Ottawa

Residents and community leaders voiced strong opposition Tuesday to OSF HealthCare’s plan to move obstetrics and ICU services from Ottawa to Peru, raising concerns about access to critical care. The decision now rests with a state review board.

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board hosted a public hearing on Tuesday, June 10, at Central Intermediate School in Ottawa. Over a month ago, OSF officially announced St. Elizabeth Medical Center will seek to close its five-bed intensive care unit and 14-bed obstetrics services, as facilities at OSF St. Elizabeth in Peru prepare to take their place. The healthcare group held a similar public hearing at Central Intermediate School last summer, drawing almost 400 concerned Ottawa residents and numerous community leaders who addressed the state panel.

The Ottawa Noon Rotary Club donated $500 to the Ottawa American Legion Post 33, to support the purchase of new tables and chairs for the recently refurbished upstairs meeting room at the Legion Hall.

Grand Ridge native and Ottawa High School alumni Jim Heth was selected as part of the 12-man crew that umpired the Class 1A and 2A state baseball final four at Illinois Field in Champaign this past weekend.

The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners will celebrate their 50th anniversary with free community garden tours on Saturday, June 29 in Henry, Toluca and Ottawa.

The Ottawa softball team had four of its members named to the Interstate 8 All-Conference team, while the Little Ten and Kishwaukee River Conferences released all-league teams.

Three couples sought marriage licenses in Bureau County through June 4, 2025.

On June 1, the city of Marseilles recognized the Evola family for being in business for half a century, proclaiming the day as “Sam’s Pizza Day.”

Ayana Miller, a graduate of Ottawa High School, has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Brian Sember Memorial Scholarship.

Patients headed to the emergency room in Ottawa could end up in Peru instead under certain conditions as part of OSF HealthCare’s two-campus model, Mayor Robb Hasty said in an update of city communications with OSF.

Shaw Local newspapers received a combined 33 awards Thursday, June 5, 2025, in news contest categories that included general excellence, photography, news writing, opinion writing, design, community service and editorial pages.

The Ottawa Special Events Committee has announced the schedule for its 2025 Music in the Park concert series, bringing live music to Washington Park every Saturday evening this summer.

A new Chipotle restaurant is officially coming to Ottawa after Ottawa City Council gave final approval Tuesday night, following a recommendation from the plan commission last week.

Roosty’s Chicken & Shakes, a relatively new fast-casual restaurant is set to open a new drive-thru location at 2749 Columbus Street in Ottawa, the former site of a Dunkin’ Donuts.

The intersection of St. James Street and Island Avenue in Ottawa will be closed to through traffic beginning Thursday, June 5, for curb replacement work, city officials announced on Wednesday.

After months of discussion and revisions, the Ottawa City Council voted Tuesday to approve a solar farm on the city’s south side, greenlighting a project that has been under review since March.

Crews are expected to complete the project and reopen the block to traffic by early afternoon, weather permitting

Illinois Extension nutrition and wellness education Susan Glassman will offer air fryer cooking sessions for beginner and seasoned cooks in Ottawa on June 12, Buda on June 20 and Princeton on June 24

Logan’s Oasis will host a Motorcycle Run on Saturday, June 14, beginning at Mugshots, 809 S. Illinois St.

Ottawa resident Hank Walsh has written a new nonfiction book, A History of Walsh Park, shares stories and photos from when the land was his family’s farm and how it became a city park.

On Monday, prosecutors showed some of Logan’s five-hour interview with Marseilles Police Sergeant Dan Ellis.

Jamie Schmitt won the 77th annual Pine Hills Invitational at Pine Hills Golf Course in Ottawa on Sunday. Schmitt, after shooting a 2-under-par 70 on Saturday, roared to a second-round 66 to win his first championship at the event.

NSG Group recently announced its newest photovoltaic solar array at Pilkington, its Ottawa facility, which will supply about 3.9 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity annually.

Illinois Valley Community College will begin its Ed’Venture summer camps in June, offering over 40 camps for kids aged 5 to 17.

Children and their families across La Salle County will receive extra groceries in part thanks to a recent grant awarded by the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation.

Braveheart Children’s Advocacy Center in Princeton was awarded a $1,500 Starved Rock Country Community Foundation community grant to help it serve victims of child abuse and their families.

State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, whose district covers La Salle, Bureau and DeKalb counties, introduced a new bill that will target deceptive sales on sexual assault survivors.

Ottawa will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, June 3, to celebrate the opening of its new dog park, Bill’s Barking Lot, located at 401 E. Lafayette St.

The Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund is set to award grants to eight organizations this spring, including a combined $6,000 to theater groups in La Salle, Streator and Princeton.

Sweet Tooth in Morris carries nostalgic candy, gourmet chocolate and more. Hey Sweetie in downtown Ottawa offers a variety of candies and ice cream.

Illinois Valley Public Action to Deliver Shelter temporarily move its Ottawa operations to the former YMCA building on Jackson Street while construction begins on a new shelter facility.

OSF staff attended a blessing event of the new OSF Resilient Healing care program that will represent hope, healing and a renewed commitment to the recovery of sexual assault survivors in the I‑80 Region on Friday, May 30, 2025 at OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center in Mendota. OSF Resilient Healing care is offered at two locations: Ottawa and Mendota. These strategically chosen sites ensure that survivors throughout the region can get the care they need in a supportive, safe and accessible setting.

Two people were charged with money laundering Friday after a lengthy financial investigation by La Salle County authorities.

The final phase of Ottawa’s Green Street elevation project is set to begin Monday, June 9, resulting in a full closure of the road for four months.

A 14-year-old child riding an electric bike in Ottawa was injured Tuesday afternoon in a collision with a semi tractor-trailer on the city’s west side, according to the Ottawa Police Department.

The Ottawa Fire Department welcomed its newest member this week as Matt Murphy was officially sworn in as a firefighter.

After over two months of deliberation, the Ottawa Plan Commission has once again voted to recommend a proposed solar panel project on the city’s south side, sending the project back to Ottawa City Council for a final decision next week.

West Lafayette Street in Ottawa will close to through traffic starting Wednesday, May 28, as a major water main replacement project gets underway.

Sam’s Pizza is hosting a block party Sunday to celebrate 50 years.

The life of an Ugandan family can be transformed with a pair of piglets through "Believe in UGanda" of Ottawa, an addilifilate of the Starved Rock Community Foundation.

Here is the list of La Salle County couples who applied for marriage licenses from May 1 through May 16, 2025

American Legion Post 33 hosted a parade along Main Street followed Memorial Day Ceremony at War Memorial north end Washington Square on Monday, May 26, 2025 in Ottawa.

Marquette Academy held its annual commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in the school's Bader Gymnasium in Ottawa.

Combat veterans from across the country rode through La Salle County on Saturday to honor fallen service members as part of an annual Memorial Day weekend tradition.

A genealogy project turned into a book for a Peru resident when she discovered the gripping letters of a Civil War soldier home to La Salle.

With chillier temperatures preventing Memorial Day weekend openings, La Salle County-area pools are still gearing up for opening day.

Ottawa Township High School held its Class of 2025 commencement ceremony on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Ottawa High School.

La Salle County residents may participate in one of the local Memorial Day observances in honor of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. A list is available here.

A new city rule adopted this week looks to fight neighborhood blight in Ottawa by requiring owners to register vacant homes before they become rundown.

Korean War Memorial in Streator to receive landscaping upgrades thanks to local business