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As Veterans Day nears, Shaw Local thanks those who served for their sacrifices
Once again, Shaw Local News Network is pleased to present our readers with a special edition dedicated to thanking our nation’s military veterans for their service.
About 18 million Americans – roughly 7% of the United States’ population – can say they served in the armed forces dating to World War II, through the Korean War, the Vietnam era, Desert Shield/Desert Storm and the Global War on Terror, and in the conflicts and times of peace between, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Of those 18 million, more than 500,000 live in Illinois, census data shows. Our nation’s veterans come from all walks of life and a range of ages, with some older than 100. While many of these veterans volunteered to serve our country, others were drafted into the armed forces and saw combat protecting the U.S.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Granville to observe Veterans Day with service
Granville Veterans Day services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, at the village of Mark Veteran’s Memorial.
Members of the Granville American Legion Post 180 and the VFW Putnam County Memorial Post 8324 will be taking part in the services.
Putnam County libraries to host art, friendship bracelet workshops
The Putnam County Library District will host a pair of events the week of Nov. 11.
The Putnam County Public Library will host an art workshop for youth at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the Granville Branch, 214 S. McCoy St., using the tape resist technique. Materials will be provided. This program is free and open to the public. For more information, call
THE COVER
VIEWS
In this special edition, you will find stories on those who served, what the military means to them, what they were doing before they joined the armed forces, what their lives are like now and how their service shaped their future lives.
These stories include a feature in the Daily Chronicle on a soldier who served in World War I, one whose story only came to light when his private journal turned up at an estate sale in DeKalb. There is a piece in the Sterling Gazette and Dixon Telegraph about an Oregon, Illinois, native who enlisted in the Navy, served aboard a heavy cruiser, saw action in World War II’s Pacific Theater and celebrated his 100th birthday in March.
There is even an article, also in the Gazette and the Telegraph, on a soldier who fought in the Revolutionary War before moving with his family from Pennsylvania clear across the young and growing country to settle in Whiteside County, where a commemorative plaque recently
the Granville Library at 815-339-2038.
Friendship bracelets are formed by a series of knots that create a woven pattern by indigenous people of Central and South America. At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, the public is invited to stop by the McNabb Branch, 322 W.
was installed in his honor.
Even if you don’t subscribe to the Chronicle, Gazette or Telegraph, as a subscriber to any Shaw Local News Network publication, you can read these stories and all the special veterans edition stories appearing in our newspapers and on our websites.
In addition to these stories, we also have letters of gratitude penned to specific veterans. This edition also includes stories on organizations and events formed to help and support veterans, as well as ways to help and support veterans yourself.
Our staff of writers, photographers and editors worked hard on this edition, and their dedication and devotion is obvious in the product. We are confident you will enjoy it.
So with Veterans Day just days away, all of us at Shaw Media wish to express our gratitude to those who served. Thank you, veterans.
•JoeHoseyistheexecutiveeditorof Shaw Media. You can reach him at 815526-4387,atjhosey@shawmedia.comoron Twitter@JoeHosey.
Main St., to learn how to create basic knots and patterns. This program is free and open to the public. For more information, call the McNabb Library at 815-339-2038.
Putnam churches to host Union Thanksgiving Service in Tonica
The churches of Putnam County will join together at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, for a Union Thanksgiving Service at the Tonica United Methodist Church, 423 E. Wauponis St. Pastor Dave Krumphardt of County Line Lutheran Church will preach. Pastor Phil Jackson of Tonica and Hennepin United Methodist churches will be the host pastor. A free-will offering will be taken for the Putnam County Food Pantry. A fellowship hour will follow after the service. All are welcome to join in a service of gratitude and thanks.
–ShawLocalNewsNetwork
Joe Hosey
Gary Middendorf
Granville Veterans Day services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11, at the village of Mark Veteran’s Memorial.
U.S. Marine veteran Gordon Parks poses for a photo outside his home on Monday, Oct. 7, in La Salle. Parks was a Marine who fought in the Vietnam War. See story on page 3.
Photo by Scott Anderson
‘BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME’
Parks commands ‘100%
respect’
By MARIBETH M. WILSON mwilson@shawmedia.com
The Marines called him “Gramps” – Gordon Parks was only 23 – but the moniker was respectful. After two tours in Vietnam, Parks carried himself with authority and even his commanding officer took note.
Today, the La Salle veteran is 76 years old and a true grandfather. He still commands the respect of his peers, too. He co-founded a support group for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and under his guidance membership mushroomed from single-digits to dozens.
Joe Navarro, a fellow Marine and Vietnam veteran, said he wasn’t at all surprised so many veterans in need gravitated to Parks and opened up about their difficulties. Parks, he said, commands “100% respect” from combat veterans.
“He genuinely conveys a desire to give them a hand,” Navarro said, “and I think they understand his combat background, which gives him credibility.
“He’s very concerned with the well-being not only of Vietnam era veterans but with veterans of other wars.”
When it comes to combat duty, Parks does indeed speak with authority. He survived no fewer than three close shaves during his six years’ service in the U.S. Marine Corps, including two tours of duty in Vietnam.
Parks survived a mortar attack that left him with shrapnel in his back, a piece of which still remains. A close comrade was felled while Parks stood a few feet away. There was a slow crawl upriver where his unit traded gunfire with the enemy in low-lying boats.
Despite the near-misses, Parks is unflinching in his love for the USA and harbors no second thoughts about enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War.
“Best thing that ever happened to me,” Parks said, acknowledging that the Marines gave him structure and discipline that he never had during his formative years in La Salle. “I was one of those kids who was always in trouble and I figured if I didn’t get my mother to sign me up when I was 17 then I’d wind up in prison.”
Parks was 12 years old when his parents split up, leaving Dorothy Parks with four rambunctious sons to raise with no child support payments. With no father figure around, the Parks boys all found their
way to the principal’s office and later caught the ire of the local police.
Young Gordon recognized he made major life changes. He persuaded Dorothy to let him drop out of La Salle-Peru High School and enlist in the Marines on his 17th birthday.
It was 1965 when he was enlisted and he arrived in Vietnam in May 1966, when the war was escalating. His first assignment was to a combined action company, a small unit tasked with protecting a small village from the enemy while bolstering their quality of life. A major attack was launched six months after his arrival.
“We got hit from three sides and they mortared us from the other side of the river,” recalled Parks, who bears a small piece of shrapnel too near his spine to safely remove. “It felt like I got hit in the back of the head with a sledgehammer.
“It was scary. Anybody who tells you they weren’t scared is probably lying.”
He would emerged unscathed from the skirmishes
that claimed his friend’s life and from the nighttime battle on the river. None of that diminished his love for the Marine Corps, however. He, in fact, renewed his enlistment and was gunning for a military police post when he became a drill instructor at an officer candidate school.
There, he ran into a problem. While dressing down a candidate, he thrice pressed his finger into the candidate’s chest. He soon learned that was a no-no.
“You can’t treat officer candidates the way they treat enlisted guys,” Parks said. “They know too many powerful people.”
Indeed, the young man was politically connected and Parks only narrowly avoided getting busted. He was given a desk assignment, instead. That didn’t last long, either. He accidentally brushed a major on the nose. The resulting dispute was settled in Parks’ favor, but it cooled him on stateside assignments.
Photo provided
U.S. Marine veteran Gordon Parks poses for a photo holding a grenade launcher near the Trout River Bridge in 1966. Parks was a Marine veteran who fought in the Vietnam War.
HOMEFRONT UNITY
Illinois mobilized for WWI effort
By TOM EMERY
Few Americans know much about World War I. The state of Illinois, however, has plenty of stories to tell.
The first World War created one of the largest mobilizations for a military effort in Illinois history, part of an efficient, highly organized effort that lifted the state into national leadership on a variety of fronts.
Some 314,504 Illinois men served in the conflict, in which America participated for just over a year. By comparison, over 259,000 Illinois men fought in the four years of the Civil War.
About 46.6% of Illinois men in World War I were volunteers. They were spread across many units, most notably the 33rd Division, comprised heavily of Illinois National Guard recruits.
About 91% of Illinois troops were in the Army. The number of total enlistments trailed only New York and Pennsylvania. One of every 12 men in the Army was from the Land of Lincoln.
Illinois ranked second in the number of men who earned the Medal of Honor in World War I. An estimated 5,000 men from the state lost their lives in the conflict.
Dozens of area men were among the deaths, including Pvt. Harry Carlson of Crystal Lake, a Swedish immigrant who participated in the massive Somme and Meuse-Argonne offensives.
Carlson enlisted on June 5, 1917, and was shipped to Europe on May 18, 1918. That fall, he contracted pneumonia and died at age 24 on Nov. 11 – the same day the armistice was signed.
He now rests in St. Mihiel American Cemetery in France, one of eight American military cemeteries for World War I soldiers in Europe.
Another area man resting in St. Mihiel is Cpl. Harry Fulton, a Lake County native who also was from Crystal Lake. Fulton, 25, died three days after Carlson, on Nov. 14, 1918.
The bodies of many Americans were brought back to the States for reburial, including Pvt. August “Gus” Gross of DeKalb, who died in France at age 25 on Oct. 11, 1918. He was later reinterred at Arlington
National Cemetery in Virginia.
Pvt. Charles Crane of Joliet was an infantryman who died on Oct. 14, 1918, and was buried in two separate American cemeteries in France before being disinterred once again on July 20, 1921. Exactly one month later, his remains arrived in New Jersey before his journey ended on Sept. 15 back home in Joliet, where he now rests.
