13 minute read
Property Transfers
DIXON
State superintendent w ill appear at SVCC education sy mposium
The teacher shortage in Illinois is real. In a 2021 survey of superintendents in Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside counties, 87% of respondents stated that their districts were experiencing a teacher shortage and 18% of local positions went unfilled or were filled with less than qualified hires. Regional Office of Education #47 and Sauk Valley Community College are partnering to build Education Pathways for students to fill those gaps.
Area students in grades 9-12 who are interested in pursuing a career in education will attend an Educator Symposium on Friday, April 29 at SVCC, 173 IL Route 2, Dixon. From 8:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m., students will participate in mock interviews with school administrators, hear f r o m I l l i n o i s S t a t e S u p t o f Schools Dr. Carmen Ayala, talk to college representatives from across the state, investigate various roles in education, and collect wisdom from retired teachers. A ceremony to honor area students who have earned the Education Endorsement during high school will cap off the day. The Sauk partnership has been awarded CTE Education Pathway grant funds through the Illinois State Board of Education to support this event. School districts partnering in this work include Dixon PSD #170, Rock Falls THSD #301, Morrison CUSD #6, River Bend CUSD #2, Amboy CUSD #272, Sterling CUD #5, Ashton-Franklin Center CUSD #275, Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD #3, Forrestville Valley CUSD #221, and Regional Center for Change.
Additional information will be provided at the event. For further information contact Chanda McDonnell at cmcdonnell@roe47.org or by calling 815-677-2457. Carmen Ayala, state superintendent of education
Public meeting is May 11 for I-80 Mississippi River bridge study
DIXON – The Illinois Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Transportation, will hold an online public meeting on Wednesday, May 11, to present findings and receive public comment as part of the Interstate 80 Mississippi River Bridge study.
The public meeting will be held online from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Participants can register to attend the meeting by visiting the project website, I80MississippiBridge.com, and logging in with a name and email address.
The I-80 Mississippi River Bridge study includes about six miles from the I-88 interchange in East Moline, Illinois, to 35th Street southwest in Bettendorf, Iowa.
The public is encouraged to attend the meeting to learn more about study findings and provide comment on potential improvement alternatives. In addition to a video presentation, the meeting will include representatives from the Illinois and Iowa Departments of Transportation and the project consultant team. Exhibits will be available for review and the meeting will include a Q&A session.
The I-80 Mississippi River Bridge was built in 1967 and is one of three major interstate bridges in the Quad Cities. The bridge has required significant repairs and rehabilitation in recent years and traffic is increasing with associated increases in crashes.
The aging bridge continues to face costly maintenance expenses and the highway design does not meet current standards. In 2020, Illinois and Iowa conducted an online public meeting to introduce a Planning and Environment Linkages study of the bridge and corridor.
Since then, the project team has continued to evaluate existing conditions and identified potential improvement alternatives.
Consideration of public input and evaluation of safety, capacity and infrastructure will continue following the public meeting. Meeting materials and the video presentation will be available at any time after the meeting on the project website, I80MississippiBridge.com. Comments are always welcome.
Comments received through May 25 will become part of the public meeting record.
The study is expected to conclude in late 2023 with a report and recommendation of a preferred alternative.
PROPERTY TRANSFERS
Whiteside County
Warranty deeds
Donald R. and Bonita J. Tegeler to Piper J. Lindhe, 6026 Garden Plain Road, Fulton, $100,000.
Derek S. and Aliesha Dwyer to BGRS Relocation Inc., 204 Maple Lane, Fulton, $230,500.
BGRS Relocation Inc. to Amanda Nicole Ratcliff, 204 Maple Lane, Fulton, $230,500.
David A. Olsen to Kurt Dreger Trust, 413 13th Ave., Fulton, $125,000.
Blecha Holdings LLC Series 508 Fourth to Matthew Howard, 508 Fourth St., Fulton, $134,000.
Robert R. and Janet E. Arnold to Christopher and Tracey Hemminger, 17564 J St., Sterling, $312,500.
Gregory L. and Janice J. Andersen to Michael E. and Diana S. Lubbs, 3219 Mineral Springs Road, Sterling, $250,000.
Rafael S. and Gernalyn F. Figueroa to Nathan Martin, 12501 State St., Sterling, $124,000. 20042 Trust, Series 20042, HSBC Bank USA, trustee, to Bulmaro Rocha, 1410 Ave. L, Sterling, $16,000.
Gary F. Milnes to Darrel R. and Angela S. Vandervinne, 127 E. Main St., Morrison, $63,000.
Jody M. and Maggie A. Young to Gary Clevenger, 1205 Ninth Ave., Rock Falls, $27,000.
Gerald and Jocelyn Johnston to Kurt and Brian Properties LLC, 207 E. Ninth St., Rock Falls, $90,000.
