Tonica

The churches of Putnam County will join together at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, for a Union Thanksgiving Service at the Tonica United Methodist Church, 423 E. Wauponis St.

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) recognized high school seniors as 2024-25 Illinois State Scholars, including nine students from St. Bede Academy.

Two motorists were taken to area hospitals after separate crashes Wednesday near Tonica and Lostant.

Check trick-or-treat times for communities in and near La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties.

Firefighters responded to a fire shortly after 4 a.m. Tuesday in the duct work at the Marquis Energy Complex in Hennepin.

The faculty and students of St. Bede Academy have selected seniors Phillip Gray and Jake Migliorini as the 2024-25 winners of the DAR (Daughters of American Revolution) and the SAR (Sons of American Revolution) Good Citizenship awards.

A total of 166 students earned 200 degrees and certificates at Illinois Valley Community College in Summer 2024. Here is a listing of those graduates by their hometown.

Two kayakers were found and treated by first responders Saturday night on the Fox River near Wedron.

Here is the list of La Salle County couples who applied for marriage licenses from Sept. 17 through Sept. 30, 2024.

Crews do patch work involving potholes and joint replacement on Interstate 39 between Lostant and Tonica. The Illinois Department of Transportation will be working in those areas through November. Motorists are asked to use caution and expect delays when traveling through the work zones. The project is part of the Rebuild Illinois investing $33.2 billion into all modes of transportation across the state.

The Tonica Fest Cruise-In attracted Saturday several classic cars, trucks and motorcycles that were on display in the village's downtown.

Tonica’s annual celebration is set Friday, Aug. 23, and Saturday, Aug. 24, featuring activities for all ages.

Along with the Bureau County Fair, Mendota will host its Family Safe Night, Tonica Fest will kick off and a children's business fair in Ottawa will be held over the weekend in the Illinois Valley.

An 86-year-old Ottawa woman was identified as the victim of a crash Monday on Route 251 and North 17th Road, between Lostant and Tonica.

An occupant of a vehicle died after their vehicle overturned Monday on Route 251 near the corner of the Leonore and McNabb blacktop, according to law enforcement at the scene.

The following report covers July 22 through July 29, 2024 and is provided with assistance from the La Salle County Farm Bureau

The following report covers July 15 to 21, 2024 and is provided with assistance from the La Salle County Farm Bureau.

The following report covers July 8 to 14, 2024 and is provided with assistance from the La Salle County Farm Bureau.

A tornado warning was issued until 12:30 a.m. in La Salle and Livingston counties for Streator, Pontiac and Dwight.

The following report covers July 1 through July 7 and is provided with assistance from the La Salle County Farm Bureau.

The Tonica United Methodist Church, 423 E. Wauponis St., will host a pair of activities in July.

The summer crop and rainfall report, which features crop condition and rainfall updates from La Salle County farmers, is published regularly during the growing season. The following report covers June 24 through June 30.

The following report covers June 17 through June 23, 2024 and is provided with assistance from the La Salle County Farm Bureau.

Bill Gray of Tonica took a photo of this fawn in a field. Gray is one of La Salle County Farm Bureau’s crop watchers.

Here is a listing of honor rolls from La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties schools for the final quarter, semester or trimester of the 2023-2024 school year.

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday, June 4, 2024, and returned the following indictments.

Tonica Grade School its honor roll for the fourth quarter of the 2023-2024 school year.

More than 400 Illinois Valley Community College students earned 536 degrees or certificates this spring. Some 200 of them, cheered by families who packed the IVCC Gym, participated in the 58th annual commencement on May 18.

Residents of the Illinois Valley area are encouraged to participate in one of the local Memorial Day observances and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Here are the La Salle County marriage licenses for May 1 to May 17, 2024.

Two Mendota residents face mandatory trips to prison if convicted in a drug raid that yielded more than 50 grams of methamphetamine (about 0.11 pounds), the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team said in a Wednesday news release.

First started in 1982 for smaller district schools in the area, the 40th annual Eighth Grade Ball has been an anticipated event for students soon to be high schoolers.

La Salle-Peru High school announced its top 10 academic students after eight semesters from the class of 2024.

The Fike family has established a $60,000 fund to provide scholarships to students participating in Illinois Valley Community College’s Center for Accessibility and Neurodiversity.

Three people were rescued Wednesday from the Vermilion River after their raft capsized. All three refused medical treatment at the scene.

Oglesby, Utica and Tonica firefighters were called to a water rescue on Wednesday near Lowell. Individuals were rescued after they were stranded on an island after their raft turned over. The island is located about a 0.5 miles west of the Route 178 bridge. Shaw Local News Network will have an update on this story.

A La Salle County grand jury convened Tuesday, May 7 and returned the following indictments.

A resolution opposing any name change for Starved Rock State Park sailed Thursday through the La Salle County Board.

Tonica, Peru, Utica, Grand Ridge, Leonore, Lostant and Oglesby fire departments responded to a structure fire Wednesday in the 1900 block of East Eighth Road near Tonica.

Tonica, Peru, Utica, Grand Ridge, Leonore and Oglesby fire departments responded to a structure fire Wednesday in the 1900 block of East Eighth Road near Tonica. The fire call came in about 3:30 p.m.

The La Salle County Board will vote Thursday on a resolution opposing any attempt to rename Starved Rock State Park. A board committee unanimously advanced a draft resolution Monday.

You won't find many police officers still working at age 54, let alone still working midnights on patrol. But not many law enforcement officers love being a cop as much as Bill Sommer does.

The two crashes are under investigation by the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office.

Tonica and Utica fire departments along with La Salle County Sheriff deputies, work the scene of a two-vehicle crash on the Illinois Route 178 bridge over the Vermilion River on Monday, April 22, 2024 near Lowell. The accident happened shortly before 8:30a.m. Both lanes of Illinois 178 are temporarily shut down while emergency crews assist at the scene.

Fifteen first responders completed the first – and longest – step in becoming an emergency medical technician Saturday, celebrating the accomplishment with a graduation ceremony at the McNabb fire station.

Tonica Grade School announced its honor roll for the third quarter of the 2023-2024 school year.

She is the first Tonica Grade School recipient in the history of the award.

Easter is Sunday, March 31. Here's a list of restaurants offering special holiday brunches.

Grace United Methodist Church, 1345 Chartres St., La Salle, will host the program Journey to Jerusalem.

La Salle County is a non-sanctuary county after Thursday's vote. With that said, there is an emergency plan in place to care for migrants temporarily should they be left in the county.