A free lunch is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Park Place, 406 E. Hickory St., Streator.

It was a loaded day on the local varsity sports schedule, with area boys wrestling, girls basketball and boys basketball teams all scoring victories. Read all about them in The Times Tuesday Roundup.

The Ottawa girls basketball team did a lot of things well in their 57-38 victory Tuesday evening over visiting Morris. Especially when it came to shooting the basketball.

The Illinois Valley Community College Foundation is seeking nominations for the 2026 IVCC-LPO Hall of Fame class.

For the eighth consecutive year, more than 100 wreaths will be placed along the the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Marseilles this weekend, honoring and remembering service members who passed away.

United Way of Eastern La Salle County’s Community Investment Program has allocated $20,000 to the Community Food Basket of Ottawa’s Milk Program to support food security in the region.

Churches across La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties have announced their Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service schedules for 2025.

Here is the list of couples who applied for La Salle County marriage licenses from Nov. 14 through Nov. 28.

OSF HealthCare has withdrawn its applications to build a replacement hospital in Ottawa and to discontinue services at the current OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, saying the project needs to be re-evaluated.

Ottawa boys wrestling, Serena girls basketball and Leland boys basketball were among the winners in The Times Monday Roundup.

Following a second consecutive run to the IHSA State Finals, Somonauk senior Landin Stillwell is the 2025 Times Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year.

The Ottawa YMCA has appointed Glenn Haley as its new CEO and executive director, effective on Monday.

Joe Capece, chief executive officer of the Ottawa YMCA, has received the CEO Leadership Legacy Award from the YMCA Illinois Alliance.

The Open Table United Church of Christ will offer a free community meal at noon Sunday, Dec. 14.

Seneca boys wrestling placed runner-up at its own Irish Invitational, Marquette's Lily Deibel won an individual title, plus lots of basketball in The Times Saturday Roundup.

Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for Nov. 30-Dec. 6. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

Well, winter has spoken, and her official reign doesn’t even begin for another two weeks.

An Ottawa man pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a minor Friday and was sentenced to 30 years.

The Somonauk, Newark and Woodland boys basketball teams all pocketed conference wins, plus girls basketball and wrestling in The Times Friday Roundup.

Marquette Academy pulled away with a shutout second quarter and cruised to a strong finish in its 53-32 conference opener victory at Seneca on Friday night.

Streator presented a strong defensive front and that allowed it to claim a 46-37 win over Peotone on Friday.

The link to apply for scholarships is open through Feb. 5, 2026, at ivcc.awardspring.com.

She claimed to run a daycare service in Ottawa with earnings of $100,000. Ebony Green was actually a hair stylist earning a fraction of that. Yet she got a COVID-19 relief loan for nearly $20,000. Ebony Green may now go to prison for five years.

The Streator Public Library has opened its new Fabric and Friends Room, giving residents a place to sew using library-provided machines, tools and materials.

La Salle County deputies didn’t find much alcohol on the roads Thanksgiving weekend -- just one DUI -- but 20 unlucky motorists were caught speeding or using handheld devices.

Girls basketball, bowling and wrestling filled a busy night on the local sports calendar. Read all about it in The Times Thursday Roundup.

The Village of Ladd will host its annual Christmas Walk from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, featuring activities throughout downtown.

Illinois Valley Community College students must pay spring 2026 tuition by Dec. 10 or risk being dropped from all classes.

The Ottawa City Council placed its annual tax levy, requesting a 7.2% increase in property tax collections but projecting that the city’s tax rate will continue to decline.

The Ottawa City Council got a closer look at the Illinois & Michigan Canal’s restoration efforts during a presentation by the Ottawa Canal Association on Tuesday night.

Serena, Newark and Somonauk's boys basketball teams along with Marquette and Earlville's girls suffered losses, all in The Times Wednesday Roundup.

Both Ottawa and Dixon’s girls basketball teams forced double-digit turnovers Wednesday night, but it was the Duchesses who turned their forced turnovers into points in a 37-19 victory.

Milton Pope School recently announced its high honor roll and honor roll for the first trimester of the 2025–26 school year.

The Ottawa City Council approved a series of annexations in the Fields Hill subdivision, bringing several north-side homes officially into the city.

Selection is based on ACT or SAT scores and other academic criteria. Illinois State Scholars typically rank in the top 10% of their graduating class.

The Ottawa boys basketball team used a key 14-2 run midway through the third quarter in a 58-46 victory over Sandwich on Tuesday night at Kingman Gymnasium.

The Marquette and Woodland boys basketball teams rolled to triumphs on Tuesday, while the Newark girls basketball squad topped Earlville. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

After a third consecutive trip to the IHSA State Finals, Seneca's Piper Stenzel is the 2025 Times Girls Golfer of the Year.

A collection of state and sectional qualifiers, conference champions and our two Golfers of the Year, here is the 2025 Times Girls and Boys Golf Honor Roll.

Ottawa junior Bryer Harris has been selected as the 2025 Times Boys Golfer of the Year.

OSF HealthCare’s consolidation plan will officially start its inpatient obstetrics and intensive care services from Ottawa to Peru on Wednesday, Dec. 3.

The Ottawa City Council will take the next steps on bringing parts of the Fields Hill subdivision into the city along with dealing with the city’s tax levy during their meeting on Tuesday night.

Could it be a December to remember? Snow of 3-4 inches is possible by midnight Monday. Cold arctic air is forecasted later in the week.

The Ottawa girls basketball team defeated host Serena on Monday to improve to 3-1 on the season. Plus more results from around The Times area.

The 2025-26 boys and girls wrestling seasons kicked off last week. Check out The Times area's top returners, newcomers and info on Ottawa, Marquette, Seneca, Streator and Sandwich.

Luke McLachlan, a registered nurse with OSF HealthCare Ottawa Hospice, has been honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses after helping calm a distressed hospice patient and her family, OSF announced in a news release.

Milton Pope School in Marseilles has announced its November Students of the Month for Citizenship.

Our nation’s officially-designated day for giving thanks has come and gone.

Eight Seneca High School seniors have been named Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Helmar Lutheran Church will host a kumla fundraiser dinner from 4:30-7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at 11935 Lisbon Road.