Andrew Roth, a senior at Bureau Valley High School, was named Mendota Elks’ Male Teen of the Month.

There are hundreds of World War I monuments across Illinois – remain silent reminders of a war legacy that still lingers more than a century later.

Kathy (Ott) Lawyer surprised her family by announcing she was signing up for the U.S. Navy. To no one's surprise, the Oglesby veteran became post commander at the Oglesby American Legion.

Brian Ksiazak was in middle school when his father, a Naperville firefighter, was honored for saving a patient’s life. Now living in Grand Ridge, Ksiazak said that moment helped shape his commitment to community.

Though many Medals of Honor were awarded decades after the Civil War, and some stories grew in legend, the sheer number of Illinoisans honored reflects the courage of those from the Land of Lincoln.

Illinois lost an estimated 2,936 men in Vietnam – the sixth-highest toll among all states. Dozens were from local communities, and their sacrifices continue to resonate with family and friends

As the head of a very young Mendota family, Jason Donahue turned to Uncle Sam to put food on the table. He never regretted it.

The iconic “I want you” poster was what inspired the late Marseilles native Marie Pometto Chase to become La Salle County’s first woman to enlist in the U.S. Navy during World War Two.

Tonya Willey of Ottawa comes from a long line of proud military service but her service was different: she was a musician in the U.S. Army.

The app’s beta rollout invitations were sent out via email at support@busright.com with “You’re Invited to BusRight” in the subject line. The email included a link to create a BusRight account.

Region 3 will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the Bureau Putnam Area Transit, 535 Elm Place, Princeton.

Snow this weekend? Really? Forecasters say, yes, there will be snowfall Saturday and especially Sunday, though whether there's accumulation is another story.

An Ottawa man faces up to 30 years in prison if firing shots that struck and injured another Ottawa man, police said in a Friday press release.

State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, is working to connect residents with food resources following the halt of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits caused by the federal government shutdown.

Frosty on First will run from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, immediately following the Run Run Rudolph 5K

What began as a volunteer project for La Salle-Peru student Ryne Bubela has grown into the Illinois Valley Learning Hub, a free tutoring service to help local kids reach their potential in the classroom.

Greg Vaccaro, La Salle County Circuit Clerk, was honored by the Illinois Supreme Court for his service as chairman of the Committee on Circuit Clerk Education Judicial College.

Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge H. Chris Ryan, Jr. has announced that the newly-created website for the circuit launched on Oct. 14: www.13thjudicialil.gov

Mueller Funeral Home is inviting community members to pick up free Christmas stockings to decorate for veterans and soldiers as part of its annual Christmas Stockings for Soldiers and Veterans program.

OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center will partner with ImpactLife to host a community blood drive from 7:30 a.m. to noon and from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18.

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, and returned the following indictments.

Authorities found two bodies in a July 17 residential fire in rural Sheridan. Ronald Martin Jr., already charged with firing the shots that killed them, now is accused of robbing them and setting the fire, too.

The La Salle Rotary Club will host its 55th Annual Draw Down Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Paramount Catering Hall, 2411 St. Vincent’s Ave.

A pay raise for election judges in La Salle County is back on the table – and will be voted on Thanksgiving Eve.

NCI ARTworks and Heritage Corridor Destinations will exhibit the work of several artists in Utica and then in Peru.

The Karuna Food Pantry in Ottawa is struggling to keep up with food demands due to falling temperatures and rising grocery prices.

Two more defendants in the “Jane Doe” lawsuit against the city of Ottawa have been dropped from the case.

There is not an election in La Salle County today, Nov. 4, 2025, the La Salle County Clerk’s Office said in a news release.

It’s done: the old Phalen Steel building is now annexed into Mendota’s city limits.

Here is list of couples who applied forLa Salle County marriage licenses from Oct. 16 through Oct. 31, 2025.

Oglesby American Legion will hold its monthly taco night from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12. 

The Enchanted Forest, the long closed indoor amusement park in Utica, will become a sports complex.

Karen Miller, recorder of La Salle County, has been recognized with the IACCR – Zone IV County Clerk/Recorder of the year 2024 Award, and the Commitment to Service Award for outstanding dedication and commitment to public service.

The Peru City Council will hold its regular meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 3, with residents invited to watch live on the City of Peru’s YouTube channel.

Woodland Elementary and Junior High schools recently announced the honor roll for the first quarter of the 2025-2026 school year.

Grand Ridge Grade School announced its honor roll for the first quarter of the 2025-26 school year.

As daylight saving time ends Sunday, November 2, the American Red Cross is urging Illinois residents to test their smoke alarms to ensure they are working properly.

Jennifer Ebner, La Salle County Clerk, has been recognized with the Commitment to Service Award for outstanding dedication and commitment to public service.

Starved Rock State Park, the most visited state park in Illinois, hosted 180 University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists and staff on Oct. 9 and 10 for their annual state conference.

Charlie Mitchell, a lifelong La Salle County resident and an “experienced election and operations professional,” announced Friday his Democratic candidacy for La Salle County Clerk.

She was charged after a trio of Marseilles cocaine deals and given a notice to appear. After skipping a court date, she was arrested and placed on GPS monitoring. Now, police have recovered Caitlin Panas’ ankle bracelet, but no sign of her.

The Stage 212 renovation is "98% done" and will be ready for the November opening of "Puffs." But the La Salle theater company still needs help funding the rehab.

As potential cuts to federal free and reduced lunch reimbursements raise concern for schools statewide, Mendota High School officials say they’re preparing for possible disruptions that could impact over half of their students.

La Salle County authorities have identified the victim killed in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday on Interstate 39 between Oglesby and Tonica.

La Salle County Property taxes due Nov. 12.

La Salle-Peru Township High School senior Claire Boudreau was named the 2025-26 Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award winner.

Moving pallets of food around inside the new home of the Illinois Valley Food Pantry in Peru got much easier following the gift of a new electric pallet stacker by an anonymous donor.

Here is a list of trick-or-treat hours for the Illinois Valley.

La Salle-Peru Township High School senior Madelaine Johns was named the 2025-26 Sons of the American Revolution Citizenship Award winner.

The Rotary Club of Mendota recently partnered with United Way of Illinois Valley to install a Born Learning Trail on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Blackstone Park, 300 Fourth Ave., Mendota.