Place your Classified
Marketplace
Subscribe to the newspaper | Submit a news tip | Site map | Email this page | Alerts | RSS | Contact us | Webmail
SEARCH MyWebTimes.com Market Place Google

Text size: font - font +

TRIVIA FOR TEENS: Be smart. Win cash. Friday night!

MyWebTimes.com --
Ask The Times
 
We can't help with math homework, and we don't calculate launch times for NASA. But we can answer just about any question about the Ottawa-Streator area. And if we can't, perhaps you can!

So, ask away.

Search Ask The Times Archives

Past Questions:

Q. How did Streator students do at the Illinois High School Association solo and ensemble contest at La Salle-Peru High School Saturday?


Q. When is the next session of Community Emergency Response Training classes? How many people have taken the training so far?


Q: Who own and runs Aschinger Electric at 110 S. Bloomington St. in Streator? Can you buy lights there? What are store hours?


Q. Is there a computer/electronics recycling day coming up soon in the Streator area? Where can used batteries and light bulbs be taken for recycling?


Q. Will the Senate trial of Gov. Rod Blagojevich be televised?


Q. In Streator, why do they need four dump trucks and three pickup trucks driving together in a group, all plowing at the same time? I have seen this on at least four occasions; at the most two would do the same thing. This seems like a waste of salt, overtime for seven men and wear and tear on the vehicles. They could split up and clear much more individually.


Q. I heard of some people being turned away from the local PADS facility. What are the guidelines for who may stay at a PADS site?


Q. Is it possible for women who have no health insurance to get a yearly Pap test at little or no expense?


Q. Will the Marseilles Lions Club sponsor its “Operation Christmas Baskets” again this year?


Are any more live shows scheduled at the Majestic theatre in Streator?


When can Ottawa kids visit Santa Claus in his house downtown?


Q. Will there be a primary election for the Streator City Council next year?


Q. What is the status of a Taco Bell restaurant being established at the site of the vacant Streator Lanes on North Bloomington Street?


Q. I want to run for public office in Seneca in April. What seats are available and how do I become a candidate?


Q. What was the date of the first measurable snowfall in Streator for the 2007-2008 winter season?


Q. Is the Russian “Merchant of Death,” Viktor Bout, still operating?


Q. Since Oreos made in China have been found to be tainted with melamine, should we be worried that another popular Kraft product — macaroni and cheese — also might be contaminated? I know melamine has been found in milk products, and I noticed Kraft mac and cheese contains “milk protein concentrate.” Is the company, or the FDA, testing it for melamine?


Q. Where is the closest IRS Tax Assistance Center?


Q. What is the status of Streator Wal-Mart? Will there still be a groundbreaking ceremony this month?


Q. Does the United States still have troops in Bosnia? If not, when were they withdrawn?


Whenever police make a drug buse, they always assign a dollar value to the captured stash. How do the authorities know the value of an illegal drug? Pot and cocaine don’t have price stickers, do they? And don’t the values fluctuate depending on scarcity?


Q. I’ve always wondered, where do the emergency personnel stay during a hurricane?


Q. Does the city of Ottawa rent any buildings or property and does the city receive rent money from any tenant who uses city property?


Q. Who paid to rent the space in the 807 Building in Ottawa for the public presentation by Roger Brooks of Destination Development?


Q. When does daylight-saving time end this year? Is it the same as last year?


Q. I would like to know if either, or both, of the presidential candidates have a working knowledge of any language other than English. I feel this would be an asset to them.


Q. There have been a lot of news reports about building more nuclear power plants in the U.S., even though we haven’t dealt with the hazardous nuclear waste generated at existing and decommissioned plants. Does France, or any country with numerous nuclear power plants, have a permanent solution for dealing with the waste?


Q. Because of the flooding of Central School, does the school need any supplies?


Q. Besides Barack Obama and John McCain, who else will be on the ballot in La Salle County for president?


Q. I noticed the flags at the La Salle County office building at Etna Road were at half-staff Thursday. Why?


Q. When will Streator Drugs offer flu shots? Is anyone else offering flu shots this fall?


Q. Will all the rain clear up the condition of water distributed to Streator residents?


Q. Will all the rain clear up the condition of water distributed to Streator residents?


Q. Is it true American Samoa has a minimum wage lower than all the other states, commonwealths and protectorates?


Q. How much gold is stored at Fort Knox? And is it all the property of the American public?


Q. How many jobs are currently being outsourced overseas? I could really use one of those jobs, as could so many unemployed Americans.


Q. Why are there so many crickets this summer, and does that necessarily mean there will be even more next year?


Q. What are the regulatons, if there are any, when it comes to scattering ashes from a cremation? Are there any places where they cannot be scattered?


Q. What was that beautiful fireworks display seen north of Ottawa on Saturday night?


Q. When the Environmental Protection Agency rates the mileage of different models of cars, does it account for the various fuel formulations that are used during different times of the year? I have noticed that my small truck’s mileage seems to change from 29 mpg in summer to only 24 to 25 in winter, and the change appears to happen suddenly, in October and in March or April.


Q. What are the cages that are in the small boat channel in the widewaters directly across the river from the Starved Rock Marina?


Q. With all the talk about drilling off the U.S. coasts for more oil, what guarantee do U.S. citizens have that all that oil would go to us? Wouldn’t the corporations doing the drilling sell the oil to the highest bidders on the international market? Would it really affect domestic prices for home heating oil or gasoline?


Q. With all the talk about drilling off the U.S. coasts for more oil, what guarantee do U.S. citizens have that all that oil would go to us? Wouldn’t the corporations doing the drilling sell the oil to the highest bidders on the international market? Would it really affect domestic prices for home heating oil or gasoline?


Q. Since so many of us now use direct deposit, debit cards and other forms of electronic funds, is there actually enough cash to replace all of the funds on deposit? If everyone decided to withdraw their bank deposits and stuff them in their mattresses, is sufficient money available in vaults somewhere?


Q. About three years ago I read about a new type of atomic energy plant that produced not only electric power but also, as a byproduct, large quantities of hydrogen that could be used to fuel autos. I thought that would be an excellent answer to much of the energy problem. I assumed there would be a lot in the news about this innovation, but I have heard nothing. Is there something to it?


Q. There seems to be a bad taste and smell in the Streator water. What is causing that?


Q. There are occasional news stories about the mysterious reduction in the honeybee population. The articles always warn of dire consequences to fruit and vegetable production if the honeybees were not to survive. What are the predicted consequences? Will there be no more apples, oranges, grapes, etc.? Or just a reduced output?


Q. I keep hearing from politicians, mostly Democrats, about how oil companies are sitting on 68 million acres of federally approved and leased lands and they’re not doing much drilling on these lands, while at the same time asking the government for more offshore drilling and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Is this really true? Why would anyone want to spend the extra money to go out hundreds of miles offshore and under thousands feet of water if they could get as much oil underground on land?


Q. Why aren’t the candidates and commentators pushing the idea of a nationwide 55 mph speed limit? It would save gas, and perhaps lives! Who knows ... it might even get people to “slow down and smell the flowers.”!


Q. I have noticed the figures for “weekend” box office totals are publicized Sundays in the early afternoon. These are the same totals that are listed Monday mornings. Sometimes when two movies are close in dollars there will be a revised figure, but it most often is the same amount. How do the actual Sunday afternoon and evening showings get figured in?


Q. I have noticed the figures for “weekend” box office totals are publicized Sundays in the early afternoon. These are the same totals that are listed Monday mornings. Sometimes when two movies are close in dollars there will be a revised figure, but it most often is the same amount. How do the actual Sunday afternoon and evening showings get figured in?


Q. I hear so many conflicting stories on illegal immigration. Please tell me if you can how much illegal immigrants contribute to the economy and how much they use in free services. If they all got deported, how would it affect our economy?


Q. What happened to Robert Anthony, who used to be on WSPL-AM, the Streator radio station?


Q. I thought I saw some of the wind turbines east of Grand Ridge turning recently. When will they all start turning?


Q. I hear the water rates in Streator are going up. How will that translate into a dollar amount on my bill?


Q. What is the status of Wal-Mart coming to Streator? I thought Wal-Mart was going to break ground in August.


Q. For the last two springs we’ve had a pair of tree swallow nesting in a blue birdhouse. Yesterday evening around 7 p.m. I looked out and there must have been 25 or 30 tree swallows flying around in our yard gathering bugs. They stayed for 10 or 15 minutes then left. My question is are they grouping to fly south for the winter or could it be our pair of nesting swallows just bringing their friends by to show them their home?


Q. What’s the estimated date of completion for the Ottawa sewer project that has resulted in part of Allen Park’s grass being torn up?


Q. I think there are a couple of ways to reduce inflation. One is increasing interest rates, but in the past I have heard of countries printing too much money and increasing inflation. Is it possible to decrease the amount of money printed and therefore reduce inflation?


Q.Why is the grass being torn up on the west side of Washington Square in Ottawa? Does it have anything to do with the Lincoln-Douglas fountain?


Q. Who is the grand marshal for the Ottawa Riverfest Parade this year?


Q. I saw a billboard offering 82 cents per pound for aluminum cans. How many 12-ounce cans does it take to make a pound?


Q. Why is there a sign alerting of a possible zoning change on prperty at the northeast corner of Richards Road and the Kernan Road northeast of Streator?


Q. My Stella d’Oro daylily has been spectacular, blooming with 2 ½-inch golden yellow flowers. Now it has just about stopped blooming and there are little green growths on the tall stalks. Are these caused by insects, disease, or seeds? Will the plant bloom again this fall or will it wilt and die? I hate to lose these petite, vibrant plants.


Q. Remember the entertainer “Tiny Tim,” who frequented the talk shows back in the late 1960s and early 1970s? What happened to him?


Q. Given the large amount of oil drilled in Alaska, why is the price of gas at the pump in Anchorage so much higher than the national average?


Q. Are sitting senators — i.e. John McCain, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton — paid their full salaries when they are campaigning for office and spending so little time on their senatorial duties?


Q. Who is running the hot dog stand in Washington Square in Ottawa? Do the owners have to follow health department regulations?


Q. I understand, to some degree, the increase of gasoline prices when the price of a barrel of oil increases. What I can’t understand is why we never see a significant drop in prices at the pump when the price of oil drops. Oh, there may be a penny less here or there, but nothing like the increases you see when oil prices go up. Why is that?


Q. When will Bob’s Barber Shop in Streator reopen? How long has it been closed?


Q. I’ve heard Barack Obama doesn’t qualify as a natural-born U.S. citizen — and can’t serve as president — because his one parent who was a citizen (his mother) hadn’t lived in the United States for five years past her 16th birthday when Obama was born. Is this true?


Q. What backs our currency? I know it used to be the gold standard, but what is it since that was done away with?


Q. With the high percentage of fuel-efficient diesel cars in Europe, and the push for hybrids, why hasn’t there been a push for diesel-electric hybrids? Wouldn’t that be the best of both worlds? You would think that by combining the two technologies, you could reach upwards of 60 mpg.


Q. When is the Jewish cemetery in Ottawa open? Are there regular hours?


Q. Are local municipal ordinances found online anywhere?


Q. Are municipal ordinances found online?


Q. Where do the presidential hopefuls stand on U.S. policies toward Cuba, after a half-century of enforcing a trade embargo and otherwise trying to isolate the country?


Q. Where do the presidential hopefuls stand on U.S. policies toward Cuba, after a half-century of enforcing a trade embargo and otherwise trying to isolate the country?


Q. What is the schedule for the Woodland football team in the fall?


Q. Why aren’t the street lights lit on the Broadway Street viaduct in Streator?


Q. How many blocks of brick streets remain in Ottawa?


Q. Can you provide a dollar cost, from start to present, of the war in Iraq?


Q. With all the pressure on Congress to lift sanctions against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, I’m wondering what happens to all the oil that flows through the trans-Alaska pipeline. How much flows through it every day? I believe I heard on a news program that all that oil is being sold to Japan. Is that really true? Didn’t taxpayer dollars pay for the pipeline’s construction? And who is reaping the rewards of all that oil?


Q. Will there be a Harley Owners Group rally in Ottawa this year?


Q. Are events scheduled before the fireworks display in Ottawa Friday night?


Q. I would like to go to Missouri to buy fireworks for my children. I have been told fireworks are illegal in Illinois but I have seen them for sale in local grocery stores, so that can't be right, can it? Besides, isn’t this law waived on July Fourth? I never see anyone arrested for fireworks on July Fourth in my town.


Q. Why are six-volt batteries like the ones in lanterns and spotlights so much bigger than nine-volt batteries? One would think that more volts would mean a bigger battery and not the opposite.


Q. I live on the South Side of Ottawa and keep hearing the tornado sirens. Why is that?


Q. We continue to hear that the increase in gas and oil prices is a global issue. If this is the case, why are we not hearing about tremendous increases elsewhere in the world? If our prices have doubled in the past year or so, should this not be happening worldwide? Europe has been paying twice (or more) what we have for years. They should now be paying $12 to $15 per gallon. Is this happening?


Q. I received a voice message on my telephone asking me to verify if I had received my new “Yellow Book” phone directory. It said, “Press 1 if yes, press 2 if no.” I just ignored the call but since then I heard that when someone agrees to deliver these books, they must put a certain amount of money up front. Then they only get paid back for the books they deliver. Is this true? If so, people should know this and not ignore the call so the carrier will get his or her money back.


Q. Are residents of a specific neighborhood able to establish an association of homeowners?


Q. Who is catering the Ottawa Welcomburger this year?


Q. I have read Canada and Venezuela have large amounts of oil sands or bituminous sands. Could you explain what this is, and whether the extraction of this type of oil could add any significant amount to the world supply?


Q. What is the oath of office the mayor of Ottawa takes?


Q. When will the Broadway Street viaduct in Streator reopen?


Q. Shopping downtown is hard enough. Why does no one enforce the law about riding bicycles and skateboards on the sidewalks? Is this law no longer in effect?


Q. The last update of the Ottawa sewage treatment plant was done in 2005 to keep up with the growing population. How long until we need to do another expansion? Also, with heavy rainfalls this year, how often does the plant bypass and discharge raw sewage or sewage less treated than other times into the river? Does the government allow raw discharge into the river?


