Oglesby City Council

There was big applause Monday for two of Oglesby’s finest: Michael Rivara, Oglesby’s officer of the year, and for retiring Chief Doug Hayse.

Oglesby needs a new police chief – Doug Hayse is retiring Jan. 17 – but Deputy Chief Mike Margis has agreed to head the police department on an interim basis.

Oglesby taxpayers will save a few dollars when the property tax bills arrive in spring.

Free bikes at Oglesby’s inaugural Winter Parade? Oglesby police availed themselves of a large shipment of free toys and bicycles, arranged by United Way of the Illinois Valley, and decided Oglesby kids need not wait for Santa to bring gifts.

Oglesby's inaugural Winter Parade begins shortly before dusk Saturday. Walnut Street will be closed beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, though the parade kicks off at 4 p.m. from the parking lot of the Oglesby Elks Lodge.

Attention, car thieves: Oglesby now will watching through a camera system that can read the plates of the stolen car.

Worried about a stolen car or Amber Alert? Oglesby is mulling over acquiring a system to spot and help catch a suspicious vehicle.

Oglesby will have a new mayor next spring. Incumbent Dom Rivara said he will not seek a new term of office.

Surf InternetSM has announced plans for fiber-optic internet deployment in Oglesby.

Oglesby officially is against cash-free bonds and other relaxed criminal provisions taking effect Jan. 1.

Oglesby does not have a dog park and the city’s commissioner of parks hopes to kick-start discussion on where they could put one.

Oglesby City Council turned down a liquor store once planned for the 200 block of North Columbia Avenue. Why? A commissioner said he bought a "crack pipe" from a related business.

Oglesby has 20 liquor licenses in use. The City Council is thinking of not creating any more.

Oglesby has a new police officer

Oglesby might have hit upon a solution for the ongoing drainage problems at Heritage and Oakwood Avenues – but nobody seems to want to pay for it.