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Dancers performe during the Our Lady of Guadalupe vigil Chichimeca dance on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2025 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in La Salle. The Chichimeca dance is a vibrant, Indigenous-rooted devotional tradition where dancers (Danzantes) perform to honor the Virgin Mary's appearance to Juan Diego in 1531, symbolizing faith, hope, and cultural fusion, often involving elaborate costumes, feathers, and drumming, leading up to the main Feast Day on December 12th, with celebrations happening globally in parishes.

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Experience the magic of the season with a cozy carriage ride through the Celebration of Lights in La Salle. Carriage rides are offered in November and December at Rotary Park. The last ride is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11. Prices are $25 per person or $200 for the entire wagon up to a dozen people. The carriage rides are organized by the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce. For more information visit https://www.ivaced.org/carriage-rides.

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Here are Gary Duncan's photos from Tuesday's boys basketball game between Sandwich and Plano at Plano.

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Ottawa defeated Morris 57-35 on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 in Kingman Gymnasium at Ottawa High School.

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The Indian Creek boys basketball team took on Marquette Tuesday night in Shabbona.

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The concrete pathways have been poured and completed at Baker Lake in Peru, but they will not be plowed this winter in order for the concrete to properly cure. Plowing the walkways too soon and applying salt could cause cracking and divots to the surface. Construction work began in early October and the park remains closed to the public.

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The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” with live orchestra and local dancers for two shows this weekend at Matthiessen Auditorium. The holiday performances are scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at La Salle-Peru Township High School District 120. Dancers from The Dance Center of La Salle, Gray’s School of Dance in Ottawa, and Dancenter of Streator and Pontiac will perform alongside the orchestra. The Illinois Valley Youth Choir, directed by Jenilyn Roether, will join the production as the Snowflake Chorus.

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Manteno defeated Streator 44-9 in the Illinois Central Eight Conference matchup on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.

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The Peru Veterans Memorial Group held its 46th annual Pearl Harbor parade and memorial service on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at the South Shore Boat Club in Peru.