Q. What is the sculpture in front of Streator Township High School at the northwest corner of Bloomington and Lincoln streets?


Q. What is the status of the reconstruction of the Poplar Street Hill in Ottawa?


Q. Since U.S. refineries have to import more than 60 percent of the crude oil they refine, why does the country export tremendous amounts of U.S. oil to Asia and the rest of the world? That seems self-defeating!


Q. Did the sale of the property at the northeast edge of Streator for construction of a new Wal-Mart ever go through?


Q. What is the city’s policy on boats, trailers for hauling, etc., that are parked in people’s yards? When they are parked in yards, then those people expect to have access to the adjoining city street at any time to hitch them. Why is that allowed? Also, what if the licenses or stickers are expired on these vehicles — whom should we notify?


Q. Where are the tornado sirens in Ottawa and how often are they tested?


Q. I have read that oil from oil shale fields would be relatively economical at about $80 a barrel. Why don’t we hear much about extracting that oil?


Q. Why is it important if we are in a “recession”? I have read a technical definition of the word, and I have seen and heard many news reports in which economists and government officials opine on whether we are or are not in a recession. What is resting on that determination?


Q. Are new off ramps being built at Marseilles (Exit 97 on Interstate 80)? Is the work related to Heritage Harbor? Who is paying for it? The current ones seem to be OK, or am I missing something?


Q. The high price of fuel has forced airlines to raise prices and cut back on service. Are passenger train operators doing anything to drum up business from travelers who don’t want to pay the higher airfares? Trains are more fuel-efficient than planes, so it seems like it might be worth it for them to add service or even build more tracks if they can offer a lower-cost travel alternative.


Q. Does anyone have a solution to keep excess maple and elm seeds from sprouting up in gardens and flower beds?


Q. How many hours a week does the code enforcement officer work in Streator and how much is he paid?


Q. Why is there a sign requesting a variance or something with the zoning board at 502 E. Michigan St. in Ottawa?


Q. There has been talk of the airlines upgrading their tracking systems to global positioning satellites, in part to speed up passengers’ travel times. My question is this: How will GPS make flight delays a thing of the past? Sure, you might be able to get more planes in the air, but won’t crowded airport runways still be a problem?


Q. Who will operate the popcorn wagon at Washington Square in Ottawa this year?


Q. I remember reading the United States never issued “mill” currency, or tenths of a cent. But I remember seeing a 10-mill piece when I was 12 years old. Who issued these coins?


Q. Where can I find out what is scheduled in the city of Ottawa summer recreation program?


Q. Why are China and India suddenly huge players in the oil market? Did the Chinese all go out and buy cars in one month and make oil jump through the roof?


Q. Why doesn’t the U.S. just do a massive air drop of storm relief supplies directly to the remote areas of Myanmar to reach the people most in need? Are we really concerned about how the military regime of Myanmar might react?


Q. Is it illegal to pick up a hitchhiker or solicit rides as a hitchhiker?


Q. What can the city of Ottawa do about stopping loud motorcycles from riding through town? Whose responsibility is it to stop loud motorcycles? Can tickets be issued for motorcycles being too loud? What exactly determines a motorcycle is too loud?


Q. Why doesn’t the city of Ottawa pursue annexing homes at the top of Caton Road and all around Bona Terra Drive? Why would the city annex property further north before annexing that property? What would it take to forcibly annex that property into the city limits? What is stopping city leaders from doing that?


Q. We were supposed to be the first group issued our tax rebate check. We had our tax return direct deposited. We still haven’t received our tax rebate check. What happens if we don’t get it? Whom do we contact?


Q. An e-mail request for data from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows more people are employed now than ever in our nation’s history. So why have so many recent news stories about the economy talked about “strains in the labor market” and described employment conditions as “weak”?


Q. Who are the new owners the Honda dealership in Ottawa?


Q. Why are the letters “WAR” on a speed limit sign at La Salle Street and Jefferson streets in Ottawa?


Q. Why is there a sign on a parcel on the north side of East Main Street stating an application for a variance or zoning change has been filed with the city of Ottawa?


Q. What are the lyrics to the song “Go Cubs Go,” which is sung after each Wrigley Field Cubs victory?


Q. Millions of barrels of oil are pumped from the Earth each day, but does anyone know the “replenishment” rate? Is the prospect of depleting all the Earth’s oil a legitimate concern, or is new oil being created at a rate which will sustain us “forever”? (This question and answer were provided by The Associated Press.)


Q. With all the ink that is being given to the subject of gasoline, why is the adjective “unleaded” still being used to describe it? I can’t remember when I last bought “leaded” gasoline. Is it still available in the United States?


Q. Who are the Ottawa Elementary School Board members?


Q. Who are John and Joe from John and Joe Florist of Streator?


Q. Why were city employees cutting the grass on the former Jordan Block? Isn’t that private property? Is there an agreement between the owners of Heritage Harbor for the city to maintain the property? Is it a written agreement or an informal verbal agreement?


Q. At the north end of La Salle Street, beginning at Caton Road, is a sloping hillside yard. In that yard is a hayrack and structure that are holding a quantity of identically shaped items. What are they?


Q. I have heard oil companies negotiate contracts to buy oil for a 30-year period at a certain price. Supposedly, the price Exxon is paying now on one particular contract is $18 per barrel — as it has been for the last 20 years and will be for the next 10 years. Whether or not that is exactly true, I’ve got to wonder why we see daily price changes at our local gas stations.


Q. What is being built along U.S. 6 almost near J.C. Whitney between Utica and La Salle?


Q. Why does the city of Ottawa send a fire truck whenever it sends an ambulance?


Q. What is the purpose of the excavation along the north side of Route 71 to the east of Deer Park Road? There are horses there.


Q. The buying of crude oil is based on the U.S. dollar. Would there be any advantages or disadvantages to the U.S. consumer if the buying and selling of oil were based on a different currency (for instance the euro)? And what would the advantage or disadvantage be for other countries if that was the case?


Q. Have Social Security benefits always been subject to federal taxes?


Q. Where do the recyclables go that are brought to the landfill in La Salle County?


Q. When will construction of the the new Bill Walsh Toyota dealership along North Route 23 in Ottawa be completed?


Q. When will construction of the new Bill Walsh Toyota dealership along North Route 23 in Ottawa be completed?


Q. How much money is “borrowed” from the Social Security fund by other government entities? What are these entities? How much interest do they pay and under which administration did this practice start?


Q. How much money is “borrowed” from the Social Security fund by other government entities? What are these entities? How much interest do they pay and under which administration did this practice start?


Q. Will there be a popcorn wagon set up in Washington Square this summer? I also hear someone is planning to operate a hot dog wagon in the area.


Q. Why isn’t the city of Streator repairing the railroad crossing adjacent to Bodznick Field in Streator? It sure is bumpy.


Q. When will construction begin on the Wal-Mart in Streator?


Q. When will construction begin on the Wal-Mart in Streator?


Q. Why does Mediacom show old Iowa sporting events and shows on Channel 22 and no longer airs Cubs or White Sox games on Channel 22 when the games are on Comcast SportsNet Plus?


Q. On Canal Road at the west edge of GE Plastics there is a little stone house and a stone column on each side of a driveway. What was this property originally? What was the stone house used for? It reminds me of an admission booth to a park.


Q. Recently, the Federal Reserve stepped into the financial markets and “bailed out” the investment firm Bear Stearns, which was going down the drain. At this time, what is the potential taxpayer financial exposure? In other words, how much could this action cost us?


Q. Why is it that with gas prices so high, the national reserves have not been released to help bring down gas prices?


Q. Whatever happened to Dan Rostenkowski, the powerful politician from Illinois who was involved in a corruption case some years ago?


Q. What is in the old Red Door Restaurant in Peru?


Q. Why is there a bare spot in the middle of the Ottawa Township High School football field?


Q. Why is there a bare spot in the middle of the Ottawa Township High School football field?


Q. What is above the new Edward Jones building on the corner of Main and Columbus streets in Ottawa? Also, what is on top of the building?


Q. I noticed a lot of dirt being moved around in an open field just east of Route 71 along the north side of the Morris Blacktop. What is going on there?


Q. I’ve heard so much about the superdelegates this year. I do not recall hearing about them in the past. Are they a recent creation? How many years have they been used?


Q. There used to be a “Welcome to Ottawa” sign on the south side of Ottawa along Route 23. Will it Be replaced soon?


Q: I think it was at least a year or two ago that the Streator Fire Department began operating out of its new building on the east side of the 100 block north of Wasson Street. The city of Streator still owns the former location of the fire department on Main Street. What is the Main Street location now used for, and does the city have any plans for selling the property?


Q: How tall are the wind towers being built southeast of Ottawa?


Q. I hear what sounds like wild birds coming from the area around the downtown Ottawa courthouse. What kinds of birds are they?


Q. I see the members of the Design Review Committee and Historic Preservation Commission are being given authority on future bed and breakfasts in Ottawa. Who are members of the committee? Also who are members of the commission and how often do they meet and how does one get on that commission?


Q. I’ve recently noticed something strange about our military fatigues in newscasts and other television shows. I am used to seeing the American flag with the blue field of stars in the upper left, but on the sleeves of the uniforms it’s in the upper right. Is there an explanation for this?


Q. What is going into the building at the northeast corner of First Street and North Bloomington Street in Streator? It used to be a computer store.


Q. How does a person go about becoming a delegate for a presidential candidate?


Q. Is there a city ordinance saying that during remodeling the structure added to a home or to the property must at least have siding and be presentable after a certain time? Why not have that be part of the building permit? For example: outside of remodel must be presentable within three months from when the permit is issued. That means siding, paint, brick or whatever. That means piles of dirt, building materials, etc., must be cleaned up within three months — no exceptions.


Q. I can see a lot of work is going on the property for Heritage Harbor at the east edge of Ottawa. But now I notice work on property west of there behind a row of houses along Canal Road. What is going on?


Q. What causes diesel fuel to cost so much more than gasoline? It used to be cheaper and I have always heard it costs less to refine than gas. I also have heard that taxes in Illinois are higher. Diesel now is up to $1 per gallon more expensive than regular gas. I think there is some gouging going on.


Q. Who are the contacts to discuss possible deer hunting in Catlin Park? I feel this is a great opportunity for hunters and would like to know how to not only make this happen, but also how to help make it happen.


Q. There is a sign that says “Now Hiring” in the window of a former restaurant in the 200 block of West Madison Street in Ottawa. What is going into that space?


Q. How many churches are there in Ottawa?


Q. I’ve assumed that all those killed in the collapse of the twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001, were adults. Were any children killed in the buildings during the attacks or collapse?


Q. What is that large pad — it looks like some preliminary construction — along Dayton Road, just east of the entrance into the Kohl’s project?


Q. What is going into the old Nabisco plant in Marseilles?


Q. How are pollsters able to accurately produce public opinion polls by surveying people over the phone? My understanding is that they use home phone numbers, even though, in today’s society, many younger people only have cell phones. Does this method skew data in favor of people who still have landline service or is there some statistical technique that allows them to correct data for this issue?


Q. When will demolition of the old Ottawa Inn/Budget Inn on Ottawa’s North Side get into full force?


Q. What time do the bars close in Ottawa and Streator when daylight-saving time goes into effect?


Q. Will the small bridge over the race in Marseilles be finished before the Freedom Run?


Q. What are the rules regarding political signage in the city of Ottawa?


Q. Why were the lights on at the Ottawa Township High School football field early on Tuesday morning and what are all those little flags that are placed on the football field?


Q. Is there a Web site or book that will be able to predict what the weather in August will look like?


Q. How does Social Security calculate how much I get every month?


Q. I have heard a number of conflicting stories regarding Barack Obama’s religious and political ties, especially relative to Muslim principles. Is Obama a Muslim? If elected, will he take the oath of office on a Bible or on the Quran? Is it true he cannot and does not pledge his allegiance to the American flag?


Q. Will there be a hazardous waste pickup for old oil, paint and gasoline this year in Ottawa?


Q. I don’t normally file a tax return. I only receive Social Security benefits. Do I get the federal stimulus payment?


Q. When does daylight-saving time resume?


Q. The question I’m not seeing answered anywhere about the stimulus is whether rebate amounts will count as taxable income for 2008.


Q. When will enhanced 911 be ready in La Salle County?


Q. Whatever happened to Aaron Shea, an Ottawa Township High School graduate who went on to play professional football?


Q. I saw last week that someone is working on the free-standing building in Kroger Plaza in Streator. I believe it is the old Sam Goody store. Is someone remodeling it to open a new business?


Q. What girls from Woodland High School are playing on the Flanagan-Woodland Lady Falcons basketball team headed to the state semifinals this weekend?


Q. Why doesn’t the city of Ottawa clear the parking areas on Court Street of all ice? It is dangerous to people getting in and out of their cars.


Q. Will those on Social Security receive checks from the proposed stimulus package?


Q. How can Mediacom raise its rates whenever it wants and not have to get legislative approval or Illinois Commerce Commission approval or approval from some sort of regulatory agency?


Q. Is there anything a homeowner can do about a neighbor who burns green wood in their fireplace? The smoke is as bad as when someone is burning leaves, only they smell better.


Q. Now that it is illegal to smoke in public places, is it legal for police officers to smoke in their squad cars?


Q. I drove past La Salle Lake on Sunday, Feb. 10, and the boat parking lot was full of vehicles. What was going on?


Q. How much money does each United Way agency receive from the United Way of Eastern La Salle County?


Q. Why is a La Salle County structure located northwest of Streator called the Red, White, and Blue Bridge?


Q. What was in the Value City Department Store building before Value City.


Q. What ever happened to Steve Fossett who disappeared flying his plane in or near Nevada?


Q. Are there any apartments around town where the rent goes according to your income for low-income people?


Q. I live on a side street on the West Side of Ottawa with no driveway, so I park at the curb. Friday morning’s snowfall was quite a challenge. When the snowplow went down the street there were no cars parked along the street. My question is why did they plow three feet away from the curb on the west side of the street and to the curb on the east side of the street? I had to hire someone to clear the street so I could park.


Q. We recently found some old newspapers. What is the best way to preserve such newspapers?


Q. How do I become an election judge?


Q. When La Salle County voters decided by referendum to elect the County Board chairman, did they unknowingly give the county home rule status, which would grant the county new powers and taxing abilities?


