Tom Collins

Reporter at Shaw Local

Reporter for Shaw Media. Married to Carol, dual U.S.-Irish citizen, Rutgers graduate and 4th Degree knight.

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Articles

Stewart, Utica trustees sworn back into office

6 days ago | shawlocal.com | Tom Collins

The Utica Village Board still needs one trustee – Kylie Mattioda’s trustee seat remains vacant – but otherwise the board returns intact. Thursday, the oath of office was administered to Utica Village President David Stewart and returning trustees Debbie Krizel, Pete Pawlak and Jim Schrader. All were unopposed at the April 1 elections.
Marseilles man to remain in jail after police say he didn’t put down gun in Streator park

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Tom Collins

A Marseilles man will be detained after he allegedly refused to put down a handgun Tuesday at Streator City Park and then led police on a foot chase. Kegan J. Sears, 28, appeared Thursday in La Salle County Circuit Court and was presented with three felony charges led by armed violence, a Class X felony carrying a special sentencing range of 15 to 30 years with no possibility of probation.
Judge recuses herself from Streator man’s Class X weapon case

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Tom Collins

A Streator man facing bank robbery and firearm charges still needs a lawyer – Charles Spencer will need a new judge, too. Spencer, 30, appeared Thursday in La Salle County Circuit Court for a detention hearing, which was postponed when Spencer indicated he’s still seeking private counsel. La Salle County Circuit Judge Michelle A. Vescogni agreed to the continuance and ordered him to return May 15. The May 15 hearing will be before another judge.
Folk artist to play Mother’s Day show at Princeton church

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Tom Collins

Open Prairie United Church of Christ in Princeton will host a free concert by folk artist Bobby Jo Valentine at 7 p.m. on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11. Valentine is a singer/songwriter from California who has performed festivals and conferences around the country. He has won Songwriter of the Year at the West Coast Songwriter’s Association and several other awards. His music has been featured in commercials, feature films, wedding ceremonies, and his greatest honor–YouTube videos with puppies.
Spring Valley letter carriers to stamp out hunger

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Tom Collins

The second Saturday in May is USPS Letter Carriers annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. This is the nation’s largest single-day food drive, having collected over a billion pounds of food since it began in 1993. Residents of Spring Valley will receive postcards asking them to participate. On Saturday, May 10, volunteers will be headquartered at the Food Pantry, 500 N. Terry St., Spring Valley, as well as following carriers collecting donations.
NCI ARTworks to show works of Jagitsch, Jandrey on May 9

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Tom Collins

NCI ARTworks will host an opening reception for the month-long exhibition of art by award-winning artists Matt Jagitsch and Ryan Jandrey from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 9, at the NCI ARTworks Gallery at Westclox in Peru. Jagitsch grew up in Jacksonville, Illinois, where he discovered his love of art and found himself using it as an escape into a world of fantasy and interpretation.
Ex-basketball star Chris Herren talks recovery at IVCC

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Tom Collins

Former NBA player Chris Herren appeared Wednesday to Illinois Valley Community College to tell local students about his recovery from substance abuse. Herren, 49, was a standout high school basketball player from Massachusetts heavily recruited by top Division I programs but steadily succumbed to drug abuse. Despite many failed collegiate drug tests, he was drafted by the Denver Nuggets and briefly played with his hometown Boston Celtics before his off-court issues derailed his career.
From teenage rebel to respected teacher: Fisher uses auto shop to prepare students for the workforce, for life

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Tom Collins

Mike Fisher has a two-pronged approach to teaching auto shop. When his kids get something wrong in the garage, he makes them do it again. And again. And again. Once the job is finished, then comes Fisher’s second and more important task: Encourage them. Thank them. Tell them they did a good job.
Trinity Catholic’s Dominic Giacobazzi turned a passion for sports into teaching

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Tom Collins

If you told him he’d be a teacher one day, Dominic Giacobazzi might have laughed. His dream was to be a sports trainer and he did, in fact, earn a degree in sports management. But a funny thing happened on the way to an NFL training room. Giacobazzi honed his sports career by teaching kids basketball and flag football at the Illinois Valley YMCA. He liked it. “The best part of the job was being around the kids,” Giacobazzi recalled.
Streator arsonist charged with new felony

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Tom Collins

A Streator man on probation for arson – he had set fire to the New Brite Spot in Ottawa in 2023 – has been arrested on a new felony. John F. Smith will be held in La Salle County Jail. Smith, 45, was charged with felony retail theft more than $300 at 12:34 p.m. Tuesday in the 2400 block of North Bloomington Street, Streator police said. Among the items recovered were a crossbow and arrows. The charge is a Class 2 felony carrying three to seven years in prison.