“I am honored and grateful for the support of our precinct committeepersons across the district,” Findley Smith said in a Thursday statement. “My focus will be on empowering our grassroots leaders, strengthening our party infrastructure, and ensuring we are fully mobilized to get out the vote this November. When we invest in our local teams, we build a stronger, more effective Republican Party from the ground up.”

Findley Smith defeated incumbent Larry Smith by a 64% to 36% margin.

Findley Smith is a former member of the La Salle County Board and former second vice-chair of the La Salle County Republican Party. She is also a graduate of the Lincoln Series, a premier training program focused on developing the next generation of female Republican leaders in Illinois.

Unlike Democrats, who elect their State Central Committeepersons through direct vote in the primary election, Republicans select their SCC members through a vote of elected precinct committeepersons.

The 14th Congressional District includes portions of seven counties: La Salle, Will, DeKalb, Kendall, Bureau and Putnam.

Brusatte, who served as an advisor to the movie “Jurassic World” and is a professor at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, recently published “The Story of Birds.” The book discusses the links between the dinosaurs and today’s winged creatures.

Brusatte, an Ottawa Township High School graduate, who is a professional paleontologist and professor at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, currently is promoting his book across a U.S. tour. He agreed to a Q&A with Shaw Local.

How did a dinosaur expert come to be interested in birds? And what spurred you to identify links between the dinosaurs and today’s winged creatures?

When I first became obsessed with fossils as a teenager growing up in Ottawa, it was dinosaurs that hooked my interest first. I read every book on dinosaurs I could find. I dragged my parents and brothers to the Field Museum in Chicago and the Burpee Museum in Rockford for goodness knows how many times. I wanted to see the dinosaurs. I loved dinosaurs. I wanted to dig up dinosaurs and study dinosaurs. And I went to college and became a paleontologist and for my first research project, my mentor in Chicago, Paul Sereno, the great dinosaur hunter, gave me the bones of a huge meat-eating theropod that he found in Africa. He asked me to figure out what it was. So I learned a lot about theropods, and learned to understand that modern birds evolved from theropods — much smaller ones. And I when I truly understood that today’s birds are dinosaurs, I grew to become enthralled with birds, too.

Was there a particular species of bird that caught your eye and helped you draw ancestral links to the dinosaurs?

I will admit something kind of silly, maybe even seditious: When I was growing up I didn’t like birds very much. In fact, I was kind of afraid of them. I remember a few times that birds got into our house in Ottawa and by the way I reacted, you would think it was a wolverine in the house. I ran into my room and shut the door and didn’t come out until the bird was gone. There was just something about the flapping wings that spooked me, the manic energy. I’m better now, though, because I’ve gotten so see so many cool birds around the world and study so many bird fossils, too. And I’ve come to appreciate birds as incredible feats of nature. These are animals that can do that thing humans have long dreamed, to break the bonds of Earth and defy gravity and fly. And they totally transformed their bodies to do so. They have feathers and wings and light bones that make an incredible flying machine. They grow super fast and are warm-blooded and very smart. And they inherited all of these things from dinosaurs. They are real, true living dinosaurs. And I don’t think we appreciate that awesome fact enough.

Without giving away any spoilers — we do want people to read the book for themselves — what new fact seems to be gaining the most interest among your readers and at your presentations?

I’ve written a few books before, but this is the first time I am doing a book tour in the U.S. And it’s been a lot of fun! I’ve been in Washington, D.C.; Seattle; Bozeman, Montana; and now I’m writing you from St. Louis (where my parents have come over to see me!) and I’ll then go to Boston, and then back home to Scotland. What I’ve gathered from audiences so far is two particular areas of fascination. First, this basic but profound idea that today’s birds are dinosaurs. It still hasn’t really percolated into the pop culture. But birds are dinosaurs in the same way bats are mammals. They are just strange dinosaurs that developed wings and started to fly, and they are the only ones that live on today. Sure, a bird doesn’t look at all like a T. rex or Brontosaurus. But dinosaurs were very diverse, there were many different groups. Bats don’t look anything like an elephant or horse or monkey, but they are still mammals. The second thing is that there are so many fantastic extinct birds. Birds that once thrived, but then died out, and only their fossils remain. There were terror birds taller than humans, with heads the size of a horse’s head, capped with a hooked beak, which were the top predators in South America for tens of millions of years. There were elephant birds in Madagascar that lived up to their name — they weighed over 1,500 pounds and laid eggs the size of watermelons. There were demon ducks in Australia that were like 100 times the size of a modern duck. There were giant soaring birds that once sailed the world’s thermal wings, on wingspans 20 feet wide. And I could go on and on. Looking at the world around us today, we wouldn’t know these birds ever existed.

What was the reaction from your colleagues and your readers when you discussed your research? Were people surprised or maybe even skeptical of links between dinosaurs and birds?

In the scientific community, there is no debate: Birds are dinosaurs. They evolved from dinosaurs, they are part of the dinosaur family tree. This idea is not a new one, proclaimed by brazen young scientists. No, it goes back to the 1860s, the time of Charles Darwin, when scientists of the time recognized how similar the skeletons of birds and dinosaurs were in many aspects. Have you ever looked at a chicken foot? It has scales, it has three main toes with claws. It looks like a mini T. rex foot! So scientists have suspected this for a long time, and more recently the discovery of feathers on dinosaur fossils proved it, as did DNA evidence — you can use the DNA like a paternity test, to build family trees, and it shows that birds are embedded within the reptile family tree, they are actually more closely related to crocodiles than crocodiles are to lizards and snakes. So there is no controversy among scientists. But among the public, yeah, the idea is still a weird one for many people — and I hope the book can play a role in changing that!

If someone were to invent time travel tomorrow and we could visit the age of dinosaurs, would we recognize any of the airborne creatures? Or would the birds’ ancestors be unrecognizable to modern eyes?

It would be incredible. At the moment T. rex was rampaging across the American west, about 66 million years ago, there would have been a whole menagerie of birds flying, fluttering, flapping, gliding, and soaring overhead. Many of these were primitive birds. They still had the sharp teeth and killer claws and long tails of their raptor dinosaur ancestors. But others were much more modern. They had beaks, and light skeletons, and grew super fast, and were warm blooded. There were true members of the duck and chicken group living with T. rex. How cool is that?

What has been the reaction been so far promoting your book?

So far, so good. It has been a thrill meeting a lot of new people, especially young people interested in science, and signing the book. I’ll tell you, signing books never gets old. When I was a kid I voraciously collected autographs from baseball players and politicians and other famous people. And I still do, I still ask writers to sign books for me and athletes to sign memorabilia if I meet them. And I’m signing books for people? For kids? It still blows my mind, and I am forever grateful, and especially for my family and my teachers at Wallace Grade School and Ottawa Township High School who supported me, fostered this weird love of dinosaurs and fossils that I developed as a teenager. And that is why I dedicated this book to my parents, Jim and Roxanne Brusatte, long-time Ottawa natives, wonderful people, my heroes.

The program will feature Guild member Yvonne Morman, who will present the “Brown Bag Challenge.” To participate in the challenge, bring 15 2½-inch strips in a brown bag. Strips can be from fabric stash, a Jelly Roll or whatever. Bring another 15 2½-inch strips to trade. Bags will be exchanged and each person will pick from the other strips to coordinate with what is in the bag. After the presentation, light refreshments will be served.

