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Photo Galleries | Illinois Valley

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: IVCC's new agricultural education center takes shape in Oglesby

Crews build the exterior shell of the Dr. Alfred E. Wisgoski Agricultural Education Center on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026 on the south end of Illinois Valley Community College campus in Oglesby. Last August, IVCC officially broke ground on the $7.6 million Dr. Alfred E. Wisgoski Agricultural Education Center. The 10,250-square-foot facility is expected to open in 2027. The project is supported by a $3.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Economic Development Administration, a $240,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and a $1 million gift from the Wisgoski family.

By Scott Anderson●

Photos: L-P girls basketball defeat's Hall

L-P defeated Hall 43-24 on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026 in Sellett Gymnasium at L-P High School.

By Scott Anderson●

Photos: Sideline celebrity sightings at Soldier Field

The Chicago Bears making the playoffs is a big deal in Chicago and the excitement brought out many celebrities with Chicago ties. Among those spotted Sunday were musician Chance the Rapper, actors Vince Vaughn from "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" and Jake Connelly of "Stranger Things," along with local sports celebrities including Pete Crow-Armstrong from the Cubs, Chicago Bears hall of famers Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester and Bearman.

By Mark Busch ●

Photos: Illinois Valley Indivisible holds 'ICE out for good' rally in Ottawa

Over 100 protesters gathered during a "ICE Out For Good" rally on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026 at Washington Park in Ottawa. Illinois Valley Indivisible held the rally. Protesters rallied in solidarity with Renee Nicole Good, the woman who was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

By Scott Anderson●

Illinois Valley Photos of the Week for Jan. 4-10

Take a look at some of the week’s best photos, captured by Illinois Valley photographers from Sunday, Jan. 4, to Saturday, Jan. 10.