Q. It used to be that after polling places closed, election judges from throughout the county would personally travel to the La Salle County Clerk’s office in Ottawa, where final vote totals would be announced. But within recent years, several (I think five) locations have been established in the county, and after polling places close, election judges go to whichever location they're assigned to, then transmit vote outcomes of their precincts to Ottawa. Could you tell us more about how the information is transmitted; how the County Clerk’s Office keeps the system secure?


Q: I keep getting this e-mail that claims Barack Obama took the oath of office on the Koran. I know he did not do this, but I also think there was someone who did. Can you tell me who it was?


Q. Was there ever a Gladfelter Furniture Store in Ottawa? If so, when was it in business?


Q. What is being built along the south side of the road on West Norris Drive at the west edge of Ottawa?


Q. What are they putting into cigarettes to make them go out when I leave it in my ashtray when I am heating up my cup of coffee?


Q. I noticed the flag at Illinois Valley Community College was at half-staff a couple of days — Jan. 16 and 17. What is the reason for the flag flying at half-staff?


Q. What are the plans for the old Coast-to-Coast Hardware store at the northwest corner of Vermillion and Main streets in Streator? I noticed a Christmas tree lit up on the second floor of that building. Is there someone living there?


Q. Doesn’t Ottawa have any parking limitations during snowstorms?


Q. Why doesn’t the Ottawa Riverfest have a country music night, and how do I go about making suggestions for entertainment for Riverfest?


Q. Is there anywhere to go and walk inside in the evenings like after 6 p.m. or so in Streator? Any of the schools or the armory or somewhere where it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg?


Q. I live on the South Side of Ottawa. I called to order a pizza from Domino’s and they told me they don’t deliver to the South Side of Ottawa. Why is that?


Q. With the recent smoking ban in Illinois, where do you report businesses who are allowing smoking? I have been to several places in this area where they are smoking.


Q. Is there a school at 900 Hitt Street in Ottawa? I see buses picking up students there. I was not aware of it being a school.


Q. What did the appraisal of the Central School in Ottawa turn out to be?


Q. When did the kids’ Birthday Club and the listings of senior citizen birthdays begin being published in The Times?


Q. I recently acquired a large sign that says Dwyer Furniture of Ottawa on it. What can you tell me about such a business?


Q. What is proposed to be built at the south edge of Ottawa, directly behind the South Towne Mall?


Q. On Feb. 17, 2009, when all analog TV broadcasting comes to an end, will the cable companies convert digital broadcast signals they receive into analog — so that they will be able to transmit both analog and digital signals through the cable wire — or, will subscribers to basic or expanded basic cable TV need a converter box even if we never buy pay-per-view or premium channels? Will the cable company make converter boxes available, and will there be a deposit fee and/or monthly rental fee for the box?


Q. What is with all of the pipe that is stacked up in the field in the area of Hoxsey Road and U.S. 52 near Serena? It is coming off the train and being stacked in huge piles here.


Q. Are there any bus trips to the Chicago Auto Show?


Q. Who owns the new gas station-convenience store in Grand Ridge?


Q. Is it true a buggy factory operated in Ottawa?


Q. What were some of the most important events in the Ottawa area during 1908?


Q. When we had coal furnaces, back in the 1940s and 1950s, the debris left after the coal was burned was called “clinkers.” We took the clinkers outside, but I want to know where the clinkers went. Were they collected by the city or did the refuse hauler pick them up, or did the homeowner dispose of them?


Q. When are the Streator City Council meetings broadcast on cable television?


Q. When are the La Salle County Board night meetings scheduled?


Q. Why has there been such a big increase of truck traffic on West McKinley Road? A large number of Swift semitrailers have been going down the road and as rough as McKinley is, they are going to make the road worse than it already is.


Q. Why has there been such a big increase of truck traffic on West McKinley Road?


Q. What are the coldest and warmest temperatures on an average at the North Pole?


Q. There sure seems to be a lot of construction work going on just north of Ottawa. Is all of that construction for the new Kohl’s building, or is more going on out there?


Q. What did the city of Ottawa do with the Civil Defense Fire Rescue equipment that people donated to for years?


Q. What is the deadline to register to vote and dates to vote absentee for the Feb. 5 primary election?


Q. How much humidity should be maintained in a home during winter? A. Jerry Faw, owner of Energy Specialists of Toluca, said there is no specific level. Numerous factors come into play, including the condition of the windows and the style of heating unit. Faw said a furnace humidifier should be set between 30 percent and 50 percent. However, if any moisture appears on the windows, then the setting should be lowered. The specific level is dependent on what a particular resident prefers. Some people keep their thermostat at 65 degrees, others at 68 degrees and still others at 72 degrees or higher. The level of humidity varies with each individual. But the main way to recognize if the humidity is too high is if moisture appears on the windows.


Q. How much humidity should be maintained in a home during the winter months?


Q. Rent-A-Center has announced plans to close 280 stores. Will the stores in Ottawa or Streator be closing?


Q. Do any grocery stores or other stores give a discount to active military personnel?


Q. On Jan. 1, the new smoking law bans smoking in public bars, restaurants, sporting events and clubs. Are the local police going to enforce it and how?


Q. What is the status of construction of the proposed new Streator National Bank drive-through facility at Main and Monroe streets?


Q. Who is hired to put the Christmas lights up around Ottawa, and how do you get the contract to do that?


Q. Who purchased the old KFC Restaurant building in Streator on the west side of North Bloomington Street in Streator?


Q. When will the stage be removed from Jackson Street by Washington Square? It was set up for the lighting ceremony at the park, but it is still there.


Q. Who is Monte’s Riverside Inn restaurant named after?


Q. What is the legal age in which a child can be left home alone?


Q. What is going into the old Brown Cow at Main and Columbus streets in Ottawa?


Q. What is going into the old Brown Cow at Main and Columbus streets in Ottawa?


Q. What is going on with the demolition plans for the old Ottawa Inn or Ramada Inn at the northeast corner of Route 23 and Etna Road?


Q. What is the status of the house in the 500 block of East Main Street in Ottawa that caught fire almost a year ago? It is not only a hazard, but also an eyesore. The mayor was asked about it a few weeks ago on his radio segment and didn’t have any answer. The second part of the question would be, when will it be knocked down?


Q. Will the city of Ottawa crews pick up leaves on Ottawa’s South Side again before the end of December?


Q. What is the difference between a typhoon and a hurricane?


Q. When there is a holiday like there was this week in the middle of the week, like Thanksgiving, when does garbage get picked up in Streator if it is normally picked up Thursday or Friday?


Q. What are the hours for the Santa Claus house in Ottawa and Streator?


Q. Every year Woodland CUSD 5 in Streator hosts a senior citizens dinner. Who funds the dinner? The Woodland PTO, the Woodland Booster Club and the Woodand Education Foundation all donate to the school. I wouldn’t think the administration or board of education would use taxpayers’ money to give a free meal when they are in need of every dollar they can receive.


Q. What highlights of Ottawa will be included on the big blue wayfinding signs that will be going up in Ottawa as announced at the Ottawa mayor’s “State of the City” address?


Q. What is going on along Champlain Street, just north of Norris Drive in Ottawa?


Q. Will property assessments and subsequent real estate taxes for 2007 be adjusted because of the devaluation of homes during 2007?


Q. What were some of the other department stores in Ottawa beside Carson Pirie Scott?


Q. If a countywide chairman of the La Salle County Board is going to be elected next year, will it be done as a nonpartisan race (like Streator City Council elections) or will voters in each party choose nominees in next year’s primary, followed later by a general election for County Board chairman, and will that election be on Nov. 4, 2008, with the general election for president?


Q. Why doesn’t Mediacom provide The Big Ten Network in Ottawa and Streator? How can we watch the University of Illinois games on television or do we need to buy a dish?


Q. Why are there huge piles of dirt at the James Street Recreation Area in Streator? I thought the area was supposed to be turned into baseball fields of some sort.


Q. When can I burn leaves in Streator?


Q. Is the leaf vacuuming program over in Ottawa? It doesn’t even seem like all of the leaves are down yet.


Q. I see the Flanagan-Woodland co-op football team is in the quarterfinals of the state football tournament this weekend. Who are the players on the team that attend Woodland?


Q. How much does the city of Ottawa spend on bottled drinking water?


Q. How do I register as an independent voter?


Q. I bought an ashtray at a flea market recently that says on it “Leader Furniture and Rug Company of Ottawa.” Where was it located and when was it in business?


Q. I was wondering who is responsible for fixing streetlights in Ottawa? I live in Turnberry Subdivision and there are at least three streetlights that do not work. They have been out for quite some time.


Q. What is the story behind the wooden statues I saw recently at Starved Rock State Park?


Q. Where does the saying “root, hog, or die” come from in relation to the Ottawa Township High School football team?


Q. Where is the covered bridge in Princeton, and how do you get to it? Is there more than one?


Q. What are the hours for trick-or-treating in area communities?


Q. Is it too late to plant tulip bulbs so they can come up next spring?


Q. Where does Ottawa tap water come from?


Q. I was wondering: if the U.S. Postal Service requires residents to have the addresses posted on their homes, why doesn’t the post office in Ottawa have its address posted on its building on Etna Road?


Q. I used to farm the land where the Heritage Manor expansion in Streator is being constructed, and remember it being in a flood plain. Why is the Environmental Protection Agency allowing them to build there?


Q. When I call Streator City Hall at 815-672-2517, the recording states that if I know the extension, I can dial it directly. What are the extensions?


Q. The Broadway Street viaduct really looks like it has taken shape. Is it going to open earlier than originally anticipated?


Q. What time of the day is The Times printed?


Q. I had to get two new tires for my truck that I wanted on the front. The service person told me that it is a law that when purchasing just two new tires that they must go on the back, but they can put my rear tires up front for me. Why is this?


Q. When is the debris from the late summer’s flooding going to be cleaned up in the Fox River at the aqueduct?


Q. How many unsolved murder cases are there in Ottawa over the last 50 years?


Q. How many seats are there in the Streator Township and Ottawa Township High School auditoriums?


Q. When was the Streator post office built?


Q. What is going on at the Hi-Way restaurant on West Norris Drive in Ottawa?


Q. Why doesn’t the Ottawa Police Department direct traffic coming out of the parking lot of the high school after the football games?


Q. Will Marquette High School ever play Ottawa High in boys and girls basketball? It is a shame they don’t play any more. Why not?


Q. Why does the Naplate Fire Department only send a fire truck to Marquette’s homecoming parade, but never to that of Ottawa Township High School?


Q. Exactly what is a goddaughter?


Q. It appears construction on Streator Township High School is completed. When is the school going to have the contractor clean the concrete residue from the bricks in the courtyard? I would have thought it would have been on a punchlist to correct before payment.


Q. What are the pink marks in the middle of Jefferson Street between Walnut and Fulton Streets in Ottawa?


Q. What is going in the former Second Cinema video store, 501 E. Main St., which was the former Goodyear store in Streator?


Q. Is there an actual park at the "Phillips Park" sign on Lainey Avenue in Ottawa?


Q. Why was the “V” light flashing on the Bloomington Street side of Streator Township High School after Friday night’s football game?


Q. Is the Vermilion River in La Salle County the only river in America that flows to the north?


Q. My goddaughter is getting married and wants to go out of the country for their honeymoon. What name does she use for her passport? Does she use her maiden name or her married name?


Q. What is going into the former Dale’s Dodge and Streator Chrysler dealership at 407 N. Bloomington in Streator?


Q. What is the population of La Salle County?


Q. How do I get tickets for the Chicago Cubs if they make the playoffs?


Q. Why isn’t alcohol sold anywhere south of the Illinois River in Ottawa? What would it take to allow a business on the South Side of the river to sell alcohol?


Q. When does daylight-saving time end this year?


Q. Why doesn’t Ottawa have a park district? Look at nearby towns, Joliet, Channahon, Oswego, etc.


Q. Why doesn’t Ottawa have a park district?


Q. Why is the Starbucks coffee shop in Ottawa taking so long to complete? Is there a problem?


Q. In what year was the current railroad bridge that spans the Illinois River in Ottawa constructed? Also, is this bridge operated and owned by a single railroad line?


Q. Is there a leash law in Ottawa regarding dogs? A neighbor’s dog does its “business” in my yard on a fairly routine basis. I’m a rather nonconfrontational person and would like to know if there is a law enforcement option. If there is a leash law, what does it stipulate and how is it enforced? Also, are there any products that are designed to prevent this behavior or even dissuade dogs from being in my yard at all?


Q. Is there a leash law in Ottawa regarding dogs?


Q.Is it true the Do Not Call list is expiring? If so, can we sign up for it again?


Q. Last month Ottawa had three bands perform in Washington Square. How much did each band cost?


Q. How many people work for the Ottawa Street Department, and what do they do on an average day?


Q. How many ash trees are located in Ottawa’s Washington Square?


Q. When will the playground equipment at Lincoln School in Ottawa be open to the public and available to use?


Q. I recently inherited a hoya plant that is at least 30 years old and has never been repotted. How long do these plants live and can it be repotted without killing it?


Q. What happens to all the stuff that floated down the river in the flood this year?


Q. What happened to the three trees in front of the Ottawa Township office at 325 W. Lafayette Street?


Q. When will the colors peak at Starved Rock State Park?


Q. Is there a Web site for the daily predicted-current pollen count for this area? As a sufferer from the beginning of August until first hard frost, this information would come in handy as to whether I need to drug myself that day.


Q. What is that pipe along Caton Road near Ottawa? It looks like a water pipe, but then it is capped.


Q. I have been to Riverview Cemetery in Streator and know that there is a program for honored or well-known citizens. Graves are numbered and each year those people are discussed during a tour of the cemetery. Whom would I have to contact to get a name on the list for the tour?


Q. What are those flat, black squares that I am seeing in the middle of the lanes of traffic on Route 23 in Ottawa?


Q. How many people visit Starved Rock State Park every year?


Q. Why do some La Salle County Jail inmates wear orange-striped uniforms while others wear green-striped ones? Is this to differentiate between severity of charges or something else?


