, known as the Starved Rock murderer, was granted parole Nov. 21 following a 9-4 vote by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. Weger was sentenced to life in prison for the 1960 bludgeoning death of Lillian Oetting in a canyon at Starved Rock State Park. He also confessed to killing Oetting’s two companions.

Other top stories in 2019: Vactor expansion in Streator adds 90 jobs; Ottawa elects new mayor; Marquette wins state baseball title; Judge dismisses case against former state's attorney Brian Towne

2018

Walldogs transform Streator as city celebrates 150th birthday

Throughout the summer, Streator celebrated its sesquicentennial. The city kicked off its 150th anniversary in April by opening a time capsule. Along with a number of historical presentations and special themes for regular events, the city conducted a closing ceremony in September by burying its next time capsule.

About 260 artists visited Streator in early July for a five-day festival to paint a number of murals on the city’s walls, including a billboard for a Hopalong Cassidy mural. The murals were part of the city's sesquicentennial celebration.

Starved Rock, Matthiessen expansion

The state of Illinois acquired 2,629 acres of property in La Salle County near Oglesby "to protect natural resources and expand recreation opportunities, tourism and economic development near Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks." Gov. Bruce Rauner made the announcement Oct. 25.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Wayne Rosenthal said the state acquired the reclaimed mining land from Lone Star Industries Inc. for $11 million. The money, Rosenthal said, came from the Open Lands Trust, which was established to acquire property for conservation and recreation purposes.

Other top stories in 2018: Ottawa grad makes Major League debut; Vietnam Moving Wall visits Ottawa; organizers win Governor's Award; Ottawa breaks ground on I & M canal rewatering

2017

Tornado hits Naplate, South Ottawa; 2 die

Late in the afternoon on Feb. 28, Naplate and South Ottawa were hit with an EF3 tornado, which generated winds of 136 to 165 mph and caused severe damage.

It touched down at Buffalo Rock State Park and traveled 11.5 miles to just northwest of Marseilles, reported Ottawa City Engineer Dave Noble. It was on the ground 18 minutes, traveling across land at about 38 mph.

In that 18 minutes, the tornado damaged many homes and claimed two lives. David "D.J." Johnson and Wayne Tuntland Sr. were in the backyard of a South Side home when a tree fell.

In Naplate, St. Mary’s Parish, which had been shuttered prior to the tornado, was torn down. Pilkington glass factory's operation was affected.

A tornado relief fund for Ottawa and Naplate tornado victims was established and has since designated more than $200,000 to individuals. More than 300 people inquired about assistance.

Other top stories in 2017: Earlville, Peru standoffs

2016

Streator medical center closes, gets ER status, stays in location

At 12:01 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4, St. Mary’s Hospital closed its inpatient services department, which was what by definition made it a hospital.

By 7 a.m., the remainder of St. Mary's was sold by Springfield-based HSHS, which owned the Streator hospital for 128 years, to Peoria-based OSF.

At 11 a.m., the formalities began. Officials dedicated the new operation — officially called the OSF Center for Health-Streator — at a private ceremony in the chapel in the old hospital, 111 Spring St.

In February, the state Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved the health care chain's application for a freestanding emergency room in Streator. Then in June, OSF announced the outpaitent center would be staying in the current building, which pleased Streator residents who did not want to see the former hospital sit empty.

Lone Buffalo, Tangled Roots opens in downtown Ottawa

With the opening of its own brewpub restaurant in February, downtown Ottawa was transformed. On one end of the business is the Tangled Roots Brewing Company, which makes beer on site. The other aspect is the farm-to-table restaurant The Lone Buffalo.

The Deborah Dewey case

Deborah Dewey last was seen Aug. 22 and a widespread search ensued for the 62-year-old Ladd woman. The search ended in tragedy when, on Sept. 12 in Standard, her body was found buried in a shallow grave in a yard.

“Just because Standard is a small town doesn’t mean something like this can’t happen,” neighbor Kelly Sartin said. “There is bad everywhere, but it is a shock that it happened in my backyard, and more of a shock that a resident or residents of Standard are allegedly involved.”

Clifford Andersen, 66, of Standard, Dewey’s brother-in-law, initially was charged with concealment of a homicidal death in Putnam County. The following year the charge was elevated to murder.

In 2018, Andersen was convicted at trial and sentenced to 60 years.

His case is on appeal.

Other top stories in 2016: Streator Little League makes it to Indianapolis

2015

SAFE unit declared unlawful by Appellate Court

The Third District Appellate Court in Ottawa ruled in June the SAFE unit was not authorized by law.