Guests are encouraged. There is a $5 guest fee that can be applied to the guild membership fee for anyone who joins the night of the meeting. The annual membership fee is $24.

In addition to the monthly meeting, the Guild will also have an open sew day at the church starting at 10 a.m. Thursday.

For more information, call Terry Johnson at 815-866-3534 or Linnea Campbell at 815-875-1635

“Thank you for making Library Giving Day a success,” Julie Wayland, library director, said in a Friday news release.

Though the library fell short of its $1,000 goal, Wayland said library officials were happy to have raised $700. The donations are enough to acquire at least seven new e-books or audiobooks. This will help reduce the wait time for patrons to check out high-demand ebooks and audiobooks.

“A major part of our objective was to bring awareness to the public regarding the costs related to libraries in providing e-resources to its users,” Wayland said. “In this regard, the Library Giving Day exceeded our purpose.”

Take a bow if you answered May. The TBM Avengers have, in recent years, provided a nice boost for Peru’s city coffers during the merry month of May.

The 11th annual TBM Avenger Reunion & Salute to Veterans will be May 15-16 at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport. Weather will have considerable sway over attendance, but Alderman Jim Lukosus said Wednesday that the city anticipates a 15% increase in attendance during the two-day event.

Last year’s Avenger show attracted an estimated 15,000 to 17,000 visitors during two days, and this year’s projection is about 20,000 visitors. Lukosus said that retailers, restaurateurs and hoteliers have expressed excitement about the flock coming in.

Somewhat less certain is how many TBM Avengers will fly in.

“We’ve gotten very good responses,” Lukosus said. “Between 12 and 14 owners said they were planning to come. If we get 10, we’d be real happy. Some of these 80-year-old aircraft don’t make it all the way to Peru.”

Peru Mayor Ken Kolowski said he’s hoping for a double-digit response and good weather because the event is mushrooming in popularity and because the city is always eager to honor the men and women who served.

Kolowski said the TBM show also boosts the city’s retail revenue. May is a historically strong retail month because residents buy flowers, patio furniture and supplies for home improvement projects once the weather turns nice.

“But do the TBMs help? Absolutely,” Kolowski said, adding that tourists visit from across the nation. “There’s an uptick in hotels, restaurants and amenities. It’s great. Tourism is a big part of everything.”

That certainly was the case in 2025. The city’s May retail share was a same-month record $723,000, en route to a yearly record $8.4 million. That’s the city’s share only – the city’s total sales volume is much higher. Only at the holidays did the city have a bigger sales month in 2025.

That pattern largely has held since the pandemic ended. Retail sales in May jumped 38% once COVID-19 restrictions were lifted between 2020 and 2021. Line-item revenue data isn’t available to show how much the TBM Avengers contribute, but Kolowski said that the event is a moneymaker and a big draw.

Peru Police Chief Sarah Raymond said parking will be free. Officers will be on hand to direct motorists into parking spaces on the grass. Handicapped-accessible parking will be at the far north entrance on Plank Road, which is the main entrance to the airport.

Smoking is strictly prohibited, as the presence of fumes and oil precludes any sort of open flame. Visitors are to stay in designated areas, not touch any aircraft and abide by all instructions issued by police and event volunteers.

For more than 45 years, Caroll Spinney delighted generations of children as the performer behind Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street. “I Am Big Bird” is an intimate portrait of the man inside the iconic yellow suit, featuring rare footage from his early collaborations with Jim Henson and tracing Spinney’s journey from a bullied childhood to cultural icon.

The film is 1 hour and 30 minutes, not rated, and made possible through Kanopy. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 815-339-2038 or visit the library at 105 N. Center St., Putnam.

The presentation highlights the often untold stories of America’s First Ladies — from Martha Washington to Helen Taft — whose unpaid and undefined roles nonetheless left a lasting mark on the country.

The program is presented by “A Tour of Her Own,” Washington D.C.’s first women’s history tour company.

The event is offered in hybrid format, with both in-person and virtual attendance options.

To attend virtually, register at: https://shorturl.at/mveXI. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 815-339-2038 or visit the library at 214 S. McCoy St., Granville.

The film follows Hope and his troupe of entertainers, including Frances Langford, Jerry Colonna, and Patty Thomas, who performed for troops at U.S. bases and in the European and South Pacific theaters during World War II as part of Hollywood’s effort to support the war effort.

This documentary reflects on these performances featuring archival footage and more. Their bravery and relentless tour schedule brought Hope’s show close to the danger and the front lines in a mission to lift spirits and bring humor and hope to young combat soldiers. The servicemen and their families wrote thousands of letters acknowledging these fearless Hollywood stars’ impact on morale, sometimes noting that Hope’s show was the last moment of joy before catastrophic battles.

The film is 58 minutes, not rated, and made possible through the WWII Foundation. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 815-339-2038 or visit the library at 322 W. Main St., McNabb.

The film explores international grocery stores and the immigrant communities they serve across the U.S., hosted by former “Top Chef” contender Chrissy Camba. Across five episodes set in Chicago, Brooklyn, and New Jersey, Camba and her guests shop local markets, meet store owners, and prepare meals together, celebrating global food traditions as a powerful way to connect, learn, and understand one another.

The film is 60 minutes, not rated, and is made possible through Independent Lens. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, call 815-339-2038 or visit the library at 214 S. McCoy St.

“Illinois Archaeology,” which runs May 1-30, shows how people have lived in Illinois for the last 12,500 years. It examines the archaeological evidence and what it reveals about climate change and how new technology altered the way people lived.

To kick off the exhibit, the library will host a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 1, 2026.

The exhibit begins with the arrival of Illinois’s first residents, who came as the Ice Age’s glaciers retreated northward. Over time, populations increased and people began to spread across the state.

The exhibit concludes with the arrival of Euro-Americans and the forced removal of the Native Nations that had called Illinois home for millennia.

“Illinois Archaeology” was produced by the ISAS, which is one of five scientific surveys that make up the Prairie Research Institute of the University of Illinois.

The exhibit is a companion to a new book by ISAS titled Archaeology of Illinois: The Deep History of the Prairie State, which was published in June.

The exhibit and reception are free and open to all. For more information, call the library at 815-875-1331 or go to princetonpl.org.

Armaun R. Williams, 28, of Mendota, appeared Monday in La Salle County Circuit Court and was presented with two charges. He would face six to 30 years in prison, with no possibility of probation, if convicted of aggravated battery with a firearm. He could face four to 15 years for aggravated discharge of a firearm.

That assumes that La Salle County prosecutors can overcome Williams’ claims that he was justified in using force, and Williams was able to persuade a judge not to jail him ahead of trial.

Williams was charged Friday after Mendota police were dispatched to a disturbance in the 100 block of 13th Avenue. Upon arriving, they found a man with a gunshot in his leg, according to police.

During a Monday detention hearing, Assistant La Salle County State’s Attorney Laura Hall requested that Williams be detained.

Hall acknowledged Williams had a valid firearm owner’s ID card, but discharging the gun, she said, was “clearly not the appropriate measure” for the argument at hand. She argued the use of a firearm posed a clear and present risk to others.

“There were other options available besides producing a firearm and shooting,” she said.

But Williams’ court-appointed lawyer argued that Williams may have been justified in his use of force.