Q. What is the status of demolition of the former motel near Illinois 23 and Interstate 80?


Q. What is the large building at Nebraska and Post streets in Ottawa? It looks like an old school. Is it apartments now?


Q. Where was the first La Salle County Courthouse?


Q. How can I get rid of the huge-looking bees that burrow into the ground?


Q. Was Seminary Street on Ottawa's West Side? When was the street name changed and why?


Q. I saw a passenger car with the words “Illinois State Police” on the rear license plate holder. There were no other words, such as “We support.” The block letters were printed yellow, similar to the yellow seen on Illinois State Police vehicles. Are license plates holders with such wording authorized, legal or misleading?


Q. Was the Ottawa City Hall phone answering system changed?


Q. What is the proper and most effective way of treating your trees to remove bag worms already on them, and to prevent future worms from coming?


Q. Where can a person report gasoline price gouging in Illinois?


Q. What was the Big 12 sports conference and who was in it?


Q. What recourse do we have to fight unwarranted parking tickets in Ottawa?


Q. Why is the corn so high, and is there a maximum height that corn can grow? Does it mean the taller the corn, the greater the yield? Or is there no relationship? Does the type of hybrid affect the height of the corn?


Q. Why are the bathroom doors almost always locked on the brand new stone restroom at the aqueduct on the canal near Fox River Park in Ottawa? They have been locked every weekend and almost every weekday for weeks now and since this facility cost the taxpayers quite a bit of money, it would be nice to be able to use them.


Q. When will the city of Ottawa replace the two dirt patches in the parking lot north of the First Presbyterian Church along Columbus Street? Weeds have sprouted up on the patches and they look horrible.


Q. Does PetSmart have a store that the public can go to and buy things like J.C. Whitney does?


Q. How many parking passes were sold at Ottawa Township High School? Also, how much of this was spent on the student parking lot?


Q. Would there be any business or group in the Ottawa area that would appreciate like-new issues of assorted magazines?


Q. I was just wondering why we can’t have the Ottawa flea market in Washington Square anymore? This past weekend there were several tents and vendors in the park and I can’t figure out why these tents and vendors are any different than our flea markets of the past. The flea market was an enjoyable event for everyone. It was so easy to get to and everyone really enjoyed it. I wish the city would rethink the location for the flea market.


Q. Is Easter Seals of La Salle County considered a nonprofit organization even if it charges for preschool and day-care services? What are the donations it receives used for? What types of special education programs does it offer? Does it accept children with all needs?


Q: Can you please explain why Illinois is still having problems paying for roads and education when the Illinois lottery was supposed to take care of this?


Q. My father wants to bring a horse-drawn carriage to town for my wedding in Streator. Does he have to get a permit from the city to drive it on the streets of town?


Q. Every day I see four people walking around downtown Ottawa wearing strange costumes. What is the purpose of this, who’s paying for it, and how much does it cost?


Q. What is the status of a Wal-Mart being built in Streator?


Q. What is with the new stop signs on Chestnut Street at Rigden Park? Why were they installed? Are they permanent?


Q. Milton Pope Grade School is obviously named after Milton Pope. Nobody I talk to seems to know who he was. Who was Milton Pope?


Q. Does Illinois law make any provision for the recall or impeachment of a governor?


Q. What are those wooden forms on the ground outside the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Ottawa?


Q. What are those wooden forms on the ground outside the St. Francis of Assisi Church in Ottawa?


Q. Is former U.S. Senator Charles Percy of Illinois still alive?


Q. Is there a toll-free number to call to get rid of all the “trash” mail I get?


Q. For whom is Ottawa’s Norris Drive named after?


Q. Will the rock and gravel at Ottawa's South Side water tower be removed from the property, and the surrounding fence repaired?


Q. I would like to give my daughter a train ride over the Illinois River. How do I go about getting on that train?


Q. What is the rule about mobile home trailers being put in place in Ottawa’s downtown area?


Q. Who won the Auto Lotto drawing that was a fundraiser for the Streator Fourth of July fireworks celebration?


Q. How much money did Pet Project raise at its last major fundraising event?


Q. In the American Legion bulletin, Hardee’s advertises a senior discount for 10 percent and 20 percent on Tuesdays. Every time we ask for the senior discount, we are told it doesn’t apply to what we have ordered. What is discounted and what is not? Please set us straight.


Q. What is the public assistance program offered by Bruce Township all about?


Q. Last week I saw a story on television about a peregrine falcon found on the street in Chicago. At the end of the story, it said the falcon was in rehab at Save Our American Raptors (SOAR) located near Starved Rock. Where is SOAR located, and can people visit to see these beautiful birds?


Q. What is the law regarding possession of drug paraphernalia?


Q. What is the law regarding possession of drug paraphernalia?


Isn’t there a law or ordinance against riding bicycles on the sidewalk in downtown Ottawa?


Q. The schedule doesn’t show that the carnival in Streator has any daytime hours on the Fourth of July. Will it open earlier than 5 p.m. since it is a holiday?


Q. What is being built behind the Hickory House restaurant along Norris Drive in Ottawa?


Q. I hear the city of Ottawa has approved repairing and replacing several sections of curbing in Ottawa this summer. Where are those sections?Q. I hear the city of Ottawa has approved repairing and replacing several sections of curbing in Ottawa this summer. Where are those sections?


Q. What are the plans for expansion of the Streator YMCA in conjunction with an agreement with St. Mary’s Hospital?


Q. Who can recall a ship in Ottawa, docked where Central School is located, in the mid-to-late 1940s?


Q. What is going on at Murray Cabinetry and Tops along the south side of Oakley Avenue in Streator?


Q. What happened to Ryan Kendall, who used to host a morning program on WSPL radio in Streator?


Q. What happened to Ryan Kendall, who used to host a morning program on WSPL radio in Streator?


Q. Why are four yellow “OSD” barricades placed on the sidewalk at 718 and 720 La Salle St. (east side) in downtown Ottawa? They have been there quite a while.


Q. What is being built behind the Thornton’s gas station at the north end of Ottawa?


Q. What were the top teams to collect the most money in the La Salle County Relay For life last weekend?


Q. What are the rules regarding using shelters in the parks in Streator? Can they be reserved? Is there a fee? Do you have to have a permit?


Q. When is the Allen Park road going to be repaired?


Q. I live in Ottawa and do not see any of those swarms of cicadas that everyone was expecting or that we hear about in Chicago area. How come?


Q. Why do other cities have cleanup week for everything and Ottawa only has it for metal and some appliances?


Q. I noticed an Ottawa police car with amber lights flashing sequentially atop the car. These lights were underneath the red, white and blue light bar on the roof. I could not see if the lights showed from the front. What should the lights mean to oncoming or following motorists?


Q. Summer will start at 1:06 p.m. Thursday, June 21. What is the significance of that time?


Q. What does it cost a boat owner to dock an excursion boat at Veterans Memorial Bridge in Ottawa?


Q. Is there anything in the Illinois Constitution talking about recall or impeachment of a constitutional officer?


Q. Is there going to be an excursion boat along the Illinois River in downtown Ottawa this summer?


Q. Can you see the space station from our area?


Q. Have the fireworks laws in Illinois changed since last year?


Q. What is that construction work going on just northeast of the Wal-Mart in Ottawa?


Q. What is the width of Illinois?


Q. What is the status of the study for a new additional bridge over the Illinois River in Ottawa?


Q. It looks as if trees recently were cut down in Streator City Park. Is the city planning on planting more trees? What happens to the wood from the trees that were cut down?


Q. It looks as if trees recently were cut down in Streator City Park. Is the city planning on planting more trees? What happens to the wood from the trees that were cut down?


Q. What is the business at the corner of Boys and Bloomington (the brick building) in Streator?


Q. What is the business at the corner of Boys and Bloomington (the brick building) in Streator?


Q. When will ground be broken for the next phase of the senior housing project along the south side of Oakley Avenue in Streator?


Q. Why are gasoline prices highest in Illinois?


Q. When will the popcorn wagon return to Washington Square in Ottawa?


Q. Why are there no park benches or picnic tables along the walking path that follows the Fox River behind the Ottawa YMCA?


Q. What can you tell us about the 17-year cicadas?


Q. When are the docks going to be placed into the Fox River in Ottawa?


Q. What was the large group of people doing along the river at the east end of Main Street on Saturday?


Q. Whatever happened with former Gov. George Ryan? Did he ever go to jail or is that just not likely to happen at all, ever?


Q. Who were the Bovine Bingo winners in Streator over the Heritage Days weekend? Also, how long did it take for the cow to do its duty?


Q. Why were trees planted on the cleared property of the Jordan block?


Q. What has happened to the four large American flags on each corner of the Interstate 80 exit at Princeton?


Q. Whatever happened to Jumpin’ Jungle, the indoor playground on the northeast side of Ottawa?


Q. Why is a semi-trailer with the words “K’s Merchandise” on the side parked at Ottawa’s Fox Residential Center?


Q. When can I expect the bunch of old tractors to drive through Marseilles this year?


Q. What is being done on the exterior of the building at the southeast corner of La Salle and Jackson Streets in Ottawa?


Q. What are those barricades outside the Ottawa Fire Department on each side of the bell?


Q. What happened to the Streatorland Hobby Show this year?


Q: What are the specific laws regarding children in car/booster seats, as well as older kids in the front seat? Does it go by age or size and/or weight?


Q. I have lived in Ottawa about 18 months and wondered if there was a place where senior citizens could get a lunch at a discounted price like where I lived before. I moved here from Southern Illinois where there was a restaurant in almost every small town that served senior meals Monday through Friday. You did have to sign up but the meals were very enjoyable and very affordable.


Q. What business is in the train station in Ottawa?


Q. Who designed the stonework at Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery along Champlain Street in Ottawa?


Q. What is going on in the 200 block of West Jackson Street in Ottawa?


Q. Does the city of Ottawa have an animal control officer responsible for picking up stray dogs?


Is there a listing of Ottawa groups (card, crafting, books, clubs), kids play groups or family activities?


Q. Is there a way to find what the average teacher’s salary is in this area?


Q. Why are displays of Ottawa history featured at the Ottawa Scouting Museum?


Q. Will I always be able to buy a "Forever" stamp or for just a limited time?


Q. Is it true that Ottawa Police Department employees, Fire Department employees or any city employees receive an allowance to help pay for their telephones at home? How much is that allowance per employee and how much does that cost the city per year?


Q. How come we don’t see cabooses on trains anymore?


Q. Why haven’t the La Salle County property tax bills been mailed yet?


Q. How many cell phones does the city of Ottawa have? What is the monthly bill for cell phone use by city employees? What are the cell phone telephone numbers for the city commissioners?


Q. How can a person find a listing of soldiers killed in Iraq?


Q. In an obituary in The Times, I saw a request for memorials to be made to the Ottawa Fire Department first aid unit. How is that money used?


Q. How many people have attended the first three Magnificent Mansions exhibits at the Ottawa Scouting Museum?


Q. Who is honored by the pedestal with an eagle statue on top in front of the South Ottawa Township Town Hall?


Q. Why was a comment I submitted to mywebtimes.com not approved immediately?


Q. Who was the architect for the Central Life Building in Ottawa?


Q. What is the oldest building in downtown Ottawa?


Q. Why are some area candidates listed as INDEPENDENT?


Q. Who was the first mayor of Ottawa and which mayor served the most years?


Q: Should we avoid eating rhubarb leaves?


Q. Are poisonous snakes found in Illinois? Do any live in La Salle County?


Q. How did Library Park in Ottawa get its name, since it’s not near Reddick Library?


Q. How did Library Park in Ottawa get its name, since it’s not near Reddick Library?


Q. When will the city of Ottawa announce dropoff sites for yard waste this spring?


Q. When was Illinois Route 23 split into La Salle and Columbus streets in Ottawa?


Q. Who owns the car in Ottawa with a license plate that says "JUDGE" on it?


Q. Can you tell me what kind of weed is taking over my yard? The blades are much taller and a darker green than my grass. They seem to have something in the blades that makes my hands sticky when I pull them. And they have a bulb on the end that looks like an onion. They are the first thing to grow in my yard in spring and are very hard to get rid of. My neighbors don’t seem to have them. Any suggestions for identifying and getting rid of these pesky weeds? Thank you for your help.


Q. With spring here, summer can’t be far away! Soon everyone will be getting their pools in shape and ready for the big swim. Streator seems to have an unusual number of “blow-up ring ”-type pools. These are the small, portable type that set up in minutes and have their own pump and filter so they can stay up all summer. People with in-ground pools or above-ground, deck pools are usually very careful to deny access to their pools for fear of unsupervised use and ultimate liability and/or loss of life. These small, portable pools are just set up in the corner of the yard sometimes within a few feet of the front sidewalk. No deterrent is provided to deny access.
They contain plenty of water to allow a small child to quickly drown or become unconscious. Streator doesn’t appear to have any type of ordinance restricting their use or placement. Who bears the brunt of the liability if something happens involving one of these easily accessible pools? Would it be the city of Streator for not properly policing these pools? Would it be the homeowner or in many cases the landlord who owns the property where the pool is located?


Q. I have been looking at the eco-friendly CFL light bulbs and I noted there is a caution note on the package that says the bulbs contain mercury. Is this dangerous when they are disposed of? If they were dropped and broken, would I need to be concerned about mercury in the house?


Q. Is it legal to turn left on a red light if the driver is turning from a one-way street onto another one-way street? Can cities make their own rules on this issue?


Q. Does the city of Ottawa still have its Vactor truck for cleaning out and maintaining the city’s sewer system? I used to see it all the time and I haven’t seen it for awhile.


Q. Now that the Ottawa city election is near, can you clear up something I heard in the last election. A candidate said the mayor and commissioners can keep their insurance after serving 12 years. Is this true? Is it different for regular city employees?


Q. I have these strange things hanging from two trees in my yard. They look like seed packets. Can you tell me what they are?


Q. What are these strange things, which look like seed packets, hanging from two trees in my yard?


Q. Does the Streator Public Library have a Web site?


Q. With all this talk of building a new fire station in Ottawa on the North Side, I was wondering how much will it cost to build and to staff?


Q. The Times recently reported on streets that are going to have additional attention this year in Streator. Are there any other streets that will be fixed such as the one block of Madison Street between Lincoln Avenue and Broadway? It was bad during the high school construction, but is almost unusable now.


