Riker Fesperman of La Salle is the winner of Illinois Valley Community College’s 2024 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Essay Writing Contest.

The director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources hopes construction on the Matthiessen State Park annex will begin next year.

Eakas Corp. in Peru purchased 80 acres from the Illinois Valley YMCA for $2 million, and a company official confirmed an expansion that will mean new jobs.

St. Bede sophomore Lily Bosnich is starring in track and softball, Bureau Valley's Landon Hulsing is competing in uncommon combo of high jump and discus, Henry-Midland's James Braun tried high jump and found a new talent and more in the NewsTribune track and field notebook.

Black Bros. – a 140-year-old, sixth-generation family business – began progress on an additional 18,000 square feet of manufacturing space at its headquarters in late February.

The Oglesby American Legion, 410 Clark St., will host its monthly fish fry 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 3.

The Illinois Valley Hispanic Partnership Council will be hosting its annual Cinco de Mayo festival at 5 p.m. Friday, May 3, at Northbrook Middle School, 1804 Guiles Ave., Mendota. There is no fee for entrance to the event.

The Peru Public Library, 1409 11th St., will host its teen game night 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 3.

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The Illinois Valley Rugby Club hosted a youth festival (tournament) Sunday at Veterans Park in Peru with teams and players from Chicago, Elmhurst, Joliet and Morris, among other communities.