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VOLUME 145 NO. 30 • tonicanews.com

Friday, June 28, 2019

Waterlogged park

Flooding closed parking areas of Starved Rock State Park this spring, leading to a significant decrease in attendance over Memorial Day weekend, one of the park’s busiest weekends. SEE STORY ON PAGE 2.

(Shaw Media/Tom Sistak)

Vol. 145 No. 30 One Section - 12 Pages

© The Tonica News

IVCC

New hires New faculty members have been hired at Illinois Valley Community College. / 3

TONICA The Tonica School District Board of Education bids

farewell to its financial adviser, whom board members credit for greatly improving the district’s finances. / 4

SCHOOL REUNION Plans are in the works for a Tonica

High School alumni reunion. It will take place Sept. 14 at the Oglesby Elks building. / 8

The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, June 28, 2019

| LOCAL NEWS

2 Take Tonica News

STARVED ROCK STATE PARK | SPRING FLOODING

on your next trip

While the majority of parking is opened at Starved Rock State Park, the northwest portion of the lower lot still has issues with mud and debris.

A contractor will be hired with the state’s help to clean up the area.

Where in the world is The Tonica News? Are you planning a vacation or holiday trip?

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Shaw Media/ Tom Sistak

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Park to get some help with cleanup More parking soon will be available

BY DEREK BARICHELLO Shaw Media Starved Rock State Park is getting emergency funding from the state to hire a contractor to clean up debris from recent flooding.

Various items, such as tree trunks and garbage including dumpsters and pieces from broken docks, washed up on Starved Rock’s lower shore with the Illinois River, creating too much of a challenge for park staff.

Site Superintendent Kerry Novak said the money is coming from the state’s sustainability funds, which are generated from vehicle registration fees.

Most of the lower parking lot that had been closed due to flooding has been reopened with the exception of the northwest portion, which includes the boat launch.

“There’s too much mud, so we’re going to keep it closed until it dries up,” Novak said. “We could have people mistakenly pull off to picnic and bury their car.”

Buildings in that portion of the park also are closed until they can be power washed to rid them of the mud.

Novak said the flooding to the

lower parking lot and wet weather over Memorial Day weekend brought attendance down quite a bit. Attendance was recorded at 53,790 during the three days, compared to 86,306 in 2018 and roughly 95,000 in 2017.

“That’s down significantly,” Novak said. “But with parking limited, it was good that we got the word out in the media and in social media.

That helped us a great deal, so that we didn’t have disappointed people turned away for closures.”

The count comes as a result of detecting the number of vehicles entering the park at the west entrance and lodge. Each vehicle is counted as 5.5 people.

Novak said a comfortable number for the three-day weekend is between 80,000 and 85,000. Staff have started to close the park earlier to limit the stress on it.

More parking should be available soon, too. The project to double the size of the parking lot at the St. Louis Canyon entrance is expected to conclude in August.

It initially was slated to be completed in July, but wet weather has slowed work.

Construction on the overflow parking lot also is expected to be finished next month, Novak said.

Novak said he is uncertain whether the park will receive any additional funds in the state’s capital funding plan. He has not heard

anything from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources office in Springfield as of yet.

A proposed parking fee to generate revenue for the park did not pass twice in the Senate. Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, said an exception for LaSalle County residents kept some lawmakers from getting behind it. She said alternatives for the exception will be talked about over the summer, and she wanted to see whether the park would get any money from the state’s capital plan.

“The fact that the fee didn’t pass will not make a difference one way or the other,” Novak said. “It would have been a really nice add-on, but it shouldn’t hurt us from going forward.”

Marijuana likely will not be allowed on Starved Rock trails Novak said park staff has “a great deal of concern” about the impact the legalization of recreational marijuana will have on the park.

LaSalle County State’s Attorney Karen Donnelly said she still sees many citations written from Conservation Police at the park.

While nothing officially has been decided, Novak said marijuana will not be allowed on the trails.

“Alcohol isn’t allowed on the trails, either,” Novak said. “Almost every accident we have at the park is a result of someone being impaired.”

ILLINOIS VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Trustees hire new faculty members

Photo contributed

“I could not be happier with these additions. These instructors bring industry experience, high-energy, passion and innovative ideas to IVCC.” Jerry Corcoran IVCC president

The board approved: • Submitting the proposed $4.1 million Agriculture Center to the state’s RAMP list for capital improvements. If eventually approved, the state would pay approximately $3 million and IVCC about $1 million for a 5,100-square-foot facility housing a classroom, wet lab, conference center, student space and offices.

• Authorization to continue payment for standard operating expenditures from July 1 through adoption of the budget.