Q. Is the turn light going to be reactivated at the intersection of Dayton Road and Illinois Route 23 in Ottawa? There used to be a left-turn arrow there until the area was resurfaced this past fall. It is almost impossible to make a left turn going north when Clover Technologies is at a shift change.


Q. I have heard that La Salle County Board members are eligible for extras — per diem for meetings they attend, mileage to attend meetings, insurance and retirement benefits. What does this cost us taxpayers each month? Do all members partake in these “perks?”


Q. When is the first day of spring this year?


Q. Who was St. Patrick. for whom we celebrate today?


Q. I hear that Ottawa has a parking ticket validation program in which if someone gets a parking ticket from parking more than two hours in the same spot they can use a parking validation coupon from a local business and put it in the ticket payment envelope in place of payment.


Q. Why can’t the Ottawa Visitors Center donate the remaining amount left (what is it, about $11,000 to $12,000?) to pay off the Goddess of Liberty monument? It’s a tourist attraction, and these soldiers’ families descendants likely live all over the country, if not the world. Check out the city of Rock Island. The two key tourist things they market are their two rivers (Rock and Mississippi rivers) and their Civil War monument.


Q. Why do the taxpayers of La Salle County pay transportation costs to and from work for the county engineer and his assistant?


Q. I am planning a meal that contains some unusual foods. I am looking for panadan leaves, tocino, and puto. Is there any place around here that I could find that?


Q. Where did all the money come from to improve and acquire various types of equipment for city parks in Ottawa? Could the money have been used to improve city streets?


Q. Is it legal for people to ride horses in Ottawa?


Q. Area schools were closed Monday for Pulaski Day. Are there other states that recognize Casimir Pulaski?


Q. What are the rules regarding convicted felons running for public office?


Q. Is it true that the people of Naplate can vote for the mayor of Ottawa? How can that be? I thought Naplate had its own mayor. I know the mailing address for Naplate is Ottawa. Could you please let us know before the election date?


Q. How much did Cass Productions have to pay the city of Ottawa to block off streets around the downtown courthouse when they were filming a documentary about the Starved Rock murders?


Q. I recently found an old post card type picture of the La Salle County Poor Farm and Asylum, Lower End of County House Rapids, Illinois River, West of Ottawa, Ill. What was this and is anything still there?


Q. Whatever happened with the disorderly conduct charge filed against David Raikes, business manager of Local 393, after a video of him making crude comments to the landscapers during construction of the new Thornton’s station in May of 2006 was turned over to Ottawa police?


Q. I thought that all of the Illinois Lottery money goes to fund education. Is that true? Is there a Web site where I can go to see how much money actually goes to education?


Q. Why wasn’t the playground equipment for Ottawa’s Rigden Park, East Side Park by Washington School and Walsh Park put out for bid before it was purchased?


Q. I didn’t want to call the man and offend him — or have him hang up on me, but for the longest time after moving to Marseilles, I thought Kim Hill, mayor of Seneca, was a woman. The “Kim” must be shortened version of his full Christian name. Is it?


Q. Where is all of the material from demolition of the Broadway Street viaduct in Streator being taken?


Q. Was anyone ever hanged in Ottawa?


Q. I was wondering what is it with all the ComEd trucks in Streator? They are all over the place. What is going on and how long is it expected to last?


Q. I read a few months ago a company from Chicago had purchased the land or was in the process of purchasing the land where the Ottawa Inn sits at the corner of Interstate 80 and Illinois Route 23. I thought the article said the company was going to demolish the building and build some restaurtants there. Did the deal fall through? I notice a “for sale” sign on the property now.


Q. How much is left to pay on the bonds for the La Salle County Jail, which is funded by the one-quarter cent sales tax in the county?


Why is soil from the radium cleanup, adjacent to the Marquette High School football field, going to Utah?


Q. There is a sign in a farm field along the east side of north Hillcrest Road, just northwest of Streator, saying the property is being considered for some sort of a zoning change. What is going on at that property?


Q. Why can’t voters vote for their commissioners in Ottawa based on the specific commissioner positions? Why is it decided, after the election, who will serve as what commissioner? Why does Ottawa have a commissioner form of government? Who decided this?


Q. When are the Streator City Council meetings broadcast on the cable television station in Streator?


Q. What is the significance of 21-gun salutes and how did they start? Why are they used at funerals?


Why is there property in Ottawa called the Hassel parking lot?


Q. What are the snow routes in Ottawa?


Q. When does daylight-saving time start this year?


Q. Where was Babe Ruth born?


Q. I am a graduate of Seneca High School and I believe the school keeps a permanent record of all of its students. Is that true and is it possible for me to see what information my record contains?


Q. How much is it going to cost the city of Ottawa for the docks that were damaged by ice at the Fox River Park?


Q. I hear that some counties in Illinois have abandoned the township form of government. Where can I find which counties these are? I would like to contact them to learn how they operate without township government.


Q. I heard that the old KFC building in Streator is going to be a new Taco Bell. Is that true?


Q. I have heard it is important to check automobile tire pressure after a cold snap. What is the connection of colder weather with tire pressure?


Q. I would like to know how to get an absentee ballot for the upcoming election.


Q. The Times police report sometimes contains the expression “body attachment” as a reason for arrest. What is a “body attachment?”


Q. Where are the Clark Falls?


Q. The cans containing salmon are different from all other cans at the grocery where I shop. Chicken of the Sea, Bumble Bee, pink and red, and store-brand salmon cans are tapered, with the top wider than the bottom. They are painted olive drab on the outside. The inside of the cans is dull gray, not shiny. I see no other cans in the store with these characteristics. Why are salmon cans different?


Q. Is the Streator armory open for walkers during this cold weather?


Q. It looks as if several flags are at half-staff around Streator. Why is that?


Q. When did an airplane first fly over Ottawa?


Q. City elections are coming up. Do I need to re-register to vote for each election?


Q. In Illinois, aren’t vehicles impounded by police supposed to be sold at auction and available for sale to the public? Why isn’t that done in Ottawa, and who determines the prices of vehicles when they are sold?


Q. There is an apartment building on the east side of Ottawa’s Columbus Street in the 800 block that looks like it has a ranch house perched on its roof. Is there a story behind this unusual building?


Q. What are the lyrics to the Chicago Bears fight song?


Q. Has either St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator or Community Hospital of Ottawa acquired a vascular-thoracic surgeon since Dr. Shin K. Joh retired?


Q. Has the new Civil War Monument been paid off? How much exactly did it cost, including the interest on the loan, to pay for it? How much of general fund money — in other words, taxpayer dollars — was used to pay for it? If taxpayer dollars were used to pay for it, then the city was not able to gain interest on investing those taxpayer dollars by paying the artists for the amount of time until donations came in. Is that correct?


Q. Has the Lincoln-Douglas statue and fountain in Washington Park in Ottawa been completely paid off?


Q. The Ottawa City Council has adopted a policy prohibiting city employees from using city vehicles for personal use. What is the penalty if the employee is caught doing that?


Q. Are there any plans to resurface River Lane in Ottawa?


Q. How much did the city of Ottawa get from parking tickets in each month in 2006? What is done to collect fines for parking tickets that go unpaid?


A previous “Ask The Times” question sought information about the arched tunnels uncovered along Main Street when the Jordan Block buildings were razed in Ottawa. Two readers contacted The Times with similar information about the tunnels.


Q. I remember making $2 an hour, which was what I think was minimum wage back in 1975. What would that amount translate into dollars today?


Q. I live in the country. I know there are places in the area that accept certain kinds of metal and aluminum cans for recycling, but where can I turn in glass bottles and plastic items for recycling?


Q. Last year the city of Streator was talking about turning off some street lights to reduce the expenses in Streator. What happened to that plan?


Q. Is it true that if you don’t have a fossil fuel burner in your home, it’s not necessary to have a carbon monoxide detector installed?


Q. What has happened with the South Side Church of the Nazarene in Ottawa? I notice the sign is gone. Do they still have church services?


Q. I see a sign on Spring Street hill, also known as Guthrie Street hill, in Ottawa stating a parcel is being considered for a zoning variance. What is going on there?


Q. My daffodils and some of my other spring flowers are coming up. It seems too early. What should I do to prevent them from being damaged by another freeze?


Q. What is going into the old Hammer’s Tires building on South Sterling Street in Streator?


Q. How many miles of city streets are there in Ottawa?


Q. Why doesn’t the Red Stocking Fund start earlier so more people have a chance or more time to contribute?


Q. What is the origin of the expression “The Real McCoys”? Is it from the TV situation comedy of that name aired from 1957 to 1963?


Q. What was the purpose of the five arches and vaults on the Main Street side of the Jordan block foundation in Ottawa? The top of the masonry vaults are just beneath the sidewalk. Since the vaults are enclosed on three sides, they do not appear to be tunnels.


Q. I have read about heavyweight boxing champions Muhammad Ali, (1942-) who earned a 56-5 profesisonal record and Joe Louis (1914-1981), who was 69-3. If the twohad met in the ring, which man would likely have won?


Q. What is going on near Lafayette and Post streets in Ottawa?


Q. What happened to the plaque of the Gettysburg Address and a bust of Chief Shabonna which were in Ottawa’s old Shabonna School before it was torn down?


Q. I see work at the building on the northwest corner of Main and Sterling streets in Streator. I think it used to be the site of the Benson’s Auction Service. What is going on?


Q. Are Ottawa property owners required by law to clear their sidewalks of snow and ice? If they don’t clear their sidewalks, can they receive a fine? Who would charge them? If there is such a law, why hasn’t anyone ever been charged with it this year? There were many sidewalks that were not cleared of snow and ice.


Q. I saw “A Christmas Story” on Turner Classic Movies a few days ago. What can you tell me about the author or screenwriter?


Q. What were the names of the three wise men who are said to have went to see Jesus Christ shortly after his birth?


Q. When is the new KFC and Long John Silvers restaurant going to open in Streator? And what will happen to the current KFC building?


Q. When will Santa be at his house in Washington Park in Ottawa?


Q. Is there a good recipe for cranberry bread?


Q. What is the status of the Streator Township High School auditorium?


Q. Where is the rubble from the Jordan Block going to go? A. The debris will be going to a combination of places, said Tammy Barry, director of sales and marketing for Heritage Harbor Ottawa. A lot of the bricks will be cleaned and reused in the construction of Heritage Harbor, at the east edge of Ottawa. Other cleaned bricks will go to the company that will be cleaning them. Scrap metal will go to a scrap metal yard for processing. Most of the rubble will go to the La Salle County Landfill along Dee Bennett Road. Clean material, including limestone fragments, will be buried in the hole left from the demolition. The hole will be covered with topsoil from the Heritage Harbor site and will be seeded with grass seed. The site will then be available for purchase by a developer. Barry estimated that 350 truckloads of debris will be hauled away. Machinery for demolition will be place on Monday, with some demolition to begin Tuesday. Cranes will arrive on Wednesday to deal with the tallest buildings. Other buildings will be knocked down and all should be cleared by mid-January.


Q. What is being built in the parking lot of the Centrue Bank, formerly UnionBank, in Streator on the north side of Main Street?


Q. I will be turning 65 in a few months and I need to do something about Medicare. Is there an agency that can help me understand what I have to do, choices to make, deadlines to meet? Are they available for face-to-face interviews, because I hate using the telephone?


Q. What does the word “Onized” mean, especially with the name Streator Onized Credit Union?


Q. I live in Rutland Township. I know that the referendum passed and we are a part of Reddick Library in Ottawa. I read that the district will be legally formed next spring. Do I have to wait until next year to get a library card?


Q. I see that most of Starved Rock State Park and Matthiessen State Park are open certain weekends for deer hunting. Are deer hunters required to stay on the trails or can they walk off the trails?


Q. Who is Neil Bush and what is his relationship to the president?


Q. Who is responsible for clearing snow from the sidewalks crossing the Illinois River on the Veterans Memorial Bridge?


Q. When a player “drives to the hole” in basketball, where is the player attempting to go and why is it called the “hole?” Is there another name for this place? I am an old-timer who remembers “the key” before it became “the paint.”


Q. Is the overhang at the Ottawa Medical Center supposed to be lit up at night until the center closes? It was pitch dark at 5:45 p.m. on Nov. 28 when we came out from an appointment. I was trying to get someone in a wheelchair into a van. It was a very dangerous situation.


Q. How many trains go through Streator every day on the main Burlington Northern Santa Fe line?


Q. A few weeks ago a jetliner had to dump its fuel before making an emergency landing in Chicago. What does a pilot consider when dumping fuel? Is it always done over Lake Michigan?


Q. Is there a vaccine available to protect against pandemic flu?


Q. I see a lot of work being done outside Walgreens in Streator. Are they planning to add on or does it involve work to the parking lot?


Q. I found an old pen that says “Ottawa Nash Sales, H.B. White Proprietor, Nash Car, Corner of Jefferson and Clinton Streets.” When was it located there?


Q. Surveyors have been taking measurements on West McKinley Road in Ottawa between the 700 and 900 blocks for about two weeks. They are putting white marks in the street every 50 feet or so. The neighbors are fearful the city is going to straighten the odd little curve and take away their front lawns to move the street over. What's going on?


Q. Are there any plans to renovate or improve Thornton Park in Ottawa?


Q. What happens to all the tax money collected from lottery winners — how is it put to use?


Q. When is Maurice’s moving into the shopping center across from the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Ottawa?


Q. Why isn’t the temperature and the other weather elements given on the Public Access Channel any longer? Will the service return?


Q. What has happened to Walter Jacobson, who used to anchor the evening news for Fox network, broadcast Channel 32 (Mediacom cable channel 12)?


Q. Is it true that carbon monoxide detectors are becoming mandatory effective Jan. 1, 2007, and that one is required outside of each room? Also, is anyone going to supply these to those of us who can’t afford to buy all those?


Q. Where do I send money that our high school class is donating for the landscaping of Streator Township High School courtyard?


Q. Why is a La Salle County squad car parked in the 1000 block of Sycamore Street in Ottawa?


Q. It looks like remodeling is under way in the old Guzzardo’s Store in Kroger Plaza in Streator. What is going in there?


Q. There were two answers given recently that need to be clarified. One involved the question about boats parked on streets in Ottawa and the other involved vehicles parked on the sidewalk.


