M-P conservation district reschedules smart wetland field day

Shaw Local News Network

Those who missed the June 29 field event to see and learn about a smart wetland now will have another chance to see it because of the derecho that hit on the day of the event.

The Marshall-Putnam Soil and Water Conservation District and the Wetlands Initiative have rescheduled the evening event for 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, outside of Henry, located near the intersection of Marshall County Road 500 E. and County Road 1400 N. along the Scholes Branch Creek.

Visitors can visit the ag tile-treatment wetland and talk with the farmer, Rex Newton, and the wetland designer, Jill Kostel. In addi -

Obituaries

Wendy Rae Welch

Born: June 14, 1971 in Kankakee, IL

Died: July 5, 2023 in Putnam, IL

Wendy Rae Welch, 52, of Putnam, Illinois passed away unexpectedly on July 5, 2023, of natural causes related to longterm medical issues.

Wendy was born on June 14, 1971, to Raymond John and Barbara Jean [Hargis] Welch in Kankakee, Illinois.

Wendy attended St. Paul’s Lutheran grade school. After graduating from high school in Kankakee, she went on to study at Illinois State University and Northern Arizona University where she earned a BS in Nursing. After graduation Wendy worked as a registered nurse in Arizona for several years, followed by a career in management. She returned to Illinois in 2009 to be closer to family. She was a member of the Daughters of the Amer- tion, a series of displays will explain how TWI develops an ag-tile treatment wetland, how wetlands remove nitrogen and phosphorus, and how effective Smart Wetlands are at removing nitrate from ag-tile drainage water. ican Revolution Chief Senachwine Chapter and board member and recording secretary of the Illinois Lakes Management Association. At the time of her death, she was lake manager for the Lake Thunderbird Association in Putnam, Illinois.

There also will be the opportunity to enjoy the pollinator habitat surrounding the wetland.

This wetland was constructed in September 2021 and is now fully operational. M.K. Farm Drainage Specialists built the 1.83-acre wetland at McCuskey Farms under the direction of the M-P SWCD and TWI through their Smart Wetlands program.

For information and a location map, visit smartwetlands.farm/ smartwetland5.

Wendy was preceded in death by her father, Raymond, stepfather William Robison, and nephew Nicholas Welch. She is survived by her mother, Barbara Welch Robison, brother Wes Welch [wife Beth], nephew Elijah Welch, stepbrother Robert Robison [wife Renae], stepsister Rebecca Robison [husband Jeremy Learned], her beloved chihuahua Phoebe, and many other family members and friends who love her and will miss her greatly.

A memorial open house will be held at the Lake Thunderbird Club House on October 21, 2023, from 1-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Putnam County Food Pantry, c/o Granville National Bank, 328 S. McCoy Street, Granville IL 61326, an organization and cause about which Wendy felt strongly.

Continued from page 3 with our preparation to open this new OSF campus as quickly as possible,” Querciagrossa said. “Our goal is to preserve and sustain access to high quality, local health care for the residents of the Illinois Valley.

“Our Ministry is pleased to welcome so many former St. Margaret’s Health employees as new OSF Mission Partners,” he said. “They know these communities so well and will help OSF going forward in continuing to serve the Illinois Valley with the greatest care and love.”

St. Margaret’s Health had announced the closures citing financial strains common among rural hospitals, which were worsened by the pandemic and the resulting shortage of healthcare workers, as well as a computer hack that crippled billing.

The twin closures set off an array of worries headaches for patients in the west end of La Salle County and eastern Bureau County – many patients still are waiting to learn when and where their primary care providers will reopen – and lawmakers pledged to facilitate the regulatory process to get the Peru hospital open as soon as possible.

Michael Henderson, with OSF HealthCare, said the completion of the Peru hospital sale is tentatively slated for the end of August, but factors OSF HealthCare officials can’t control could put the purchase on hold.

“We have learned since then that St. Margaret’s organization is considering options, including bankruptcy, that will impact our timeline,” Henderson said. “At that point it will be out of OSF’s control and in the hands of a bankruptcy court. We will be prepared to close the transaction and after that operationalize the hospital as soon as we are able to receive the asset from St. Margaret’s.”

How to submit: Send obituary information to putnamobits@shawlocal.com or call 815-632-2534. Notices are accepted until 5 p.m. Friday for Wednesday’s edition. Obituaries also appear online at shawlocal.com/putnam-county-record, where you may sign the guest book, send flowers or make a memorial donation.