Putnam County Record_09062023

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Putnam County Rotary continues its good work in the community

Hi Putnam County Record readers, My year as Rotary President came to an end July 1, but I still would like to give you all a quick update about upcoming events planned for this year by President Adrian Shore and the board.

We are excited that we sold all 250 tickets for our 50/50 weekly drawing. We are now selling $10 Road Apple Bingo tickets, a fundraiser that will again be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, near the orchard during Boggio’s Fall Craft Show.

A huge thank you to Joe and Christine Migliorini for allowing us to continue to take part in the weekend to do this fundraiser. If anyone would like to purchase a ticket, with a chance to win $1,000, talk to rotary member.

Putnam County Junior High and High School parents and students are invited to attend the Back to School Rotary Interact picnic on at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, at Granville’s Hopkins Park to learn about the Interact Clubs at the schools.

Current Interact members will explain the clubs and their goals for the year. Students will have fun, learn about Rotary and, along with Rotary members, begin practicing “Service Above Self.”

Please call any Rotarian to let us know if you will attend so we can plan the food. Participation in Interact Club, is huge way for students to earn necessary community service hours.

Putnam County Rotary will be doing a monthly district food drive each month. In August, the club collected for the Backpack project, September will be donations for the Little Free Pantry at the PC Community Center in Standard and the Putnam County Food Pantry at the UCC Church will be the recipient of the club donations in October.

The same order will continue throughout the year. If anyone would like to donate please contact our Club at putnamcountyrotary@gmail.com for the items needed for the three food projects benefiting our county residents.

All donations will be weighed with the final total being shared at the end of the year. We are hoping to donate several hundred pounds of food by June.

At our Aug. 17 meeting, we were visited by last years’ District Governor, Laura Kann, who presented our club with two awards, the first one being a district award for completing all the

goals set at the beginning of the year, one of only 5 Clubs in District 6420 to earn this distinction.

The second award was for having the Best Service Project in District 6420, which was the Sunday Soup for Seniors project completed in February with over 600 Putnam County senior citizens receiving two soups made by Rotarians, crackers and cookies donated by the Interact Clubs.

A huge thank you to the Granville Hennepin Fire District, the Hennepin Fire Department, District Chief Neil Buffington and Hennepin Chief Quentin Buffington for helping and allowing us the use of the Hennepin Station to complete this fun project.

Please remember we are always looking for new members, volunteers and programs for our meetings.

The September meeting will be fellow Rotarian Toni Lucas from the Albany Club who will speak about human trafficking and the role and program rotary has dealing with this serious issue.

Thank you for all the support you give to the Putnam County Rotary Club. We hope to see a few parents and students at our Back to School Picnic Thursday at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the Hopkins Park Shelter in Granville. Remember, Service Above Self. Debbie Buffinton

Putnam County Rotary

Putnam County School District 535 seeks community input via survey

Dear PC 535 Community, We are off and rolling with the 20232024 school year. Student learning is already soaring in all four schools thanks to our amazing teachers and staff.

This great start builds off of the success and accomplishments from the past few years. A few of these points of pride are as follows:

• Putnam County Primary School and Putnam County Elementary School both received “exemplary” designations by the State, meaning they are rated within the top 10% of all schools in Illinois.

• Putnam County Junior High has updated supports and resources for student learning leading to improvements with the school’s designation by the State.

• Putnam County High School has expanded on college and career based courses to help students prepare for

issues. Letters must include the author’s full name, home address and day and evening telephone numbers. We limit letters to 250 words and one published letter every 15 days. All letters are subject to editing for length and clarity at the sole discretion of the editor.Submitted letters must include the writer’s name, city of residence and telephone number.

success after graduation. The graduation rate is also the highest it’s been in recent history.

Along with these accomplishments, the district has also made the following improvements in the past two years:

• Partnered with the village of Granville to welcome a School Resource Officer and improve safety and security of all four schools

• Added athletic opportunities, including golf and cross country at PCJH and football and bowling as coop teams with Hall High School at PCHS

• Completed of a fiber optic project to provide reliable, high-speed Internet to all schools

• Developed a curriculum review process to ensure learning resources are updated on a regular basis

While these accomplishments and updates are worth celebrating, we continue to look forward and seek improvement at PC #535. These improvements are not possible without the input, support and collaboration of the community.

Therefore, the district will be sending a survey via USPS during the last two weeks of September to all homes within its boundaries to gather feedback on our schools and future areas of focus.

Along with feedback on planning for the future, there is a need to seek your input on the school buildings.

Over the last year, the district partnered with Cadence Consulting to complete an assessment of the facilities. Findings from this process show that all four buildings are in need of significant improvements to building systems, safety and security and learning spaces.

We are now at a crossroads and must consider if we should continue to invest in existing buildings or begin closing schools while expanding onto or replacing others.

We understand that planning for our schools must reflect the priorities of the community and invite you to share your insights by completing the survey.