Public Defender Ryan Hamer, who sat in Monday while Williams searches for a private attorney, said the victim was intoxicated and has mental health issues – “He’s got a history of acting out, lashing out” – and was trying to force his way inside the residence.

“One of the reasons people have FOIDs is to protect their homes and their families,” Hamer said.

Hamer further noted Williams scored a zero on a 14-point criminal history and has a nearly clean record, with no felony history.

Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. opted against detention. The judge did not elaborate but did specifically reference Williams having a valid FOID. He ordered Williams into home confinement (he’ll stay with his mother) and to surrender the weapon and FOID until the case is resolved.

Williams will next appear for arraignment on June 5.

Monday, Alderman Tom Payton said at the committee of the whole he was concerned with the consumption of energy and water. Initially, he expressed opposition but said later he would “withhold judgment until we do our due diligence.”

That seemed to sum up the city’s collective view. Shaw Local News Network polled members of the Peru City Council and none expressed any support for a moratorium or blanket prohibition. Peru officials would want to see and hear specifics before admitting or rejecting a data center.

“(I would) definitely need to consider the economic benefit to our town,” Alderman Jeff Ballard said. “We would need to look at each project and decide if it is good for Peru.”

Mayor Ken Kolowski said he wants more information, too, not only about specific proposals but about whether Springfield and La Salle County will impose regulatory oversight.

“There’s so much more information needed to be gathered on this situation,” Kolowski said. “I believe the county and the state are putting regulations together. I just recently had a conversation with (state) Sen. Sue Rezin about this topic and our legislators are working on this topic.”

While those regulations are being mulled, however, there wasn’t much appetite in Peru for simply turning away data centers. Aldermen Rick O’Sadnick and Andy Moreno said they would not support a moratorium or an outright prohibition.

“Based upon the potential of significant tax revenues that could fund much needed infrastructure projects, like a new wastewater treatment plant, I would not be in favor of a proactive blanket prohibition of data centers in Peru,” O’Sadnick said. “I am more inclined to take any future inquiries for Peru to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

“Who knows? They might provide most of their own electricity and incorporate a closed-loop cooling system that would not require large amounts of water.”

Moreno said a moratorium would be “overly rigid and inconsistent with our responsibility to thoughtfully evaluate opportunities that may benefit our community.”

“Instead, I believe proposals should be considered on a case by case basis,” Moreno said, “with a clear focus on protecting residents while advancing the long term interests of the city.”

Aldermen Bob Tieman, Jim Lukosus and Jason Edgcomb said they’d all need additional research and/or specific information about the project before making any conclusions.

“If a project like that was brought to our table I would do my due diligence to educate myself as best as possible,” Tieman said, “but at this time I don’t know that I’m informed enough to formulate a solid position for or against one coming here.”

“I would be inclined to look at each individual project and weigh the merits accordingly,” Lukosus said.

“As in any venture that wants to come to Peru, I would need a lot of information on data centers,” Edgcomb said. “You hear about all the bad stuff, but yet people allow them. I would just want to be fully informed on it if one were to want to land in Peru.”

Alderman Mike Sapienza agreed it was too soon to say no. He likened the situation to the arrival of legalized cannabis. His gut response to bringing cannabis into Peru was “no,” but, on reflection, he decided to hear what cannabis companies had to say. He’s taking the same approach now.

“It doesn’t natter if it’s a data center or a grocery store, let’s see what they have to say,” Sapienza said. “You never say never.”

Parks director Adam Thorson reported that an insurance claim was submitted for the tree that fell without warning and amid a light breeze – disease and rot are suspected – and onto an outhouse. A damage assessment to the building is pending.

Thorson said he would seek quotes from a specialist to assess whether other trees at the park are diseased and at risk of falling.

“All those trees are pretty old at this point,” Thorson said. “(It was) suggested getting a certified arborist to examine the older trees.”

Thorson said he’d report back to the council in two weeks. Besides authorizing funds for the analysis, the council might have to set aside funds for tree removal. Fire Chief Jeff King said there presently are no such funds.

“If five or six of those trees need to come down,” King said, “there’s no money for it.”

Alderman Mike Sapienza further suggested the city consider planting new trees to keep the park shaded if and when large canopies have to be removed.

As previously reported, the fall was reported about 5:15 p.m. Sunday. Residents near Centennial Park said they initially thought the thunderous crash was from a heavy vehicle accident on nearby Shooting Park Road.

Peru Mayor Ken Kolowski and city workers rushed to the scene after residents near the park reported a thunderous crash around 5:15 p.m. One resident said the sound suggested a serious crash involving a vehicle on nearby Shooting Park Road.

Instead, the tree abruptly fell on the outbuilding, which was unoccupied. City workers immediately cordoned off the structure to protect gawkers from the downed line and limbs that could fall.

Kolowski said he suspects arboreal disease. The light breeze he observed couldn’t have brought down the tree.

The visibly frustrated mayor said the trees had all been sprayed but with mixed results.

B.J. Redmond, 23, appeared Friday in La Salle County Circuit Court and entered not-guilty pleas to three felony counts led by aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.

Both charges are Class X felonies carrying six to 30 years in prison with no possibility of probation.

The battery charge is subject to the state Truth in Sentencing Act, requiring certain felons to serve 85% of their prison time. Redmond is also charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, a Class 4 felony carrying one to three years.

Redmond was ordered detained April 20, making him eligible for speedy trial within 90 days. He will next appear for a motions hearing on June 26.

La Salle County prosecutors had previously disclosed that Ottawa police were dispatched early April 18 to the patio area of the Zeller Inn, where a subject brandished a firearm, fired it, and fled.

The victim sustained a shot to the upper left torso. Prosecutors said multiple witnesses saw Redmond raise what two witnesses described as a small black handgun. A .380-caliber shell casing was recovered at the scene, prosecutors said.

The victim remains hospitalized with what the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office previously described as “serious” injuries. The office declined to issue a condition report or medical update Friday, except to say the victim remains hospitalized.

“There isn’t a food distribution day that goes by that we aren’t signing up new clients,” said Credi, executive director of the pantry in Peru, “and it ranges from five to 10 new clients each time.

“It’s all over the board. It’s affecting everyone. People are really struggling to make it.”

New supplicants have poured in since January, when federal cutbacks and rising costs have strained local families. Last fiscal year, there were 252 new clients, but by the third quarter of the new fiscal year, there were already 205.

It’s about to get worse. Springfield estimates that 150,000 Illinoisans are at risk of losing food assistance beginning next Friday, May 1. Though SNAP benefits in no way affect a client’s eligibility for assistance from a local food pantry, Credi said, she’s concerned the lost benefits will increase new applicants and add to the strain on local services.

Gov. JB Pritzker said in a news release that the Trump administration is preparing to cut food assistance for Illinoisans who rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Pritzker encouraged all recipients to use the state’s screener tool to confirm if their benefits are at risk.

“For 60 years, Americans across the country have relied on federal food assistance to prevent them from going hungry,” Pritzker said. “Now, as the cost of groceries, gas and utilities are all rising, Donald Trump is ripping away food assistance from Illinoisans.”

Specifically, Pritzker said the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans “dramatically expanded” the number of people considered Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents and therefore required to meet work requirements, which could, in turn, mean reduced or lost SNAP benefits starting May 1.

Illinoisans who rely on SNAP are urged to check their status online using the state’s screener and look at available resources at SNAPWorkRequirements.illinois.gov.