As in most wars, many spouses and parents waited for the dreaded news that their loved one had died. In Harvard, the parents of Pvt. George Ratzlaff received a telegram from the War Department in the early evening of June 24, 1918, that their son had been killed in battle. The date of death was given as May 28.
George had moved with his parents to South Dakota as one of 10 children. The parents later returned to Harvard, but George remained in the region and enlisted in the fall of 1917 at Ellendale, North Dakota. A machine gunner, he arrived in France five months before his death.
In McHenry, George Schreiner, a wagoner, was 30 years old when he died on Nov. 10, 1918, one day before the armistice. He came from a military family, as his father, Peter, was a German immigrant who had served in the Civil War. Both father and son now lie in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in McHenry.
Karl Gregg of Ottawa likewise hailed from a proud military family. His father had also served in the Civil War, while his grandmother won acclaim as a Civil War nurse.
A lifelong resident of Ottawa, Gregg was the victim of a gas attack in early October 1918. His mother, who lived on Congress Street in Ottawa, received a letter from a comrade that her son was recovering, only to receive word days later that he had perished. Gregg, 37, was one of two brothers in American service in France. A local newspaper reported his mother was “terribly grieved over the death of her son, but glories in the fact that he gave his life for his country.”
The Gregg family was one of many with multiple members in service. Elsewhere in Ottawa, the Zeller family, who lived on West Main Street, received word that their son, Fred, was killed in action at Meuse-Argonne on Oct. 11, 1918. Another son, August, who served in the same company as Fred, had suffered a gas attack on Oct. 1, 10 days before his brother’s death.
The family also received a letter written by Fred on Oct. 8, three days before his death. A local news account reported that Fred wrote “he was in the trenches and would write more soon.”
Fred Zeller died on the same day as another young Ottawa man, Ettore Vignochi, who was just 21 years old. Days before, Vignochi’s brother, Primo, had been wounded in service.
Nearly every community of any size in the area suffered at least one death from World War I service. Thirty-eight men from Joliet died in the war, while
Public domain photo
People in Chicago celebrate the armistice ending World War 1 on Nov. 11, 1918.
LaSalle lost 21 and Streator lost 12. Eleven from Ottawa lost their lives in the war. There were also nine deaths each from Peru and Princeton, eight from DeKalb, seven from Morris, and four from the Crystal Lake area.
Preparation for the war resulted in several Illinois military installations, some of which remain today. To train pilots, Chanute Field and Scott Field, which later became key Air Force bases, were established in 1917.
Camp Grant, near Rockford, was also opened as an Army training facility, while Fort Sheridan, north of Chicago, became a foremost training base for officers. Nearby, the Great Lakes Naval Station, which opened in 1911, was expanded into the largest training center in the world.
To coordinate the homefront, Gov. Frank Lowden founded the State Council of Defense, a 15-member council of state leaders that served as a “clearinghouse” for public and private agencies.
The SCD featured committees on practically all aspects of the effort and kept in touch on even the smallest details. In one instance, the SCD urged bakeries not to take back dayold bread. As one commentator aptly noted, the SCD “ran the home front.”
The chair of the SCD was Samuel Insull, the energetic president of Commonwealth Edison, who oversaw a remarkable change in business relations. Though labor strife was rampant in the previous decades, the unity of the war effort won out, and corporate interests and labor worked in harmony.
Lowden set the tone by declaring “This war can be won by neither labor nor capital alone. Gentlemen, you have got to work together.”
One of the many accomplishments of the SCD was the “Four-Min -
ute Men,” an army of some 5,000 volunteers who delivered short speeches promoting the war effort to theaters, churches, civic groups and other gatherings. Some 800,000 residents heard the “Four-Minute Men” each week.
The slogan “food will win the war” emanated from Washington, and Illinois took it to heart. Despite severe farm labor shortages, Illinois managed to produce the largest crop yield ever grown by any state in 1917. The next year’s crop was, in turn, the most valuable ever grown by a state.
Illinois also produced $6 billion in manufactured products in 1918, a third of which were war contracts. Residents of the state also bought $1.65 billion in Liberty Bonds and war service stamps, a higher percentage than the general population.
Not everything was perfect, however. Illinois had over one million residents of German origin, the highest of any state, and Chicago was the sixth-largest German city in the world. Though many German-Americans supported the cause, there was ample sentiment against the war among these groups.
Some Germans were harassed based on their last name. Many Illinoisans distanced themselves from their German heritage, and Insull and Lowden both fanned the propaganda.
The renowned Jane Addams was ostracized for her pacifist beliefs, and sauerkraut and frankfurters became known as “liberty cabbage” and “liberty sausages.”
The end of the war sparked wild celebrations across Illinois, and today, memorials to World War I are found around the state. Locally, there are monuments to the war in DeKalb, Crystal Lake, Ottawa, Streator, Ransom, Oglesby and Ladd, among many other places.
• Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville. He may be reached at 217710-8392 or ilcivilwar@yahoo.com.
• PARKS
Continued from page 3
On a fateful day in 1970, he walked into an office where a young married man was getting his orders into Vietnam. On the man’s arm was a small child and next to him was his expectant wife. Parks decided on the spot to swap places with him.
“Pick me,” he told the officer on duty. “You give me his orders, he’ll take my orders. I’ve already been to Vietnam and I know what the hell I’m doing.”
His second tour in Vietnam lasted seven months and was somewhat less eventful.
“I was a lot smarter,” Parks said of the time where he earned his “Gramps” moniker. “And I had a smart officer who asked me what I thought because I’d already been there. If he was right, I’d give him a thumbs-up and if I thought he was wrong I’d say, ‘Nah, I think we need to talk about this.’ And he listened.
“We had some skirmishes and a
few guys wounded, but nobody killed.”
Adjusting to civilian life was difficult. Employers weren’t much interested in combat veterans and he pumped gas for a year before he returned to La Salle in 1972. He was hired in 1973 at Foster Grant, which had become Huntsman Chemical when he retired 30 years later.
It was in retirement he first experienced PTSD.
“It’s amazing what your idle hands and mind do when you’re not working,” he said. “I had things come out of nowhere: the ambushes, the killings and so forth.”
He found relief in staying active in the veterans community. He was commandant of the Marine Corps League and an active member of veterans organizations. His main outlet is helping others overcome the same afflictions from combat service.
“We put our uniforms away and then we were at war with the people at home,” he said in a 2017 interview. “That’s why we help the other ones now because it took all these years to get our benefits for our PTSD.”
Scott Anderson
A shadowbox of medals including a Purple Heart given to veteran Gordon Parks hangs on his wall in his home on Monday, Oct. 7, in La Salle.
HIS JOURNEY BEGAN WITH LOVE OF SPORTS
Kristian Wahlgren has seen the world with the US Navy
By KEVIN HIERONYMUS khieronymus@shawmedia.com
Captain Kristian Wahlgren has seen the world serving the U.S. Navy.
He’s been to 47 countries and six continents (”I’ve still got to get to Antarica”), including tours in Naples, Italy; Djibouti, Africa; and Pearl Harbor.
However, everything for Wahlgren comes back to growing up in Princeton and playing sports with neighborhood friends on Church Street and Princeton High School.
The 1994 PHS graduate became a two-time state wrestling champion, played on a Tigers playoff football team and went on to wrestle for the U.S. Naval Academy.
Sports never left him. They taught him life lessons that have carried him well through his distinguished 25-year career with the Navy, retiring in July.
“It can’t (leave you). It’s been such an instrumental part of my life and taught me so many lessons that I’ve applied in my personal and professional life throughout my career,” said Wahlgren, who returned home for his 30 year class reunion during the Homestead Festival. “Everywhere you go, you’re never going to work by yourself. Whether it’s a sports team or a professional work team, you need to work, mesh and interact with people. The better chemistry you have, the more effective your workplace or team will be supporting the mission.
“I learned at an early age from sports about work ethic and discipline and time management to be able to balance your athletic and academic careers at the same time. Especially at the Naval Academy where my commitments were much more rigorous outside of sports. Just so many life lessons I’ve learned that it was just natural to apply them in my Naval career.”
Wahlgren’s role model at PHS was the late Randy Swinford, his football and wrestling coach. He said Swinford had a way to develop young men through sports.
“He was a phenomenal coach,” Wahlgren said. “He was very demanding, but he also had a way of making us just relax a little bit and laugh at some things. You knew when to lock it up and be ready to work. I feel like he could get the most out of athletes. That’s a unique coach. That’s the goal.
“I coach now (high school wrestling). I try to get more out of them that they think they can provide. To get them to perform at a higher level and that’s where I appreciated coach Swinford and reflect back on that.”
Wahlgren said he learned about work ethic from the late PHS coach Gary Coates. Although Coates was not Wahlgren’s personal coach, he taught Wahlgren many lessons while working on his roofing crew during the summer.
“We thought we were these strong, younger guys, but we would start to get tired and he was always a tremendous leader by example,” Wahlgren said.
Wahlgren, 48, is the younger brother of four Wahlgren boys after Erick, Kai and Kipp, each with distinguished prep sports careers. The brothers won four state championships, eight state medals and 32 varsity letters between them at PHS.
Playing sports with his older brothers and their friends taught Wahlgren to never give up and to always work hard.
As a son of a wrestling coach, Wahlgren said winning not one but two state wrestling championships was a dream come true.
“That’s always the ultimate goal, right? And what everyone dreams to do,” he said. “I traveled to the Assembly Hall for years and years because my dad dragged me down there and I looked up to guys like Kipp, Clint Peterson and Dennis Taylor. You go down there and think, ‘Wow, how can I ever do this?’ But then you start to shift, ‘Why not me?’