Q. On several occasions I have seen birds numbering in the thousands flying over Ottawa. The group stretches from horizon to horizon and the flight lasts several minutes. What species are these birds? They appear to be black, perhaps starlings. I think they usually fly parallel to the Illinois River and I usually see them in late afternoon or early evening. Are they migrating for the season or temporarily leaving one habitat for another for the night? What is the range of numbers of birds in one of these movements?


Q. Is there a published map for the schools in Ottawa? For instance, if I live on such and such street in Ottawa, then my child will go to X school.


Q. I keep hearing the word “blog” all the time now. What is it?


Q. I am interested in donating to The Times Red Stocking Fund. Do I need to write a check or can I send cash? Who do I make the check out to if I am to write a check and to what address do I mail my donation?


Q. There is a relief sculpture in the brick wall immediately to the east of the main entrance of the Streator Township High School. What does it signify?


Q. On The front page of the sports section Tuesday was a photo of the Flanagan girls volleyball team celebrating their super-sectional victory. One of the players is wearing a white jersey and other players are wearing black. Why is that?


Q. They are tearing up ground in front of the courtyard at Ottawa Township High School. What’s the plan?


Q. I see a sign at Starved Rock State Park (above) that closes part of the park to hikers and states deer hunting will be allowed at the park from Nov. 17 to 19, Nov. 30, and Dec. 1 to 3. In past years the park was closed to the public and open for deer hunts on weekdays, since more of the general public is likely to walk the trails on weekends than on weekdays. Why is that changed for this year?


Q: Election day is Tuesday and I can’t find my voter registration card. Do I have to have it when I go vote?


Q. Occasionally I have seen little colored flags lined up along the berm and sometimes I see different color paint on the streets. I think these have something to do with construction. What color means what?


Q. Where was the soil taken that was removed from around Gautschy’s Corner in Streator and on the west side of the Streator swimming pool in conjunction with some soil cleanup efforts?


Q. Is there anything in the future about improving White Lane from Gentlemen Road to Tomahawk in Ottawa? It is very narrow when cars are parked on both sides.


Q. Is it illegal to park on the sidewalk in Ottawa?


Q. Is it against the law for boats to be parked on city streets in Ottawa?


Q. A major forest fire in Southern California has burned about 63 square miles, more than 40,200 acres, northwest of Palm Springs. How does that compare with acreage in La Salle County?


Q. Why doesn’t the city of Ottawa consider changing the schedule for leaf pickup?


Q. How does one properly dispose of a television set after it has outlived it’s usefulness? Please advise.


Q. What happened to the WE channel on the cable? It used to be on Channel 70.


Q. Does the holly planted around the La Salle County Civil War Soldiers Monument in Ottawa have any significance?


Q. I just heard that I can vote in the election for governor before Nov. 7. Is that true?


Q. Is the Ottawa Wal-Mart Supercenter participating in the $4 generic drug program?


Q. What will happen to the old Goddess of Liberty statue that had been on top of the La Salle County Civil War Soldiers Monument?


Q. I keep seeing this bird on the side of Illinois Route 23 north of Grand Ridge. What kind of bird is it, and why is it hanging around the side of a busy road? Is it going to stay in this area during the winter or will it fly south? (A photo was submitted and can be seen in today's edition of The Times.)


Q. Where do I find a picture postcard about the city of Ottawa?


Q. I live in the 800 block of South State Street in Ottawa and we seem to be inundated with turkey vultures. They are causing some problems for our white pine tree. How do I get rid of them?


Q. I was at the Reddick Mansion in Ottawa the other day looking for the Visitor’s Center. It wasn’t on the first floor of the mansion. Where did it go?


Q. When will there be flu clinics in the area?


Q. What happens to all the tax money collected from lottery winners? How is put to use?


Q. Is there a “do not call” list for political calls? I am sick of them and I keep a list of those who call. I will vote against any politician who calls me.


Q. Two years ago, a volunteer group, the Spring Lake project, collected donations for Spring Lake. Since the Streator City Council has closed the park, what is being done with these funds.


Q. What days are we allowed to burn leaves and other yard waste in Streator?


Q. Where can I go to look at old Ottawa Township High School yearbooks?


Q. When is the city of Ottawa setting up a collection point for leaf pickup and yard waste?


Q. I think my neighbor is using a BB gun to shoot squirrels in town. Is that legal in Ottawa?


Q. I was wondering what is going on at the James Street Recreation Area in Streator at the corner of James and Illinois streets I see some digging and clearing out of some of the property.


Q. Do you have to be a U. S. citizen to be able to vote in elections? Can legal and or illegal aliens vote? How about people in prison?


Q. I know it is coming up, but is this the weekend we change out clocks back?


Q. This year I have seen more praying mantis in my South Ottawa garden than in the preceding 26 years. The types of flowers and vegetables I grow have remained the same. What’s going on?


Q. Is the popcorn wagon in Washington Square Park in Ottawa closed now?


Q. What is in the old Tuscarora Plastics building in Streator?


Q. How does seasonal flu differ from pandemic flu?


Q. We’ve noticed two different waste collectors putting recyclables in with the garbage. Doesn’t Ottawa still have a recycling program?


Q. How do I get rid of grubs and moles in our yard?


Q. How many years have they held the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon, and what is the total amount of money that has been pledged?


Q. Whatever happened to UnionBank’s plans for a new drive-up facility at the Kroger Plaza in Streator?


Q. I see Infinity Resources is opening. What kind of material are they going to be selling?


Q. Every office, business and even the car, should have a basic first-aid kit. What would you recommend having in that first-aid kit? I am sure there should be more than just adhesive bandages. We would like to know.


Q. I’ve been seeing some fliers around Ottawa and Marseilles that advertise a free pet expo at the 4-H grounds in Ottawa. Can you give more details? Thanks. We read your column every day.


Q. What is going into that shopping center immediately east of the new Wal-Mart Supercenter? It looks like they are doing a lot of work on it.


Q. Is it true that Mediacom will close its Streator office? Where will I go pay my bill, if that happens?


Q. What is the status of the location for meetings for the Masons in Streator since they sold their building at Hickory and Park streets?


Q. Are there any plans to blacktop the walking path around Walsh Park on Bellevue Avenue in Ottawa?


Q. What is going into that building at the southeast corner of Clinton and Main in Ottawa? It used to be a card and coin shop.


Q. Years ago, the Moose organization used to deny membership to certain people. I know they did not allow Hispanics to join, and I think they still don't allow women to join. Would you find out if there is a stipulation about who can join, please?


Q. I found out the hard way that our local Social Security office has moved. Shouldn’t the newspaper let others know where the office is now?


Q. Have the telephone recordings describing the murals in downtown Ottawa been activated yet?


Q. What exactly were the bids for the purchase of Spring Lake Park in Streator?


Q. I live within the Marseilles city limits in a house we purchased in the summer of 2005. Why are property taxes so high within Marseilles? They’re just under $5,000 for a below average size lot and a modest five-room house with basement. The tax bill seems disproportionate to what we own and where we live for the services that we get here.


Q. What are the plans for the senior housing project along Boyce Memorial Drive in Ottawa?


Q. What is being built at the northeast corner of Livingston Road and Illinois Route 23, south of Streator?


Q. What is being built within the group of small office buildings just east of Community Hospital of Ottawa?


Q. What are the hours of Dr. Morehead’s clinic in Ottawa, and are there any income guidelines for who can use the services of the clinic?


Q. What’s going on at the corner of Bluff and Rutland streets in Marseilles? There was some work going on there and now it looks as if it has stopped.


Q. What did the old factory on U.S. Route 6 in Ottawa used to be? It’s now mixed use with Second Wind Recycling as one of the occupants.


Q. How often are the pumps at service stations inspected? I want to know more about the system: Who inspects them and how often?


Q. What causes the sky to have a green tint when it appears that a major storm is approaching?


Q. Is an employer required to give employees time for restroom breaks?


Q. I understand that Ottawa Township High School is charging $40 for a student permit to park in the student parking lot on the east side of the high school. Is that correct? What is the money going to be used for?


Q. What is the origin of the CCC house where Canal Street ends at the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and what does CCC stand for?


Q. Could you please find out why Al Ruhland hasn’t done anything to the lot (which is full of weeds) and the building on State Street next to Bianchi’s carryout? It truly looks awful. Could he at least clean it up? Last year it looked like there was going to be improvement when he had the parking lot leveled. But now it’s at a standstill.


Q. There are six unusually shaped, very old concrete structures in a small field on the west edge of downtown Ottawa, east of Walnut Street between Jackson and Lafayette street. Did they have something to do with the canal that ran parallel to Canal Street?


Q. What year and date and month did the old Wal-Mart store open in Ottawa? I think the year was 1985.


Q. If someone is turned in for child neglect/abuse by several family members, why would there not be an investigation? The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services always claims it is our responsiblity to report such activity, yet it seems like nothing is ever done. If members of one’s own family report such activity, you would think something would be done. If you know for a fact that this is happening, how do you get DCFS to take action?


Q. Are there any rules or laws regulating the amount of commercial time we have to look at? It seems to me when cable TV first came we were told we would pay for cable and there would not be any commercials on the cable channels. What happened?


Q. Where can I get fresh honey in the area?


Q. I hear that with the new county zoning you have to have at least 35 acres in order to build a house in the country. Is that correct?


Q. What is being built just north of Bulldog’s restaurant in Streator at Bloomington and LaRue streets?


Q. What will happen to the old Ottawa Wal-Mart building? Will it sit vacant like the old Kmart?


Q. What is happening to the old squad cars and how much are the new squad cars costing that the county is purchasing for the La Salle County Sheriff's Department?


Q. What are the plans for property along the Fox River on Lyman’s Mound Road on the northeast side of Ottawa?


Q. Who purchased the Hope United Methodist Church in Streator?


Q. I see trucks are hauling dirt at Silica Sand off Boyce Memorial Drive in Ottawa and dumping it along the edge of the pit. What’s going on?


Q. Is the Ettema Vegetable Farm still in business?


Q. I hear the Bartoli Chiropractic Clinic with Dr. Matthew Marti is moving in Streator.


Q. Whatever happened to Mary Ellen Gelbuda at WCMY? She is very missed.


Q. I saw a sign in the window of Ottawa Office Supply saying they will not be selling art supplies for Ottawa Township High School classes this year. They used to have everything all set out for each class. What happened, and will it be difficult now to find the detailed list of supplies needed?


Q. What streetlights will be turned off in Streator to save on the cost of lighting in the city?


Q. Whatever happened to Jamie Newell from WCMY radio sports?


Q. Who owns the pond west of Illinois Route 23 at the north edge of Streator, just before going up the big hill?


Q. Was the Welcomeburger ever held anywhere besides Pitstick’s?


Q. What are the hours of the Streatorland Historical Society Museum?


Q. Is there a welcome wagon service — or something like it — in Ottawa?


Q. How can I become a member of Sandy Ford Sportsman’s Club in Streator?


Q. What is that odd-looking building at the corner of Adams and Erickson Streets in Ottawa?


Q. How did Marilla Park in Streator get its name?


Q. Who is responsible for replacing the burned-out lightbulbs on La Salle Street in Ottawa? The city or the state?


Q. The empty vacant lot behind the Gautschy’s Corner at the north edge of Streator has been blocked off and there is a big hole being dug there. What is going on?


Q. What is the intended use of the small building known as the “toll house” on the south of the Illinois and Michigan Canal just west of Columbus Street in Ottawa? The building was moved, rebuilt, has air conditioning and heat, a washroom, and parking, yet it has been vacant for two years since it was renovated.


Q. The Streator American Legion baseball story in the newspaper the other day stated, “The heat and humidity Monday night made for perfect hitting conditions.” Why does humidity provide ideal conditions for batters? I would have thought that humidity would have made the air heavier and therefore more difficult to hit the ball farther than in dry air.


Q. How does one become a member of the coroner's jury? Is it the same as getting a jury summons or do you have to inquire or fill out a form? Also, are you reimbursed for time and mileage?


Q. What is all the construction work on Route 23 at Interstate 80 on the North Side of Ottawa all about? It looks like they are putting sidewalks in. Will there be a sidewalk along Route 23 over Interstate 80?


Q. Do you know when or if a new bridge is going to be built over the Illinois River at Seneca? Will it be a wide one like the new Shippingsport Bridge — between Jonesville and La Salle on Illinois Route 351 — or will it be the same size as the one at Marseilles? The new Shippingsport Bridge is built so farm equipment can go over without having to block the bridge, and bicycles have room to go over the bridge without blocking cars from going around them.


Q. How close is a plane allowed to fly to the ground when crop dusting?


Q. I recently saw where the land behind the new Thornton’s in Ottawa was sold and a restaurant was said to be planned for that area. Do we know yet what restaurant that will be?


Q. What does “LST” stand for and when were those ships built in Seneca?


Q. I tried calling the telephone number given for the narrative description for the downtown Ottawa murals. I got a recording instead, saying that the description of the murals is not functioning yet. When will the number be working?


Q. What are The Seven Wonders of the Modern World?


Q. When is work going to begin on the Route 18 realignment project in Streator?


Q. What was the Ottawa Pavilion at 800 E. Center St. before it was a nursing home? The building looks like it used to be a school.


Q. What is the name of that store at the northeast corner of La Salle and Jefferson streets in Ottawa? Why doesn’t it have a name on the front of it? I think it is the former Montgomery Ward building.


Q. What is the name of that store at the northeast corner of La Salle and Jefferson streets in Ottawa? Why doesn’t it have a name on the front of it?


Q. Who is responsible for fixing the railroad crossings in Ottawa? Some of them are in such bad shape and very bumpy, such as the one on La Salle Street, just south of Joliet Street and the one on Columbus, just north of Norris Drive.


Q. I hear the Masonic Temple in Streator has been sold. Is that true?


Q. I’d like to know if you can tell me how many dogs you can have in the city of Leland. I live next to a man who has three dogs and he lets them run loose. The dogs bark all night long and they go to the bathroom in the neighbor’s yard.


