Catch up on the week’s top Illinois Valley news in minutes for June 28-July 4. Hear the week’s 5 most popular stories, read aloud for you

The cast of Putnam County Community Theatre’s “Shrek the Musical” will visit Hennepin Library on Tuesday, July 7 at 6 p.m. for a family-friendly preview event.

Starved Rock Country Community Foundation honored 21 scholarship recipients at a reception Monday in Ottawa, awarding funds through 13 different scholarships.

Illinois Valley Community College will host an open house July 15 at 2 p.m. to introduce prospective students to campus programs and student life.

A free support group for people managing diabetes or helping family members will meet July 9 in Mendota.

A rural La Salle County man is dead after opening fire Saturday on sheriff’s deputies who attempted to serve him with a warrant.

O’Sadnick speculated that zero-visibility conditions precluded the drivers from gauging the depth of the standing water.

Joseph Steffen, an agricultural teacher at Newark High School, has been named the 2025-2026 Illinois Ag Educator of the Year by Nationwide and the Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers.

Young explorers are invited to travel millions of years back in time during Illinois Extension’s Fossil Fun program July 31 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Putnam County Library – Granville Branch.

Putnam County Rotary Club celebrated its year of service June 18 at the Clover Club in Mark, installing new leadership and recognizing community members for exemplifying the organization’s motto of “service above self.”