For local food pantries, the cutbacks could scarcely have come at a worse time. Demand had been ramping up, anyway, and the food pantries anticipate increased demand in late May when schoolchildren are dismissed for summer vacation. With no free and subsidized school lunches, families have to dig deeper to feed their kids.

The Streatorland Food Pantry was ready for summer demand. Tony Bitto, a board member, said the pantry in Streator is “not in bad shape” with respect to supply, but that presumes demand stays stable.

“We had a been influx before Christmas, it’s gone down, but now it’s going to go back up again if this [SNAP reduction] comes to fruition.”

(Bitto encouraged local donors to give generously at the next food drive on May 9 at the Streator Post Office.)

The Hall Township Food Pantry in Spring Valley is likewise expecting a surge as the SNAP reduction takes effect, followed closely by the spike in summer demand, as 46% of the households served rely on SNAP.

“The reduction in SNAP benefits will likely increase demand at our local food pantries, especially with summer approaching and children losing access to school meals,” executive director Jan Martin said. “Because we saw this coming, our pantry has been stockpiling boxes of cereal and kid-friendly foods in anticipation of the need.”

Anyone worried their SNAP benefits might be cut should, besides accessing the screening tool, obtain information on work requirements, exemptions and resources at SnapWorkRequirements.Illinois.gov. A general benefits Page: Abe.Illinois.gov.

Armaun R. Williams, 28, of Mendota has been charged with aggravated battery with a firearm, a Class X felony carrying six to 30 years in prison with no possibility of probation, Mendota police said in a news release issued late Friday afternoon.

Williams is currently awaiting transport to the La Salle County Jail to await a possible detention hearing on Monday in La Salle County Circuit Court.

Early Monday, police were dispatched at 12:12 a.m. to a disturbance at a residence located at 111 S. 13th Ave., Mendota.

Upon arrival, officers located an adult male with a gunshot wound to the leg, police said. Officers immediately rendered aid until emergency medical personnel arrived. The individual was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Preliminary information indicated the incident involved a dispute between individuals known to one another, police said. A firearm was discharged during the incident. Officers secured the scene and detained an involved individual without incident.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Mendota Police Department at 815-539-9331.

In a Friday news release, Mendota police said officers were dispatched at 12:12 a.m. to a report of a disturbance at a residence located at 111 S. 13th Avenue, Mendota.

“Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg,” Mendota Police Chief Jason Martin said in the release. “Officers immediately rendered aid until emergency medical personnel arrived. The individual was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening at this time.”

Preliminary information, police said, indicates the incident involved a dispute between individuals known to one another. A firearm was discharged during the incident. Officers secured the scene and detained an involved individual without incident.

“The investigation remains ongoing,” police said, “and no additional information is available for release at this time. Updates will be provided as they become available.”

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Mendota Police Department at 815-539-9331.

Gregory D. Wormley, 45, appeared Friday in La Salle County Circuit Court and entered a blind plea to arson, a Class 2 felony carrying a possible prison sentence to three to seven years but with the possibility of probation.

Wormley will have an opportunity to address Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. at sentencing, which was set for 11 a.m. July 31.

Wormley was charged after an investigation into a suspicious fire reported at 7:34 p.m. July 24 in the 200 block of South Main Street, Leland.

In open court Friday, Assistant La Salle County Kelley Porter said Leland authorities quickly ascertained that the fire was intentionally set with an accelerant.

Wormley, Porter said, was located later at a Mendota motel smelling of gasoline. A K9 officer alerted to accelerant on his belongings. Laboratory tests revealed it was gasoline, she said.

When offered a chance to speak, Bernard W. Fairman III, 38, rose in La Salle County Circuit Court and told his sentencing judge he was sorry. Fairman said he, too, had been abused as a child and lamented that he did not speak up or seek help.

“I’m not a perfect person,” Fairman said during a rambling and halting statement in allocution. “It was wrong to do something like this.”

The show of remorse wasn’t enough for La Salle County Circuit Judge Michelle A. Vescogni. La Salle County prosecutors had, in exchange for Fairman’s plea, pledged to seek no more than two back-to-back sentences of 10 years. Vescogni decided the recommended time was warranted and rejected Fairman’s calls for leniency.

Fairman was charged after an investigation, launched in May 2024 to reports of illicit sexual contact with a minor starting before the girl had turned 10.

La Salle County prosecutors were prepared to show, at trial, digital evidence in which Fairman tried to defend his conduct and/or blame the victim, but Fairman cut a deal on the cusp of trial and entered twin blind pleas to predatory criminal sexual assault.

At sentencing Thursday, Assistant Public Defender Doug Kramarsic asked Vescogni to limit Fairman’s time to back-to-back terms of six years each. Kramarsic called the guilty plea, and averting a trial, a “very strong mitigating factor.”

Assistant La Salle County State’s Attorney Matt Kidder asked for the full 20 years, citing Fairman’s “serious” juvenile record and failures to comply with probation. Kidder said the acts committed against the girl amounted to “systematic molestation.”

“We see a lot of bad things in this line of work. It doesn’t get much worse than this.”

Fairman’s sentence is subject to the state Truth in Sentencing Act, requiring certain felons to serve at least 85% of their prison sentences. With 470 days’ credit for time served, Fairman could be paroled in a little over 15 years.

Thursday, a La Salle County judge appeared to give Fisher the benefit of a few doubts. Without elaboration, Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. cut the state’s recommendation by half and sentenced Fisher to five years in prison.

Fisher, 27, of Stanley, North Dakota (also listed in Ottawa) appeared Thursday in La Salle County Circuit Court for sentencing on a felony weapon charge. La Salle police responded to a shooting July 28 in the 100 block of Tonti Street, where Fisher sustained a gunshot wound to the chest.

(The prime suspect, 28-year-old Leeonta Patton, 28, listed in Oglesby and Chicago, was sentenced 13 years for armed habitual criminal and possession of fentanyl.)

Shot or not, Fisher was carrying a firearm and was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, a Class 2 felony carrying three to 14 years. He later entered a blind plea in exchange for prosecutors agreeing to recommend no more than 10 years.

At sentencing, First Assistant La Salle County State’s Attorney Jason Goode asked for a 10-year sentence, citing in part the risk to others in a populated area of La Salle.

“The state will stipulate that he was shot,” Goode said, “but he was carrying a gun and returned fire in an area with bars and restaurants.”

“He has earned some deference,” Mueller said. “You don’t see guards writing letters in support of inmates unless it means something.”

And though Fisher was picked up in North Dakota, he told the judge he hadn’t fled but, in fact, moved out of state to begin anew after a close shave with death.

“This experience has opened my eyes. I don’t want to live this life anymore,” Fisher said, adding later, “This near-death experience has changed everything for me.”

Ryan didn’t specifically elaborate on Fisher’s statement in allocution, but he appeared swayed insofar as he imposed a sentence just two years north of the statutory minimum.

Fisher might not be in the Department of Corrections long. He has a shot at a day-for-day good time and has accrued more than 500 days’ credit for time served and participating in rehabilitative programs.

A potluck dinner begins at 6 p.m., followed by the program. Speakers Carol Lauer and Vickie Fullerton will address “The Importance of Palanca.”

Mass will be held in the church at 7:30 p.m., with the Rev. Greg Nelson officiating.

Guests are welcome.

Utica Mayor David Stewart confirmed on Tuesday the reopening. He said the event will be held in tandem with the “Lemonade Day” event hosted by the Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce.