Q. What are the plans for improving Ottawa Avenue between Leland and Boyce Memorial Drive in Ottawa?


Q. We answered a question a few weeks ago...


Q. Who in our area cleans the contacts and works on smaller organs?


Q. I’ve heard Ottawa had an opera house. Where was it? Can you tell me more about it?


Q. I have heard Poplar Street from Norris Drive to Bluff Street to Evans and then Autumwood in Ottawa will be repaved. Is this true?


Q. There is some work going on, with a scraper and a back hoe, next to the Starved Rock State Park’s south entrance. What is going on there?


Q. Why won’t all the names be transferred to the new Civil War monument in Washington Park in Ottawa?


Q. I saw a green, triangular box on a fencepost at the edge of a cornfield in La Salle County. It was labeled “INSECT TRAP” with the warning “DO NOT DISTURB,” but there are few clues about who put it there or what insects it traps. Can you tell me more?


Q. What are the huge concrete pillars on Forest Street, just off West Lafayette Street in Ottawa? There is another one on West Superior Street near Charles Street. They look like they were marking an entrance to something. Also, what is the nearby building on Superior where it curves onto Sanger Street?


Q. What are the huge concrete pillars on Forest Street, just off West Lafayette Street in Ottawa? There is another one on West Superior Street near Charles Street. They look like they were marking an entrance to something. Also, what is the nearby building on Superior where it curves onto Sanger Street?


Q. What can the Illinois Department of Transportation and La Salle County Highway Department do about a dangerous intersection?
In three weeks, two people were killed at U.S. Route 52 (east-west) and Hoxsey Road (La Salle County Highway 2, northeast-southwest) on the west edge of Serena. Several other people have been killed over the years at this intersection. Can flashing lights be added? U.S. 52 traffic does not stop. Can the intersection be made a four-way stop?


Q. Summer started today, with the solstice occurring at 7:26 a.m. CDT. What is a solstice and what is special about the exact minute?


Q. Is Streator going to have spring cleanup days this year?


Q. What are they doing with the old AASHO test road site between Ottawa and Utica on Interstate 80? I see they have installed culverts and have placed gravel near the middle of the site.


Q. What is the history and origin of Father’s Day?


Q. I put marigolds, petunias and coleus — to name a few — in my garden, along with some perennials, but some kind of bug/slug has basically devoured my entire garden. I have sprayed and put dry bug killer on these poor plants, but every morning I check to see what survived overnight in my garden, and these bug(s) having a smorgasbord of my garden. Is there any suggestion what to do to save them? I went out after I planted marigolds and only a stem was there.... UGH! I need help or suggestions, please. Plus I know I am not the only one. I live in Marseilles; my mother lives in Granville and she has the same thing happening.


Q. I hear that Kroger in Ottawa is looking at putting a fuel center on the property of the former Ponderosa restaurant. Is that true?


Q. I am under attack by earwigs that ruin my annuals. Is there a safe way to trap them to reduce their population?


Q. Why is the amount of rainfall shown in the newspaper different from the amount I see on the Mediacom cable television public access station?


Q. Boy, that was a big fish in the newspaper on Thursday. The article said it was a 39-pound flathead catfish caught in the Vermilion River near Streator. I wondered, what is the state record for a flathead catfish?


Q. With hundreds of area residents participating in the Relay For Life in Streator’s City Park, will anything be done to improve the appearance of the shelters and the bathrooms in the park? It sure seems as though they need a fresh coat of paint and some sprucing up.


Q. What is the story behind the totem pole on Gentleman Road — just east of the parking lot for the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa?


Q. I speak for multiple neighbors who live on Illinois Route 71 West/ Hitt Street in Ottawa. We have had a terrible smell coming from the wastewater treatment plant off Hitt Street for a few weeks now. So bad you can’t stand to be outside or even keep your windows open. What is the cause and does the city have any plans for making the smell less?


Q. I seem to have a lot more garter snakes around this year than in the past. How do I get rid of them? They are scaring the dickens out of me.


Q. Since Streator doesn’t have an animal control officer, what can I do about a stray dog problem in our neighborhood? Who am I supposed to call to take away these dogs?


Q. What is Camp Pokanoka at the southeast edge of Ottawa?


Q. When will the strawberries be ready at the strawberry farm along Gentleman Road on Ottawa’s South Side?


Q. I see some earthmoving equipment and what looks like construction under way in the back of Pitstick’s, north of Ottawa. We used to go swimming there in the summer. Is the beach going to be reopened this year?


Q. I have a gardening question. Where is the best place to get an answer?


Q. I recently saw workers putting up two new 20 mph speed limit signs on La Salle Street in downtown Ottawa. Why were they put up?


Q. The city of Chicago is going to pass a noise ordinance. Does the city of Ottawa have one? How is it enforced?


Q. When will the Riordan Pool in Ottawa open? What will be the hours and cost?


Q. I live in the 700 block of South Park Street in Streator. Who is my County Board representative and how do people find out who represents them on the board?


Q. What are the plans for Ace Hardware’s expansion in Streator?


Q. When will the cicadas reappear in force in this area? I remember the last time they were here and we were at Matthiessen State Park and it sounded like UFOs.


Q. When will the docks be put in place at Fox River Park in Ottawa?


Q. Does the city of Ottawa have an ordinance that requires dog walkers to clean up after their dogs?


Q. What is the difference in education between an M.D., a medical doctor, and D.O., a doctor of osteopathy.


Q. Do you know who to contact to do court-ordered community service in Streator? City Hall no longer has a program and they suggested Bruce Township, which also no longer has a program.


Q. The cornerstone of the Masonic Temple in Streator has an inscription which reads A.D. 5905. How can that be?


Q. Why can’t Washington Park be used for flea markets anymore? No one wants to go to the place by the bridge. The park is the perfect place for having the markets. It can be cleaned up afterwards.


Q. I noticed that the popcorn wagon at the southwest corner of Washington Park in Ottawa is open now for the summer. What are the hours?


Q. During my recent travels on Interstate 80 to and from Joliet, I noticed three Illinois state police vehicles that were SUVs (I may have seen one of them twice). Why do state police need SUVS? Have they replaced the regular cars or are they additional? How many are there in the district? How does the mileage and maintenance costs compare to the usual police cars? How much more does it cost for a new SUV compared to an ordinary new car after police packages are installed? Is this change a trend in highway patrols? Do the state police use unmarked SUVs? What do the men and women who drive them have to say about them compared to the sedans?


Q. As a city boy growing up with small garden plots, I had no problem getting rid of weeds before I planted. Now, with Roundup not doing the job very well, what can I use that farmers in this area use? The fields that have been plowed look clean and free of weeds. Some have corn coming up already.


Q. If you have an Illinois drivers license, are you required by law to have auto insurance even though you do NOT own a vehicle?


Q. I am a senior citizen. I was wondering if I have to get an Illinois fishing license. I don’t intend to do a lot of fishing.


Q. How should I get rid of my old gasoline cans? I have several in the garage and I want to dispose of them properly.


Q. It looks like there are pieces of glass in the pavement of the parking area at Marilla Park in Streator. Why is that?


Q. What happened to plans for a race track in Minonk?


Q. During my travels on I-80 to and from Joliet on May 2, I noticed a billboard promoting Ottawa. It states, “Where Lincoln’s voice was first heard.” How can this be so? What does this slogan mean? The “House Divided” speech was heard earlier in Springfield, and Lincoln was heard in many places before he visited Ottawa for the debate with Douglas. He was heard in Ottawa during the Blackhawk War years earlier. Has the responsible group heard any comments questioning the accuracy or meaning of the slogan? If so, what is the reply?


Q. I have heard about this, but I don’t know what it is or was. What was the Caton Spring in Ottawa?


Q. Were most of the people who are contracting mumps ever vaccinated in the first place?


Q. What is going on with the building at the bottom of the hill on South Bloomington Street in Streator?


Q. What is involved to convert a modern, fuel-injected car to E85 fuel? Are there Web sites or other references where I can find reliable advice?


Q. What was in the Bee Hive restaurant building at 700 La Salle Street in Ottawa before the Bee Hive opened?


Q. With spring being here and more and more people doing yard work, what days can we burn yard and garden waste in Streator?


Q. Tonight’s Trivia Night at St. Stephen’s School in Streator is a fundraising event for St. Stephen’s, which is closing after this school year. How will the money be used?


Q. Why is the place where Lincoln and Douglas debated in downtown Ottawa called Washington Park and not Lincoln-Douglas Park, which is on the eastern edge of the city off U.S. Route 6?


Q. When will the fountain at Washington Square in Ottawa be turned on again? And what will be done about the grafitti around the retaining wall of the pool?


Q. A sign on Madison Street near Lincoln Elementary School in Ottawa points south to the “I&M Canal Passage.” The canal is to the north. Is the sign wrong?


Q. I’ve heard that much of the garden mulch sold this year comes from the Louisiana area damaged by hurricane Katrina and contains termites. Should I be concerned?


Q. How many people live in subdivisions outside city limits of communities throughout La Salle County?


Q. What is the significance of the colonnades at the west end of Ottawa Avenue where it meets Boyce Memorial Drive in Ottawa?


Q. Where and what was Camp Cushman? An engraved rock lies in the middle of the boulevard at the west end of Ottawa Avenue, about a block west of Boyce Memorial Drive in Ottawa. The inscription reads “Camp Cushman Volunteers 1861-1865 Erected 1941.”


Q. I need a passport. How do I get one?


Q. I would like to know how people can find out if they qualify for disability. Is there a Web site that tells where they can go?


Q. I am procrastinating sending in my tax forms. Will the local post offices be staying open later so I can get an April 17 postmark on the envelope?


Q. Christmas is always celebrated on Dec. 25, but why does the date of Easter change every year? Sometimes it is in early spring and sometimes in later spring.


Q. Will Ottawa schedule a “large items” pickup day this year? I have to get rid of a barbecue grill and a large chair.


Q. What happened to the thrift store on North Columbus Street, just north of the I & M Canal in Ottawa?


Q. I hear Streator has an ordinance that requires residents to have a city permit before having a garage or yard sale. Is this true? How much does the permit cost, and how do I get one?


Q. I see police reports in the newspaper every day from Streator and Ottawa, but never seem to see any from Marseilles. Why is that?


Q. I noticed the article in Wednesday’s paper about regulating tattoo and body piercing parlors in Illinois. What is the bill number?


Q. When will paving start on Ottawa Avenue between Leland Street and Boyce Memorial Drive in Ottawa? It’s just terrible. I thought they were going to start this spring, but I have not heard anything yet.


Q. Where do robins go in the winter? Even vets don’t know. They don’t flock and migrate somewhere, so what?


Q. Can you tell me why one cannot drink grapefruit juice when taking certain drugs? If so, what kind of drugs, such as for blood pressure or heart or what? I have heard this and I love grapefruit juice. What does it do to the drugs?


Q. I hear that Pleasant View Luther Home in Ottawa will be tearing down one section of its building. Will it be imploded?


Q. Are there any plans to repair the east end of Main Street in Ottawa just before the curve on Green Street in the westbound lane? There was some kind of water main break . They patched it up, but it is still dangerous.


Q. What was the huge crane doing along McKinley Road just east of Illinois Route 23 in South Ottawa on Thursday around noon?


Q. Does anyone know the name of the dog that is connected to Betty Boop, the cartoon character?


Q. Where was Majestic Park?


Q. I’ve been told that the Osage curves on Route 6 between Ottawa and Utica were named for the Osage Coal Mine. Is this true? If so, where were these mines located?


Q. Are there any plans by IDOT to “fix” the dip in Illinois Route 23 across from Anderson Fields golf course in Streator?


Q. When is the new Wal-Mart Supercenter scheduled to open in North Ottawa?


Q. Someone is digging on the empty lot on the northeast corner of Bloomington and Bridge Streets in Streator. I thought the city owned that property. What is the plan for that property?


Q. State law restricts the sale of cigarettes to those of high school age. When I read of police charges in The Times, I notice that student-age persons in Ottawa are charged with having smoking materials. In Streator large groups of students hang out to smoke across the street from the high school and no one seems to be concerned (except those whose homes happen to be there). Is this due to Ottawa having an ordinance and Streator having none?


Q. There has been a lot of activity (surveying, flagging, asphalt marking) on Adams Street between McKinley & Fosse Roads in South Ottawa Township. Is this for the biking-walking path proposed three years ago with the purchase of farmland to enlarge Peck Park women’s baseball area? The original idea was to join Peck Park with the Countryside Subdivision development.


Q. Why do the White Sox players wear black socks?


Q. What does Community Hospital of Ottawa plan to do to beautify the area around its new parking lot on the Fox River? The Fox River is one of Illinois' most scenic rivers. But it sure isn't scenic in Ottawa now that the hospital has cleared the woods and built a really ugly ramp parking lot to look at.


Q. Did Fields Hill ever annex into the city of Ottawa? How many residents own homes in Fields Hill? I heard the city wanted to annex Fields Hill, but no one wanted the grant that was offered them.


Q. Who was St. Patrick, for whom we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?


Q. For several days now I have noticed the flag at the VFW post on La Salle Street in Ottawa is at half-staff. No other flags are; so why is this flag?


Q. It feels like spring is in the air. When do we change our clocks so it stays light later in the days?


Q. What does the a.m. mean when you talk about morning? For that matter, too, what does p.m. mean?


Q. The city of Streator is asking voters to support another .005 sales tax for infrastructure and possibly eliminate future property tax increases. Three years ago voters supported a .005 sales tax for infrastructure. Then the City Council added numerous utility and telecommunications taxes to the mix. I would like to know how much they have collected in additional revenue per year over the past three years with these past taxes.


Q. Signs by picnic areas and park entrances state “no alcoholic beverages from Jan. 1 thru May 31,” or something like that. Does that mean we can drink there the rest of the year? I thought the parks are family areas and shouldn’t allow drinking at all.


Q. How do I get tickets to watch the Seneca Fighting Irish win the state championship this weekend?


Q. My son, who is in Houston, has heard that the major bulk of our crude oil comes from Canada. How can we document just where our oil comes from?


Q. I know the “Jordan Block” in downtown Ottawa has sat for eight years. However, with regard to the house at the corner of Center and Adams streets, where two little girls died in a fire, how long can that house sit boarded up and abandoned?