“It’s a comfort and confidence thing. When I went down my sophomore year, I was just happy to qualify. Then I was put in a position to place (fourth). So after that you think, ‘I can do this.’”
Even with all his success in wrestling, Wahlgren said football is his favorite sport, while still lament-
I learned at an early age from sports about work ethic and discipline and time management to be able to balance your athletic and academic careers at the same time.”
Kristian Wahlgren
ing over the Tigers’ 21-13 loss to rival Hall in the second round of the 1993 playoffs.
“Wrestling is interesting, because you’ve got to work as a team to make each other be individually better,” he said. “Where football is 100% always team. You need all 11 of you to be focusing on the same page at a high level. We had such a fun time. You think back what could have been and things like that. Definitely a privilege to be able to play over here at Princeton. Great team, great teammates and coaches throughout my career.”
Over the course of his career in the Navy, Wahlgren had 10 assignments. He said every tour was unique in its own way and a lot of fun.
“Really, it’s the people that make it,” said Wahlgren, who most recently served as deputy comptroller at Naval Information Warfare Systems Command HQ in San Diego. “Fortunately, I have a lot of great people to work with to help train me and mentor me and work
Photo provided by Kristian Wahlgren
Princeton native Kristian Wahlgren was recognized for his 25 years of service to the U.S. Navy on Sept. 8 before a Chicago Bears game at Soldier Field.
from page 6
for me. It was unbelievable the places I got to go. Some are a little bit more obscure than others. Djibouti, Africa, was a little tough – just basically desert. Naples, Italy was a lot of fun, just being overseas and having opportunities to travel.”
While stationed in Naples, he got to support the 2004 Olympics and found some time to go see some wrestling when he wasn’t working. He saw American Kale Sanderson win the gold medal and helped out at an American High School, DODS, the Department of Defense school.
He especially enjoyed serving on the USNS Mercy out of San Diego, supporting the COVID-19 mission during the pandemic.
“I was a little bit more senior and had a little bit more responsibilities,” he said. “We went up to Los Angeles. Basically, augmented the hospitals up there in anticipation of being overrun by patients. It was just a big endeavor. When you do something like that, you really feel the team aspect of what you’ve been preparing for, and planning for and training for. That was fun.”
Wahlgren’s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal and Joint Commendation Medal along with various other personal, unit and campaign awards.
Wahlgren and his family of five –wife Clancy, daughters, Hailey, 21, and Lane, 18, and son, Caleb, 15 –have made San Diego their home since 2018 and will remain there as he explores future career opportunities. All three of Wahlgren’s children are heavy into sports, just like their father.
“It’s a great place. Longest I’ve been in one geographical location.
I’ve never had back to back same located jobs before that,” Wahlgren said. “So it gave us an opportunity to be part of the community. That’s what my kids know now because they ended there.”
Wahlgren took over as coach of a wrestling team at the local high school, West View, “mainly helping them build their program.” He jokes he is “Definitely looking for a younger coach to take over.”
Photo provided by Lee Wahlgren
Kristian Wahlgren (left) was the youngest of four sons of Princeton coach Lee and Trudy Wahlgren, including brothers, Kipp, Kai and Erick. The brothers won four state championships and eight state medals and received 32 varsity letters between them for PHS.
Dozens of Illinoisans died at Pearl Harbor
By TOM EMERY
It is known as “the day that will live in infamy.”
Like the rest of the nation, the people of Illinois felt the scars of Pearl Harbor, which left 2,403 Americans dead. Among them was Seaman 1st Class Louis Cabay of Joliet, who was just 18 years old. Cabay died on the USS Arizona, the ship most synonymous with Pearl Harbor.
Cabay was one of seven children of Czech immigrants who came to America to support the family through the difficulties of the Depression. Louis eventually left school and enrolled in the U.S. Navy in October 1940, 11 months before Pearl Harbor.
Another area casualty on the Arizona was Seaman 1st Class Thomas Powell, a 19-year-old La Salle native who had moved to Dixon earlier in his teenage years. He lived there with an aunt and uncle and attended Dixon High School before enlisting in the Navy in October 1940.
Ensign Edward Gosselin was a 24-year-old Joliet man on the USS Arizona. Gosselin had attended Yale before enlisting in the Navy in September 1940. Just before the day of the attack, he had been promoted to an officer in charge of the 90 men who operated the ship’s boilers, hydraulics and fuel supply.
The attack cut short Gosselin’s young life. Three years later, destroyer escort USS Gosselin was named after him.
Cabay, Powell and Gosselin were among 57 Illinoisans killed on the USS Arizona.
Two Ottawa men lost their lives on the USS Arizona as well.
Marine Cpl. James McCarrens was the youngest of six siblings. McCarrens enlisted in the Marines at age 25 in September 1939.
Ship’s Cook 3rd Class Herman Koeppe of Ottawa was 19 when he quit high school to enlist in the Navy in October 1940.
FALLEN HEROES
USS Arizona was
by several
killing 1,177 of its officers and crewmen.
Leo Paul Cotner of the La Salle County village of Leonore enlisted in the Navy on March 11, 1941, just two months after his 17th birthday.
Cotner, a Seaman 2nd Class on the USS Nevada, was born in McLean County before moving in 1934 to Leonore, where he finished his grade school education at Shawback School. During a requiem Mass on Dec. 16, nine days after Pearl Harbor, the priest read portions of a letter he had received from Cotner.
Cotner was one of 50 killed aboard the Nevada. He was one of two family members on that ship, along with his older brother, Francis – although the family later received word of Francis’ survival.
Seaman 1st Class Steven Wodarski of Joliet was the son of Polish immigrants. He was 26 when he was among nearly 100 sailors who died aboard the USS California.
••••
Some families endured an agonizing wait for word on their loved ones’ fate. In DeKalb, the parents of Ensign Carl Swanson did not hear for days about the status of their son.
They received both a cablegram and an airmail letter.
At 1:30 a.m. Dec. 30, they were awakened by a phone call from Carl, who had arrived in San Francisco. The Daily Chronicle reported that “the voice of their son” at that early morning hour was “the most welcome and pleasant sound in the world.”
In Waterman, the parents of Gene MacDougal received a Yuletide gift. On Christmas Day, they received a cablegram from their son, who had been stationed on the USS Lexington, a carrier that was at sea during the attack. The Daily Chronicle wrote
that Gene’s parents had not heard from him since the day of the bombing, “and his good wishes to them on Christmas helped to add a lot of cheer to their holiday.”
••••
For one resident of the DeKalb County village of Kingston, the long wait ended in sorrow. During the third week of January 1942, Charles Aves received word that his son, Willard, had died in the attack.
Willard Aves, a 20-year-old Fireman 2nd Class on the USS Arizona, had lost his mother at the age of 4 in 1925. He was well-known in the area as a newspaper delivery boy for the Daily Chronicle. Willard enlisted in the Navy four months after his high school graduation in 1940. American Legion Post 1010 in Kingston later was named in his honor.
Pearl Harbor left behind many widows and fatherless children. One was Gwendolyn Stephens, a young woman formerly of Marseilles, whose husband, W.W. Stephens, was killed on the USS Arizona.
29-year-old Petty Officer 1st Class Woodrow Wilson Stephens specialized as an electrician on the USS Arizona. He married Gwendolyn in 1938, and the couple later lived in Long Beach, California, before moving to Tillicum, Washington. He was survived by his wife and a 2-year-old child.
••••
The remains of U.S. servicemen still are being identified, 80 years later. Many were on the USS Oklahoma, which capsized during the attack, trapping dozens of men inside. About 400 of the victims had not been identified.
See PEARL HARBOR on page 9
Public domain photo
The
hit
bombs during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The battleship sunk,
Continued from page 8
In 2015, the remains of many unknown victims aboard the USS Oklahoma were exhumed in Honolulu and identified with the latest forensic technology.
One was Petty Officer 3rd Class Adolph Loebach, a 22-year-old Peru man who had attended St. Mary Parochial School and La Salle-Peru High School. He then was employed by National Sheet Metal in Peru before enlisting in the Navy in 1939, just after his mother had passed away.
The government identified Loebach’s remains on July 2, 2019. An emotional service held Dec. 19 for Loebach at St. Anthony Church of the Nativity in Spring Valley concluded with him being buried near his parents in St. Vincent Cemetery in La Salle. Of Loebach’s seven siblings, only one yet survived at the time.
Another recently identified sailor from the USS Oklahoma was Fireman 1st Class Michael Galajdik, 25, who was born and raised in Joliet.
During the Great Depression, Galajdik had served in the Civilian Conservation Corps before enlisting in the Navy in April 1940, eight months before Pearl Harbor.
His remains were identified on April 14, 2017. Eight days later, he was
laid to rest in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.
Seaman 1st Class Robert Halterman of Elwood’s remains were identified in October 2021. Halterman was 20 when he died, and he now rests in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.
As of June 2021, the U.S. government had identified 338 of the remains
of the unknown men on the Oklahoma, or about 86% of those the USS Oklahoma dead.
The Arizona and Oklahoma were among 19 U.S. ships either damaged or destroyed at Pearl Harbor. Navy men accounted for 2,008 of the American casualties in the attack.
In addition to the deaths, 1,178
American servicemen were wounded. A total of 159 U.S. planes were damaged in the bombing, while another 169 were destroyed.
• Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville. He may be reached at 217-7108392 or ilcivilwar@yahoo.com.