Ernest Valladeras to Jose Luis and Paula Macias, 412 W. Sixth St., Sterling, $65,000.
Stanley C. and Sandra Emmert to Adam Khaled Tarawneh, 108 E. Park St., Morrison, $90,000.
Richard Wayne and Barbara J. Bruder to Faith Ann Honeyman and Drey Burks, 1314 11th Ave., Sterling, $74,000.
Marlene H. and Leonard Devers to Rhonda Devers, 25009 Front St., Sterling, $38,000.
Ronald J. Huebner to Michael Van Zuiden, 919 Third Ave., Fulton, $220,000.
Brett A. and Rebecca Kathleen Wiersema to Trae M. Tiesman, 120 Riverview Drive, Albany, $97,500.
Joe R. and Cindy S. Bielema to Illinois Department of Transportation, 206 E. Wall St., Morrison, $2,788.
Quit claim deeds
Frank J. Harts Sr. to Gabriel L. and Michael L. Harts, 904 W. 10th St., Sterling, $0.
James M. Woods to NW Properties and Apartments LLC, 615 Seventh Ave., Fulton, $0.
John A. and Bonnie L. Bauscher to John J. Bauscher, Jill R. King and William Halverson, 408 Portland Ave., Morrison, $0.
Richard and Jennie Brauer to Anthony J. Brauer, 700 Ave. D, Rock Falls, $0.
Jennifer K Danreiter Hunsberger to Kim M. Neisewander, 510 Heinze Drive, Rock Falls, $0.
Trustees deeds
Steve A. and Denise L. McGinn Trust to Dustin L. and Lisa M. Sandrock, six parcels on Star Road, Prophetstown, $716,000.
Steve A. and Denise L. McGinn Trust to Marc T. Schutz Trust, eight parcels on Felton Road, Prophetstown, $1,787,000.
Rock River Housing Trust, Susan J. Spratt, trustee, to Savannah Giles, 1501 Wike Drive, Rock Falls, $86,000.
Executor’s deeds
Scott A. Parson Estate to Brandon M. Radosh, 1611 Seventh Ave., Rock Falls, $40,000.
Wayne E. Akker Estate to Garrett and Kathleen Karman, 303 W. Main St., Morrison, $85,000.
Patricia Ann Bright Estate to Pamela and Gerald W. Paterson, 13090 Garden Plain Road, Morrison, $160,000.
Deed
FMI US Property Holdings LLC to Mira M. Majzoub Trust, Tarek M. Mogharbel, trustee, 2516 E. Lincolnway, Sterling (KFC and Long John Silvers), $900,000.
Source: Whiteside County Recorder’s Office
IDNR recommends halt of bird feeders, bird baths through May 31 because of avian inf luenza
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has issued u p d a t e d p u b l i c r e c o m m e n d a t i o ns regarding wild birds and the EA H5N1 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza currently impacting some wild and domestic bird species.
While HPAI has not been detected in songbird species (passerines), IDNR recommends the use of bird feeders and bird baths cease through May 31 or until HPAI infections in the Midwest subside, especially those that waterfowl may visit. During spring, wild birds will have ample food sources while bird feeders are removed.
Further IDNR recommendations: • Clean and rinse bird feeders and baths with a diluted bleach solution (nine parts water to one part bleach) and put away or clean weekly if they can’t be moved away from birds. • Remove any bird seed at the base of bird feeders to discourage large gatherings of birds or other wildlife. • Avoid feeding wild birds in close proximity to domestic flocks.
If five or more deceased wild birds are observed in one location, an IDNR district wildlife biologist should be contacted. Contact information for district wildlife biologists can be found at wildlifeillinois.org/sidebar/contact-an-idnr-district-wildlife-biologist/. USDA Wildlife Services may be contacted at 1-866-487-3297.
In addition, IDNR requests all occurrences of deceased or sick bald eagles be reported to the agency.
When disposing of deceased wild birds, rubber gloves and a mask should be worn and the carcass should be double-bagged in sealed plastic bags. The bags can be buried away from scaveng e r s o r p l a c e d i n t h e g a r b a g e i f approved by the local waste service provider. Anyone handling deceased birds should thoroughly wash their hands and any other clothes or tools with soap and water after disposal.
With spring turkey season underway, IDNR notes that wild turkeys are less likely to contract HPAI given their behavior and the habitats they occupy. However, turkey hunters can protect themselves by thoroughly cooking game meat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit and implementing other guidance found at aphis. u s d a . g o v / p u b l i c a t i o n s / a n i m a l _ health/2015/fsc_hpai_hunters.pdf.
