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Photo Galleries | The Times

Photos: La Salle firefighters battle two-story house fire on Bucklin Street

La Salle firefighters responded to a fully engulfed two-story home in the 800 block of Bucklin Street on Friday, Jan. 23. A woman, her son and their dog evacuated safely before crews arrived. Firefighters from La Salle, Peru, Oglesby and Utica fire departments worked together to battle the blaze in subzero temperatures. Peru Fire Department provided an aerial truck to help crews reach the roof. Firefighters broke windows and cut a hole in the roof to access the seat of the fire. Bucklin Street was closed between 8th and 9th Streets during firefighting operations.

By Tom Collins and Scott Anderson

Photos: Search continues in Utica for missing person

A search party was organized by the family of Villa Herrera on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 at Advanced Asphalt in Utica. Herrera went missing on Sunday, Jan. 11, after being involved in a crash at the Utica roundabout. He was last spotted walking on foot and wearing a white and grey windbreaker jacket and jeans. Agencies with Central K9 Search in Spring Valley and Eye in the Sky in Bloomington helped the family with the search. La Salle County Sheriff's Office has also searched the ground and air surrounding the crash site.

By Scott Anderson and Scott Anderson

Photos: Fire breaks out at Fire On Fifth inside Westclox

Firefighters responded to Fire On Fifth inside the Westclox building on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026 in Peru. A working fire started in the storage room inside of Fire on Fifth. The fire started at 10a.m. Fire departments from Utica, Oglesby Peru and La Salle all assisted on the scene. La Salle and Peru EMS were also dispatched. The entire Westclox building was evacuated. Two employees were transported by ambulance for smoke inhalation. A smoke detector inside Star Union Spirits triggered an alarm, prompting a fast response from firefighters.

By Scott Anderson

Photos: St. Bede girls basketball takes down Marquette in Friday night showdown

St. Bede defeated Marquette 50-38 on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 at St. Bede Academy. Check out photos from the game by MaKade Rios.

By MaKade Rios for Shaw Local News Network●

Photos: St. Bede boys basketball falls to Marquette on the hardwood

Marquette defeated St. Bede 65-60 on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 at St. Bede Academy. Check out photos from the game by MaKade Rios.

Photos: Illinois Valley students shine at 9th Annual NCI Artworks Mad Hatter Ball

High school seniors Claire Boudreau, La Salle-Peru Township High School, Jackson Delhotal, of Putnam County High School, Spencer Kain, of Mendota High School, Christian Limberg, of La Salle-Peru Township High School, Zulee Moreland, of Ottawa Township High School, Lydia Steinbach, of La Salle-Peru High School, and Yijing (Larissa) Zhang of St. Bede Academy were all honored during the 9th annual NCI Artworks Mad Hatter Ball on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 at the Westclox Event Center in Peru. Vivian Lopez, of DePue High School was absent.

By Scott Anderson●

Photos: Boys bowling Regional at the Illinois Valley Super Bowl in Peru

Teams from Bradley-Bourbonnais, Reed-Custer, Herscher, Kankakee McNamara, Kankakee High School, La Salle-Peru, Minooka, Ottawa, St. Bede, Hall, and Streator all competed during the IHSA boys bowling regionals on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026 at the Illinois Valley Super Bowl in Peru.

Photos: Marquette boys wrestling falls to Bradley-Bourbonnais on the mat

Bradley-Bourbonnais boys wrestling defeated Marquette 41-22 during a wrestling meet on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 in Bader Gymnasium at Marquette High School.

By Scott Anderson●