Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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.

Applebee is retiring after 34 years at Seneca High School. In her final year, former students and colleagues are reflecting on how she transformed literature into lived experience – and created a classroom where every student felt safe to be themselves.

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

With a background in accounting and an appreciation for small business, Hall is the volunteer treasurer for A Servant’s Heart, a role she said suits her on several levels.

Meet Joshua Jahn. His wife and two small children were struck and killed by a drunk driver in 2008. He's spent most of the past two decades speaking to DUI convicts and getting them to rethink their decisions.

Perez has devoted himself to his family, co-workers and community in an exemplary fashion, though most may be familiar with his work as a coach.

Raikes traces his commitment to service back to his childhood in Marseilles, because he had role models who instilled the importance of putting community before self.

For 68 years, Walker has been in Princeton Elementary School District 115 helping and guiding children in numerous ways.

Mendota junior Mariyah Elam and Morris senior Ava Conley both put together strong efforts, qualifying for the state finals in three events in Wednesday’s IHSA Class 2A Mendota Girls Track and Field Sectional.

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.

Daniella Bumber won the 100, 200 and 400 and ran on one of two winning relays to lead Henry-Midland to a second-place finish in the Class 1A Farmington Sectional, plus more in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell softball team earned its first win of the season in its final regular-season game, Ottawa softball won a wild 19-18 decision, and Sandwich and Newark baseball both lost close ones. That and more in The Times Wednesday Roundup.

Rodriguez is charged with three counts of aggravated unlawful restraint, aggravated assault and two counts of domestic battery. He faces up to five years if convicted of aggravated unlawful restraint, the most serious of his counts.

Ottawa's Adam Swanson blasted a leadoff solo homer to center to tie the game 1-1, then retook the mound and shut out Rochelle for the final four innings as the Pirates kept their Interstate 8 Conference baseball title hopes alive with an 11-1 win Wednesday.

The Hall Lady Devils broke open a 3-3 game with 11 runs in the fourth inning for a 10-run rule, 14-3 victory Wednesday in Spring Valley. The Hall and Bureau Valley baseball teams also won on the diamond.

The Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell softball fell to Henry-Senachwine on Tuesday, while Marquette baseball topped Seneca. Plus more results from around The Times area.

The Dwight softball team - behind a seven-run fourth inning and the pitching of senior Madi Ely - snapped a 13-game losing streak with a 12-6 victory over host Newark on Tuesday

A 23-year-old Streator man was killed Wednesday morning in a two-vehicle crash near Kinsman.

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.

A day after surrendering Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell's first win of the season, the Henry-Senachwine baseball team bounced back with a 16-1, five-inning handling of the Warriors led by the hitting of Carson Rowe and pitching of Jacob Miller.

Four programs who have won four state championships and made 10 state tournament appearances between them since 2015 headline the the inaugural Illinois Valley Baseball Tournament to be held Friday and Saturday at Schweickert Stadium and JA Happ Field in Peru.

When Bureau Valley baseball coach Ryan Schisler was asked how he was doing Tuesday, he was all smiles. They scored 10 runs on 11 hits and helped by four Galva errors en route to 10-0 Lincoln Trail Conference victory on their home field.

Morrison rode the pitching of junior ace Ava Duncan, who scattered four hits with no earned runs and nine strikeouts, and the hitting of catcher Allie Anderson (3-for-4 with two RBIs) to a 5-2 win at Bureau Valley.

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

Woodland High School in Streator recently held its Academic Honors Night on Wednesday, May 6.