If you think nothing ever happens in the Illinois Valley once the temperature drops and the bald eagles start circling the dams, you haven't been paying attention. This January has been a whirlwind. Honestly, it's been a mix of heavy court dates, massive infrastructure projects finally breaking ground, and the kind of "weird weather" that makes you wonder if the seasons have just given up.
People tend to look at LaSalle County as a quiet stretch between Chicago and the cornfields. But between the $18 million overhaul at Starved Rock and some pretty intense legal drama in Ottawa, the start of 2026 is feeling anything but quiet.
The Starved Rock Facelift That’s Actually Happening
For years, hikers have complained about the state of the stairs at Starved Rock. It’s almost a local rite of passage—dodging a soft board on a bridge or seeing a "Trail Closed" sign near your favorite canyon. Well, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) finally put the money where the mud is.
We’re talking about an $18 million trail improvement project.
Work started in late 2025 and is barreling through this winter. The goal is simple: fix the timber bridges, the decaying boardwalks, and those brutal stairways that have been crumbling for a decade. The best part? They’re actually planning to reopen trails that have been blocked off for years. If you’ve missed the back-country feel of certain canyons, you might get them back by late 2026.
The lodge and the main park areas are still open, but expect some detours. It’s a bit of a "short-term pain for long-term gain" situation, basically.
What’s Really Going on with LaSalle County Illinois News in the Courtroom
The LaSalle County Jail and the courthouse in Ottawa have been busy, and not in a good way. If you follow local headlines, you probably saw the news about Evans Salvador Quintana.
This is a heavy one.
The 31-year-old Joliet man was recently transferred to LaSalle County to face charges stemming from a horrific crash on I-80 back in May. It’s taken months of investigation, but he’s now facing four counts of aggravated DUI resulting in death. A Naperville mother, Ashley Russo, lost her life, and five children were injured. Quintana is looking at up to 14 years in prison. The fact that he was allegedly driving on a revoked license—specifically revoked for a previous DUI—has sparked a lot of raw emotion in the community.
Then there’s the case of Douglas Blair.
This Rochelle man was out on home confinement for a sex case involving a minor in Ottawa. He was wearing a GPS monitor. You’d think that would be enough to keep someone in line, right? Not even close. Prosecutors allege he used TikTok to contact the victim within 48 hours of getting his trial dates.
Judge Michelle Vescogni didn't mince words. She revoked his pretrial release. Now, he’s sitting in jail waiting for a March trial. It's a stark reminder that "home confinement" is only as effective as the person wearing the bracelet.
Business Buzz: Coffee and Economic Shifts
Over in Peru, things are looking a bit more caffeinated. Babs Brew just broke ground on a new permanent spot on 4th Street. They’ve been operating out of a trailer for about a year, but they're moving into a real building with double drive-through windows.
It sounds small, but in a town like Peru, these "micro-investments" are what keep the local economy from stalling.
Other weird bits from the County Board:
- Mental Health Funding: The county just approved $2.7 million in contracts for mental health services. The "708 Board" (the group that handles these funds) is screaming about rising demand.
- The Streator Cancellation: Streator’s first city council meeting of the year was just... canceled. Why? Nothing on the agenda. It’s a weird contrast to the chaos everywhere else.
- The Radon Push: The Health Department is currently nagging everyone to test their basements. It’s Radon Action Month. Seriously, just do it. It’s a radioactive gas that seeps through the soil, and LaSalle County is notorious for high levels.
That Bizarre January Weather
We have to talk about the "Record Warmth" followed by the flash flooding on January 8th and 9th. Chicago hit 60 degrees. Rockford broke records. In LaSalle County, we got that weird, heavy winter rain that doesn't soak in because the ground is either frozen or saturated.
We saw wind gusts over 50 mph. It didn't feel like January; it felt like a moody April evening.
LaSalle-Peru vs. Streator: The "Pops" Drama
For the sports fans, the L-P Cavaliers just took down the Streator Bulldogs 51-45. It was a grind. L-P looked sluggish in the first half, but a freshman named Gavin Stokes went on an eight-point tear in the third quarter that basically saved the game.
Seeing a freshman step up like that in a high-pressure environment at Pops Dale Gymnasium? That’s the kind of stuff local scouts live for.
Why This All Matters for You
LaSalle County is in a state of transition. We’re seeing a massive investment in our natural resources (Starved Rock) while simultaneously grappling with a court system that is stretched thin by high-profile felony cases.
The "news" here isn't just a list of events; it's a picture of a region trying to modernize while keeping its small-town identity.
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Actionable Steps for Locals:
- Check the Trail Maps: Before you head to Starved Rock, check the IDNR website. Don't be the person who drives two hours just to find your favorite trail is a construction zone.
- Test Your Home: Pick up a radon kit at the Health Department or a hardware store. It’s cheap, and the geology of the Illinois Valley makes it a legitimate risk.
- Watch the I-80 Construction: Between the weather and the ongoing maintenance, that stretch of 80 through Ottawa and Utica is becoming increasingly unpredictable.
- Support the New Guys: Whether it’s Babs Brew in Peru or the new Serena Cafe owners, local businesses in the Illinois Valley live and die by community support in these "slow" winter months.
The start of 2026 has already proven that LaSalle County is anything but predictable. Whether it's a 60-degree day in January or a freshman hitting clutch threes in Streator, there's always something moving under the surface.