Shaped by his own experience battling a heroin addiction, Tomsha has built a support system for those shaped by his own experience.

After tearing her ACL in high school, Gina Martin decided she wanted to go into athletic training. For the past 26 years, Martin has helped La Salle-Peru athletes get on the field and recover from injuries.

The IHSA has released its 2026 baseball postseason schedules. Here are the paths awaiting teams from across the Illinois Valley, including Seneca, Princeton, Ottawa, La Salle-Peru, Streator, St. Bede, Marquette and more.

HCC released a statement Tuesday stating that its latest offer was the furthest it was willing to go with the union. When that was deemed insufficient by the union bargaining committee and the workforce, Local 904 decided to strike.

The La Salle County Home and Community Education Association named Lilliana Bernabei and Finn Rosengren as the recipients of its 2026 scholarship.

The Illinois Valley Alzheimer’s Caring Friends Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, May 18 in the Peru Public Library.

Preparing your air conditioner before the heat of summer arrives is one of the smartest steps a homeowner can take. As temperatures rise, HVAC systems are pushed to work harder and longer, which can expose hidden issues that developed during months of inactivity.

Streets Department Director Nick Stremlau said that the reasoning behind this is that grass left in the street could eventually clog storm drains.

The La Salle County 4–H will hold a Little Roots Gardening Program for children to learn about plants, pollinators and nature from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, at Hy-Vee, 1651 Midtown Road, Peru.

Should the application be accepted, the Rotary will spend $2,500 in foliage or trees for the park within one year of the grant’s acceptance.

Officers will conduct high-visibility enforcement focusing on seat belt violations. Motorists who fail to buckle up can expect to be stopped and ticketed.

Following successful improvements in 2025, the city of Mendota is continuing to work with the HW Lochner group to improve walkability near schools through the Safe Routes to School program.

Illinois Valley Community College recently recognized 200 students for academic achievement at its annual Student Academic Awards ceremony.

Art Riewaldt won a city bid for the property at Washington Street and Illinois Route 251 with an offer of $40,000.

A look at the top performances for track and field athletes in the NewsTribune area for the 2026 season.

The St. Bede baseball and softball teams beat Putnam County, the La Salle-Peru girls track and field team won the Illinois Valley Meet and more in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

The La Salle-Peru softball team played all nine of its seniors to celebrate Senior Night on Monday and the Cavaliers won 10-0 in five innings over Rochelle.

The City of Peru will flush hydrants beginning Monday, May 11 through Friday, May 22. Flushing will occur on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Coming soon to Starved Rock and Matthiessen: a smartphone app that will help park staff send EMS dispatches in case of a trail accident or other mishap.

A 3-year-old child was killed and a suspect was injured following an officer-involved shooting early Sunday morning in rural DePue, according to information from the family and a news release the Bureau County Sheriff’s Office.

NewsTribune area athletes rank among the state's best this season and more in the NewsTribune track and field notebook.

Earlville's Addie Scherer was voted NewsTribune Athlete of the Week after strong performances at the plate and in the pitching circle.

The city of Oglesby will hold its third annual “Bark in the Park” event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 23, at LeHigh Park, 900 E. Walnut St., Oglesby.

May is Older Americans Month, a time to recognize the experiences and contributions of older adults while also focusing on important aspects of healthy aging. One area that often changes with age is hearing.

The HFH board members discussed the background, process, costs, timeline and updates on the organization’s development at 1205 Jefferson St.

Flora improvements may soon be coming to the city of La Salle.

Mendota Township High School District 280 announced the recipients of the 2026 Excellence in Education Awards.

The St. Bede softball and baseball teams won big in nonconference action, Hall baseball swept a doubleheader and more in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Dickinson House in Oglesby will host a fundraiser fried chicken dinner on Monday, May 18 at Cortileno’s Restaurant in Oglesby.

A Streator man pleaded guilty Friday to setting up a 2024 robbery – and to firing a gun when things went awry – and faces up 20 years in prison at sentencing.

Roughly 300 children came out to the 26th Annual Free Kids Fishing Expo on Saturday at Baker Lake in Peru.

The Friends of Lake Kakusha are inviting participants to check out some of the 223 birds that pass through the lake each year.

Triple Service announced in a press release that it will continue its partnership with Habitat for Humanity in helping build safe, affordable housing in Mendota by helping with the development on Jefferson Street.

The Hall softball team topped Princeton, L-P softball beat No. 4 Dunlap, the Bureau Valley boys and girls track and field teams swept the Lincoln Trail Conference Meet and more in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

Johnathon Stunkel threw a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts and Putnam County executed two squeeze bunts in a 3-0 win over Mendota on Friday.

Two-time All-Interstate 8 Conference quarterback Marion Persich, who is receiving plenty of college recruiting interest, is transferring to Morris from La Salle-Peru for his junior season.

For the 43rd year the Elks of Oglesby Lodge #2360 has once again sponsored The Eighth Grade Ball.

The University of Illinois Extension will offer a diabetes support group from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Thursday, May 14, in OSF HealthCare Saint Paul Medical Center’s conference room C, 1401 E. 12th St., Mendota.

The Mendota Memorial Day Program will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 25 at Restland Cemetery Memorial Gardens, Mendota.

Illinois Valley PADS - Illinois Valley Public Action to Deliver Shelter (IV PADS) continues to make a meaningful difference across La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam counties, thanks in large part to strong community engagement.

The second Saturday in May is USPS Letter Carriers annual STAMP OUT HUNGER Food Drive.  

There will be a special meeting of the Utica Village Board at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 12.

The Hall, St. Bede and La Salle-Peru baseball teams won conference games, plus more in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

Avah Oertel hit for the cycle, Princeton had 16 hits, including six for extra bases, and five Tigresses had multiple hits in a 15-0, four-inning win over Hall on Thursday

Camps are offered throughout the summer, and sign-ups for summer programs are available on the City of La Salle’s website. There will be a $10 fee for out-of-town residents. La Salle residents can attend all camps for free.

Illinois Valley Community College will offer a 50-hour EKG technician certification program from 6 to 9 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays from Wednesday, May 27, through Wednesday, July 29, at the Ottawa Center.

A La Salle man was ordered detained Wednesday after a traffic stop in Ottawa yielded 8 grams of suspected cocaine and a loaded .45-caliber handgun.

Throughout the summer, there are camp series’ and day programs for elementary, middle and high school-aged residents looking to stay busy.

In its first year, the La Salle-Peru Township High School Agriculture Program was named among the top 40 in the state by the National Future Farmers of America Organization.

Seattle Sutton - Spring has a way of making everything feel lighter—our schedules, our moods, and yes, even our meals.