The SAFE unit formed in late 2011 to interdict drugs, chiefly marijuana, and to seize drug money on the La Salle County stretch of Interstate 80. Former La Salle County State's Attorney Brian Towne, who established and oversaw SAFE, asked the state supreme court to hear his appeal of the appellate court's decision.

The appellate court said SAFE was an overreach of state statute and effectively, but improperly, served as Towne’s police force.

Other top stories in 2015: Murder-cremation in Ottawa; man charged with murder by bow and arrow; Mautino’s year: Rep. fights cancer, takes auditor post, sets off county dominoes; OTHS fires 26-year teacher, coach Burgess

2014

The La Salle County Jail lawsuit

Dana Holmes sued La Salle County after she was forcibly stripped in a jail cell and walked away with a piece of a $355,000 settlement.

Holmes sued La Salle County after obtaining video footage from the jail showing her May 2013 booking for driving under the influence. Holmes twice swung her leg, at which point she was taken into a padded cell and disrobed by four officers.

The video was played on news outlets nationally. The case was settled with Holmes and five others who subsequently sued for being forcibly stripped.

“When we considered the potential costs to defend the case versus the costs to settle it, we made a financial decision to settle the case,” said Todd Martin, then an attorney for La Salle County.

Ottawa cuts building trades

The Ottawa High School Board cut the building trades course when it voted 5-1 in favor of releasing its instructor, Dave Keely, at the end of the school year, as the district faced a $3 million deficit. Students protested the decision and it became a central topic in the next election cycle. Students now take the course at the La Salle-Peru Area Career Center in Peru.

2013

Marseilles takes hit with flood

Hundreds of homes were a total loss after major flooding in Marseilles. The city of Marseilles reached a $1.175 million settlement with Ingram Barge Company, stemming from the city's massive April 2013 flood. During the 2013 flood, several Ingram barges broke away from a tugboat, striking the lock and dam, which caused extensive damage and, as the city argued, massive flooding through the town. Severe weather conditions, which produced historic high water and flooding across the Illinois River system, also contributed mightily to the historic flooding.

Other top stories in 2013: Man survives shooting on the Sandy Ford bridge.

2012

Lipton Tea fire

Crowds of people watched as the four-story Lipton Tea building burned down Aug. 19, 2012, in downtown Streator. About 60 firefighters from 13 departments responded. One firefighter had a minor injury from fighting the blaze, which was determined to be suspicious.

Westclox fire in Peru

Westclox is a thriving plaza of shops, studios and new businesses. But initially a fire drove out and set back some businesses located near the center and smoke-damaged regions of the facility.

The blaze changed firefighting, too; fire companies later stepped up their pre-planning by flying drones over commercial buildings to map out like-minded blazes.

It started as a prank, an attempt to burn a boat in storage inside one of the buildings. A Peru boy, then 16, was prosecuted in juvenile court and sentenced to five years’ probation and 240 community service hours.

His companion was less fortunate. Steven Gallacher had recently turned 17 and thus was eligible to be tried as an adult. His felony was elevated to a non-probationable offense when a La Salle firefighter sustained an incapacitating injury at the scene. Gallacher was convicted of aggravated arson and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He will be released in June.

Other top stories: Keith Mackowiak gets life for Seneca murders; Ottawa and Marquette football teams complete perfect regular seasons

2011

Tanya Shannon's body found

The crew of a WBBM-Television news helicopter found the body of Tanya Shannon around 9:30 a.m. Jan. 3, 2011. The missing Ransom woman's body was discovered in a field about three quarters of a mile southeast of the site where she and her husband's car crashed early in the morning of Dec. 5, 2010. Her body was in the area of East 27th and North 20th Roads, about one-half mile from the nearest road.

The car crashed along the Grand Ridge Blacktop near the Exelon nuclear plant. Tanya's husband Dale was found dead by a deputy, but Tanya was gone. Led by the sheriff's office, searchers unsuccessfully scoured the snow-covered countryside in the area of the crash for a couple of days; her body eventually was found just outside that search area.

Other top stories in 2011: Blizzard buries Starved Rock Country in area's third-highest amount of snowfall

2010

Streator tornado

Shortly after dusk on June 5, 2010, the tornado sirens wailed throughout Streator. As minutes ticked by, the sirens continued. It was not a false warning. An EF2 tornado roared through the city, damaging dozens of structures. By the time the twister moved on, parts of the city were left in ruins and in total darkness. It didn't take long before residents and emergency personnel began picking up the pieces and lending support to one another.

— Shaw Media reporter Tom Collins contributed to this report.