If you have questions about the survey or would like more information about the facilities assessment, we encourage you to visit the district website. You can also send an email to info@pcschools535.org.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and schools.

Dr. Clayton Theisinger Superintendent, Putnam County School District 535

Putnam County Libraries partner with PC Community Center to offer memory kits

anyone to check out are on Starved Rock and on local coal mining.

The Putnam County Public Library District has partnered with the Putnam County Community Center to create memory kits for early stage dementia and alzheimer’s individuals, their families and caregivers. The kits that will be available for

Each kit contains caregiver resources, playaway launchpad, books, photos and toys to help.

All that is needed to check out a kit is a library card. You do not need to be a Putnam County resident to check out a kit.

Photos by Photo provided by Matt Miller

ABOVE: The Putnam County Public Library District has partnered with the Putnam County Community Center to create memory kits for early stage dementia and Alzheimer’s individuals, their families and caregivers. LEFT: The kits that will be available for anyone to check out are on Starved Rock and local coal mining.

A CLOSER LOOK Project underway to unite Illinois and Michigan, Hennepin canal trails

Marquis Energy provides $100K for study as trail connector group forms

By DEREK BARICHELLO dbarichello@shawmedia.com

The Starved Rock Country region is one step closer to linking the Illinois and Michigan Canal trail and the Hennepin Canal trail with a recreational path of its own.

Closing the 15-mile gap between the two canal trails has been a goal of the region dating back to the 1990s and fulfills its role in a national mission of creating a 3,700-mile trail that extends from Washington, D.C., to Washington state.

The nonprofit group Canal Trail Connector Inc., led by co-chairmen Jay McCracken and Bob Eschbach – with former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and state Sens. Sue Rezin and Win Stoller also aboard –announced Tuesday in La Salle that it has taken the first step by commissioning an engineering firm to begin a feasibility study, which is critical to attracting federal, state and private funds for the project.

Marquis Energy of Hennepin donated $100,000 to get the feasibility study underway.

“No. 1 is the study,” said LaHood,

who served in Congress for 14 years. “We need to figure out the costs and the relationships with freight trains and identify the advocacy groups that may want to support the project.”

The study will take about seven months to complete, La Hood said. He and Jim Nowlan, who also is a member

of the Canal Trail Connector group, will meet with freight railroad officials to discuss the project because most of the preliminary proposed routes would run adjacent to their lines.

The study also will give the project an opportunity to vie for funding from the recently passed $1 trillion federal

transportation bill, LaHood said. “We’re happy to support this project and be a part of it as members of this team,” Dustin Marquis of Marquis Energy said. “We’re excited to see the next steps.”

See TALE OF TWO TRAILS on page 6

Derek Barichello

Canal Trail Connector Inc. members Todd Volker (from left), co-chair Jay McCracken, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, co-chair Bob Eschbach, Inga Carus, Nancy Naylor, Dustin Marquis and Jim Nowlan pose for a photo Tuesday in front of an Illinois and Michigan Canal mural at Lock 14 in La Salle. The group’s goal is to connect the trails of the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the Hennepin Canal. ON THE COVER: An aqueduct carries the Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail over the Little Vermilion River (photo by Tom Sistak for Shaw Local News Network).

Fire chiefs tell U.S. Rep. staff shortages, less funding causing concerns

By MARIBETH M. WILSON mwilson@shawmedia.com

Fire departments across Northern Illinois are feeling the pinch of staff shortages and less funding, causing stakeholders across the state to set up a task force to look for solutions.

Those issues have been elevated in the Illinois Valley, where hospital closures in Peru and Spring Valley have led to longer emergency responses. Instead of those first responders taking a patient to Peru or Spring Valley, the emergency medical staff/firefighters are traveling farther to Ottawa, Mendota or Princeton.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood.

D-Naperville, met with fire officials from across the 14th Congressional District on Thursday at the Illinois Valley Community College Conference Center for them to express their concerns and ask how they can work together to apply for federal funding, community project funding and grant programs.

Spring Valley Fire Chief Todd Bogatitus said with the city’s hospital closure and the lack of volunteers in the community, he has applied for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant to hire

three full-time firefighters, but if his department doesn’t receive it, he said the community will be in a “life or death” situation. He said he is concerned about the future of the ambulance service in Spring Valley. 10/33 Ambulance, which serves Spring Valley, intends to be there for residents, said its Board President Barry Welbers.

Several chiefs expressed concerns over response times in their communities. Andy Jackson, director of Putnam County Emergency Medical Service, asked what officials can do to receive reimbursement to remain operational.

“When that truck goes out we have to bring people in and that means payroll goes up, fuel usage goes up, wear and tear, and the vehicles go up,” Jackson said.

Bogatitus asked if communities could get help receiving federal funding.

Underwood said her office will supply letters of support or follow-ups with agencies, but it’s a good idea for officials to notify her office if their community is applying for federal grants.

“Sometimes we find out that folks are applying for things and don’t know that there might be another fund or another opportunity that they are better suited for,” she said.

The Ottawa Fire Department will

receive a $731,849 SAFER grant to hire more staff in response to the closure of Spring Valley and Peru hospitals, Underwood said. The SAFER program provides funds to help fire departments hire additional firefighters, rehire or retain firefighters facing

budget-related layoffs and recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.

OSF is in the process of reopening a hospital in Peru, having recently gained the state’s go-ahead. The hospital chain now is working on finalizing the sale with previous owner St. Margaret’s.

A question was asked of Underwood about the financial issues St. Margaret’s faced leading to its closure and how to avoid it in the future.

“Not only how do we do that, but how do we diversify the health care system in this region so that if that next hospital system finds itself having some financial challenges all of us and our babies don’t have to suffer?” Underwood said, acknowledging the issue.

Underwood said her staff spends time “really digging into” and trying to understand what federal grant opportunities may be available for local municipalities in her district.

“They’re working really closely with either mayors or village presidents or staff or the county level staff to try to get folks well equipped to apply,” Underwood said. “Recently, we had a big opportunity to celebrate last week when the city of Ottawa secured over $700,000 in a FEMA grant.”

See UNDERWOOD, page 8

Maribeth Wilson – mwilson@shawmedia.com

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) met with fire officials Thursday from the 14th Congressional District for them to express their concerns. The meeting was at Illinois Valley Community College.

• TALE OF TWO TRAILS

Continued from page 4

Former Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach said he is excited about the additional recreational opportunity this will provide the region, stimulating tourism and economic development and adding to residents’ quality of life. The trail will further showcase the region’s scenery, especially along the Illinois River.

The trail will connect the western terminus of the Illinois and Michigan Canal trail at La Salle to the eastern end of the Hennepin Canal trail along the Illinois River near the village of Bureau.

Todd Volker, who is a member of the Canal Trail Connector group, said the project dates back to 1992, when former County Board member Bill Brown of Utica approached the Carus corporation with the idea of using rail property the company owned as a way to connect the canal trails. Blouke Carus, who had served on the Canal Corridor Association, was interested in the project.

“It adds value to our area’s tourism offerings, and it makes our area more attractive to outside investment,” Volker said.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources assigned a staffer in 1993 to explore the idea. The idea

grew to become the Grand Illinois Trail. This proposed 575-mile loop trail across northern Illinois included a southern portion as a trail connecting the Illinois and Michigan and Hennepin canal trails.

The Grand Illinois Trail runs from Chicago to the Quad Cities, north along the Mississippi River to Galena, and then back through Rockford on its way to the suburbs and downtown Chicago.

“Our area has always held the missing link,” Volker said.

Volker said the IDNR has endorsed the trail connector project, but it lacked the resources to pursue it fully.

Recently, LaHood and Nowlan met with Inga Carus, president and CEO of Carus LLC and also a member of the Canal Trail Connector group, and the idea of using the Rock Island railroad line as a connector was discussed enthusiastically.

“There’s only one way I know to get something done [and] that [is] somebody has to take the lead,”

LaHood said. “Someone has to wake up every day and say, ‘What’s the next thing we need to do to move forward?’ ”

LaHood said this group has that energy, and it has moved efficiently.

The connector group is collaborating with the Washington, D.C.-based Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, which has decades of experience creating trails across the nation.

“These trails make it safe for people to walk, bike and be active outside while creating more local and regional opportunities for tourism, recreation and economic growth,” the group said in a news release Tuesday.

The group is aware of the growing attraction around outdoor recreational activity. About 115 million Americans walk for fitness each year, and the number has been growing. The Great American Rail-Trail is expected to see 2.1 million annual trips and $18.8 million in annual visitor spending along the Illinois route alone, studies have shown.

“Closing the 15-mile gap between the two canals will be like putting the buckle on the belt of this coast-tocoast trail, which is more than 60% complete right now,” Eschbach said.

The board includes McCracken, Eschbach, Carus, Nowlan, Volker, LaHood, Rezin, Marquis and Nancy Naylor, chief of staff for Stoller.

Julie Barichello – jbarichello@shawmedia.com

The Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail east of La Salle shows a 93-mile marker for Split Rock.

IVCC makes campus updates ahead of 2023-24 school year

IVCC approves $25.8 million balanced operating budget

SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK

Students returned to the Illinois Valley Community College campus for classes Wednesday.

At Thursday’s IVCC board meeting, President Tracy Morris used the opportunity to highlight updates meeting made to the campus, including the completion of the Medical Assisting lab and the Nursing Simulation spaces. She lauded student success in registered nursing passage rates and pinning ceremonies in July. The newly opened food bank on campus was introduced and the continuing education camps are reaching out to students in the community. The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity grant provides for updates to the facilities and curriculum for the Early Childhood Education program, which have made a positive impact in this program area, Morris said.

The IVCC board gave final approval following a public hearing Thursday to a $39 million budget, including a $25.8 million balanced operating budget for fiscal year 2024.

IVCC has joined several purchasing consortia with the state of Illinois, the Illinois Community College System and other higher education institutions for purchasing items that have been through a bidding process by the consortia.

The board approved elevator maintenance services from ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corp., Peoria, through the National Joint Powers Alliance at an annual cost of $32,637.

Additionally, the board approved an estimated $50,000 for fuel for the IVCC Truck Driver Training Program. Fuel is purchased at the pump and doesn’t lend well to a bidding process. The college continues to use WEX, Inc. to supply fuel cards for all of its vehicles, earning a 1.05% credit rebate for purchases.

In other business, the board authorized:

• The renewal of the Microsoft Software Maintenance and Support Agreement for $37,797 from Computer Discount Warehouse.

• The renewal of the Ferrilli Core System Service providing application support and maintenance for Colleague Environment for continued efficiency in managing operations, streamlining workflows and enhanc-

ing the college’s ability to serve students and stakeholders for $70,380.

• The purchase of the DarkTrace MDR solution for a three-year contract term to further increase the college’s network security to act within seconds with AI Analysis and automated response for immediate threats such as ransomware, malware and unsecured devices for a total of $73,500 over the life of the contract.

• The renewal of the CourseDog, IVCC’s course and room scheduling platform including Event Scheduler, Class Scheduler and Demand Analytics paid out of the fiscal year 2024 budget for $60,637.

• The purchase of the Trauma HAL adult simulator package, through Gaumard Simulators for Health Care Education, to enhance the learning experiences for the Paramedic and Emergency Medical Technician students for $71,540. This purchase, including a simulator with associated software, a three-year service warranty, installation and in-service training will be funded through the Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce grant.

• The purchase of furniture for one of the college’s largest classrooms, D-228, from Henricksen, Peoria, funded by the Early Childhood Access Consortium grant, through the OMNIA Partners and NCPA purchasing cooperatives at a cost not to exceed $37,620.

• Engineering design services for a salt shed through Chamlin and Associates for $24,000.

• The appointment of Greg

Whightsil as the industrial maintenance and electricity instructor effective Aug. 14.

Trustees learned:

• Of the cancelation of the women’s basketball season because of a lack of players and coach resignation.

• Of Illinois Community College Board’s summary feedback report to President Morris with recommendations from fiscal year 2021 for suggested incorporation into the college’s ongoing reviews.

• That Admissions and Records appointed Meagan O’Boyle as administrative assistant and Karina Delgado resigned as information specialist.

• The extension of roles for Mary Beth Herron, Michelle Carboni and Nikki VanNielen in the office of Business Service and Finance for additional duties following the resignation of Matt Seaton through Sept. 28. Jim Carlson will extend his support of two days a week to transition all facility projects through Aug.31.

• With the closure of St. Margaret’s Health, IVCC will formally solicit a quote for athletic training services for the 2023-2024 academic year. Bridge services will be contracted by the former athletic trainer, Kayla Olson until a provider agreement is signed.

• To better align with the general student body code of conduct, amendments were made to the Student Athlete Code of Conduct as related to academic dishonesty.

• This summer, there were 161 graduates earning a total of 206 degrees and certificates with 18 licensed practical nurse graduates.

Continued from page 5

Underwood said while Ottawa’s grant was “right on time,” she understood the fire department needed more resources and faced a “variety of challenges and needs.”

Travis Siggers, acting division director of the Grant Division for FEMA Region 5, spoke Thursday about the process of applying for a grant, touching on the initial review and the importance of meeting the minimal requirements. After a grant application is reviewed it goes to the panel, obtains a score and goes to a second panel receives another score, then goes to a final decision.

Siggers said FEMA needs to work on providing departments with the reasons why they may not have been chosen for a specific grant.

“What we want to do with our divisions is to get out more in the community and really work with you, because some fire departments have a grant writer and some fire departments don’t have a grant writer,” Siggers said. “We are looking to get out there and help you with your application.”

Siggers said FEMA can’t tell departments if it’s a good application, but the agency can help with certain orders in the application because it is a competitive process.

The official also said if a department

has an unsuccessful application and they want to resubmit the next year, if the new application does not reflect the application requirements of the new fiscal year – it won’t be scored. He recommended webinars offered by FEMA to assist departments in applying.

Tim Glass, area director of USDA Area 1, spoke Thursday about the opportunities available from the USDA for rural areas.

Glass reminded attendees on Oct. 1 the agency will move to the 2020 census standards, so if a community had an increase in median household income, it should look into applying prior to Oct. 1.

Grant selection is based on medium household income and the health and safety of the community. Glass said the community facilities grants are up to $30,000 maximum.

Glass said the USDA will review items with any department and look through their projects with them. The answer may be no, but it’s what the agency is there for, he said. He also added working with city officials was an integral part of the process to ensure a project was a priority.

Underwood said her team was taking notes and wanted to hear from the attendees about “other needs.” Along

with staffing, how to apply for grants and the hospital closures in the Illinois Valley, fire chiefs in the district asked about the national test education standards and possibly separating tax increment financing districts and fire districts.

Underwood ended the summit by offering any assistance departments may need, whether it is questions on qualifying for a grant or discussing an idea for one.

“We’re here to have this conversation with you,” Underwood said. “But, you have to submit it. If you don’t, you can’t come in after the fact.”

Photo provided by Justin Kidd

U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville) met with fire officials Aug. 17 from across the 14th Congressional District to discuss their issues.

Second Story Teen Center seeks to build new facility

By JAYCE EUSTICE jeustice@shawmedia.com

On the first night of Second Story Teen Center’s existence in 2009, the group had four volunteers and two kids show up according to owners Jeff and Dana Van Autreve.

“We thought, ‘This is crazy, what are we doing?’” Jeff said. “But we stayed the course and did what we needed to do and now we are averaging over 150 kids per week that we are helping in different points of their lives.”

Since then, the organization has continued to stay on the course over the past 14 years that has led them to outgrow their original space above the Johnson’s Carpet Shoppe, at 1033 N. Main St. in Princeton.

Second Story Teen Center has since bought a property on the corner of Crown and South Main streets in Princeton and plans to construct a building that will enable them to service more kids in the area while continuing to work on their original mission.

“We started Second Story because of the teen suicide epidemic that was

happening in Bureau County,” Jeff said.

This mission had led Second Story Teen Center to develop and become a community-facing nonprofit organization that provides resources and afterschool programs to youth in grades six through 12.

Through their many years and the

1.844.244.7162

helm for Second Story Teen Center, it’s been the support of the community and the stories of the kids that they serve that have kept the organization growing.

“We hear so many life stories from these kids and in our hearts, we are all very proud that they get up every morning and do it all over again,”

Dana said. “Some of them, I don’t know how they have the strength to get through what they get through at such a young age.”

Jeff and Dana added all kids are welcome into their big Second Story Family regardless of their background, family, status or situation.

“The proof of it for me is that the kids keep coming back every night that we are open,” Dana said. “We are able to serve around 40 kids almost every night.”

Since 2009, Second Story Teen Center has expanded their services from just providing an after-school safe space for kids to a complete support center that houses a free food pantry that also includes hygiene and clothing items, offers transportation to and from the facility and now offers scholarships to teens seeking post-secondary education.

Food is served each night that they are open to make sure that the kids they serve do not go home hungry.

“There’s a lot of them that might not have a home-cooked meal,” Jeff said.

See SECOND STORY, page 12

Choose from 3 styles with multiple color

Scott Anderson

Volunteers and community members pose for a photo Aug. 16 where the future home of the Second Story Teen Center will be built at the intersection of Crown and South Main streets in Princeton.

SRCCF distributes $13,000 in arts grants

7 local arts, cultural organizations benefit

The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation recently distributed nearly $13,000 in grants through the Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund to seven local arts and cultural organizations.

The Foundation offers two cycles of grant funding each year in partnership with the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the National Endowment for the Arts, who provide a portion of the grant dollars available each year.

The Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund awarded the following grants in June:

Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, $2,325 for the Young Performers Competition;

Tiskilwa Historical Society, $1,000 for a downtown picture wall;

Stage 212 in La Salle, $3,250 for a “Little Shop of Horrors” prop and student director stipends;

Princeton Theater Group, $1,500 for its “Manhattan Dolls” plays;

Poco a Poco in Streator, $4,000 for the annual Youth Music Camp and Festival; NCI Artworks $500 for the Harm to Hope event; and

Richard Mautino Library in Spring Valley, $296 for a magician for its summer program.

“We are grateful for our significant partnership with the Illinois Arts Coun-

cil and the National Endowment for the Arts,” said SRCCF co-founder and board member Pamela Beckett.

In addition, through the generosity of individuals who have created Donor Advised Funds with the SRCCF, grants of nearly $21,000 have been awarded, bringing the combined total of grants to art and cultural organizations since the

inception of the SRCCF to $91,200.

For information, visit Arts of Starved Rock Country | SRCCF or contact fund manager Amanda Zehr at amanda@ srccf.org.

For information about SRCCF, visit www.srccf.org, or contact CEO Fran Brolley at 815-252-2906 or fran@ srccf.org.

Photo provided by Fran Brolley

Poco a Poco of Streator recently received $4,000 from the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation for its annual Youth Music Camp and Festival in Streator. Poco a Poco’s mission is to instill a lifelong love for music and the arts in young musicians.

IVCC expands food pantry, gives it new name

with a week’s groceries.

Illinois Valley Community College is expanding its campus food pantry to serve more students and is giving it a new name.

The Eagles’ Nest will be housed in CTC-202R, a resource room on the second floor of the Peter Miller Community Technology Center between the offices of Career Services and Counseling. The site was chosen because it is accessible and conveniently located down the corridor from other key support services such as Project Success, Continuing Education, Adult Education and Special Populations departments. An elevator to the main floor lobby is nearby.

A micro-pantry had been shelved in the IVCC Foundation Office, but stores and storage were limited and student need was growing beyond its supply, said Crystal Credi, IVCC Special Populations coordinator.

“More students need something more robust than a quick bite to eat at lunch,” she said.

“Surveys show that students sometimes eat less, skip meals, or do not have the means to purchase an ample

food supply. Circumstances can also put community food pantries out of reach because those students lack transportation or can’t come when the pantries are open.”

The new food resource center opened Aug. 16, the day classes began, and is available to IVCC students and students enrolled in Illinois High School diploma courses and English as a Second Language courses. Hours

and operation policies will be finalized and announced through ivcc.edu/specialpopulations. The room will be staffed by student workers and staff volunteers who undergo training in health and nutrition guidelines.

Students will check in to shop, choosing from canned foods, shelf-stable foods, cereals, snacks and nonperishable goods. They can choose enough for an afternoon snack or fill a bag

The Eagles’ Nest also will provide more choice than IVCC’s traditional food drives, Credi said.

Though successful, the drives resulted in a random selection and nutrition value and items were boxed uniformly without regard to individual tastes and needs.

IVCC President Tracy Morris said The Eagles’ Nest culminates a long effort.

“We have been working to identify ways we can continue to support our students as they face food insecurity. Food insecurity is a growing challenge for so many students and having an option on campus will support our students in new and meaningful ways,” Morris said.

Morris thanked everyone who made the food pantry a reality, including River Bend Food Bank for partnering with IVCC to make The Eagles’ Nest possible. River Bend is covering the cost of food.

The Davenport, Iowa-based River Bend Food Bank, which stocks hunger-relief agencies across 23 counties in Iowa and Illinois, supplies IVCC through the Hall Township Food Pantry in Spring Valley.

Illinois Valley Community College Community Relations

Photo provided by IVCC Community Relations Illinois Valley Community College student Kate Kelly, Special Populations coordinator Crystal Credi and employee Hannah Bowermaster load a cart to transfer the first supplies to The Eagles’ Nest.

• SECOND STORY

Continued from page 9

The organization’s newly planned facility will expand its capacity from 150 people to about 200, will be handicap accessible and include an updated kitchen to serve their hundreds of participants.

“This will open up a whole new era that we are unable to serve right now,” Jeff said. “We will also have more open room so they can have more space to do the different activities that we might have lined up for them.”

In the new facility, the organization hopes to expand its hours while offering a computer lab, quiet room, sewing room, meeting room, gaming room and more to the kids for free.

The growth also has enabled Second Story Teen Center to hire its first employee, a program director. This will allow the organization to create more programs, activities and opportunities for the kids that they serve.

For Jeff and Dana, the Second Story Teen Center always has been about meeting the need for a place kids can safely spend time at, while also helping helping them grow as individuals.

“A big thing is that they are building relationships with our adults and with themselves,” Dana said. “It’s amazing to us that they keep coming out, that they chose to come out.”

Since the organization announced that they would be creating a new facility, Jeff and Dana have been encouraged by the support they have continued to receive from the local community.

“The excitement level has been very encouraging,” Jeff said.

“I think that what we hear most is that they know Princeton needs something for the kids like this,” Dana said.

While in the process of creating the new facility, the Second Story Teen Center is seeking capital campaign sponsors and offers sponsorship packages ranging from $2,500 to $50,000, although donations of any sizes are accepted.

The organization is open to any volunteers that would like to assist in meal prep and serving, mentors, pantry stocking, arts and crafts, marketing, fundraising and more.

“It’s been great to have the community help and support us,” Jeff said.

For more information on the organization visit secondstoryteencenter. org, call 815-303-4111 or view its Facebook page at facebook.com/secondstoryprinceton.

Pick winning teams for every pro football matchup each week from Sept. 7 through the “Big Game” for a chance at weekly and end-of-season prizes. Set up public and private groups to compete against friends and family, (trash talking allowed!) plus, see how your picks compare to our area VIPs. It’s fun and FREE to play. Sign up today!

Scott Anderson

Bradyn Briddick shoots a game of pool Aug. 16 at the Second Story Teen Center above Johnson’s Carpet in Princeton.

We hear so many life stories from these kids and in our hearts, we are all very proud that they get up every morning and do it all over again. Some of them, I don’t know how they have the strength to get through what they get through at such a young age.”

Dana Van Autreve, co-owner of Second Story Teen Center

SPORTS

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: FIELDCREST DEF. PUTNAM COUNTY 25-13, 25-22

Fieldcrest tops Putnam County in straight sets

By KEVIN CHLUM kchlum@shawmedia.com

MINONK – The FIeldcrest volleyball team has a veteran roster with six seniors who all see significant time on the court.

That experience showed Tuesday.

The Knights responded to an early deficit in the first set and pulled out a close set to defeat Putnam County 25-13, 25-22 in a nonconference match.

In its home opener, Fieldcrest improved to 6-0 following a 5-0 start Saturday in winning the Hall Early Bird Tournament.

“We have some kids who are still learning. We’re still working out some of the kinks, but having the experience of having the kids back makes a difference,” Fieldcrest coach Cathy Sanders said about the 6-0 start. “Everybody is motivated. We have six seniors and they all see the court, so they just want to see things end out strong and have fun doing it.”

In the first set Tuesday, the Panthers scored the first five points with a run that included a thunderous kill by Maggie Richetta and an ace by Megan Wasilewski.

Allie Wiesenhofer

However, Fieldcrest senior Kaitlin White put down a kill to give the serve to classmate Bella Fortner, who rattled off an eight-point service run to give the Knights control. Fieldcrest senior Kaylin Rients put down three kills during the run.

“I feel just picking each other up and just resetting,” Fieldcrest senior Allie Wiesenhofer said about what the Knights did to respond to the early deficit. “If there’s a bad start, we always just say in the huddle, ‘OK, reset’ and we usually pick back up like normal.”

With a hard-swinging offense, the Knights stayed in command the rest of the way, pushing their lead to as large as 23-9.

“We just had a lot more momentum and so I think once we have the momentum we are more confident, so we swing harder and it kind of takes away from their confidence so they start to tip more,” Wiesenhofer said. “I think that was definitely what helped us in the first set.”

Richetta had a tip and a block late in the first set, but a Putnam County error ended the set.

“We had a really good start in the first five points and got a lot of fire, then we just really struggled the rest of the first set,” PC coach Amy Bell said. “They had a very aggressive offense. Ali does a great job on the outside. She hit down the line quite a few times and we haven’t seen that in a while, so we struggled with that.”

The Knights carried the momentum into the second set as they built an 8-2 lead with a run that included three kills and a block by Wiesenhofer and a tip and an ace by Rients.

Fieldcrest maintained a six-point lead at 13-7 before the Panthers started to claw back into the set, eventually tying it at 17 on a tip by Avery Moutray and taking the lead at 18-17 on an ace by Emma Bouxsein.

“What I was really impressed with was after a rough first set we had a lot of composure and came back with some changes in the second set, which really made a difference,” Bell said. “We used our strengths against them and it worked out well.

“I just flipped some hitters around

and I think the girls realized if we swung aggressively, then good things were going to happen. We were a little bit tip happy in the first set.”

The second set was tied at 18, 20 and 21 before Rients had a tip, a kill and a block on three straight plays to give the Knights a 24-21 lead. Fieldcrest finished the match on a Putnam County error.

“When we play Putnam County, I’m not sure what to expect because it’s a rivalry that starts in middle school and it carries over,” Sanders said. “It’s always kind of tense that way. It’s something I know people look forward to. It’s a good match for us though at this point of the season so we can see where we’re at and what we need to work on. They were smart. I give them a lot of credit. They knew exactly where to put the ball in terms of tipping and keeping us on our toes.”

Wiesenhofer finished with 10 digs, seven kills and two blocks, Rients had 10 kills and a pair of aces and Fortner had 15 assists.

For the Panthers (5-3), Richetta had seven digs, six kills and three blocks, while Wasilewski had 12 assists, six digs and six points.

PC ROUNDUP

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Somonauk tournament: Putnam County went 2-1 to place second at the Somonauk tournament Saturday, Aug. 26.

The Lady Panthers beat Somonauk (25-20, 25-23) and Leland (25-14, 25-11) and lost to Hinckley-Big Rock (25-20, 25-23).

Maggie Richetta had 28 digs, 20 kills, 12 points, eight aces and seven blocks for PC (4-2), while Megan Wasilewski had 56 assists, 24 digs, 11 points, three aces, two kills and a block.

Putnam County def. Galva 25-17, 25-13: Avery Moutray had seven kills, seven digs and an ace as the Lady Panthers earned a nonconference win in Galva on Monday, Aug. 28

Maggie Richetta had eight points, two aces, six kills and two blocks for PC (5-2), while Megan Wasilewski contributed 20 assists, 11 points and five digs.

Photo provided by Shannon Jenkins

The Putnam County Pumas softball team celebrated eighth grade night with a 10-0 win over Fieldcrest on Aug. 28. Pictured are (front) Sarah Schennum; (middle from left) Britney Trinidad and Eden Carlson; and (back row) Kennedy Holocker, Myah Richardson, Finley Rue, Piper Terando, Amelia Wozniak, Illiana Luke, Jaycee Dickey and Sofie Borri.

Pumas celebrate eighth grade night with 10-0 win

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL: ILLINOIS VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

IVCC volleyball starts strong under new coach

With

By KEVIN CHLUM kchlum@shawmedia.com

The Illinois Valley Community College volleyball team got off to a strong start under new coach Kaitlyn Edgcomb with four wins at the opening weekend tournament in Rockford.

“We really worked on utilizing all of the hitters, including back row attacks,” said Edgcomb, a former Eagles player. “We hit a lot of shots and were very court aware. We also went into each match with an open mind. Being big at the net also helped us a lot, putting up a big block and having big swings. The girls were never timid and would swing heavy every chance they got. The back row really had a big affect on everything as well. Being able to dig those hard swings, cover block and be where they needed to be really helped us to be able to run a strong offense.”

With the 4-0 start, the Eagles matched last season’s win total. IVCC is 4-1 after a loss to Kankakee on Thursday.

IVCC returns several key players from last year in La Salle-Peru graduate Erica Antle (right side hitter), Woodland alumna Ella Sibert (outside hitter), Ottawa graduate Brea Konwinksi (RS), Princeton alumna Libby Boyles (OH/defensive specialist) and Ottawa graduate Grace Landers (RS/setter).

The Eagles also welcome a talented freshman class, including L-P graduates Camryn Piscia (middle hitter), Olivia Shetterly (MH), Emma Garretson (OH) and Taylor Pinter (RS), 2022 Princeton alumna Katie Bates (S), Seneca graduates Callee Bauer (DS) and Neely Hougas (libero) and DePue alumna Azucena Villagomez (OH).

Piscia and Shetterly are providing a big presence in the middle for the Eagles.

“My two middles, Camryn and Olivia, are huge up at the net,” Edgcomb said. “They can hit shots well and put up a big block.”

Edgcomb said Antle “is a very heavy hitter on the right side” while she said Sibert “can really put the ball away” on the outside.

Bates, the 2021 NewsTribune and Bureau County Republican Volleyball Player of the Year, is handling the setting duties. Landers also sets but is out with an injury.

“Katie has great court awareness and is very versatile when setting the ball,” Edgcomb said. “She does a good job at knowing where the holes are in the court and dumping the ball there.”

Seneca graduates Hougas and Bauer are anchoring the back row.

“Neely makes a huge impact in the back row,” Edgcomb said. “She reads the ball well and adjusts accordingly, making it easier to run an offense.

“Callee Bauer is also very good in the back row. Her and Neely communicate well so they are more effective at digging the ball.”

Edgcomb said she’s looking forward to coaching her alma mater and hopes this season will lay the foundation for the future.

“I’m excited to share my playing experience and the love I have for the game with the girls,” said Edgcomb, a Putnam County graduate. “It really is a new perspective being on the other side of things, but I enjoy it just as much. It’s already been really exciting being able to watch the girls show off their skill set, and I can’t wait to see them progress throughout the season.

“This year, and years to come, I really hope to bring a new type of energy to the game. With being a former player at the college, I know what to expect and how I would expect my teammates to be. … It’s always a positive environment in the gym. I think with the group of girls I have now, and the season going in the right direction, I’m hoping to have a good recruiting year and see numbers of players coming to IVCC go up.”

Scott Anderson file photos – sanderson@shawmedia.com

Camryn Piscia (center) and Emma Garretson (right) put up a block during a match last season at La Salle-Peru. Piscia and Garretson are expected to be key contributors for IVCC this fall.

Former IVCC player Kaitlyn Edgcomb (left) has returned as the Eagles new head coach.

4-0 start, Eagles already matched last season’s win total

The

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RE

VILL

The Village of Standard is soliciting statem ents of qualifications from qualified engineering firms for engineering services pertaining storm waters coming from agricultural areas and impacting the Village

This RFQ is not an invitation to bid. Responses shall be evaluated on the basis of the relative merits of the qualificat ions There will be no public opening and reading of responses received by the Village of Standard

To Receive the RFQ please call the Village of Standard at 815- 339- 6200 or email clerk.standard.il@ gmail.com

RFQ's are due no later than noon local time, Septem ber 21, 2023, and can be em ailed to Frank Vulcani, Jr., Village President at clerk.standard.il@ gmail.com

(Published in the Putnam County Record Septem ber 6, 2023) 2106142

Legal Publication

Official publication of real estate assessments for 2023 Putnam County

The following is a final list of real estate assessment changes in said townships for the 2023 assessment year. These assessments have been revised or corrected by the Putnam County Board of Review. This publication is made in accordance with Sections #12-60 and 1265 of the Property Tax Code.

Public notice is also hereby given that according to Section #16-60 of the Illinois Revised Statutes, factors have been applied to the following townships.

No factors have been applied

The assessed values shown may be subject to the State equalization to bring locally assessed values to 33 1/3 percent of market value. This equalized value is subject to your local tax rate as determined by levies submitted by local units of government in which your property is located.

County Board of Review Putnam