Oglesby

Switching to a city manager would increase efficiency in Oglesby and save taxpayers money, two advocates said.

The Oglesby City Council will vote in February on whether to add a liquor license, enabling a small chain of liquor stores to put a location on Route 351.

It’s not happening tomorrow – it will take time – but the Catholic schools of Oglesby, La Salle and Peru will be unified.

With cold temperatures predicted Tuesday morning, schools in La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties are taking precautions to keep students safe.

Illinois Valley Community College’s Oglesby and Ottawa Center campuses will be closed on Tuesday, Jan. 21, out of an abundance of caution because of the predicted dangerously cold temperatures.

The Oglesby Knights of Columbus, 307 E. Florence St., will host a fish and shrimp fry from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24.

Illinois Valley Community College campuses in Oglesby and Ottawa will be closed on Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, and returned the following indictments.

Oglesby American Legion, 410 Clark St., will host its monthly steak fry 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23.

Illinois Valley Community College’s men’s golf team will host an open house at the Deer Park Golf Club on Saturday, Jan. 25, to raise money to travel to Southern Missouri for a pre-season warmup competition. 

Firefighters responded to a structure fire on Friday in the 2500 bock of East 1569th Road (Covel Bluff Lane) in Ottawa. The fire was upgraded to the second alarm. Firefighters from Oglesby, Utica, Grand Ridge, Marseilles, Tonica and others assisted with the fire.

Heartland Bank and Trust Company celebrated three of its staff members – Michele King, Nick Nosalik and J Burt – have been named recipients of the 2024 Illinois Valley Community Cornerstone Awards.

Evan Duttlinger is Oglesby’s new deputy police chief.

The Oglesby Knights of Columbus, 307 E. Florence St., will host a fish and shrimp fry from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10.

The Oglesby American Legion, 410 Clark St., will host its monthly taco night from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8.

A two-vehicle crash Thursday involving a semi-trailer and an SUV shut down Interstate 39 near Tonica and a vehicle occupant was taken to a hospital, the Tonica Fire Department said Friday.

We Are Oglesby, NFP Corp member, MP Automotive & Repair, won first place commercial entry in Oglesby.

Upcoming financial decisions were discussed as the Oglesby City Council approved a proposed property tax levy of $1,623,300 for the upcoming year.

With the Midwest harvest season in the books and spring 2025 coming into view, the University of Illinois Extension Oglesby Agronomy Summit is just a few weeks away.

An Oglesby man was arrested Tuesday on charges of possessing child sexual abuse images.

Oglesby Commissioner Don Finley announced his resignation at Monday night’s regular Oglesby City Council meeting, stepping down from his position as early as Jan. 6.

Oglesby commissioners suggested Monday the Plan Commission organize informational sessions to ensure residents are fully informed before voting.

Oglesby Ottawa Elks distributed $500 check to each of five local police departments for their Christmas children’s gift giving programs.

The Winter Wonderland parade, tree lighting and Christmas Walk were celebrated Saturday in downtown Oglesby. The event is organized by the nonprofit We Are Oglesby, NFP.

Chuck Reynolds of Peru presents a $1,800 check to Betty Glynn of Cops 4 Cancer, Inc.

A proposed change to Oglesby’s city government is in the process of being on the ballot in 2025, after a referendum was approved on Tuesday morning during a hearing at La Salle County Courthouse in Ottawa.

The University of Illinois Extension will host a fossil identification workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 11, in Room E101 at Illinois Valley Community College, 815 N. Orlando Smith Road, Oglesby.

Enjoy family-friendly holiday events at Starved Rock Lodge in Oglesby.

Downtown Oglesby will be a festive place Saturday as the city hosts its annual holiday festival.

Lighted parades and Christmas walks in Oglesby and Ladd part of eventful weekend that includes holiday-themed performances.

The Holy Family Altar and Rosary Society will host a Christmas cookie sale from 8 a.m. until items are sold out Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Holy Family School, 336 Alice Ave., Oglesby.

The ninth annual TUBACHRISTMAS in the Illinois Valley is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at Hall High School, 800 W. Erie St., Spring Valley.

Oglesby Washington Junior High School released its honor roll for the first trimester of the 2024-25 school year.

A second suspect in the July shooting in La Salle has been apprehended and awaits extradition proceedings in North Dakota.

Dozens of Oglesby residents seek a structural change in city government and want it put to a referendum. A judge could decide next week whether to put it on the April 1 ballot.

The following candidates have filed for positions on school boards across La Salle County.

Illinois Valley Flute Ensemble will present the 33rd annual Festival of Flutes at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, in Peru and Flutes by the Fireplace at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, at the Great Hall of the Starved Rock Lodge.

La Salle County police and prosecutors say GPS monitoring isn't working with felony suspects. A statistic supports their case: about 1 in 5 felony suspects has cut off his or her ankle bracelet.

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, and returned the following indictments.

Oglesby’s tax rate is going down – a little – but whether taxpayers will actually pay less remains to be seen.

Oglesby Mayor Jason Curran delivered a 9 minute statement in which he acknowledged engaging in conversations about restructuring Oglesby’s commission form of government but pushed back against what he called “gross and obvious” misstatements about the merits of making a change.

The Oglesby American Legion, 410 Clark St., will host its monthly taco night from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11.

Gary L. Peterlin announced Edgar Lucero Castillo is joining Attorney Enrico Eattoni and himself in the practice of law at Perona, Peterlin & Associates.

The Illinois Valley Community College Art Club’s first art sale on Tuesday, Dec. 3, and Wednesday, Dec. 4, will feature crafts, drawings, paintings, pottery, ornaments and more.

Here is a roundup of Christmas activities across La Salle and Bureau counties and some surrounding communities.

For the ninth consecutive year, Santa has sent his Postmaster Elf to officially open the magic mailbox in Oglesby with direct access to the North Pole.

Mr. J’s Hot Dogs and Gyros hosted a grand opening at a second location Saturday at 488 E. Route 71, Oglesby.

Illinois Valley Community College campuses in Oglesby and Ottawa will be closed for Thanksgiving break from Wednesday, Nov. 27, through Sunday, Dec. 1.

Mackenzie Sherman, a dedicated 4-H member from Bureau County, earned seventh place in the Public Speaking Contest held Nov. 8-9, at the Eastern National 4-H Roundup, at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

A petition is circulating to restructure Oglesby government. The Oglesby City Council might task the Planning Commission with studying that proposal. It won't happen without a fight.