Stewart further confirmed that all 12 portable retail stalls have been leased for the coming season.

“You will see some familiar faces as there are some returning businesses from last season,” Stewart said. “We are also welcoming some new businesses for the 2026 season. We are excited for the grand opening and look forward to a great second season.”

The village long had difficulty attracting brick-and-mortar businesses in the northwest corner of Mill and Church streets after a 2004 tornado destroyed or forced the razing of several structures. Among the problems is that the block sits in a floodplain.

Village officials solved that by purchasing portable retail stalls and erecting them atop an elevated space above the floodplain. The plaza was completed and opened in 2025.

The Market on Mill enjoyed a successful first year. The plaza was opened in May 2025 and helped the village finish the year with record retail sales. The village pocketed a share of sales totaling $665,000, topping the previous year’s record total by 5%.

This year’s reopening will be held in tandem with Lemonade Days, a venture that encourages entrepreneurial skills to area schoolchildren.

The park office released attendance figures through March 31 and Matthiessen had more first-quarter visitors (nearly 71,000) than in any year except 2024.

That’s notable because it was in 2024 that Matthiessen set its all-time attendance mark with 545,525 visitors. While projections are fluid, this year’s first quarter total suggests another year with half a million visitors.

What’s going on? Monty Bernardoni, site superintendent for Starved Rock and Matthiessen, said March rains fueled the park’s waterfalls while a number of unseasonably warm days beckoned spring-break visitors.

“The waterfalls were flowing well,” Bernardoni said, “and everybody is taking advantage of those really nice days.”

As for Starved Rock, attendance jumped 16% in March. Bernardoni said trail improvements planned for this year appear to have inspired visitors to take advantage of spring hikes before scheduled closures.

From April 30 to May 3, the Henry-based theater troupe is reviving a tear-jerker, “Steel Magnolias,” a 1987 play by Robert Harling that was adapted into a hit 1989 film.

“Steel Magnolias” tells the story of women in Louisiana who bond at Truvy’s salon. While there are laughs and relatable stories, “Steel Magnolias” takes a dramatic turn that leaves both cast and audience dabbing their eyes.

“All these women come to her beauty shop and get done up,” said Christine Gaspardo, who plays Truvy. “They tell their life stories, bear their hearts and souls, and still have fun and love each other.”

Gaspardo said the stage version will offer refreshing elements even to those who’ve seen the film many times. While the screen adaptation changes settings, the stage version is set squarely in the beauty parlor with commensurate changes to the screenplay.

And without spoiling the plot, Gaspardo acknowledged it has been depleting for her and other cast members to plow through the emotional climax.

“It’s difficult to get through,” she said. “There are always tears every time we run that last scene.”

Deb Puetz plays Clairee following a long hiatus from the stage. She easily shook off the rust because the part was tailor-made for her and the script has every element one could want in a stage production.

“There are so many good lines,” she said. “It’s about female friendship and there are good laughs and yet it becomes very poignant. It’s just about how women hold each other up.

“I’ve just been very proud and pleased to be part of it.”

Deanne Crook plays Shelby. She agreed rehearsals have been taxing because of the play’s emotional wallop, but the production works in no small part because of a strong cast with excellent chemistry.

“Everyone that I’m in the show with is phenomenal on and off stage,” Crook said. “They’re just great people to be around. There are fun moments, there are heartfelt moments, and it’s almost impossible not to become a tight-knit family when you’re doing a show like this.”

Rounding out the cast are Kelli Landon as M’Lynn, Emma Kay Gaspardo as Annelle, and Cyndy Bruch as Ouiser.

River Valley Players offers dinner shows and play-only performances. Dinner shows are $43 per person and are at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2 and at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 3.

Show-only tickets are $23 and will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30 and at 7:30 p.m. May 1, with a 2 p.m. matinee on May 2.

To buy tickets, visit rvphenry.org or call 309-238-7878.

All performances are at 1301 Second St., Henry. Dinner shows are catered by Barrack’s Hospitality Group.

Ross Woody, 38, of Kansas City, Mo. (operating a commercial motor vehicle under the influence)

Michael Onderisin, 47, of Marseilles (driving while revoked)

Kamila Burczyc, 37, of Chicago (unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver)

Jovany Quino Jara, 26, of La Salle (aggravated domestic battery)

Courtney Harris, 49, of San Bernardino, Calif. (unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felony offender)

Sebastian C. Aguilera, 21, of Oglesby (aggravated battery; domestic battery)

Bobbi J. Morrill, 48, of Ottawa (unlawful possession of a controlled substance)

Steven A. King, 59, of Ottawa (retail theft)

B.J. Redmond, 23, of Ottawa (aggravated battery with a firearm, unlawful discharge of a firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon)

Tavaris S. Monroe, 33, of Aurora (two counts of retail theft)

Destiny Laird, 29, of Ottawa (aggravated battery)

Raymond C. Shevlin, 36, of Triumph (two counts of aggravated DUI)

Lavon S. Reed, 21, of Chicago (two counts of retail theft; aggravated fleeing and eluding)

Jesika Muzzarelli, 32, of Peru (aggravated assault)

Tariya M. Mack, 18, of Peoria (retail theft)

Meghan K. Davey, 29, of Peru (two counts of aggravated battery)

Joseph B. Frackowiak, 27, of Peru (unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon)

Sebastian R. Love, 32, of Peru (domestic battery)

Shane M. Larsen, 31, of Streator (unlawful possession of methamphetamine)

Joshua T. Lunde, 28, of Streator (two counts of retail theft; aggravated battery)

Matthew W. Scott, 34, of Streator (unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon)

Michael S. Magana, 38, of Streator (unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver)

Joseph W. Wheaton, 34, of Streator (driving while revoked)

Dennis K. Montgomery, 34, of Streator (burglary; unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle)

Justin M. Parks, 30, of La Salle (unlawful delivery of a controlled substance)

Tammy D. Eplin, 51, of Streator (unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon)

Jessie A. Rider, 37, of Atalissa, Iowa (unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver)

Brianna L. Webber, 34, of Atalissa, Iowa (unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver)

Monday, the Peru City Council unanimously acted on a pair of motions to bring the popular show back to the city’s airport.

First, the council approved a quote from Dimond Bros. Insurance ($7,622) to cover the event. The council then agreed to contribute $125,000 to defray the costs.

This year will mark the 11^th anniversary of the city’s “signature event” and the largest gathering of TBM Avengers in the country.

Mayor Ken Kolowski said he’s pleased to welcome back a show that seems to grow in popularity each year.

“We’re excited about the TBMs,” Kolowski said. “The city’s always been very supportive of this, because anything we can do for veterans, of course, we will do.

“But you also have so many people come to enjoy this free event, and that’s the main thing.”

Monday, the Peru City Council voted unanimously to adopt a “spiller pays” ordinance. The new ordinance adopts a two-pronged approach to curb dangerous spills.

First, it imposes fines of $100 to $750 per accident with triple damages for spills resulting from willful and wanton conduct. Second, the city now has the authority to recover cleanup costs at $70 per hour when city personnel are called to a scene and $250 per hour for each city vehicle summoned.

Fire Chief Jeff King said the ordinance isn’t so much aimed at motorists who spill gasoline at the pumps – though he does want drivers not to wander away while filling their tanks – as at companies that transfer potentially hazardous loads and who do not take sufficient precautions to secure those loads.