Q. Why do some farmers plow or disc the perimeters of their field at this time of the year?


Q. Schools are closed today in honor of Casimir Pulaski. Who was Casimir Pulaski?


Q. I hear that the old Schultz Hotel building on the northeast corner of Bloomington and Hickory Streets in Streator has been sold. What is going in there?


Q. Why, during Lent, do Catholics not eat meat on Fridays?


Q. When in Streator recently I heard the slogan, “Shop Streator First.” Where are the Streator stores?


Q. I would like to know what Grieves Construction is doing to the parking lot at Champlain Street and Norris Drive in Ottawa. What’s going on there?


Q. I heard that a major home improvement store was coming to Ottawa. Whatever happened with that?


Q: How is it that the people who won the $365 million powerball are only going to receive a $125 million lump sum? I thought capital gains tax was 28 percent.


Q. I heard that A-1 Steak Sauce was once made in Streator. Where was it made?


Q. I heard the city of Ottawa waived the city sales tax in order to attract Wal-Mart to build a Super Wal-Mart and therefore the city will not be getting the 1.5 percent sales tax when the new Super Wal-Mart opens. Is that true?


Q. Can a person who has a felony run for a city council or any other seats in the state of Illinois?


Q. I hear that RadioShack is closing a number of stores. Is the Streator or Ottawa Radio Shack among the closings?


Q. We hear that Vactor is the second largest employer in Streator. What is the largest?


Q. I notice the new section of the high School is using the same limestone blocks that were part of the school building that was demolished. The blocks carry the name “Streator Township High School.” Why is it called Streator Township High School when it is located in Bruce Township?


Q. What was La Salle County's involvement in the Civil War?


Q. What is the minority population of Ottawa and Streator?


Q. What is going on at the northwest corner of Etna Road and Illinois Route 23 in North Ottawa?


Q. What is the structure near Veterans Memorial Bridge in Ottawa on the north bank of the Illinois River that looks sort of like a boat? What was it used for and what is it being used for now?


Q. Whatever happened with the Hope United Methodist Church in Streator? I don’t ever see any people or activity there any more.


Q. What is the origin of Valentine’s Day?


Q. What beverages have been made/bottled and sold from Ottawa?


Q: Who was John Hossack? I hear he had some connection to Ottawa and the Underground Railroad.


Q. When is that building just west of Ottawa City Hall going to be demolished? I heard the city of Ottawa owns it.


Q. Where can I get some help about a parking ticket I received in the mail from Chicago? I have never been to Chicago and my vehicle has never been to Chicago.


Q. I heard there will be an election for governor coming up in Illinois. I just turned 18 and I would like to vote, but I don’t know where to register or when it is. Any help would be appreciated.


Q. Is there any place along the Fox River that offers public access? Everywhere I go, I see signs that say “Private property” and “No Trespassing.”


Q. I was held up recently in traffic for 20 minutes at the railroad crossing in Ottawa at Freemont and Route 23. The train kept going back and forth at the crossing holding up traffic. I realize that switching is necessary, but 20 minutes? I'm glad I wasn't in an ambulance going to the hospital in an emergency. Is there a time limit that trains can block railroad crossings?


Q. Is there going to be a hobby show in Streator this year? I remember it being in the spring. I think it was canceled one year when there was work being done at the Armory, but it was held last year.


Q. I recently found what looks like a small medallion, shaped like a police officer’s badge. It is engraved with the words “The Clifton 42 Ottawa.” The metal item is very thin and could be made out of brass. What is it?


Q. The murals around Ottawa are certainly striking. Is there a guide to them, maybe interpreting the scenes shown. They are fascinating, but what are we looking at?


Q: Years ago I remember seeing boxes marked “Not for deposit of mail,” sometimes next to regular mail boxes. The former had no opening for mail and the box was locked.
What were these boxes used for and do any remain? Why was their use discontinued? I haven’t seen any in years.


Q: On the southeast corner of Columbus and Main streets in Ottawa, there is a metal street car sculpture attached to a pole. It has been there for a while. What is the significance of it and why?


Q: What is the best way to get rid of hiccups?


Q. The Times regularly publishes river levels for the Illinois and Fox rivers as part of the Almanac on Page A2. You reported the river level at the Starved Rock Dam was 443.59 in feet as of 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Does that mean the river is about 443 feet deep?


Q: I am getting conflicting answers. Is it a law in Illinois that your employer has to pay you for time off for jury duty?


Q. I have noticed that people drive in the alleys and toot their horn when they get to the next street or sidewalk. These people seem to think the horn alerts pedestrians so drivers do not slow down to look for them. What is the law on this?


Q. What is the status of leaf collection in Ottawa?


Q: What do those two white statues on the north side of Marquette High School represent?


Q. I came across a postcard on E-bay showing what it called the “Ottawa tent colony.” It looked pretty old. What was it?


Q. At about 12:15 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 14, I heard the Christmas song, ”We Three Kings from Orient Are” coming from the First Congregational Church in Ottawa. Why are Christmas carols still being played and I wonder why do the songs come at that time?


Q. Where does the cable television company get the temperature that is displayed on the local access channel?


Q. I hear that people are moving into the new senior citizen development along Oakley Avenue in Streator, but it is questionable whether or not there will be cable television service there. Is that true? Television is one of the joys of senior citizens.


Q. What is that new tower that was built along Illinois Route 23 just a little bit south of Grand Ridge?


Q. How many dogs is a person allowed to have at one time in Streator? Who do you contact about barking dogs and excessive smells if there isn’t a dog catcher?


Q. What is the origin of Friday the 13th being an unlucky day?


Q: Why do some of fire hydrants in Streator have a white top with red or orange bottom and why are some bigger than others?


Q. Where can I locate a complete listing of all the names of the casualties from the Iraq War?


Q. Where and when did the art of snipe hunting originate?


Q. I see where stiffer fines will be enforced on people who park their vehicles in places reserved for the disabled (and sometimes senior) citizens. That’s good to hear. It seems that whenever I go to Wal-Mart in Ottawa there are always two or three cars parked along the fire lane, which is well posted, at the north end of the building — often with a driver sitting there, with the engine running and apparently waiting for someone who “just had to run in for a minute.” Those cars are often still there when I leave. Shouldn’t they be fined also?


Q. I’ve heard mention of the “lateral canal” several times since I’ve been in Ottawa. What is it or was it, and was it important to the area?


Q: With the new La Salle County zoning code set up for public inspection, how can I see it?


Q: We seem to be getting quite a bit of rain this winter. I was wondering what would have hit us if it had been snow instead?


Q. Is there some place indoors where I can go walking when there is inclement weather?


Q. On Dec. 24 we printed a question from a reader wanting a recipe for the star-shaped cinnamon- and nut-topped cookies that were made at Young’s Bakery in Ottawa. While we couldn’t get that recipe at the time, we printed one from Pierson’s Bakery in La Salle.
To follow it up, Deloris Rehor contacted us with the exact recipe for the cookies that were so popular during Christmastime at Young’s. Rehor’s sister, Phyllis, and her husband, Ralph Young, owned the bakery. After Ralph’s death, the two sisters ran the bakery until retiring in 1998.
And while she doesn’t doubt that the recipe provided by Carolyn Pierson is yummy, it’s not the same, she assures us. Rehor said the cookies were a favorite of many Ottawans and were often packaged and sent across the country.
Once again, the recipe is super-sized, so adjust for a family-sized batch.


Q. Is it true that coffee (caffeine products) can help you sober up?


Q. Who operates the railroad bridge over the Illinois river at Ottawa and what kind of hours do they have to keep?


Q. I am hearing something scratching in our attic. I think they are squirrels. How can I get rid of the squirrels in our attic?


Q. What happened to the Dunkin’ Donuts in Streator?


Q. In the Dec. 8 issue of The Times you published a story under the headline “Unemployment rates dip again in October.” The story said about 4.9 percent were jobless, but does that figure include the many jobless who are no longer getting unemployment compensation? Who determines the rate and how do they figure it?


Q. Years ago my mother used to get the best star-shaped, cinnamon and nut-topped cookies from Young’s Bakery in Ottawa. I don’t believe that bakery is open any longer. Is there any way to get the recipe or is there another bakery that sells these cookies?


Q: Is it true that Target stores do not allow the Salvation Army to solicit donations in front of their store for the Christmas campaign?


Q: What happened to the Shell car wash on Columbus Street? Is it only open during the summer?


Q: Why aren’t snow fences put up along Route 23 any more?


Q: Who is responsible for clearing public sidewalks of snow in Ottawa?


Q. Why is fruitcake considered so distasteful?


Q. I thought all deciduous trees shed their leaves in the fall. On. Dec. 15, I was startled to notice a tree with a great number of leaves, not just a few, on the South Side of Ottawa. Do some deciduous trees not shed their leaves or do some shed their leaves later?


Q. I hear that the Central Life Building in Ottawa along Columbus Street has been sold and is being turned into condominiums with a marina down the bluff. Is that true?


Q. Since gas prices for automobiles have gone down a lot since last summer, why aren’t prices going down for heating fuel? It doesn’t make sense.


Q. Is it true that Streator schools will resume on Monday, Jan. 2, even though that is a federal holiday?


Q. Why hasn’t the city of Ottawa filled the I and M Canal with water yet for the skating pond? It has been below freezing for more than a week.


Q. “Recently I was reading an article here in The Times concerning the Red Stocking Fund. Was this fund expanded to the Streator area? If so, why does Ottawa people who donate and businesses who also donate, why does the monies have to go to Streator? Why can’t the donations stay in Ottawa? Why can’t the Streator area start their own private Red Stocking Fund?”


Q: While having drinks at a local bar recently my friend brought up a good question. How does a person consider themselves “on the wagon” when a wagon is originally the transportation of beer/alcohol?


Q. Does the Streator High School Bulldog mascot have a name?


Q: Is it true that during the early stage of the game of baseball, that the first team to score 21 runs was the winner? In all my years of playing and coaching I never heard of this until this week.


Q: I’m curious. Body counts after natural disasters seem to be such an important feature of the news reports these days. But I can’t say that I’ve seen a body count for Hurricane Katrina in awhile. Has it been determined that a finite number of people were killed by the storm, or is the number such that a count either has been suspended or it is not possible to issue a final body count?


Q. Why is the mascot for the Ottawa Township High School Pirates named Sudsy?


Q. Was there a small earthquake in Ottawa around 1 p.m. Thursday? I really felt something. (The Times had more than one person call with this question.)


Q. What are the hours for Santa Claus in Streator?


Q. Where can I find an updated list of war casualties?


Q. What is going to happen to the old Streator fire station on East Main Street?


Q. Why aren't Streator residents eligible for the free medical clinic in Ottawa?


Q. Is it illegal to rake or blow leaves into the street in Ottawa?


Q. Where can I get a schedule for the mini-buses in Ottawa, and why do I see the buses following each other?


Q: How can a person find what is on a City Council meeting agenda prior to the meeting in Streator and Ottawa? Are agendas posted anywhere?


Q. Where can I find out about Ottawa Township High School on the Internet?


Q. There was an article in The Times-Press in 1973, and I want to get a copy. How do I get one?


Q. Who moved into the old Epworth Methodist Church on East Campbell Street in Ottawa?


Q. I have wondered for some time now where I can get a picture dealing with the history of the city of Ottawa. I have lived here in Ottawa all my life. I have many articles from the paper, pictures and post cards. I am wondering about the lateral canal in Ottawa. I remember as a child walking across the railroad bridge of the CB&Q at Jackson Street over the lateral canal. I have two articles of the time it was removed — about 1956. I am looking for a picture of this crossing. Maybe someone has a photo showing that lateral canal and the bridge across it. I would appreciate it.


Q. Some time ago I heard that you could buy bricks that were going to be used in a monument in Streator. Whatever happened with that and can I still buy bricks?


Q. My son, who had to turn in a leaf collection at school, was thrilled to find that many trees in Ottawa’s Allen Park have plaques in the ground that spell out the kind of tree. What’s the story behind those plaques that have helped hundreds of students?


Q. What do I do with my old eyeglasses? I hate to just throw them away if there is someone who could use them.


Q. When the leaves start coming down, how do I get rid of them in Ottawa, Marseilles and Seneca?


Q. With the leaves falling, what days can we burn leaves in Streator?


Q. What is going on along Ottawa Avenue with all the pipes laying in the median strip?


Q. Why is New Orleans called "The Big Easy?"


Q. With continued commercial and residential expansion along east Etna Road, the traffic has also increased. Are there any plans for widening that road?


Q. In your Sept. 30 issue of The Times there was a story about a former service station in Streator needing to be razed after a fire. This front page article said that for liability reasons, the owner must demolish the rest of the building because it is a hazard in its current condition. Also she must tear down the building in 15 days. Why is this situation any different than the “Jordan block” situation? We Ottawans have been looking at the burnt out group of buildings for more than seven years. Please give me a sensible reason for allowing these building owners to not have to get rid of these eyesore properties.


Q. A sign just south of Ottawa reads "Reward $250 228-2581." Why is the reward being offered?


Is there a radio station in or near the Streator area with the call letters WALT?


Q. What is happening at the Save-A-Lot store on Ottawa’s South Side?


Q: How much of the price of a gallon of gas is taxes? Does it change as the price goes up or is it a fixed amount? Is Illinois different?


Q: Are there any hurricane victims getting transported to Illinois? If so, where should we take supply donations?


Q: I was recently told that this is the last Daylight Saving Time. Is this true?




Back To Ask The Times Main Page
Submit A Question:

Name 
Email 

"I have a question for ask me anything!"
"I have an answer for ask me anything!"

Question or answer for "Ask me anything about the Ottawa-Streator Area!"

Visit other SNG news sites:
QCOnline.com · MyWebTimes.com · Daily-Journal.com · Post-Bulletin.com · LakeMagazine.com

This web site and server is updated and maintained by The Times, 110 W Jefferson St., Ottawa, Ill., 61350; (815) 433-2000

Copyright © The Times, LLC, All Rights Reserved


Submit A Question:

Name 
Email 

"I have a question for ask me anything!"
"I have an answer for ask me anything!"

Question or answer for "Ask me anything about the Ottawa-Streator Area!"


Local events heading
Submit event | Search events


 

Visit our other local sites: Daily-Journal.com | QCOnline.com | PostBulletin.com

Copyright 2009 The Times Company All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy