1 Front
Volume 141 No. 25
Friday, May 29, 2015
Single Copy Cost 50¢
Revisiting the Tonica break-in
Suarez: ‘Kids safety is the paramount concern’ By Zita Henneberry news@tonicanews.com
TONICA — The Tonica thief left empty-handed from the Tonica preschool. The Tonica preschool was discovered
to have been broken into around 7:50 a.m. Friday May 15. “Thankfully they didn’t take anything; they did damage a file cabinet in the office though,” said Superintendent John Suarez. The morning of the break-in, Suarez said his head of maintenance arrived at the building around 5:30 a.m. and had not noticed anything. When a preschool
teacher brought the broken window to Suarez’s attention, the police were contacted immediately, and the break-in site was left alone. Suarez informed the board the police arrived promptly in about 20 minutes. “I stand firm in having school (in session); the school was not damaged, and there was no reason to do that,” said Suarez. “I felt confident that the building
Schools struggle with continued state cuts
By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
By Zita Henneberry news@tonicanews.com
Lostant Page 3 Vol. 141 No. 25 One Section - 8 Pages
Tonica News photo/Zita Henneberry
Lostant’s got talent Sydney Samek was one of the nine performers at the Tuesday, May 19, Lostant talent show where she dazzled the crowd with her tumbling and hula hooping skills. In the grass in front of the Lostant school, Samek gave a brief demonstration of her performance as she flipped around in front handsprings and more.
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Chrome into the classes at LaSalle-Peru
Malahy: ‘It just keeps getting bleaker and bleaker and bleaker’
LOSTANT — Lostant may be lost with the continued loss of funding. “It just keeps getting bleaker and bleaker and bleaker as the state comes up with more creative ways not to fund public education,” said Lostant Superintendent Sandra Malahy. A cap on funding proposed by the state’s general state aid program would result in a significant loss of funding for the school, she explained. “They figured about half the districts will gain and half the districts will lose in the entire state, and we will be on the losing end,” Malahy said. Currently, out of the $140,942.42 promised to the school, the state can only fund $122,860.95. That’s if all the payments come in, she said, and it’s still a shortage of more than $18,000. If the cap were put in place, even more money would be lost, she said. “I will not know for another month if it’s going to all come in or not,” said Malahy. “With less funding and dwindling resources, we have to look at how that may affect us in the future.” Malahy explored with board members the unique position of Lostant as a unit school district with a deactivated high school. The cost of sending the high school students to other schools is more than $620,000. This money is going out to other schools, she said, and Lostant is not benefiting from it. “This is what is killing us,” said Malahy. The board explored the various options for the future of Lostant Grade School in the event of closures or consolidations. Malahy asked to start exploring the options with the state now to work toward keeping the doors open in the future.
was secure because I went in one direction, (and) my maintenance guy went the other direction.” Suarez said especially with about 85 percent of the Tonica students being bused to school, canceling school would have caused more trouble and have been a nightmare for both families and the
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LASALLE — LaSalle-Peru High School is taking another step into the world of technology. The school board has deemed the 1:1 pilot program a success and will move into full implementation for the 2015-16 school year. The program will put a new Chromebook laptop into the hands of each L-P student for work at school or at home. “We’re letting them take it home from day one, 24/7, until the end of the school year,” Superintendent Steve Wrobleski said. “Each one will have a barcode and we’ll document it and it will be theirs. It’ll be turned in at the end of the year, but the idea is, that Chromebook is theirs for all four years. The schools that we’ve talked to that have rolled this program out say students take care of them. It’s new and it’s nice, and they will be using them throughout the school career.” Chromebooks are built around Google’s Chrome operating system. Since most of the work done on a Chromebook actually stays in the cloud, it uses fewer processors and has smaller storage capabilities, making it smaller and cheaper. The Chrome system uses Google as its main source for browsing and Internet access, allowing students easier access to work done on a Chromebook from other computers. For students who are used to using a different format laptop, there’s a learning curve involved. Tonica’s Tanner Kennedy is adjusting, but prefers his Dell laptop. “They’re not what I’m used to. They’re new technology for me,” Kennedy said. “It’s hard to find where stuff is at for me. It’s kinda slowed me down because I’m not used to it.” Most instructors report students have embraced the new technology, as have the teachers. “I love it because it’s instant feedback. They submit it right away and then I can automatically grade it and return it,” English teacher Andrea Henry said. “There’s no forgetting to hand it in, and they can work on it at home. It makes everything easier.”
Chromebooks Page 2
Love. Protect. Heal.
2 Local 2 • The Tonica News • Friday, May 29, 2015
Chromebooks
Lawsuit asks for review of hog farm
From Page 1 The 1:1 program is being used across the country in several school districts, but according to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, a percentage of schools that tried the program have scrapped it due to shrinking budgets, rising maintenance costs and lack of improvement in student learning. While many programs reported an improvement in writing, there has been no appreciable gains in other subjects. So far, things seem to be different for the students and teachers at L-P “I think the experiences have been pretty positive, especially in the pilot classrooms,” L-P Director of Technology Amy Williams said. “It’s all been positive feedback from the teachers involved in the pilot program. There are a few teachers who are nervous, but last year, each of our teachers received a laptop as part of the implementation of the 1:1 program. Prior to that there was some nervousness, but it’s been a smooth transition.” Wrobleski said there
Tonica News photo/Ken Schroeder
Tanner Kennedy of Tonica works on a term paper during his English class at LaSalle-Peru High School on his Chromebook. The school began implementing a 1:1 pilot program to see if Chromebooks could be a valuable component of the learning experience three years ago with the laptops reaching students’ hands this year. With the success of the pilot program, the school board voted to implement the full 1:1 series for the 2015-16 school year. whole spectrum. We know it’s going to be a process,” he said. “We said, ‘Find two or three things you can do that you will be comfortable with and integrate this.’
still may be some resistance from some teachers but he expects it should fade. “I think the reality is you’re going to have teachers that run the
Tonica From Page 1 administration. “Because I was worried about sending kids home to parents who put them on the bus, and then they leave for work,” Suarez said. While Suarez is confident in his decision not to cancel school, there are a few things he wishes he would have handled differently. Suarez admitted during the Thursday, May 21, board meeting, he wished he would have sent out a connect ed message assuring parents of the building’s security and informing them of the situation. This, he said, would have avoided some of the confusion and rumors circulating in town. During the meeting, however, Tonica
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We’re going to structure professional development with it in a way teachers will be able to share with each other on what they’re learning and how they’re utilizing it.”
In other business: • The school board has agreed to purchase new digital textbooks for the seventh- and eighth-grade history courses. The textbooks are aligned with both Common Core and the coursework the students will transfer into at LaSalle-Peru High School, said Superintendent John Suarez. • Kim Goodbred was approved as the new Tonica Grade School Board member. • Bailey Schenk was approved as the new Tonica Grade School kindergarten teacher. • Pending enrollment, extra summer school sections have been added to the course listing. • Ronda Ketner was approved as the school social worker. • The board approved the Illinois Elementary School Association membership. cleared it. Because you are not trained; Rod is not trained; neither is Danny to clear a crime scene.” Upon hearing Goodbred’s reasoning, Suarez agreed. Considering how quick the police arrived, he said, having the students wait in the gym just to be safe would have been a better option.
School Board member Kim Goodbred brought up another matter for Suarez’s consideration. “I have a completely different feeling on it,” said Goodbred. “I don’t think you should have canceled school; I agree with that whole heatedly, but they should have been kept in the gym until the police
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“While I am qualified to run a school, I am not qualified to clear a crime scene,” Suarez said Friday morning. “I think we are always monitoring and revisiting policies and making sure the campus is safe, and obviously the kids safety is the paramount concern here.”
Editor’s note: The following press release was submitted to the Tonica News by Leslie Smith of Save Our Sandy and Danielle Diamond, Socially Responsible Agricultural Project. SPRINGFIELD — Neighbors of a proposed largescale concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) for Marshall County have filed a lawsuit in the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court against Iowa-based VMC Management Corporation (VMC) and the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) seeking a review of the agency’s ... decision to allow construction of the industrial hog facility near Wenona. The IDOA approved the mega hog operation to be located in a rural residential area on the banks of Big Sandy Creek, one of the state’s most valued streams and a major tributary to the Illinois River. The proposed facility would house more than 19,500 hogs and produce 10 million gallons of waste annually. VMC filed a motion on April 28 to dismiss the lawsuit claiming the local citizen group, Save Our Sandy (SOS), does not have standing to challenge decisions by the IDOA to site new factory farms. The IDOA also moved to dismiss the complaint. “The position that community members have no standing to ask their state government to review a decision that affects their lives, their health and their lifestyle is ridiculous,” said Leslie Smith, a SOS member and neighboring resident to the hog facility. “If this case is dismissed, it will have a huge impact on local farmers, residents and their communities, and prove that our state government protects outof-state corporations over its own citizens.” In a move that has frustrated local efforts to protect public health and Big Sandy Creek, the IDOA ignored a “no” vote by the Marshall County Board to allow construction of the
facility at the proposed location ... “The IDOA’s refusal to heed the recommendations of local authorities gives the citizens of Illinois every reason to call for a full review of new CAFO plans,” said Karen Hudson, regional associate of the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project and co-founder of the Illinois Citizens for Clean Air and Water. “Citizens have a legal right to uncover the repeated serious flaws and omissions by the IDOA and demand corrections or a stop to construction of these massive ... facilities if they don’t meet regulatory standards.” This is the first lawsuit to be filed against the IDOA for wrongly issuing a CAFO construction permit since the Jo Daviess County community group, HOMES, brought suit against a ... mega-dairy project at the headwaters of the Apple River. While the HOMES group ultimately stopped construction of the CAFO, they were unsuccessful in litigation against the IDOA for approving the facility. In its complaint, SOS called into question whether the IDOA did a proper analysis of the aquifer under the proposed site prior to issuing the permit, and whether plans for the facility will prevent runoff and groundwater discharges. Questions were also raised about the adequacy of the facility’s odor control plan, traffic safety proposal and road impact plan. “The entire decision on CAFOs rests with the state, even though the community and local government will be the ones dealing with the daily operation issues and any pollution clean-up,” said SOS’ Smith. “Local control of these decisions is needed, and needed now.” Save Our Sandy is represented by the Environmental Law Clinic at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.
3 Obit/Record Friday, May 29, 2015 • The Tonica News • 3
Citizens invited to help experts at Dixon Waterfowl Refuge The Wetlands Initiative (TWI) is organizing expert-led volunteer teams to comb its internationally-recognized nature preserve in Putnam County on June 13-14 in order to identify as many species of plants, birds, mammals, insects and other creatures as can be spotted in 24 hours. A BioBlitz is a methodical 24-hour survey of a site with scientists leading groups of volunteers, said TWI’s senior ecologist, Dr. Gary Sullivan. The goal is to increase the scientific knowledge of the site. “It’s a way of getting a rich
picture of the site’s biodiversity as volunteer ‘citizen scientists’ become an extension of the experts’ eyes and ears,” Sullivan said. “This is a first for TWI, and we’re excited. The event will run from noon on Saturday to noon on Sunday, so that we get the chance to spot both daytime and nighttime species.” Founded in 2001 and open to the public yearround, TWI’s Sue and Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge at Hennepin and Hopper Lakes has been designated both an Audubon Important Bird Area and a Wetland of Internation-
Lostant
al Importance. Now totaling more than 3,000 acres, the refuge is renowned for its diversity of habitats ranging from marshes, rare seeps and other wetlands to oak savanna, the lakes and several types of prairie. The BioBlitz will include baseline surveying of the newest addition to the refuge, nearly 300 upland acres where ecological restoration work will begin this fall. The Refuge has been the subject of prior surveys by experts in a few taxa (major organism groups), resulting in the identification so far of nearly 600 native plant
In other business:
From Page 1 “My passion is to keep this building operational,” said Malahy. “Operational expenses are not going to decrease; they’re going to increase, and funding is decreasing and eventually that’s going to come out of balance.” Malahy explained the school is currently in good financial standing, which means now is the time to explore future options. “There’s only so much money coming in, but we do have a good revenue from our tax base which is where the majority of our funding comes from,” said Malahy. “A good time to look at what to do about the dwindling state funding is when you’re not in crisis mode.” Fortunately for Lostant, the district is much more reliant on the local taxpayers than on the state, said Malahy. Some schools rely almost entirely on state funding, she said, adding those schools are in real
Recognized: • Randy Witko who donated water pollution materials for all Lostant students and their learning about pollution. • The Little Angels and Mark Nowakowski from Tonica who donated food and meat bundles for three families in need. • Doreen Giltner for donating so much time and effort working in the Lostant Secret Garden. • Shauna Breckenridge for her work in helping to put on the very successful Lostant talent show Tuesday, May 19. • Mark Knoweski recognized and thanked the board and Superintendent Sandra Malahy for their efforts in running the district. Business discussed: • The approval and rewording of the 2015 to 2016 Student/Parent Handbook trouble. “Our taxpayers have been so good about supporting our school,” she said. In other business, Malahy said she is bringing the enrichment program back to the table for Lostant students. The great thing about
• The rental of a scissor lift over the summer in order to replace lights and make repairs in the school. • Agreed to meet at the same time for the 2015 to 2016 school year. Meetings were set for 6 p.m. every third Wednesday of the month. • Lostant received a perfect score of 4.0 in all areas of their recognition status. • Agreed to purchase a school ban in order to transport kids between Tonica and Lostant and other small student group situations for next year. A faculty member is in the process of earning her bus driver’s license. • Approved the 2014 to 2015 amended hearing and 2014 to 2015 amended budget. • Discussed the necessary improvements and repairs which need to be made to the school sump pump.
this program, she said, is it will be available to average students as well as the high achievers. The program is really engaging and will be fun for the students, Malahy said. Students can participate in the enrichment program as long as they maintain a C average. Unfortu-
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species and more than 270 bird species. But scientific surveying of the site to date has been uneven. “We don’t yet know much about mammals, certain groups of insects, fungi and some other things,” Sullivan said. “In recent years a dragonfly species never before recorded in Illinois was found at the Dixon Refuge, as was another dragonfly not seen in the state since 1938. It’s a big, complex site. Who knows what we might find out there next?” Nearly three dozen experts have agreed to participate, representing the Illinois Natural History Sur-
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nately, Malahy added, students earning below that grade level will need the time in study hall to study. According to Malahy, the online program will offer students an entertaining and interactive program to enrich learning and their educational development.
vey, Chicago’s Field Museum, Peoria Audubon Society, National Park Service, Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby, McHenry County Conservation District, Peoria Academy of Science, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Chicago Botanic Garden, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois Audubon Society, Illinois Ornithological Society, Triton College in River Grove and Trine University in Indiana. “No specific scientific knowledge is needed in order to volunteer for an expert-led group,” Sullivan said. “We just need folks to
be stealthy and observant and follow the group leader’s instructions on what to look for.” The BioBlitz is open to volunteers age 14 and older who are able to hike for up to three hours across variable terrain (participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent). Pre-registration is required, and volunteers need not participate for the entire 24 hours to be part of the event. Refreshments will be provided. Registration is now open at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZPG59Y8, or call TWI directly at 312922-0777, ext. 113.
Obituary Alice Harms TONICA — Graveside memorial services for Alice E. Harms, 95, of Tonica, who died Jan. 15, 2015, will be at 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 5, in Rutland Cemetery. After the services a meal is planned at Capponi’s Restaurant in Toluca.
Chicago men arrested on heroin felony On Wednesday, May 13, agents of the TRIDENT task force and members of the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Morris Police Department and Grundy County Sheriff’s Office arrested Deonta D. Harding, 18 of Chicago and Ricardo Hebron, 24, of Chicago on a LaSalle County warrant for unlawful delivery of the controlled sub-
stance heroin, a Class 2 felony. The arrest warrants were issued following a lengthy investigation by the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team into illegal narcotic activity, heroin, occurring in Ottawa and surrounding areas. Both Harding and Hebron are being held at the LaSalle County Jail on a $750,000 bond.
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4 Perspective 4 • The Tonica News • Friday, May 29, 2015
The Editorial Page The Tonica News Sam R Fisher
Terri Simon
Publisher
Editor
Once in a blue moon ...
I’ve always been infatuated with the moon. I know nothing about it scientifically — not a single thing, and I have no desire to learn. Actually, I think a more educated approach to the moon might just ruin it for me ... You see, I love looking at the moon, knowing my dear friends in all parts of the country are also looking at the same moon as I am. Isn’t that amazing? Of course we all look at the same sun too, but it’s not nearly as significant or even as romantic as the moon, surrounded by darkness and the stars. I’ve spent countless hours in my life gazing at the moon, the man in the moon and the different aspects of it — whether it’s just a sliver, a half moon or my personal favorite, those huge full moons that can often take my breath. Which leads me to the reason for this column ... I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying: “Once in a blue moon ...” It’s a Terri Simon phrase that speaks of something rare, and by all intents and purposes, a blue moon is just that. While there are a couple of definitions for a blue moon, the most common one says a blue moon occurs when there are two full moons in a single month — the second one being dubbed the “blue moon.” It happens infrequently. I believe the next blue moon is in July of this year, though there are times when years pass before a blue moon occurs. So with that understanding, I’ve found myself using that saying, “Once in a blue moon ...” rather sparingly. To someone who enjoys analogies, I’m taken by the way nature and our world can mimic our own personal lives; so when I think of something rare — something that only happens “once in a blue moon,” I like to compare that to finding a friend who is extremely rare as well. You know, we go through life and meet a myriad of people — most of those are mere acquaintances, while a slim minority turn out to be more than just a casual introduction. And of those who enter your life and end up sticking around for a while, there are probably only a handful who turn out to be the type of person who truly deserve the title of friend. That might seem kind of harsh. After all, everyone of us know people who seem to have surrounded themselves with a host of friends. They usually are the life of the party, and inevitably, people gravitate toward them for a variety of reasons. Their friends are many; their enemies are few. But once in a blue moon, you find a friend who is different from the rest — one who challenges you to be your best but who also understands you when you are not. That blue moon friend is the one who is there when you need them most ... and still there when you need to have space to find yourself. That person is the one who walks in when you feel as if the rest of the world has walked out. A blue moon friend encourages you to keep it real, to listen to your own heart, to live life to its fullest. There is no jealousy with a blue moon friend — only the sincerest desire to love you through thick and thin, good times and bad, happy days and horrible days. They see past the smile on your face, knowing when your heart is ready to break and the tears are ready to flow. Likewise, they share in your joy, your accomplishments, your accolades, knowing all too well that one can never experience joy without knowing what pain feels like too. There are times when you can look into the eyes of your blue moon friend and see yourself, while there are other times when you see a mentor, a cheerleader, a disciplinarian ... and more, but without exception, you see a friend for life. That blue moon friend is the one who holds you up, helps you fall gently and understands that life can sometimes be unforgiving, not to mention unfair ... yet their love never falters. Once in a blue moon ... that happens. Tonica News Editor Terri Simon can be reached at tsimon@tonicanews.com.
First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Constitution of the United States, 1789
First Person Mary Kendall Town: Granville, soon to be Oglesby. Family: Son, John. Pets: None. Occupation: I work for the Salvation Army. What is the last book you have read: “50 Shades of Gray.” What is the last song you have heard: “Red Solo Cup.” What is the last TV show you watched: I watched the Hawks game. If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be: A nice juicy steak. If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could take only one thing with you what would it be: That would be John. If someone gave you a million dollars what would you do with it: I would give a portion of it to John and then I would distribute the rest of it through charities at my church.
Name a favorite area restaurant: Applebees. What do you like about your town: I love the way everybody comes together in a disaster to help
like recently with the Wink family. That is the best part. Would you change anything about the town you live in: I would like to see more activities not only for the children, but the young adults.
Time for Open Meetings Act training Newly elected members of public bodies have 90 days to successfully complete electronic training on the Open Meetings Act. To better serve the public, they should do it sooner, not later. One of the positives to come out of the Gov. Rod Blagojevich corruption scandal of 2008-09 is greater attention to openness and transparency in Illinois government. Reform legislation regarding the Open Meetings Act put greater responsibility on members of public bodies, such as municipal councils, school and county boards, and the like, to learn, understand and adhere to state law when conducting meetings. Since Jan. 1, 2012, all members of public bodies have been required to go online and take training on the Open Meetings Act through a curriculum developed and administered by the Public Access Counselor’s office, which is
part of the Illinois Attorney General’s office. Newly-elected members, such as those who won their seats in the April 7 election, have 90 days to complete that training. The clock starts ticking the day they take the oath of office. Numerous public bodies across the Illinois Valley had new members elected in April. The training those new members must complete will give them a working knowledge of their responsibilities under the Open Meetings Act. They will learn various legal definitions, requirements for legal public meetings, including advance notices and agendas, how meetings can be properly closed, what can be properly discussed in closed sessions, requirements for minutes and verbatim recordings, how the Open Meetings Act applies to electronic gatherings, enforcement of the act, and the role of the
Public Access Counselor. Members of public bodies need to remember that the people have a right to be informed about how public business is conducted. In other words, deliberations and actions are to be conducted openly. For people unaccustomed to public service, those concepts might be foreign. But to ensure honest, aboveboard government, they are vital. Members of the public may also take the training. Here is the online address: http://foia.ilattorneygeneral.net/ electronic_foia_training.aspx We encourage newly elected officials not to wait until the last minute to take their Open Meetings Act training. They will come away from it better informed and better prepared to fulfill their new public service roles. Tonica News
TO Letter THE Editor
Personal integrity To the Editor, Lawmakers in the Illinois House are considering a deeply troubling piece of legislation that would compel medical personnel in Illinois to violate their deeply held beliefs. This bill, SB 1564, would mandate pro-life doctors, nurses and pharmacists to distribute information to help patients find objectionable medical services such as abortion, sterilization and certain end-of-life care. According to the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, 95 percent of physicians polled would quit their practice rather than violate their conscience. This fact should alarm readers. And who could blame them?
Letters policy Letters to the Editor should not be more than 500 words in length. Only one person can sign a Letter to the Editor. The author of the letter must include his/ her name, hometown and telephone number. The author’s name and hometown will be published, however, the telephone number is only used to verify the authenticity of the author’s signature and will not be published. Unsigned letters are never read or published. No letter will be published until The Tonica News contacts the author of the letter to verify the signature. The Tonica News reserves the right to edit or refuse any Letter to the Editor. It is also important to point out that SB 1564 would negatively affect crisis pregnancy centers that provide health care services by requiring that these life centers give referrals to Planned Parenthood or other venues that promote abortion. No American, let alone vital health care providers, should be
required to violate their personal integrity in order to provide referrals to procedures or services they find morally offensive. Instead, our lawmakers should be working to uphold and reinforce First Amendment conscience protections. David E. Smith, executive director, Illinois Family Institute Carol Stream
5 Life Friday, May 29, 2015 • The Tonica News • 5
Community
Easter Seals celebrates successful event
Acres of Ag Adventures PUTNAM — The University of Illinois Extension, Marshall-Putnam 4-H and Ag in the Classroom have teamed up to offer Acres of Ag Adventures from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, June 16-18, at Condit’s Ranch, located at 7597 Log Cabin Road in Putnam. Acres of Ag Adventures will offer children, going into second through fifth grade, the opportunity
to experience farm life. Each morning will be spent learning about some aspect of farm life, from meeting animals to exploring crops and checking out machines. There will be time for active games, crafts and food. Registration forms are available by calling 309364-2356. Forms must be received by Monday, June 1, and registration is limited. This is a free program.
Silent auction planned LOSTANT — Lostant School will hold a silent auction from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 6, in the school gym. Last bids
will be taken at noon. All items must be removed from the school by 2 p.m. This is a cash only event.
VBS planned in Tonica TONICA — The Tonica United Methodist Church will hold vacation Bible school from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 15-19 for children ages 4-12. All denom-
inations are welcome. Dinner will be provided to participants. To register, visit http://groupvbspro. com/vbs/ez/tonicaumc or call 815-993-5938.
I-READ program to offer training sessions OGLESBY — The I-READ Adult Literacy Program at Illinois Valley Community College will conduct free volunteer tutor training sessions in June. Volunteers must have a desire to work with adult learners and be willing to tutor two to three hours each week, but volunteers do not need to have teaching experience. Fifteen hours of training is required for all volunteer tutors. The four required training sessions will be from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 2, Thursday, June 4, Tuesday, June 9, and Thursday, June 11, in Room CTC-221 at IVCC. After completing the training, tutors are matched with learners age 17 or older who test below the ninth-grade level or who need to improve their
English language skills. Volunteers may choose to tutor in one-to-one sessions at a local library or in an Adult Education classroom at IVCC or at an extension site within the IVCC district. Free online tutor training is another option for volunteers whose schedules do not allow them to participate in the June training sessions. For information on the program, visit www. ivcc.edu/adulted. To register for the training sessions, contact Angela Dunlap, I-READ program manager, at 815224-0372, or Chris Warren, I-READ literacy specialist, at 815-224-0345. This project is made possible by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a division of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds designated for literacy.
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Hundreds attended the Easter Seals of LaSalle and Bureau counties 35th annual celebration presented by WCMY 1430 AM and SAM FM 95.3 May 17 at Skydive Chicago. Admission was free, and the event included music and a live radio remote with Karen Rhodes and Jay LeSeure with SAM
FM, food, a magician, face painting, games, raffles and a celebration. Skydive Chicago hosted a jump for the kids to benefit the Easter Seals. Four skydivers raised at least $500 each for the Easter Seals to participate in a tandem jump. Participants included Bob Olsen, Jeremiah Stearns, William
Lee and Nicholas Quinn. “We wanted to do something new and different this year,” said Susan Bursztynsky, president and CEO of the Easter Seals of LaSalle and Bureau counties. “After 34 years, it was time to change things up a bit. Viewership of the traditional telethon event has declined in popular-
ity throughout the years. We are thrilled with the new format and looking forward to continuing and expanding the celebration.” Easter Seals has raised nearly $40,000 so far and donations continue to come in. They are hoping to raise $50,000 in the coming weeks.
Illinois Valley YMCA will offer summer camps PERU — The Illinois Valley YMCA will host summer day camp from June 1 to Aug. 28. Day Camp is an all-day summer camp program. The YMCA provides before care from 7 to 8 a.m., camp from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and after care from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Summer camp is in two
age groups, Jr. Discovery is for 4-8 year olds and Adventure is for 9-13 year olds. Campers will regularly be swimming, going on field trips, doing craft projects, exercising and participating in group activities. There will also be a partial day summer camp for children ages 3-5 years
old. This program runs from June 1 to Aug. 14 and takes place Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Just for 2’s summer camp takes place from June 1 to Aug. 14 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Camp is a opportunity for children to gain skills,
make new creations and develop friendships. Parent packets are available for pick-up at the front desk of the Illinois Valley YMCA and also on the website at ivymca.com/ documents/summercamppacket2015.pdf. For more information, contact Tammy Heinecke at 815-223-7904, ext. 44.
Streator Elks Lodge plans orthopedic clinic STREATOR — Streator best of their ability for chil- ment or specialty equip- sufficient resources to do Elks Lodge 591, in coop- dren needing further treat- ment when the family lacks so. eration with the Illinois Elks Children’s Care Corporation, will sponsor a free children’s orthopedic assessment clinic from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, June 8, at the Orthopedic Associated of Streator at the office of Dr. A. Roy, 205 S. Park St., Streator. The clinic is by appointment only. To make an appointment, call the Illinois Elks Children’s Care office at 800-272-0074 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are no charges for any services at this clinic. No medical referral is necessary for the clinic but physicians are welcome to refer patients to the clinic for a specific reason or second opinion. School nurses are welcome to refer children and families to the clinic. The Elks Organization has been working with physically challenged children since 1928 and this is one of the 17 clinic locations throughout Illinois. The clinic is an ideal time to have a child Join us for our Joint Replacement Seminar – meet our staff, reviewed for bone and ask questions and even make an appointment to find out if joint development. you are a candidate for total joint replacement surgery: The Elks will provide financial assistance to the
Questions About Hip and Knee Replacement? IVCH has the answers.
High-Speed Wirele ess Internet
Magnolia LaSalle Peru Oglesby Lamoille
Wednesday, June 3rd 6:00 p.m. IVCH Room at Peru Mall (next to Jo-Ann Fabrics) Learn how our patient-focused model of care results in: • Shorter hospital stays • Fewer complications • A better quality of life Call 815.780.3337 to register.
Call: 815-368-374 44
www.IVCH.org
6 Class 6 • The Tonica News • Friday, May 29, 2015
Menus and Activities Lostant Grade milk. June 2 — Hot dogs/ hamburgers, chips, School apples, pink lemonade,
LPHS students compete in literary festival Seventeen LaSalle-Peru Township High School students competed recently in the Northern Illinois Big XII 2015 Literary Festival. Students submitted original works in the areas of short fiction, personal essay, poetry, dramatic scenes and critical essays. Winners include: senior Shana Puetz, critic’s choice for her critical essay, “William Faulkner’s ‘As I Lay Dying’: A Journey of Life Controlled by the Dead,” second place for her critical essay, “William Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’: Piercing Paternal Bonds” and honorable mention for her critical essay, “Ayn Rand’s ‘The Fountainhead’: Destruction or Salvation?”; sophomore Abby Steinberg, first place for her personal narrative, “The Definition of Me,” second place for her poem “Never Again” and honorable mention for her poem, “The Life I Live”; senior Brett Kowalczyk, first place for his critical essay, “The Forlorn Second Born: Tragic Hero Darl in William Faulkner’s ‘As I Lay Dying’” and second place for his critical essay, “The Madness of Maggot: Ayn Rand’s Advance Against Altruism in ‘The Fountainhead’”; senior Brian Kelsey, second place for his critical essay, “One Man’s Betrayal is Another Man’s Love in William Faulkner’s ‘As I Lay Dying’” and his short fiction “The Sun Behind the
Photo contributed
The LaSalle-Peru Township High School literary team consists of (front row, from left) Shana Milby, McKayla Urbanowski, Bryanna Hoskins, Abby Steinberg and Samantha Glassman; and (back row) Brian Kelsey, Laura Agostino, Nic Bollis, Shana Puetz, Brett Kowalczyk and Jena Argubright. Absent from the photo are Stephanie Bias, Katie Bratkovich, Casey Brewer, Isabella Brooker, Jessica Kurkowski and Savannah Willis. Moon”; sophomore Isabella Brooker, second place for her dramatic scene “Gone”; sophomore Jessica Kurkowski, second place for her poem “Cancer” and honorable mention for her descriptive sketch, “Her Room in a Different Perspective” and her short fiction “Every Hero Deserves a Hero”; sophomore Bryanna Hoskins, second place for her poem “The Celebration of
Life”; junior Samantha Glassman, second place for her poem “Wishing for Tomorrow” and honorable mention for her poems “Inside My Brain” and “The Mighty Master of the Sky”; junior Casey Brewer, honorable mention for her poem “A Hollow Shell”; and sophomore McKayla Urbanowski, honorable mention for her poem “Liars in my Mind.”
––––––– Classifieds ––––––– General Terms and Policies The Tonica News reserves the right to classify correctly, edit, reject or cancel any advertisement at any time in accordance with its policy. All ads must be checked for errors by the advertiser, on the first day of publication. We will be responsible for the first incorrect insertion, and its liabilities shall be limited to the price on one insertion. CLASSIFIED LINE AD & LEGAL DEADLINES: • Friday Paper deadline Friday before by 3pm We Accept Call 815-875-4461 classified@bcrnews.com ************ HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? Put your ad in for FREE Items $1,000 or less can run FREE for 1 time. Limit of 5 lines. Up to 3 items with price and price totaling under $1,000. 1 ad per household per week. No commercial ads, firearms or animal sales. E-mail information to: classified@ bcrnews.com (include your name, address & phone number) No Phone Calls!
- 200 Employment
- 400 Merchandise
- 700 Real Estate For Sale
232 • Business Opportunities
450 • Under $1000
767 • Mobile Home Sales
********** THE CLASSIFIED Advertising Department of the Tonica News Does not have the opportunity to fully investigate the credibility of each advertiser appearing within these columns. If an offer sounds “too good to be true” it probably is. Proceed with caution if you are asked to send money or to give a credit card number. Proceed with caution in calling 900 phone numbers. All phone numbers prefixed by”900” are charged to the CALLER. Charges may be assessed on a “per minute” basis rather than a “per call” basis. The Tonica News Classifieds makes every effort to qualify these charges for the reader. If you have a concern about an advertiser, please contact: Better Business Bureau 330 North Wabash Chicago, IL 60611 312 832-0500
PROMOTE JOB OPENINGS Call us to find out how we can help. 815-875-4461
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ADVERTISE YOUR VEHICLE SALE HERE! In the Classified. Just call 815-875-4461.