Public domain photo
The USS Nevada was damaged in the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
FORGOTTEN CONFLICT
Spanish-American War fades in modern memory
By TOM EMERY
Military action in the Spanish-American War lasted less than four months, and the war receives only a passing mention in history books today. Scattered memorials across the nation are some of the few reminders of the short-lived conflict.
The war arose from tensions between the United States and Spain, rooted in the ongoing fight for Cuban independence. Americans were sympathetic to the plight of the Cubans, as pro-war hawks and the press portrayed the Spanish as a brutal authority.
Those tensions erupted after the explosion of the 324-foot battleship U.S.S. Maine on Feb. 15, 1898, in Havana Harbor. The blast claimed 266 of the 355 men on board, while only 16 of the survivors were uninjured.
At the time, many blamed the destruction on the Spanish, and the American press fanned the flames. Years later, the cause of the sinking was determined to be spontaneous combustion.
Among those calling for war was Theodore Roosevelt, whose Rough Riders are one of the few things remembered about the conflict.
Although Roosevelt joined the screams to “Remember the Maine,” President William McKinley at the time was less enthused, remembering his experiences from the U.S. Civil War.
“He had seen what war was like, and didn’t want to commit American troops to foreign lands unless absolutely necessary,” said Christopher Kenney, director of education at the McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in Canton, Ohio. “In addition, the size of the U.S. Army was decreased following the Civil War and the men, supplies and logistics were not up to fighting a war.”
At the time, the U.S. had only the 12th-largest navy in the world. The Spanish were even weaker, as the once-proud empire had a fraction of its former strength with little more than the colonies of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines.
On April 11, 1898, McKinley asked Congress for war, and a declaration was passed on April 25. The effort proved to be a logistical nightmare as the U.S. was unprepared for the conflict. However, the war was popular with the public, and men raced to enlist.
Ten Illinois regiments totaling 11,000 men were raised for the conflict, although only seven saw action. Many area men were in the 3rd Illinois Regiment, which was headquartered in Joliet. Men from that city made up much of Company B of the regiment.
The commander of the 3rd Illinois was Fred Bennitt, a Joliet lawyer who was a colonel in the Illinois National Guard. Bennitt, the son of a Civil War veteran, led the 3rd in sporadic fighting in Puerto Rico during the conflict, and remained a beloved figure in the area until his death in December 1930.
Bennitt is buried in Oakwood Cemetery. His funeral procession was highlighted by 52 cars of Spanish-American War veterans.
The 1st, 2nd and 7th Illinois regiments predominately consisted of Chicago men, as was the 8th Illinois, an all-Black regiment that served in the occupation forces. The 1st Illinois Cavalry also was heavily from Chicago.
Many American soldiers sat at the stop-off point of Tampa for weeks, waiting for organization and supplies. Meanwhile, Commodore George Dewey soundly defeated the Spanish Pacific Squadron at Manila Bay on May 1. Finally, the U.S. landed in Cuba on June 10, and fought through mosquito-infested jungles on an offensive to Santiago.
The conflict was one of the first “media wars” in the U.S. and benefitted from a savvy public-relations campaign, both from the government and the press. Some believe that McKinley’s “nerve center,” equipped with the latest technology such as telephones, was ground-breaking in the management of American wars.
“I think McKinley managed the war very well,” Kenney said. “He was definitely aware of the ‘image’ and what the public, and even members of his own party, were thinking. He took measures to protect that image.”
The ambitious and headstrong Roosevelt also was well aware of image, dressing in an eye-catching uniform produced by clothier Brooks Brothers, a nod to his privileged New York upbringing rather than his rough-and-tumble persona. His Rough Riders, mean-
while, wore brown pants, slouch hats and neckerchiefs, which were apparel chosen by Roosevelt himself.
The Rough Riders were the nickname of the First Volunteer Cavalry and numbered 964 strong, including 86 with Illinois connections. The unit was mainly recruited in the Arizona and New Mexico territories, as well as Texas and present-day Oklahoma.
Among them was Samuel McKinnon, a Braidwood native whose occupation was listed as “miner.” McKinnon, 21, was a private in E Troop. Another private in E Troop was John Martin, a 26-year-old Streator native who was a miner in Decatur at the outbreak of the hostilities.
Will County native Edward Lentz, a 30-year-old carpenter who lived in Bowling Green, Ohio, at the time of the war, was a private in L Troop. John Norton of Lockport was a private in C Troop.
Princeton native Oren Carey, 22, who was farming in Iowa at the outbreak, also was a private in L Troop.
Although many believe the Rough Riders charged up San Juan Hill on July 1, they actually were on nearby Kettle Hill. Heat exhaustion caused a number of men to drop during the offensive. On July 3, the Spanish fleet suffered destruction at the naval battle of Santiago.
Action in the war lasted only four months, and the Treaty of Paris on Dec. 10 formally ended hostilities.
Over 250,000 Americans had enlisted for service, though many never saw action. The U.S. lost only 379 men killed. Some 2,061 Americans died of disease, many in training.
In all, 276 Illinois men died during the conflict, including Maj. William Baldwin of the 6th Illinois, who perished on Sept. 15, 1898. He is one of several veterans of the 6th who is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Dixon.
Roosevelt and U.S. Secretary of State John Hay
Public domain image
This photo shows soldiers from the 3rd Illinois, which included local men, waiting for orders to embark in 1898 during the Spanish-American War.
• SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
Continued from page 10
native whose occupation was listed as “miner.” McKinnon, 21, was a private in E Troop. Another private in E Troop was John Martin, a 26-year-old Streator native who was a miner in Decatur at the outbreak of the hostilities.
Will County native Edward Lentz, a 30-year-old carpenter who lived in Bowling Green, Ohio, at the time of the war, was a private in L Troop. John Norton of Lockport was a private in C Troop.
Princeton native Oren Carey, 22, who was farming in Iowa at the outbreak, also was a private in L Troop.
Although many believe the Rough Riders charged up San Juan Hill on July 1, they actually were on nearby Kettle Hill. Heat exhaustion caused a number of men to drop during the offensive. On July 3, the Spanish fleet suffered destruction at the naval battle of Santiago. ••••
Action in the war lasted only four months, and the Treaty of Paris on Dec. 10 formally ended hostilities.
Over 250,000 Americans had enlisted for service, though many never saw action. The U.S. lost only 379 men killed. Some 2,061 Americans died of disease, many in training.
In all, 276 Illinois men died during the conflict, including Maj. William Baldwin of the 6th Illinois, who perished on Sept. 15, 1898. He is one of sev-
eral veterans of the 6th who is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Dixon.
Roosevelt and U.S. Secretary of State John Hay have both been credited with calling the conflict “a splendid little war.”
The U.S. gained $20 million and the Spanish colonies, though the Philippines would prove a major headache before independence was declared in 1946. Cuba gained its freedom, but it fell under the control of Fidel Castro in 1959 and became a pawn in the Cold War.
Although the Spanish-American War is a footnote in U.S. history today, it remains a part of both Spanish and Cuban heritage. In Cuba, the conflict was called the “Cuban War of Independence,” but the defeated Spanish simply labeled the war as “The Loss.”
Memorials to the short-lived conflict are found in various locales across Illinois. A cannon from the war is parked at the grounds of the Knox County Courthouse in Galesburg; a striking statue memorializing the war stands at the corner of Second and Monroe streets in Springfield, across from the statehouse; and a memorial boulder on Lake Street, near the entrance to Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex, in Oak Park, is a monument to the Spanish-American War.
• Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville. He may be reached at 217-7108392 or ilcivilwar@yahoo.com.
Public domain image
This painting “Admiral Dewey at the Battle of Manila” depicts Commodore George Dewey on the bridge of his flagship, USS Olympia, during the Battle of Manila Bay, on May 1, 1898.
A PART OF HISTORY
Peru City Clerk Dave Bartley was stationed at the Berlin Wall
By MARIBETH M. WILSON mwilson@shawmedia.com
The images of East Germans pouring into West Germany through the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989, have lived throughout history as a beginning of the end of the Cold War. The events of that day became building blocks that led to the unification of Germany on Oct. 3, 1990.
Dave Bartley of Peru was stationed outside Frankfurt, Germany, as a 75 Bravo personnel administrative clerk for the U.S. Army when the wall came down.
“It was remarkable,” he said.
Bartley said the whole mission of the Third Armored Division and Combat Aviation Brigade was to provide a defense from a Cold War threat – East Germany coming into West.
“At one point we’re defending the border, defending the threat,” he said. “And the next we’re welcoming and meeting people from East Germany that are free to move into West Germany.”
Bartley said he enlisted in the Army in January 1987 as an opportunity to get out of the area and try something new. He said he had graduated the previous May and wasn’t enjoying college.
“I was sort of like join the military, move away, learn a new job, see the world,” he said. “It was mostly a byproduct of being a young person who needed some direction.”
As someone who already was a particularly neat person, he said some of the stricter elements of service came natural to him.
“What I didn’t know when I enlisted is that a personnel administrative clerk can be attached to any type of company,” Bartley said. “I could have just as easily been assigned to an infantry company and been trained as an infantryman.”
Jay Koyak, who grew up with Bartley in La Salle, said he has always had a high attention to detail –never sloppy.
“I would attribute some of that to his military service,” he said.
Working at a higher headquarters gave Bartley access to officers of higher ranks. He said one of his most memorable moments from training in Germany was driving a full bird colonel, who was the commander of the brigade, to a field training exercise.