IDNR first announced HPAI was detected in wild Canada geese in Illinois on March 10 in a joint notice with the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Since then, wild bird mortality from HPAI has been confirmed in Champaign, Fulton, Sangamon and Will counties with a more recent mortality event of more than 200 birds in Cook County suspected to be caused from HPAI.
Wild birds impacted include waterfowl and waterbird species, as well as some raptors, including bald eagles. Detections in domestic poultry flocks also have occurred.
For information on the status of HPAI in wild birds and domestic bird flocks in Illinois and other states, visit aphis.usda. gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai and https:// www2.illinois.gov/sites/agr/Animals/ AnimalHealth/Pages/Highly-Pathogenic-Avian-Influenza.aspx.
A cardinal takes two kernels of safflower seed in its beak as it visits a bird feeder in an Ogle County yard.
Photos by Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media Three goldfinches feed at a bird feeder in a yard in rural Mt. Morris.
UI Extension offers picnic par ty in Morrison for 5 to 7 year olds
Tired of your child being inside on their devices and not socializing with other children? Is adventure missing from their lives and they are lacking quality time with others?
Sign them up today for a fun-filled morning with new friends.
Youth ages 5 to 7 will have fun creating picnic themed crafts, eating food and playing games at a workshop in Morrison.
The workshop is offered by University of Illinois Extension and begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 7, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
The workshop is open to 20 youth and registration must take place by May 2.
There is a $7 supply fee per child for the workshop.
For more information, call Allie at 815-632-3611.
Register at go.illinois.edu/whitesidepicnic
Everyday Environment
Join us at 1 p.m. May 23 for environmental topics presented by the University of Illinois Extension’s Energy and Environmental Stewardship Team. The webinar provides new information on natural resources and helps you learn how to make small changes in your lifestyle to have a positive impact on the environment. From lawn care, native plants and managing home waste to understanding coyote behavior and atmospheric optics, there is never a shortage of new things to learn about your everyday environment. Register online for Geothermal Energy at go.illinois.edu/everydayenvironmentwebinars
Get Savvy - Grow Your Green Stuff
“Get Savvy - Grow Your Green Stuff” is an annual webinar series coordinated by the University of Illinois System Student Money Management Center and University of Illinois Extension with partners across the state, including Illinois Division of Financial and Professional Regulation, Loyola University Chicago and DePaul University. This webinar series from noon to 1 p.m. May 18 is aimed to inform, educate and empower its viewers about important financial topics. All webinars are free and open to the public. Register online to attend Student Loan Repayment at https://forms.uofi.uillinois.edu/ sec/1279302
Lessons for Living
Lessons for Living are monthly workshops that provide easy to understand tips for living full, rich lives. The free online webinar at 10 a.m. May 19 is taught by University of Illinois Extension educators and extended at no cost to the public in collaboration with the Illinois Home and Community Education units throughout the state. Register for the webinar Five Flavors: How the Palate Changes online at go.illinois.edu/2022HCElessons.
PORT BYRON
A ztec dance troupe shares cultural per formance at RVDL
BY SARAH FORD For Shaw Media
H e n r y C e r v a n t e s a n d t h e Xochitl-Quetzal Danza Azteca troupe brought a vibrant performance to River Valley District Library in Port Byron on Saturday, April 23. The troupe, from the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago, presented an exciting and educational program that explored the Aztec world of indigenous ceremony and song and dance while honoring the tradition of La Danza De Los Concheros.
With a thundering drum beat and mesmerizing rhythmic movements, the troupe performed dances of the ancestors, the sun, the butterfly, and the hummingbird while sharing the culture’s inspiration for each piece. The Aztecs studied and learned from their animal relatives, Cervantes said, with the butterfly and hummingbird carrying warrior-like qualities such as willpower, self-defense, and fragile yet powerful strength.
“Each dance tells a story of the people,” said Cervantes. “The instruments and songs carry the history of the Aztec people.” Cervantes also talked about the cultural history and significance of the Aztec calendar, the dancers’ drums, whistles, rattles, conch shell, turtle shells, seeds, and guitar instruments, as well as the pheasant and rooster feathers that the dancers earn for their ceremonial outfits.
The Xochitl-Quetzal Danza Azteca troupe is a youth organization that’s been traveling throughout the state this year, supported by an Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Grant. Their performances are a celebration and preservation of Mexico’s ancient culture.
Illinois Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Illinois General Assembly [through the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA)], as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by speakers, program participants, or audiences do not necessarily reflect those of the NEH, Illin o i s H u m a n i t i e s , I A C A , t h e i r partnering organizations, or their funders. Josh, 14, holds a turtle shell drum that provides a monotone beat for the Aztec dancers and singers.
Photos by Sarah Ford for Shaw Media Meztli, 8-year-old daughter of Henry Cervantes, shows a whistle that the Aztecs used to mimic birds.
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