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🌱 See what sub-$200,000 homes just sold in Ottawa and nearby towns

Ottawa, Illinois Patch AM: a 4 min read

Hello Ottawa! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • See what sub-$200,000 homes just sold in Ottawa and nearby towns
  • Why Starved Rock and Matthiessen suddenly saw fewer visitors this June
  • Ottawa community mourns the passing of Woody Michael Gage

Also on today's calendar: Ottawa’s Third Friday Artisan Market — Starved Rock Candle Works and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: What kind of shoes do frogs wear? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Ottawa Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Ottawa Patch AM possible.
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Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: A morning shower; more humid, with a high of 81 and low of 68 degrees.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 89, low: 75. 🌶 Hot!
  • Monday: Humid with a t-storm possible, with a high of 96 and low of 70 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• What can $200,000 buy you in La Salle County, July 13 to 19? (shawlocal.com) — Recent home sales under $200,000 in La Salle County include two Ottawa properties, giving locals a concrete look at what smaller homes are actually selling for. The piece details prices, square footage, and lot sizes for Ottawa, La Salle, Oglesby, and Streator, all recorded the week of July 13.
   

• Summer slowdown at the state parks? (shawlocal.com) — Visitor numbers at nearby Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks have dipped this June, with weather alerts, heat, and trail construction all discouraging Chicago-area day trippers from visiting the Illinois Valley. Local tourism leaders say most trails, including Ottawa Canyon, remain open and are urging residents and visitors alike to rediscover the parks despite recent closures.
   

• 'Woody' Michael Gage, 70, of Ottawa (1430wcmy.com) — Ottawa is mourning the passing of 70-year-old “Woody” Michael Gage, a longtime resident and retired member of Laborer’s Local 393 known for his humor, cooking, and love of hunting and fishing. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of life on August 22 at the American Legion Dugout, as his loved ones remember his warmth and many friendships.
   

📸 Around Ottawa

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Ottawa

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📣 Ottawa Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hi everyone
    I enjoy traveling, cooking, exploring local places, and meeting new people. I’m excited to be part of this community and look forward to getting to… (Nextdoor Downtown Ottawa)
  • Absolutely amazing job done by Autum Sucher and her team.
    I hired them to make all this go away. What you can't see . . . beneath the lumber frame were bricks and PVC piping all the way around the garden. … (Nextdoor Early)
  • NFI Industries posted a job opening for Non-CDL Spotter in Ottawa. Apply here.
  • Thorntons LLC posted a job opening for Food Service Manager in Ottawa. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ottawa here.

🗞 Nearby News

Marseilles

Seneca

  • 12 years for Decatur man accused of forcing woman into prostitution (jg-tc.com)

Oglesby

  • Green Thumb Production Supervisor in Oglesby, IL (syracuse.com)

Ok Ottawa! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Open-toad (Thank you Harold W. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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Stay in the loop with what's happening in Ottawa

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Ottawa

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.