“I would have been very, very low on the totem pole,” Bartley said. “His driver was unavailable … And he’s just one step below a general and we are just sitting there – a couple of guys watching helicopters fire missiles at targets and eating candy.”
Bartley said he had a lot of great experiences while on duty in Germany, recalling a time when the U.S. invited East Germany to participate and observe in joint maneuvers.
“We invited some commanders from the Eastern Bloc countries, “ he said. “We showed off the capabilities of our aviation aircraft to members of our enemy,” he said. “It would have been an exercise that took place in the late summer of 1989 and the Berlin Wall came down in November, so while the mission still existed the tensions between countries were not high.”
Bartley said leaving the Army was a piece of cake. He took 30 days of terminal leave and got out right before Christmas 1989.
“The only reason I got out of the military was to go to college,” he said. “Because I had the GI Bill.”
Koyak said when Barley got out of the military they had many spirited discussions, bouncing ideas off each other, trying to figure out what they wanted to be.
“He came back from the service wanting to set the world on fire,” he said. “He was trying to figure out what he wanted to do in life ... figure out what his place in life is going to be.”
Bartley enrolled at Illinois Valley Community College in January 1990 and said he didn’t like it any better than when he got out of high school.
While serving tables at Uptown Grill in La Salle, Bartley met someone who thought he would be good in sales. For several years, he worked in sales, moved to Chicago and then as it always does he was called home.
Bartley said he had the opportunity through a family friend to open a restaurant and he took it. He ran Bartley’s Supper Club with his ex-wife for 21 years.
While operating the restaurant Bartley wanted to get involved in the city, so in 2005 he ran for and was elected as city treasurer.
He ran in 2009 for city clerk and has remained in office since. He said his military experience has had a profound impact on how he approaches every aspect of his life.
“The opportunity to go overseas … that’s a tremendous experience for a young person,” he said. “The military teaches you really all of the critical life skills, working, working as a team, discipline and diversity.”
Koyak said Bartley always has enjoyed engaging with the community and getting to know people, so running for office was not a surprising role for him.
Ken Kolowski, mayor of Peru, said Bartley has been an excellent teacher for him for the past three and half years and his military experience has enhanced his abilities as city clerk.
“He has excellent leadership qualities,” Kolowski said. “He is willing to listen and respect everyone’s ideas and opinions. We may not always agree but he’s respectful and I think that’s where his military experience comes into play.”
Bartley said the military taught him everything parents hope their children would learn in college such as problem solving and sacrifice.
“Sometimes I feel like some of the highest respect that should be paid to veterans should be focused on those who served in combat or were in harm’s way,” he said. “We all get to stand up and we all get respect as veterans. But a lot of people who served, served at much greater risk.”
Scott Anderson
Dave Bartley poses for a photo on Wednesday, Sept. 25, in La Salle.
CIVIL WAR MISERY
Many area men died at Andersonville prison camp
By TOM EMERY
Many Civil War troops feared capture and suffering in prisoner-of-war camps. The worst was Andersonville, where several area men perished amid horrific conditions.
This year marks the 160th anniversary of the establishment of Andersonville, which has become synonymous
with the misery and filth that prevailed in most Civil War prisons, particularly in the Confederacy.
In some cases, hardships in Confederate camps were the result of the lack of food, medical care and supplies that the Southern captors and their armies themselves did without. But at other places, like the dreadful Andersonville facility in southwestern Georgia, the treatment of inmates was, at least partly, due to sheer human cruelty.
Men died by the thousands from out-of-control dysentery, smallpox, scurvy and gangrene.
Andersonville existed for a small part of the Civil War. The facility was
See ANDERSONVILLE on page 14
HONORING
Library of Congress photo
The Andersonville Prison was established during the Civil War in August 1864. The camp originally covered 16.5 acres, which was expanded to 26.5 in June 1864 because of rampant overpopulation.
from page 13
hastily built in February 1864 to alleviate the relocation of prisoners from the Richmond area, which was under threat by Northern armies. Officially named Camp Sumter for its home county in Georgia, it was commonly known as Andersonville, for a nearby railroad station.
The camp originally covered 16.5 acres, which was expanded to 26.5 acres in June 1864 because of rampant overpopulation. The facility, however, remained overcrowded throughout much of its existence. Originally designed to hold about 10,000 prisoners, Andersonville eventually held about 45,000, including 32,899 in August 1864 alone.
Captives at Andersonville languished in unimaginable filth. One Massachusetts cavalryman wrote that the prison “was covered with vermin all over. You could not sit down anywhere. You might go and pick the lice all off you, and sit down for a half a moment and get up and you would be covered with them.” He also noted “a regular buzz” elsewhere in the prison because of “large white maggots.”
Typical sustenance at Andersonville consisted of, in the words of one
man, ground meal to go along with “half corn and half cob.”
Some men could buy food there if they had the money, but plenty of it was needed. Men of the 55th Illinois, a tough unit that included men from Kane, LaSalle, DeKalb and DuPage counties, wrote that they paid $2 for a pint of salt and 30 cents for a single egg.
Not surprisingly, the facility had numerous attempts at escape – most of which ended unsuccessfully. The walls of the stockade measured 15 feet to 17 feet high, with an additional, terrifying measure of security – the “deadline,” which was 19 feet inside the walls. Any prisoner who stepped over the “deadline” was ordered to be shot by guards, stationed in so-called “pigeon roosts.”
The mere mention of the prison’s name sent shivers to troops in the field. Following the war, the prison commandant, Capt. Henry Wirz, was tried and executed by the U.S. government in November 1865 for “murder, in violation of the laws of war.” Wirz, incredibly, was viewed by some Southerners then – and by a handful of observers now – as a martyr.
Today, 12,912 soldiers rest in the cemetery at Andersonville, including many area men. They include Pvt. Edmund Robinson, a 26-year-old farmer in Company A of the 36th Illinois, who stood 5 feet, 11 inches, tall with black hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion. Robinson,
who lived in the Crystal Lake area, was a native of Vermont. He died Sept. 11, 1864, at Andersonville, and rests in grave number 8410.
Also at Andersonville was Pvt. John Augustine of Company I, a farmer from Braceville in Grundy County. An Ohio native, Augustine was short even for his time, as he was just 5-foot-5 with black hair, hazel eyes and a light complexion.
Augustine was 20 years old when he died Sept. 6, 1864. He now rests in grave number 8046.
A comrade in the 100th, Cpl. John Cotton of Company H, was a Will County man who was captured in the Union defeat at Chickamauga in September 1863. Born near Niagara Falls in western New York, Cotton, unlike many of his fellow soldiers, was a married man. He ended up at Andersonville, where he died at age 29 on Aug. 30, 1864, and is buried in grave number 6091.
George Dake, a private in Company D of the 100th, was a coal miner from Plainfield who was born in Vermont. Five feet, 9 inches tall with dark hair, hazel eyes and a dark complexion, Dake perished July 31, 1864, at Andersonville, and rests in grave number 8628.
Also from Will County was Sgt. David Hanson of Wilmington, who, at age 40 and 6-foot-1, was older and taller than many of his comrades. Hanson was a member of Company E of the 39th Illinois, one of the few infantry regiments
from the state that fought in the Eastern theater. He was captured May 16, 1864, and died at Andersonville the following Oct. 22. Hanson now rests in grave number 11188.
Pvt. Samuel Hutchings was a married farmer from Ottawa who served in Company A of the 104th Illinois. Standing 5-foot-9 with dark hair, blue eyes and a light complexion, Hutchings, a Michigan native, was 22 years old when he died Aug. 8, 1864, at Andersonville. He now rests in grave number 5019.
Howard Gibson, who lived in his native Bureau County, was a private in Company K of the 93rd Illinois and was reported missing on Oct. 5, 1863. An unmarried farmer, Gibson died at age 22 on May 27, 1864, at Andersonville. He now rests in grave number 1416.
When the armies of William T. Sherman advanced through Georgia on his ordered march to the sea, the Confederates transferred many of the inmates to other facilities before continuing to operate Andersonville on a smaller scale until the prison closed in May 1865.
After a succession of administrators, the Andersonville site has been part of the National Park Service since 1971.
• Tom Emery is a freelance writer and historical researcher from Carlinville. He may be reached at 217-710-8392 orilcivilwar@yahoo.com.
Shaw Local News Network would like to recognize and thank the veterans in our community. Find a list below of local organizations that support veterans.