“Let’s say we have a significant train derailment or a semi tanker that comes through town, rolls over, and spills its contents out,” King said. “Now, the cleanup isn’t on the taxpayers of Peru – it’s on whoever spilled it.”

“Events like this highlight how critical timely, accurate information is during severe weather,” said Fred Moore, director of La Salle County EMA. “We rely not only on radar and technology, but also on trained observers in the community who can provide real-time reports from the ground.”

To strengthen the county’s severe weather response, La Salle County EMA is encouraging residents to become “citizen scientists,” or trained individuals who safely observe and report conditions such as hail size, wind damage, rainfall totals, and storm development. These reports help the National Weather Service and local officials make faster, more precise decisions during rapidly evolving storms.

To support this effort, La Salle County EMA and the National Weather Service will host a free “Severe Weather Spotter Training” class at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 29 at Illinois Valley Community College, room CTC 124 in Oglesby.

The class will provide essential training on storm identification, safety practices, and how to effectively report severe weather. No prior experience is required, and all residents with an interest in community safety are encouraged to attend.

“Having more trained eyes on the sky can make a real difference,” Moore added. “The more people who understand what to look for and how to report it safely, the better prepared our communities will be when severe weather strikes.”

Nathan A. Gossett, 27, was picked up on a warrant Tuesday by members of the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force from the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office.

The warrant was issued out of La Salle County for two counts of criminal sexual assault, a Class 1 felony carrying four to 15 years.

These charges, police said, stem from an investigation conducted by the Streator Police Department into offenses reported to have occurred in 2017.

Gossett was taken to the La Salle County Jail where he was held pending an appearance with a judge.

A light reception will follow at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 307 E. Florence St., Oglesby.

Attendees are asked to RSVP by Jennifer at 815-883-8233 by May 11.

Monday, the Peru City Council accepted and filed, with thanks, Hogan’s retirement. Hogan served for decades on the city of Peru’s 911 board and helped bring enhanced 911 service to the city. He then represented Peru on the Illinois Valley Regional Dispatch Board and the La Salle County Joint Emergency Telephone System Board.

While Hogan was not personally present – he has returned permanently to his native Wisconsin – his April 15 retirement letter was read aloud by Lt. Doug Bernabei of the Peru Police Department.

“Working together to help bring enhanced 911 services to prove and improve public safety across the region was truly a team effort, and I’m proud of what we accomplished together,” Hogan wrote. “I’ve been blessed to work alongside so many dedicated individuals who care deeply about their neighbors and their community.”

Bernabei praised Hogan and said his many years of service were completely selfless.

“It was never about Joe Hogan,” Bernabei said. “Joe Hogan was always worried about, ‘Is the call going to get answered?’, and, ‘Are we taking care of our employees?’

“Those were the two most important things: taking care of the citizens and taking care of the employees down at the Peru Police Department.”

Mayor Ken Kolowski chimed in and extended his thanks, as well.

“Joe Hogan has been a pillar of this community for a long time.”

B.J. Redmond, 23, appeared in La Salle County Circuit Court and was presented with three felony counts led by aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, both Class X felonies carrying six to 30 years in prison with no possibility of probation.

The battery with a firearm charge is subject to the state Truth in Sentencing Act, requiring certain felons to serve 85% of their prison time.

Additionally, Redmond is charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, a Class 4 felony carrying one to three years.

The victim remains hospitalized with what the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office described as “serious” injuries. The office declined to issue a condition report or medical update.

In open court on Monday, Redmond applied for and was granted the services of the public defender. Assistant La Salle County Public Defender Brad Popurella said Redmond was at the receiving end of a physical altercation. He asked the judge to place Redmond on home confinement with GPS monitoring.

Prosecutors opposed any form of pre-trial release. In open court, prosecutor Laura Hall said Ottawa police were dispatched early Saturday morning to the patio area of the Zeller Inn, where a subject brandished a firearm, fired it, and then fled.

Hall said the victim sustained a shot to the torso after Redmond, according to witnesses, raised what witnesses described as a small black handgun. A .380-caliber shell casing was recovered at the scene, Hall said.

The gun was produced following an altercation that was caught on video, Hall said, and Redmond was depicted handling the gun moments before the shot was fired.

Hall said detention was the only appropriate remedy, as Redmond was already on pre-trial release for a pending felony charge of criminal damage to property.

“He’s in violation of the conditions of pre-trial release,” Hall said. “We have a man in a bar with no legal right to carry a firearm, but he’s got it on him.”

Hall further argued that Redmond poses a risk to the public, as he “fired this gun in a crowded area in a bar” and placed others at risk.

Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. agreed that Redmond, who scored a seven on a 14-point risk assessment, posed a threat to others and was a poor candidate for another try at pre-trial release.

A grand jury was expected to get the case on Tuesday. Redmond will next appear on Friday for arraignment.

Aaron C. Haskins, 50, appeared Monday in La Salle County Circuit Court and was presented with two counts of aggravated battery (great bodily harm). He could face up to seven years.

La Salle County prosecutors were prepared for argue for detention, but Haskins emerged from a closed-door conference with the public defender and then advised a judge he would waive his right to hearing. He can revisit the issue, however.

Haskins will next appear May 7 for arraignment. By that time, a La Salle County grand jury will have reviewed his two felony charges. His most serious count is a Class 2 felony carrying three to seven years at 85%.

Meanwhile, the victim remains in a regional medical center with what the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office described as “devastating” injuries. The office declined to issue a condition report or medical update.

While a detention hearing wasn’t needed, prosecutors did file a motion to deny Haskins pre-trial release. According to that filing, Ottawa police found the victim bloodied and unresponsive at 10:46 p.m. Thursday in a wooded area in between the 200 blocks of East Joliet and East Marquette streets.

The victim was later transferred by air to OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, with “numerous injuries,” according to the court filing, including a brain bleed.

Court records disclosed that Haskins was developed as a suspect after witnesses disclosed troubling comments Haskins made. One witness told police that Haskins said, “I got drunk and I beat her. I’m so sorry.”

Another said Haskins phoned her and said he’d done something “very bad.”

“I didn’t kill her. I didn’t kill her,” Haskins was quoted as saying, according to a court filing. “I could’ve killed her, but I didn’t kill her.”

It was not yet clear whether Haskins gave a statement to police. According to court records, however, Ottawa police did retrieve from the victim’s phone threatening messages sent by Haskins on Wednesday, the eve of the beating.

B.J. Redmond, 23, of Ottawa, was picked up early Sunday and taken to La Salle County Jail and charged with four felonies, led by aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, Ottawa police said in an updated news release.

Both charges are Class X felonies carrying six to 30 years in prison with no possibility of probation.

Additionally, Redmond is charged with violation of conditions of pretrial release (firearm) and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, both Class 4 felonies carrying one to three years, police said.

Additional information on Redmond’s charges was expected Monday when he appears in La Salle County Circuit Court to be presented with charges and potentially stand for a detention hearing.

The updated Sunday police report provided no information on the victim’s condition.

As previously reported, officers located one person who sustained an apparent gunshot wound to the abdomen. Numerous witnesses were interviewed and the property was processed as a crime scene. Video and other evidence were collected from the scene. The victim was taken from the scene by ambulance.

“At this time, the incident is believed to be isolated to a dispute between individuals and there is no perceived threat to the public at this time,” Ottawa Police Capt. Kyle Booras said in an initial news release.

The National Weather Service in Romeoville confirmed at 12:35 p.m. Sunday that an EF1 tornado was confirmed by a weather service survey conducted Sunday morning in La Salle County.

“We’re still refining the exact wind speed,” meteorologist Todd Kluber said, “but the range for that is 86 to 110 mph.”

Earlier, the service had indicated that all other tornado warnings issued for the Illinois Valley were the result of rotating clouds picked up by radar. Forecasters had reserved judgment until Sunday afternoon on whether a short-lived twister touched down in the Mendota area near the La Salle-Bureau county line.

Authorities had, however, reported activity consistent with a twister. Mendota Police Chief Jason Martin said he was aware of were multiple trees and utility poles damaged outside city limits, as well as semis blown over on Interstate 39.

No deaths were reported in Illinois, according to The Associated Press, but the service reported a list of EF-1 tornadoes across north and central Illinois.

The list included Pecatonica, Harrison, and Roscoe – all in Winnebago County – Gibson City in Ford County and Buckley in Iroquois County. Another was reported in rural Livingston County, though the service indicated the storm began in McLean County.

Locally, warnings were sounded after radar picked up rotating clouds in Bureau County south of Princeton and near Toulon in Stark County, which set off alerts in nearby Putnam and Marshall counties. In each case, however, the NWS offices in the Quad Cities and in Lincoln said the alerts were issued when radar picked up cloud rotations.

“There are no reported tornadoes in Bureau or Putnam counties on Friday,” David Cousins, a meteorologist for the NWS office in Davenport, said.

The NWS office in Lincoln, which includes Marshall County, also had no reported tornadoes but emphasized that survey teams had been dispatched to multiple locations.

The warnings were issued as the Midwest was again battered by a line of thunderstorms that hammered Iowa and then moved across northern Illinois.

Fred Moore, director of the La Salle County Emergency Management Agency, issued a statement Saturday urging residents to be cautious during the extensive cleanup.

He warned residents to stay alert for downed power lines, to use generators safely, and to check on their at-risk neighbors. Perishable foods should be discarded if they were thawed by a loss of power for longer than four hours. Additionally, Moore urged residents to be aware of home-repair scams.

Minor flooding is likewise forecast along the Illinois River, with the lower parking lot at Starved Rock State Park likely to be engulfed before the river crests Monday morning.

Major flooding is not expected and Friday’s rain is welcome insofar as the Illinois Valley is shaking off the vestiges of an extended drought.

Rafal Ogorek, a meteorologist with the NWS in Romeoville, said Sunday that radar showed a “potential brief tornado” in rural Mendota during Friday’s severe storms. There were, he emphasized, no reports of any visual sighting of a twister.

“That’s the only area where we suspect there may have been a tornado in La Salle County,” Ogorek said.

A survey team was scheduled to visit the Mendota area on Sunday afternoon and ascertain whether a funnel cloud touched down.

Mendota Police Chief Jason Martin said he was unaware of any significant damage within city limits. Outside Mendota, however, multiple trees and utility poles were damaged south and east of the city, as well as semis blown over on Interstate 39.

“Whether it was a tornado or not, I don’t know,” Martin said.

Ogorek said the NWS won’t know, either, until they get boots on the ground. An assessment wasn’t expected until late Sunday afternoon.

While the Mendota tornado warning is the only one to have produced a suspected twister, multiple warnings were issued throughout the Illinois Valley area.

Warnings were sounded after rotating clouds were spotted in Bureau County south of Princeton and near Toulon in Stark County, which set off alerts in nearby Putnam and Marshall counties. In each case, however, the NWS offices in the Quad Cities and in Lincoln said the alerts were issued when radar picked up cloud rotations.

“There are no reported tornadoes in Bureau or Putnam counties on Friday,” said David Cousins, a meteorologist for the NWS office in Davenport.

The NWS office in Lincoln, which includes Marshall County, also had no reported tornadoes but emphasized that survey teams had been dispatched to multiple locations.

The warnings were issued as the Midwest was again battered by a line of thunderstorms that hammered Iowa and then moved across northern Illinois.

Fred Moore, director of the La Salle County Emergency Management Agency, issued a statement Saturday urging residents to be cautious during the extensive cleanup.

He warned residents to stay alert for downed power lines, to use generators safely, and to check on their at-risk neighbors. Perishable foods should be discarded if they were thawed by a loss of power for longer than four hours. Additionally, Moore urged residents to be aware of home-repair scams.

Minor flooding was reported on the Illinois and Fox rivers.

“Right now we only have the NWS (National Weather Service) warning,” Putnam County Sheriff Josh Boedigheimer said at 7:50 p.m. Friday. “Nothing visible.”

A tornado Princeton Police Chief Tom Kammerer said he’d been in touch the county’s Emergency Management Agency and there was no confirmation of a touchdown when the warning was issued around 7:45 p.m. The alert appeared to have been set off by a strong storm in Providence, south of Princeton.

A warning also was issued at 7:30 p.m. for Stark and Marshall counties, though the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities confirmed a rotating cloud, not a touchdown, near Toulon.

A tornado warning was issued for La Salle County at 8:10 p.m. According to an update from the NWS, radar picked up a rotation taking aim at La Salle-Peru, Mendota and Oglesby. Additionally, a warning was sounded in Mendota for straight-line winds. A funnel cloud has not been confirmed.

The warnings were issued as the Midwest was again battered by a line of thunderstorms that hammered Iowa and then moved across northern Illinois. Storm activity was greatest in the northwest, with a touchdown reported near Lena in Stephenson County, south of the Wisconsin state line.

In the Illinois Valley, there were no immediate reports of significant damage. The storms continued an unwelcome spring trend of seesaw temperature swings that ushered in severe weather patterns.

Fred Moore, director of the La Salle County Emergency Management Agency, said the recent string of severe-weather watches – five by his rough count – was becoming repetitive.

“It seems like this spring it’s been more frequent than in the past,” Moore allowed.

Nevertheless, Moore said he was glad not to be reliving spring 2015, when eight funnel clouds touched down in La Salle County in a single day.

The Friday storms were pushed in by a cold front that will have most Illinois Valley residents firing up their furnaces and after only recently running the A/C. Friday temperatures hit 82 degrees and Saturday is expected to top out at 64 degrees.

Cooler temperatures will prevail the next three days – with daytime highs of 53 degrees on Sunday and 59 on Monday – with overnight lows near freezing until the mercury slides into more seasonable weather Tuesday.

The EMA now turns its attention to the river basins and the possibility of flooding. Minor flooding was reported on the Fox River at Montgomery, affecting Kane and Kendall counties, threatening floods further downstream (including Ottawa) over the next few days.

Minor flooding is likewise forecast along the Illinois River, with the lower parking lot at Starved Rock State Park likely to be engulfed before the river crests Monday morning.

Major flooding is not expected and Friday’s rain is welcome insofar as the Illinois Valley is shaking off the vestiges of an extended drought.

A Thursday update of the U.S. Drought Monitor showed normal conditions across Bureau County and most of Putnam and La Salle counties, save for the panhandle which remains “abnormally dry.”

Recent rains could further alleviate dry conditions, which were largely negated by the wettest March in more than four decades. Dr. Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist, had reported March precipitation nearly 2 inches above average, which reduced statewide coverage of all drought categories between March 3 and March 24.