460 • Garage Sales PRINCETON 2102 Crestview Drive (Maple Acres). Friday, Saturday, May 29 & 30; 9am-? INSIDE/MOVING SALE Lots of misc. Priced to Sell. Also: This Home Will Be For Sale this Fall PRINCETON 511 East Thompson. Thursday, May 28, 4pm-7pm; Friday, May 29, 8am-5pm; Saturday, May 30, 8am-Noon. Home décor, men's clothing XL- 36-30, 38-30. Women's clothing 2-3XL, pants 16w, 18w, 20w. Misc. items PRINCETON 617 Celebration. Friday, Saturday, May 28, 29; 9am-4pm. MULTI-FAMILY SALE Furniture, lots of lawn furniture, household, female clothes GARAGE SALES HERE!!
**************** PUBLISHER'S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call, HUD tollfree at 800 669-9777. The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 800 927-9275
Breakfast June 1 — Honeybun, cereal, yogurt, fruit, juice and milk. June 2 — Cereal bar, cereal, yogurt, fruit, juice and milk. June 3 — Breakfast wrap, cereal, yogurt, fruit, juice and milk. Lunch June 1 — Turkey, smile potato, carrots, pears,
water. June 3 — Tortellini soup, broccoli, peaches, milk.
Activities June 2 — Field day. June 3 — 8:45 a.m. awards assembly, 10 a.m. graduation practice, 1:30 p.m. dismissal for last day of school, 6:30 p.m. graduation.
IVCC Foundation plans golf outing LASALLE — The 19th annual Illinois Valley Community College Foundation Golf Outing will be Wednesday, June 17, at Senica’s Oak Ridge, Route 6, LaSalle. Check-in and lunch will be from noon to 12:45 p.m. The cost of the four-person scramble is $65 per golfer and includes lunch, nine holes, contests and flight prizes. An additional nine holes is available for $12, payable to Senica’s after the event. Hometown National Bank of LaSalle is the event’s leadership sponsor; the foundation welcomes tee and cart sponsors as well. Cash gifts and donations of items for the event are appreciated. For more information, call Janice Corrigan at 815-224-0253.
999 • Legal Notices
999 • Legal Notices
999 • Legal Notices
999 • Legal Notices
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LA SALLE COUNTY OTTAWA, ILLINOIS IN RE: ) THE ESTATE OF ) SHIRLEY J. LOWERY,) DECEASED. ) NO.2015-P-90 CLAIM NOTICE Notice is hereby given of the death of Shirley J. Lowery, late of Utica, Illinois. Letters of office were issued on May 11, 2015, to Pamela Lowery, whose attorney is Gary Gearhart, GEARHART LAW OFFICE, 951 Fifth Street, LaSalle, Illinois 61301. Claims against the Estate may be filed with the office of the Circuit Clerk, Probate Division, Downtown Courthouse, 119 W. Madison St., Ottawa, Illinois, or with the representative, or both, within six (6) months from the date of issuance of letters. Any claim not filed within that period is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed. ANDREW F. SKOOG Clerk of the Circuit Court
Gary L. Gearhart GEARHART LAW OFFICE Attorney for Plaintiff 951 Fifth Street LaSalle, IL 61301 Phone: (815 ) 223 -8009 FAX: (815) 223-8003 Published in the Tonica News May 22, 29 and June 5, 2015.
315 West 3rd Street, Lostant, IL 61334 by calling 815-368-3392 for an appointment. Mike Phillips, School Board President, Lostant CUSD 425. Published in the Tonica News May 29, 2015.
Employed in any Public Works.” The general prevailing rate of wages under the jurisdiction of the Library District is the same as determined by the Department of Labor of the State of Illinois for the County of LaSalle as of June, 2015. A copy of the full resolution and the Department of Labor Determination is available for inspection at Village Hall, Tonica, IL. Heather Sherman, Village Clerk Village of Tonica Published in the Tonica News May 29, 2015.
SILENT AUCTION Lostant School will hold a silent auction on June 6th in the school gym. Silent auction hours are 7:00am – noon. Last bids are taken at noon. All items must be removed from the school by 2:00pm. Cash only. Published in the Tonica News May 22 and 29, 2015. NOTICE OF PREVAILING WAGE ORDINANCE Lostant CUSD 425 passed an ordinance on May 20, 2015 establishing prevailing wage rates for workers on new construction or improvement (not maintenance) projects, to be the same as those in LaSalle County as determined by the Illinois Department of Labor. Anyone wishing to inspect the Ordinance may do so at the office of Lostant CUSD 425,
LEGAL PUBLICATION At the May 18, 2015, regular meeting of the Village of Tonica, Ordinance #572 was passed regulating wages pursuant to “An Act Regulating Wages of Laborers, Mechanics, and Other Workers
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Friday, May 29, 2015 • The Tonica News • 7
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PH:
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71
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8 Ad 8 • The Tonica News • Friday, May 29, 2015