STATE AND NATIONAL VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS
Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs & Programs
Gold Star Families, Homeless Program, Illinois Joining Forces, IIL Warrior Assistance Program, Women Veterans, Veterans Nursing Homes. www.veterans.illinois.gov
American Legion
Department of Illinois
2720 E Lincoln St., Bloomington, IL 61704
309-663-0361 hdqs@illegion.org
AMVETS
Office of the Commander Statewide
2200 S. Sixth St., Springfield, IL 62703 217-528-4713 www.ilamvets.org
Disabled American Veterans
Office of the Commander Statewide 809 S. Grand Ave. W, Springfield, IL 62704 217-793-8115 www.dav.org
Illinois Association of County Veteran Assistance Commissions www.veteransbenefitsillinois.org
Illinois Joining Forces
Supporting Service Members, Veterans & their Families- all working to create a “no wrong door” system of support. www.illinoisjoiningforces.org
Illinois Marine Corp League
The Illinois Marine 1005 Prairie St., St. Charles, IL 60174 630-564-1804 usmc1962@comcast.net
Illinois Warrior Assistance Program
Warm helpline and high touch holistic resource navigation and case management service providing information, resource referrals and support to Illinois Veterans, their families and caregivers experiencing various traumas. 866-554-4927 www.illinoiswarrior.com
Military Officers Association of America (800) 234-6622 www.moaa.org
VFW State Headquarters 3300 Constitution Dr., Springfield, IL 62711 217-529-6688
VETERANS OF FOREIGN
WARS
Depue VFW Post 4602 202 W. 1st St., DePue, IL 61322-0289
Mendota VFW Post 4079 610 6th St., Mendota, IL 61342-1702
Princeton VFW Post 4323 1549 W. Peru St., Princeton, IL 61356-8829 www.princetonveterans.org/vfw4323
Piercy-Ward VFW Post 3666 215 E. Cleveland St., Spring Valley, IL 61362-2135
Putnam County Memorial VFW Post 8324 401 Laughlin Ave., Granville, IL 61326
AMERICAN LEGIONS
American Legion Post 125 1549 W. Peru St., Princeton, IL 61356
American Legion Post 875 113 W Commercial St., Neponset, IL 61345
American Legion Post 938 111 S. Main Ave., Ladd, IL 61329 815-894-3221
American Legion Post 1043 23062 IL Hwy 89, La Moille, IL 61330 lrharvey@frontier.com
DAR chapters welcome state regent
Chief Senachwine chapter looks head to future events
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Members of the Chief Senachwine Chapter of Henry and the Princeton-Illinois Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution participated Friday in the program presented by the Illinois State Organization Regent, Christina Bannon, at Ye Olde Underground Inn in Princeton.
Covering leadership and teamwork and titled “None of Us Is as Smart as All of Us,” the speech encouraged chapter members to work together to achieve goals within their communities. Members read short additions within the speech that clarified chapter objectives.
The guest appearance of Regent Bannon was the outcome of a joint meeting and luncheon presided over by the two chapter
See DAR, page 20
•
• Managed
Photo provided by Sharon Bittner
Princeton-Illinois DAR Chapter Regent Nancy Gartner (left) and Chief Senachwine DAR Chapter Regent Nancy Gillfillan (right) welcome Illinois State Regent Christina Davis Bannon to a joint meeting hosted Friday, Nov. 1, by the two chapters.
Illinois Valley Realtors contribute $7,500 grant for IVCC homelessness solutions program
By DEREK BARICHELLO dbarichello@shawmedia.com
The Illini Valley Association of Realtors through a grant from the National Association of Realtors, announced its $7,500 grant support and local Realtor involvement in Hope for Tomorrow – A Community Response to Homelessness, a comprehensive event addressing homelessness solutions in the Illinois Valley region.
This event, hosted by Illinois Valley Public Action to Deliver Shelter and Illinois Valley Community College, will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby and features a resource fair with 23 local and regional service providers including North Central Behavioral Health Systems, BEST, OSF, Illinois Valley Sunrise Rotary, Youth Service Bureau and Starved Rock Country Community Foundation, a screening of the “Americans with No Address” documentary, and a panel discussion with local, regional and state experts.
“With access to safe, affordable
housing at the core of our communities’ well-being, Realtors have a unique role in fostering housing stability,” president of the Illini Valley Association of Realtors Beth Coleman said in a news release. “This event aligns with our commitment to advocate for solutions that support housing access for all. Our investment in Hope for Tomorrow reflects our dedication to empowering our community and creating long-term solutions to homelessness. The documentary, ‘Americans with No Address’ sheds light on the experiences of homeless individuals across the United States, offering a raw and compassionate portrayal of their lives and struggles.”
The panel discussion will feature key voices in the fight against homelessness, including representatives from Illinois Valley PADS Shelter, Pathways Ministries from Peoria, TriCounty Opportunities Council, the Housing Authority of La Salle County and the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. These organizations bring perspectives and expertise, offering insights into both immediate
and long-term strategies to address homelessness in the region, the Illinois Valley Realtors said in a news release.
The event will showcase real success stories from Illinois Valley PADS, including individuals like Lindsey (name changed for privacy), who, with the shelter’s support, transitioned from hardship to stability, the news release said. Lindsey now works as a certified professional helping others in recovery from substance use disorders. With the help of a local Realtor, Lindsey was able to secure safe and affordable housing – a place she can truly call home. It’s made a world of difference in her life, according to the news release.
“Lindsey’s journey highlights the transformational power of affordable housing and community support,” Coleman said. “Her story underscores the essential role Realtors play in fostering housing solutions and building stronger, more inclusive communities.”
At the end of the panel discussion, there will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions of the panel.
The event also marks the beginning of a long-term initiative to form a coalition of service providers, civic groups, organizations and individuals dedicated to combating homelessness in Illinois Valley. Attendees interested in joining this coalition can sign up at the Tri-County Opportunities Council for organizations or at the Rotary Table for civic groups and individuals. This coalition aims to bring together resources and coordinate efforts to address the root causes of homelessness.
“Without the Illini Valley Association of Realtors’s support, this event would not be possible,” executive director of Illinois Valley PADS Carol Alcorn said in a news release. “Their commitment to affordable housing solutions allows us to not only raise awareness but also mobilize practical, actionable steps to address homelessness in our region.”
The resource fair will include a light meal, and opportunities to connect with local community organizations. documentary screening and a panel discussion.
Holiday Bites to present in La Salle, Bureau, Putnam
By DEREK BARICHELLO dbarichello@shawmedia.com
The holidays are around the corner.
Will the Elf on the Shelf be sneaking extra calories into your holiday treats? Don’t worry – this program is here to help individuals make healthier choices without sacrificing the fun and festive flavors. Join Susan Glassman, nutrition and wellness educator from Illinois Extension, and learn simple ingredient swaps, healthy eating tips and creative gift-giving ideas while savoring and sharing favorite holiday foods.
During the session, have fun making an easy holiday recipe to taste and discover the power of skillpower and willpower to help stay on track. Take home valuable information, recipes and practical ideas to enjoy delicious holiday bites while maintaining a healthy balance.
Holiday Bites will be offered at the following locations:
6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13: Oglesby Public Library; 111 S. Woodland Ave. Register at go.illinois.edu/ogholiday.
10 to 10:45 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 21: Putnam County Community Center; First Street, Standard. Register at go.illinois.edu/ptholiday.
5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21: Princeton Public Library, 698 E. Peru St. Register
at go.illinois.edu/prholiday.
Noon to 12:45 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22: Mendota Senior Center, 1901 Tom Merwin Drive. Register at go.illinois.edu/ mdholiday.
2:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26: Bureau County Senior Center, 16 W. Marion St., Princeton. Register at go.illinois. edu/bcholiday.
6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3: Reddick Public Library, 1010 Canal St., Ottawa. Register at go.illinois.edu/ottholiday.
To register, call 815-224-0894. For an accommodation to participate, contact Glassman at susang@illinois.edu or 815-224-0894. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.
Scott Anderson file photo
Join Susan Glassman, nutrition and wellness educator from Illinois Extension, to learn simple ingredient swaps, healthy eating tips and creative gift-giving ideas while savoring and sharing favorite holiday foods.
IVCC to host 3 welding registration sessions for spring classes
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Illinois Valley Community College’s Welding Department is hosting three welding registration sessions for spring classes on Nov. 12, Dec. 11 and Jan. 7. All sessions start at 4:40 p.m. on the Main Campus.
• The first session will be held on Nov. 12 in CTC-123 to register for Spring courses that start Jan. 9.
• The second session will be Dec. 11, in Building H, Room 101, to register for Spring courses that start Jan. 9 or March 17.
• The last session will be Jan. 7 in CTC-123 to register for Spring courses that start Jan. 9 or March 17. All new welding students must register through a registration session. Sign up for a session by contacting the East Campus administrative assistant Patricia Glade at 815-2240265 or emailing welding@ivcc.edu. Anyone unable to make these dates should contact Glade.
Do you know an older adult who is
As a participating partner of the EngAGED Illinois program, the PCCC strives to reduce social isolation among older adults. We provide many opportunities for individuals to remain socially engaged with others through attendance at the PCCC or even in the comfort of their own homes. To learn more about the EngAGED program, please call the PCCC.
The two information sessions in CTC-123 are located just down the hall from the Admissions Department, so prospective students can register and enroll all at once.
No previous welding experience is necessary, and instructors work to find the best fit for students at whatever stage they enter the program. Students receive individualized instruction in small classes and use state-of-the-art welding equipment and a large lab and fabrication area. Flexible class schedules make it convenient for students with all types of commitments to attend. Welding graduates are welcomed into the local workforce, where industries range from vehicle manufacturing and fabricated metal product manufacturing to machine shops, agriculture, construction, and mining.
For information on the program, contact Theresa Molln at 815-224-0630 or Theresa_Molln@ivcc.edu or visit www.ivcc.edu/welding.
Photo provided by IVCC Community Relations
Illinois Valley Community College’s Welding Department is hosting three welding registration sessions for spring classes on Nov. 12, Dec. 11 and Jan. 7. All sessions start at 4:40 p.m. on the Main Campus.
Service to ‘Remember Native American Heritage Month’ set Nov. 10 in Henry
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The public is invited to the Sunday, Nov. 10, service at the First United Presbyterian Church at 511 Wirt St., Henry, for an opportunity to “Remember Native American Heritage Month.” The service begins at 10:30 a.m.
The service will open with a slide show of Native American sites and people. Also included will be related Native American readings, hymns and
sermon. The Native American version of the Lord’s Prayer will be used as well as the usual version. Members of the Senachwine Flute Circle will be present to perform Native American wooden flute music.
• DAR
Continued from page 16
regents: Nancy Gillfillan of the Chief Senachwine Chapter and Nancy Gartner of the Princeton-Illinois Chapter. The regents shared meeting duties.
Officers of the two chapters led the members in the Opening Ritual, Pledge of Allegiance, the American’s Creed and the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. The reading of the President General’s Message and the National Defense Report followed.
Approving the minutes of the previous meeting and reports by the treasurers were conducted.
Upcoming events for each chapter were announced. Chief Senachwine Regent Gillfillan announced an invitation at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, to the First Presbyterian Church 511 Wirt St., Henry, in recognition of the National Native American Heritage Month. The service will open with a slide show related to the occasion, including Chief Senachwine. Native American readings, hymns and music from Native American wooden flutes will be a part of the service. The Native American version of the Lord’s Prayer will be used along with the usual version. The public is invited.
At 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11, Chief Senachwine members will gather to
Dysart-Cofoid
Cooperation between the church and the Chief Senachwine Chapter National Society of the American Revolution have combined the interests of the two groups in Native American culture.
honor World War II Medal of Honor recipient John Cromwell at Henry’s Central Park for a wreath-laying ceremony. Later at the Henry Cemetery, other veterans will be honored such as Civil War soldiers and others important to the history of the chapter and World War I soldier Vergne Greiner, buried at the Hennepin Cemetery.
Following announcements from the Princeton-Illinois Regent Nancy Gartner and the speech by Bannon, the benediction and adjournment finalized the joint meeting of the two chapters.
The next meeting of the Chief Senachwine Chapter will be a Christmas
Pastor Canessa Lagan will lead the church service.
potluck at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at the Lake Thunderbird Clubhouse. Members are requested to bring a dish to pass plus their own tableware and serving utensils. Meat and beverages will be provided. Members are also asked to bring a $5 wrapped Christmas ornament or other Christmas item.
Any woman 18 years and older who can prove lineage to a Revolutionary War Patriot is eligible to join the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Interested prospective members can be assisted in finding a patriot of their own. For information or to join the DAR, call 815-303-1034.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
2010: Michigan wins the highest scoring game in its 131-year history by stopping a 2-point conversion attempt in the third overtime for a 67-65 victory over Illinois.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL – ST. BEDE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: HENRY DEF. ST. BEDE 25-23, 25-19
Oh Henry! Mallards beat St. Bede for first regional title in 14 years
Libero Taylor Frawley serves clutch ace to seal the victory
By KEVIN HIERONYMUS khieronymus@shawmedia.com
PERU – Kaitlyn Anderson served an ace to send Henry-Senachwine to a 23-19 lead in the second set of Thursday’s Class 1A St. Bede Regional final.
Then in a bold move, Henry coach Rita Self subbed out Anderson for junior libero Taylor Frawley.
It worked like a charm as Frawley followed with another ace and served the Mallards to the regional championship over the host Bruins 25-23, 25-19.
“I knew if we could serve short that it would be a couple of big points for us just to finish it off. And Kaitlyn is not a short server,” Self said. “I just didn’t want to risk throwing the ball out of bounds and switching the tables again and giving them an opportunity to try to do something.”
The win was the 200th career win for Self and the Mallards’ first regional championship since 2010.
“They had a lot of unfinished business from last year. We made it to the regional finals against Annawan and didn’t finish. This year, we had two goals. We wanted to finish the championship games (Tri-County tournament/regionals) that we were in last year. This year, so far, we’re 2 for 2. I know we’re excited to go even farther.”
The team wrote down goals at the beginning of the season and winning regionals topped the list.
“This was a big one for us. So it meant a lot,” Anderson said. “We’ve been in this championship my sophomore year in this gym and my junior year, so coming back my senior year means a lot.”
“This is what we’ve wanted. This is hopefully just the beginning for us. This has been our goal to win regionals and from there we move on,” Henry senior Lauren Harbison said. “They beat us in the regular season, so it was nice to win when it mattered. My sophomore year, they beat us in regionals, so it was nice to come back.”
The Mallards (28-7) will be bringing what they call the “Revenge Tour” to the Williamsfield Sectional at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Brimfield, which beat Monmouth United 25-12, 25-23 at the Abingdon Regional, edged Henry in three sets in the Midland Tournament 25-17,
17-25, 15-13 on Sept. 14.
“We call it the revenge tour because along the way we’re playing teams who beat us earlier in the season. We’re coming back for them,” Anderson said.
“Unfinished business for the whole year. ... Seeing teams we lost to in the regular season, but now beating them in the final days, Seneca and now St. Bede,” Self said. “And then the next one hopefully will be Brimfield. It will be nice to see them again.”
St. Bede (18-14) had a 6-1 run to take a 14-10 lead in the second set, including an ace by senior Quinn McClain and a kill by junior Lily Bosnich.
Harper Schrock and Brynna Anderson each had a pair of kills, Kaitlyn Anderson had a perfectly placed tip and Rachel Eckert had an ace to give Henry a 17-15 lead.
A pair of aces by Brynna Anderson gave the Mallards a 21-18 lead and Kaitlyn Anderson followed a net violation by St. Bede with an ace serve to run their advantage to 23-19.
Then Self subbed in Frawley, who served the Mallards to victory with the final two points.
“Taylor kind of lost her serving rotation because of an injury we had with our middles,” Self said. “She used to serve a lot for us. We have so many strong servers that bumped her out of her spot. Tonight, it was great to get her back at the end of the game and finish it off.”
Kaitlyn Anderson was happy to let Frawley serve out the championship.
“I trust my teammates. Whatever my coach says, I believe in her, and it worked,” she said. “I got an ace and then Taylor got an ace. It was awesome.”
Kaitlyn Anderson led the Mallards with eight kills, Schrock had seven kills and Brooklynn Thompson (eight points) and Brynna Anderson each had four kills. Also for Henry, Harbison had 18 assists and Frawley popped up 16 digs.
The Bruins led once early in the first game at 3-2, but played catch-up
most of the opener, forcing ties at 6-6 and 12-12.
A five-point Henry run made it 17-12. Ava Balestri and Ashlyn Ehm had blocks and Nell Potthoff hit for a kill as the Bruins pulled to within 17-16.
St. Bede managed to tie Henry at 22-22 on an Mallards’ error and again at 23-23 on a net serve.
The Mallards, however, closed out the opener with the final two points for the 25-23 win.
Potthoff had three kills and two aces for the Bruins.
St. Bede coach Kaitlyn Edgcomb said the Bruins came in confident having defeated the Mallards at the Academy only three weeks ago.
“I knew coming in to it tonight it wasn’t going to be easy,” she said. “The girls definitely gave it their all. We played to the best of our ability and Henry just came out on top. I told the girls things like this happen. It’s a good learning experience and hopefully next year the girls coming back will have the fire to get this far.”
Photos by Scott Anderson
Members of the Henry-Senachwine volleyball team hoist the Class 1A regional plaque after defeating St. Bede on Thursday at St. Bede Academy. The Mallards advanced to next week’s Williamsfield Sectional.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ROUNDUP
St. Bede 2, Putnam County 1: PC saw its volleyball season end with a 22-25, 25-20, 25-23 loss to the host Lady Bruins in the Class 1A St. Bede Regional semifinals on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
The Lady Panthers finished the season with a 11-21-1 record. Putnam County 2, La Moille 0: The Lady Panthers advanced in the
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: POSTSEASON UPDATE
A look at area postseason scores and pairings:
CLASS 1A ST. BEDE REGIONAL
Tuesday, Oct. 29 scores
(3) St. Bede def. (14) DePue 25-15, 25-14 (5) Putnam County def. (13) La Moille 25-8, 25-17
regional quarterfinals with a 25-8, 25-17 win over La Moille. Myah Richardson had 10 points, five aces, seven digs, five assists and four kills for PC, while Maggie Spratt had nine points, four aces, five kills and four digs. Eme Bouxsein contributed nine assists, eight points, an ace, five digs and three kills.
– Shaw Local News Network
Championship: (2) El Paso-Gridley def. (3) Eureka 25-17, 25-10
CLASS 2A COAL CITY REGIONAL
Monday, Oct. 28 score
(8) Sandwich def. (11) Mendota 25-21, 25-21
Tuesday, Oct. 29 scores
(1) Seneca def. (8) Sandwich 25-15, 25-19 (4) Coal City def. (7) Hall 25-16, 25-20
Thursday, Oct. 31 finals
Championship: (1) Seneca def. (4) Coal City 25-19, 27-25
Days when Merchantable Title will be furnished. Taxes to be pr orat ed at Cl osing & Possession Gi ven at Cl osing. All Announcements made Day of Sale will Take Precedence over all Previous Printed Matt er Seller Reserves the Right to Reject or A ccept any or all Bids. This Sale is Not Contingent on Fi nancing. Al l Fi nancing Needs to be Pre- Approved for Closing on or before 30 D ays after Day of Sale Anyone Interested in Vi ewing Real Estate Please Contact Tom or Mary Tumbleson 815- 872- 1852. Pl ease Note: This Property is Being Sold AS IS w/ No Warranties of Any Kind or Inspecti ons
SELLER: Perry Bailey/ Ex ecutor & POA: Jo hn Bailey Attorney : May, May, Angel & Harris
or
275
R'S NOTICE advertising in paper is Fair Housing makes it illegal to prefer ence, discrimination ace, color, handicap, or national inte ntion, to ch preference , scrimination .” status includes the age of 18 rents or le gal pregnant people securing child ren under paper will not ac cept any r real estat e olation of the eaders are hereby all dwellings is newspaper on an equal tunity basis. lain of ination call, HUD 800- 669-9777. telephone the he aring
IN THE CIRCU IT COURT OF TH E 10TH JUDICIAL CIRCU IT PU TNAM COUNTY, HENNEPIN, IL LINOIS
Vs Tonia Lester, as Co-Administrator of the estate of Harvey L. Lester; et al DEFENDANTS
No 202 4F C1
NO TICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE OF RE AL E STATE
PU BLIC NO TICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on 09/05/2024, the Sheriff of Putnam County, Illinois will on December 12, 2024 at the hour of 9:00 AM at Sheriff's O ffice at the Putnam County Courthouse 120 North 4th Street Hennepin, IL 61327, or in a place otherw ise designated at the time of sale, County of Putnam and State of Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described real estate: PIN 04-26- 030- 000
Shaw Media
Improved with Residential
CO MM ONLY KN OWN AS: 8418 Spotted Dutchman Hill Rd Magnolia, IL 61336
Sale term s: 10% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the auction; The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds, is due within tw enty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessm ents, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.
If the property is a condominium and the foreclosure takes place after 1/1/2007, purchasers other than the mortgagees will be required to pay any assessment and legal fees due under The Condom inium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4)
If the property is located in a common interest comm unity, purchasers other than mortgagees will be required to pay any assessment and legal fees due under the Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).
If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee's attorney
Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser shall receive a Certificate of Sale, which will entitle the purchaser to a Deed to the real estate after Confirmation of the sale The successful purchaser has the sole responsibility/expense of evicting any tenants or other individuals presently in possession of the subject prem ises
The property will NO T be open for inspection and Plaintiff m akes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the Court file to verify all information.
IF YO U ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN PO SSESSION FO R 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCO RD AN CE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MO RTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.
For inform ation: Examine the court file or contact Plaintiff's attorney: Codilis & Associates, P.C., 15W030 North Frontage Road, Suite 100, Burr Ridge, IL 60527, (630) 794- 9876. Please refer to file number 14-24-00599.
I325 44 63
(Published in Putnam County Record O ctober 30, 2024 Nov ember 6 , 13 , 20 24)
Find It Here
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice of Initiation of the Section 106 Pr ocess: Public Participation CitySwitch proposes the construction of a self-support style telecommunications tower within a 55' x 55' lease area at 13984 Chiado Hill Rd., Granville, Putnam County, IL The height of the tower w ill be 99.1- meters above ground level (325- feet above ground level) and 100.3-m eters above ground level including appurtenances (329-feet above ground level with appurtenances). Proposed project will include ground disturbance. Members of the public interested in subm itting comments on the possible effect s on historic properties included in or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places may send their comm ents to Andrew Smith, RESCOM Environmental Corp., PO Box 361 Petoskey, MI 49770 or call 260-385- 6999
(Published in Putnam County Record November 6, 2024) 2203923
PUBLIC NOTICE
ASSUMED NAME PUBLICATION NOTICE
Public Notice is hereby given that on October 16, 2024, a certi fi cate was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Putnam County, Illinois, setting forth the names and post-office addresses of all the persons owning, conducting and transacting the business know n as TME INSU LATI ON located at 1 3659 N 350 TH AVE MCNABB, IL 613 35
Dated this 16th day of October, 2024 /s/Tina Dolder Clerk & Recorder No DBA 24-0004
(Putnam County Record October 23, 30, November 6, 2024) 2200095
PUBLIC NOTICE
ASSUMED NAME
PUBLICATION NOTICE
Public Notice is hereby given that on October 16, 2024, a certi fi cate was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of Putnam County, Illinois, setting forth the names and post-office addresses of all the persons owning, conducting and transacting the business know n as TME INSU LATI ON located at 1 3659 N 350 TH AVE MCNABB, IL 613 35
Dated this 16th day of October, 2024 /s/Tina Dolder Clerk & Recorder No DBA 24-0004
(Putnam County Record October 23, 30, November 6, 2024) 2200095
PUBLIC NOTICE
Pre- Filing Notice: Notice is hereby given that the Magnolia Village Hall will be open from 10 am to 12 pm on Saturday, November 16, 2024, or you may call 406- 4508010 any time before Monday, November 18, 2024 for the purpose of accepting candidate petitions or certi fi cations for the Consolidated Election to be held on April 1, 2025 for the following offices: Village President, Village Clerk, Village Trustee (4 Year)3 positions. Please call Magnolia Village Clerk, Jonnelle Smith, at 406- 450-8010 with any questions.
(Published in Putnam County Record November 6, 2024) 2203793
(Published in the Putnam County Record November 6, 2024) 2203803
CIRCUIT COURT OF TH E JUDICIAL CIRCUIT PU TN AM CO UNTY, ILLINOIS
ESTATE OF MARY L. ERICKSON , DECEASED NO 20 24- PR-10 CLAIM NO TICE
Notice is given of the death of Mary L. Erickson Letters of office were issued to Cheryl Meyer of 2409 Enid St., Joliet, IL 60435 as Independent Executor whose attorneys are Angel, Isaacson & Tracy, 111 Park Avenue East, Princeton, Illinois 61356. Claims against the estate may be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Court, Putnam County Courthouse, 120 N. 4th Street, P.O. Box 207, Hennepin, IL 61327, or with the Independent Executor, or both, on or before May 6, 2025, or, if mailing or delivery of a notice from the Independent Executor is required by Section 18-3 of the Probate Act of 1975, the date stated in that notice Any claim not filed on or before that date is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered to the Independent Executor and to the attorneys within 10 days after it has been filed.
E- filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exem ptions To e- file, you must first create an account with an e-filing servi ce provider Visit https://efile.illin oiscourts.gov/ service- providers.htm to learn more and to select a service provider If you need additional help or have trouble e- filing, visit http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/FAQ/ gethelp.asp.
Dated this 30th day of October, 2024 Angel, Isaacson & Tracy Attorneys for Estate 111 Park Avenue East Princeton, IL 61356 815- 875- 6551
(Published in Putnam County Record November August 6, 13, 20, 2024) 2204162
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IN THE CIRCU IT COURT OF TH E 10TH JUDICIAL CIRCU IT PU TNAM COUNTY, HENNEPIN, IL LINOIS
Vs Tonia Lester, as Co-Administrator of the estate of Harvey L. Lester; et al
DEFENDANTS
No 202 4F C1
NO TICE OF SHERIFF'S SALE OF RE AL E STATE
PU BLIC NO TICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on 09/05/2024, the Sheriff of Putnam County, Illinois will on December 12, 2024 at the hour of 9:00 AM at Sheriff's O ffice at the Putnam County Courthouse 120 North 4th Street Hennepin, IL 61327, or in a place otherw ise designated at the time of sale, County of Putnam and State of Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described real estate: A TRACT OF LAND IN TH E NORTH HALF OF THE NORTH WEST QUARTER OF SECTION 35, TO WNSH IP 31 NO RTH, RANGE 2 WEST OF THE TH IRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, SAID TRACT BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: CO MMENCING AT A STON E AT TH E NORTH EAST CO RNER OF THE NORTH WEST QUARTER OF SAID SECTIO N 35, RU NN ING THEN CE SOUTHERLY ALONG THE EAST LINE OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SAID SECTIO N 35, 907.68 FEET TO THE POIN T OF BEG INNING FROM THE POIN T OF BEGINN ING, TH EN CE DEFLECTING TO THE RIGHT 89 DEGREES 35' AND RUNNIN G WESTERLY 421.00 FEET, THENCE DEFLECTING TO TH E RIGHT 90 DEGREES 25' AN D RU NN ING NORTH ERLY 310.40 FEET, TH ENCE DEFLECTING TO THE RIGH T 89 DEGREES 35' AND RUNN IN G EASTERLY 421 FEET TO THE EAST LINE OF TH E NO RTHWEST QU ARTER OF SAID SECTIO N 35, THEN CE DEFLECTING TO THE RIGH T 90 DEGREES 25' AND RU NNING SOUTHERLY 310.40 FEET TO THE PO INT OF BEGINNIN G, CO NTAINING 3.00 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, SITU ATED IN PUTNAM COUNTY, ILLINOIS
PIN 04-26- 030- 000
Improved with Residential CO MM ONLY KN OWN AS: 8418 Spotted Dutchman Hill Rd Magnolia, IL 61336
Sale term s: 10% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the auction; The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds, is due within tw enty-four (24) hours
The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessm ents, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.
If the property is a condominium and the foreclosure takes place after 1/1/2007, purchasers other than the mortgagees will be required to pay any assessment and legal fees due under The Condom inium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).
If the property is located in a common interest comm unity, purchasers other than mortgagees will be required to pay any assessment and legal fees due under the Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).
If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee's attorney
Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser shall receive a Certificate of Sale, which will entitle the purchaser to a Deed to the real estate after Confirmation of the sale The successful purchaser has the sole responsibility/expense of evicting any tenants or other individuals presently in possession of the subject prem ises.
The property will NO T be open for inspection and Plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the Court file to verify all information.
IF YO U ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOM EO WN ER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN PO SSESSION FO R 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCO RD AN CE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MO RTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.
For inform ation: Examine the court file or contact Plaintiff's attorney: Codilis & Associates, P.C., 15W030 North Frontage Road, Suite 100, Burr Ridge, IL 60527, (630) 794- 9876. Please refer to file number 14-24-00599. I325 44 63
(Published in Putnam County Record O ctober 30, 2024 Nov ember 6 , 13 , 20 24)
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