1 Front Volume 140 No. 14
Friday, May 31, 2013
The Tonica News
Single Copy Cost 50¢
Tonica helps in Vermilion rescue By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@tonicanews.com
UTICA – Rescue crews from all over the Illinois Valley were called to the Vermilion River around 10 p.m. May 27 to rescue people stranded by rising floodwaters. Two rescue sites were involved, one
near the Lowell quarry and the other one-half mile north. Sixteen people were taken by ambulance to Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru, St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Ottawa and St. Mary’s Hospital in
Streator. All of the victims were either treated and released or transported, although Tonica Fire and Ambulance spokesman Rick Turri reported none of the injuries were critical. Hypothermia was the main issue. The Illinois Conservation Police were the first
to respond, and a general call for assistance brought rescue teams from Tonica, Lostant, Utica, Oglesby, Peru, LaSalle, Putnam County and Grand Ridge. The call also brought in the MABAS 25 Tactical Rescue Team and the Swift Water Rescue Teams as well as water
rescue teams from Oglesby and Ottawa. The Illinois State Police and Putnam County Sheriff Department assisted. Some local bystanders tried to assist in rescue efforts resulting in one personal craft capsizing. A boat from the Ottawa Water Rescue unit also
capsized during the rescue efforts. The last of the victims was retrieved from the sites by 12:35 a.m. May 28, with the last rescue unit leaving the site at 1:45 a.m. The incident is under investigation, and full details were not available at press time.
A day of remembering ... By Elin Arnold news@tonicanews.com
TONICA – The rainy, damp weather did not stop the community of Tonica from remembering the fallen soldiers who have fought for Americans’ freedom throughout the decades, with a focus on two in particular. Pfc. Cody Calkins and Sgt. Mike Puetz were remembered by classmate and fellow Vietnam veteran Tom Guilandi at Tonica’s Memorial Day Services held May 26. “How could we ever forget Cody driving his 442 Oldsmobile with the top down, always giving rides to anyone who needed them?” Guilandi said in his main address to the community. “And Mike, that ear-to-ear smile and signature laugh, playing the guitar. He always wanted to join a rock band.” Calkins was killed in Vietnam as the result of a land mine explosion, and Puetz lost his life in a helicopter crash while on a reconnaissance mission on the Cambodian border. “We need to continue to educate our youth, so future generations will remember,” Guilandi said. The day began with an open house at Russell Zenor Post 260 where the Gold Star Wall section for these two veterans was
Tonica News photo/Elin Arnold
Veterans Doug Grieve (left to right), Bob Hobneck Jr., Jim Goodbred, Jim Ebner and Larry Roberson look over a scrapbook of memories in front of the Gold Star Wall at Russell Zenor Post 260 in downtown Tonica during the open house held before the Memorial Day Services on May 26. unveiled. More than 50 Legionnaires and fellow classmates were joined by community members gathered to remember the two young soldiers. Services were held inside at Tonica Grade School due to the weather with a crowd of more than 200 in attendance.
Rick Keating of the 104th Illinois Civil War Reenactment group read the names of the Civil War veterans buried in Tonica, and Mark Baer recited the Gettysburg Address. The L-P Marching Band, under the direction of Kyle Adelmann, played the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
After Guilandi gave the main address, a special floral remembrance was placed at the cross for the Vietnam veterans by Karen Christman, sister of Cody Calkins. There was a special dedication ceremony for a 50-star American flag used during the Vietnam
conflict. Participants were Vietnam veterans and fellow members of the Class of 1967 with Calkins and Puetz — Don (Joker) Topolski Jr., Chuck Lewis, Bob King and Pat Ryan. The flag will be displayed on the Gold Star Wall at the Legion Hall. The LaSalle-Peru High
School band played the national anthem, and there was a gun salute followed by “Taps.” After the services at the grade school, an ice cream social was held at the Tonica United Methodist Church, sponsored by the Tonica United Methodist Women.
TGS approves maintenance project By Barb Kromphardt bkromphardt@tonicanews.com
TONICA – The Tonica Grade School Board approved a maintenance project at a special meeting May 23.
Superintendent John Suarez said the district needs to repair a hole where the concrete meets the blacktop outside of the west entrance. Water has built up in a crawl space under the
concrete. “This crawl space was for the old Quonset hut that used to be at the entrance of the west hallway,” Suarez said. “The concrete needs to be removed, filled with
gravel and then new concrete poured.” Suarez said an additional problem is the water that has built up under the crawl space has also caused a ventilation problem under the
Inside
Year 140 No. 14 One Section — 8 Pages
©The Tonica News
old locker rooms. “We are looking to fix the ventilation under the old locker rooms and use this as the bathroom for the autism program next year,” he said. In other business, the
Lostant Grade School Graduation
Tonica Grade School Graduation
See Page 2
See Page 2
board: • Approved the purchase of a 71-passenger bus with a wheelchair lift. • Approved the only milk bid received for the 2013-14 school year.