Take a stroll through Illinois Canyon while learning how to identify migrating birds by sound, flight, color, and habitat.

Bring your own binoculars or borrow one of the park’s for free. Dogs are not allowed on this particular hike.

Registration is required for this event, online at Starved Rock Eventbrite.

Anthony Louis Rosado of Mendota and Abigail Rose Brown of Mendota

Christian Estephen Leek of Peru and Jamaziae Dejiannelle Hodges of La Salle

Jerry Lee Guysens Jr. of Ottawa and Maryann Causley of Ottawa

Bret Gerald Harms of La Salle and Jennifer Lynn Ashfield of La Salle

Charles Raymond Posejpal of Somonauk and Caroline Ruth Paull of Somonauk

Evan Paul Grove of Peru and Laura Linda Zeman of Peru

Tristan Rafael Cruz of Peru and Claudia Danielle Alonzo of Peru

Richard John Frezados of Streator and Melinda Sue Cope of Streator

Precious Angel Kmiec of Spring Valley and Adrina Ann Michelle Middono of La Salle

Dylan Jeffrey Groesbeck of Ottawa and Stacy Jo Parkins of Ottawa

Kadin Alec Vasquez of LaMoille and Trystan Taylor Bergeron of LaMoille

Manikanta Sai Guduru of Mendota and Amber Nicole Reyes of Amboy

Bryan Michael Koppenhoefer of La Salle and Haley Madison Marques of Ottawa

Learn about reptiles and amphibians with a presentation featuring live animals native to Illinois.

Guests will explore the herpetofauna species in Illinois, such as frogs, snakes, turtles, and more.

Tickets will be available for free at the Starved Rock visitor center on the day of the program.

Adams, now 24, made his first appearance Thursday in La Salle County Circuit Court on a new batch of post-trial motions. He applied for and was granted the services of the Public Defender’s Office and will next appear, with counsel, on July 9.

Adams had previously appealed his murder conviction, which was upheld in 2021. Now, he alleges in a handwritten pleading various errors at trial. Barring a reversal and new trial, Adams will be paroled in 2053. He would be 51 years of age.

Adams was one of three people charged with murder following the fatal shooting of Maria Dellatore of Streator. According to testimony at Adams’ murder trial, he and two cohorts attempted to rob a low-level drug dealer of cash and drugs. Dellatore had returned home during the melee and was fatally struck in the exchange of gunfire.

At trial, Adams’ lawyers argued there were multiple shots fired and that no witness could categorically say who shot and killed Dellatore.

However, one of his fellow murder suspects, Hashim Waite, agreed to testify against Adams in exchange for a plea on a reduced charge of home invasion and a sentence of 30 years. (A third suspect, getaway driver Ashanti Roberts, was convicted of murder as an accessory and was sentenced to 35 years.)

Adams was 16 years old when he was arrested for murder. He is, however, neither the youngest person charged with murder in La Salle County history nor is he the youngest convicted.

Mond, 29, also listed in La Salle, could have faced up to 50 years for her part in a 2024 drug seizure that yielded nearly a kilogram of cocaine along with a loaded firearm.

When she appeared Thursday in La Salle County Circuit Court, however, Mond was presented with a reduced count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a minimum of six years.

When offered a chance to speak, Mond apologized to her family, friends and employer for the hardship she caused.

The reduced charge also makes Mond eligible for day-for-day credit for good conduct. With about two months’ credit for time served, Mond could be released from the Illinois Department of Corrections in late 2028 or early 2029.

Mond was charged on April 25, 2024, after the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team raided her apartment and located a safe. Inside was a substance that field-tested positive for cocaine. At the time of the bust, however, drug agents tallied the cocaine at 900 grams, or about 2 pounds.

La Salle County prosecutors disclosed Thursday in open court that Mond had agreed to testify against 40-year-old Robert Wright, who was charged following the cocaine seizure but also for possession of a 9mm pistol recovered during the raid. Wright recently took a negotiated plea for 12 years.

Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced Wednesday more than $4.85 million in grant funding has been awarded to 66 grantees through three grant programs to promote tourism.

“Our tourism industry supports jobs and local economies, and Illinois is a top destination for visitors across the globe,” Pritzker said. “These investments will allow communities across Illinois to expand their events and festivals, promote one-of-a-kind destinations, and draw visitors from near and far to our great state.”

The Hegeler Carus Foundation in La Salle was awarded $27,500 for a flooring restoration project at the Hegeler Carus Mansion.

The City of Streator was awarded $10,000 for creating professional short-form videos along with buying an advertising package and interactive displays.

Ottawa Visitors Center $1 was awarded $74,769.34 to work in partnership with WGN Radio, Heritage Corridor Destinations, and Studio 16 LLC to amplify their reach through broadcast, digital, and video storytelling platforms.

The City of La Salle was awarded $50,000 for costs associated with Frosty on First, a two-day, Christmas-themed winter festival in downtown La Salle.

Peoria’s bishop said Tuesday he was “very disappointed” by President Donald Trump’s “personal attack” on Pope Leo XIV.

The Most Rev. Louis Tylka, bishop for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, issued a statement calling Trump’s remarks “unbecoming of the Office of President.”

“The Holy Father speaks as a pastor, not a politician,” Tylka said. “He rightfully is voicing the message of the Gospel, which is a message of peace. As the leader of the Catholic Church throughout the world, Pope Leo speaks to matters that call all people to seek to build a world of peace, mutual respect and which upholds the dignity of humanity. I believe the president owes the Holy Father an apology.”

Further downstate, Springfield Bishop Thomas Paprocki said he learned of Trump’s “verbal attacks” on Pope Leo while Paprocki was on pilgrimage in Poland.

“I am dismayed by President Trump’s rhetoric, and I stand with Pope Leo,” Paprocki said in a statement. “It is also blasphemous for President Trump to pretend he is Jesus in a now-deleted Truth Social AI-generated post.”

Other high-ranking clerics in Illinois were silent on the issue. Requests for comment left with the Diocese of Rockford and the Diocese of Joliet were not returned. Both dioceses have news links on their websites, but neither showed a recent statement on the rift between the Trump administration and the Holy See.

The Diocese of Belleville, on the other hand, is in transition. The Very Rev. Godfrey Mullen, O.S.B., was named the 10th bishop on Monday (amid the flurry of statements) and awaits an installation Mass.

Weeks of shaded criticism between the Vatican and the White House spilled into the open over the weekend when Trump issued a Truth Social post calling the pope “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.”

“I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo,” Trump wrote.

Chicago-born Leo, when asked about Trump’s criticism, replied he has “no fear of the Trump administration.”

Trump’s comments appeared to follow a broadcast of “60 Minutes” in which a panel of high-ranking clerics, including Cardinal Blaise Cupich, Chicago’s archbishop, spoke about disputed issues, including the war in Iran.

Cupich is active on social media but has not issued a statement directly commenting on the White House spat with the Vatican.

A former bishop of Joliet, however, delivered an indirect statement against Trump. Archbishop Ronald Hicks, elevated from Bishop of Joliet to Archbishop of New York, reposted a statement by the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“I am disheartened that the President chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father,” Archbishop Paul Coakley had written on the USCCB’s website and X page. “Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls.”

Hicks then wrote, “Thank you, Archbishop Coakley, for your strong statement!”