Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

Lily Bosnich never thought it was going to be a big deal. She was just doing the two things she loves the most, softball and track. With no time to change, Bosnich came from a softball game to the Senior Night track meet and ran hurdles in her softball uniform.

More than 200 graduates attended the commencement ceremony on May 16.

Country Kids Produce opened a farm stand on Ottawa’s south side last summer. This summer, it’s expanding with the construction of a new building. 

Jeremiah Joe Coffee opened its fourth location in Starved Rock Country this week.

Harvest Baptist Church of Ottawa will host a free “Emerald Crossing, An Irish Adventure Through Psalm 23” vacation Bible school for children ages five to 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, through Friday, July 10.

La Salle-Peru sophomore Aavery Hill is the 2026 NewsTribune Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year after placing fourth in Class 2A in the discus.

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

A local documentary exploring the stories of abolitionist John Hossack and escaped slave Jim Gray will be shown next week at the Reddick Mansion in Ottawa.

Parts of the walking path at Zearing Park in Princeton will be temporarily closed during the city’s Fourth of July festivities.

Tours and events will continue during the restoration.

The Women Inspired Network will host a “Girls Just Wanna Have Funds” trivia night at 5:30 p.m. Friday, July 10, at the Oglesby Elks Lodge, 800 E. Walnut St., Oglesby.

The Peru Public Library recently announced it was selected for a Literacy Bridges: Empowering 21st Century Communities grant.

Chipotle Mexican Grill’s new Ottawa location is under construction, with work that began in January still progressing on the West Etna Road site.

The bump in participation and interest in soccer around the World Cup is a phenomenon that Raketic has experienced throughout his camp locations in the Midwest, including the Illinois Valley.

Who’s going to be the 2025-26 BCR Female Athlete of the Year? Jillian Anderson, Lily Bosnich, Keighley Davis, Charlie Pellegrini and Emily Wright are up for BCR honors

Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp pitcher Max Bryant was selected to the Prospect League All Star Game. He is 1-1 with one save this season.

The University of Illinois Extension will hold the first session of its Lunch N Learn Series for adults from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at Nell’s Woodland, 2000 Alexis Ave., Ottawa.

First-year Ottawa varsity boys basketball coach Bob Bartman feels his team has gasped new concepts quickly and has improved across the board during summer workout and competition.

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

Here is the list of couples who applied for La Salle County marriage licenses from June 5 through June 30, 2026.

Putnam County senior Johnathon Stunkel is the 2026 NewsTribune Baseball Player of the Year after ranking top three in the area in nearly every hitting and pitching category and leading the Panthers to a runner-up finish in Class 1A.

A look at the top baseball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2026 season.

Gov. JB Pritzker has issued a disaster proclamation for Illinois following months of severe storms, tornadoes and flooding, with La Salle County among 11 counties included in the declaration after damaging weather in June.

The University of Illinois Extension will offer gardeners and flower lovers a flower arranging workshop from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at the Marshall-Putnam Extension Office, 509 Front St., Henry.

The La Salle County 4-H Show and Junior Fair returns July 9-12 at the La Salle County fairgrounds in Ottawa, with youth projects, livestock competitions and community activities.