• Renewal of VMWare maintenance and support from CDW for three years for $64,060. VMWare provides software that allows IT to run multiple virtual servers and desktops from a redundant group of physical hardware.

• Inclusion of an annual one-third student aid match in the Project Success grant application for the next five-year cycle, 2021-26.

The board learned: • Capital bill support from state Sen. Sue Rezin and state Rep. Lance Yednock was crucial to the college receiving $675,000 in deferred maintenance funding to repave the perimeter road and parking lots and an additional $150,000 for construction of an agriculture program storage and routine maintenance facility, Corcoran said.

• In Fiscal Year 2019, female student athletes had a combined 3.3 GPA and males 2.9. The overall student athlete GPA was 3.1.

• Part-time anatomy and physiology instructor Craig Castaneda was honored as IVCC’s nominee for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association’s Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member Award at the organization’s convention in Itasca.

• Streator’s Results Companies and its Results University were also honored at the convention as IVCC’s nominee for the Business/Industry Partnership Award. Results was represented by Shalanda Rabadan and Jean Grimes, IVCC by Business Training Center specialist Jennifer Sowers.

• Longtime financial aid employ-

ee Ida Brown has been appointed financial aid reconciliation and compliance specialist.

• Custodian Dennis O’Shea will retire July 1 after 31 years; parttime Continuing Education administrative assistant Jessica Beem will resign July 25; part-time developmental math instructor Debra Cooper retired May 31 after 13 years; part-time welding instructor Christopher Winn resigned May 20; and theater technical coordinator Matthew Boehm was granted an additional 30-day leave of absence through July 20.

• Shipping and Receiving Coordinator Sarah Morgensen will assume the additional duties of duplication center operator following the June 30 retirement of Sandy Kosciewicz after 33 years.

• A total of 389 spring graduates earned 469 degrees and certificates compared to 465 graduates earning 582 degrees and certificates in spring 2018.

• IVCC’s Business office has again won the Government Finance Officers Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting for its 2018 financial report. In addition, the office also earned the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report.

• Friday, June 28, 2019

OGLESBY — Illinois Valley Community Colle ge’s ag riculture, industrial maintenance, welding and nursing programs will receive an infusion of new instructional talent this fall following the June 13 board meeting.

Trustees approved the hiring of Kathryn Lillie, a recent graduate of the University of Illinois master’s program in crop science, as an ag instructor to work alongside program coordinator Willard Mott.

At the U of I, Lillie was a graduate teaching assistant and graduate research assistant in the Weed Molecular Biology and Genomics Lab. She interned for BASF in Germany and Illinois.

Stephen Gibson will teach industrial maintenance and electricity.

He has a bachelor’s degree in industrial electricity from Illinois State and an AAS in electronics technology and a certificate in industrial electricity from IVCC. He worked 14 years as a maintenance and electrical technician.

IVCC’s welding program will be led by Anthony Sondgeroth, an American Welding Society certified inspector and educator.

Praised as a “skilled welder, fabricator and leader with experience as a part-time welding instructor and program coordinator,” he also has years of industry experience.

Amber Robertson, who has her MSN and BSN degrees and is a graduate of IVCC’s nursing program, was hired as a nursing instructor.

Robertson has worked seven years as a registered nurse for OSF and was already teaching part-time at IVCC. Last month, trustees approved Richard Marko as automotive technology instructor.

“I could not be happier with these additions. These instructors bring industry experience, high-energy, passion and innovative ideas to IVCC,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran, who meets with fulltime faculty candidates before their appointments go to the board.

T r ustees also approved the appointment of Eric Johnson as director of financial aid to replace the retiring Patty Williamson.

Johnson was director of financial aid and student accounts at Midstate College in Peoria.

New IVCC hires Stephen Gibson (from left), Eric Johnson and Anthony Sondgeroth got acquainted after June 13’s IVCC Board of Trustees meeting. Gibson will teach industrial maintenance and electricity, Sondgeroth welding, and Johnson is the new director of financial aid.

LOCAL NEWS | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

Infusion of instructional talent heading IVCC’s way

3

TONICA SCHOOL BOARD

KENNETH BUSCH TONICA — Kenneth H. Busch, 83, of rural Tonica died Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, surrounded by his family.

He was born Nov. 23, 1935, in Richland Township to Bernard and Victoria (Salz) Busch. He married Eleanor Harseim Dec. 28, 1957, in Sts. Peter and Paul Church.

He served with the National Guard Reserves.

He farmed his whole life. He served on the Lostant School Board, Leonore Mutual Telephone Board and Cemetery Board, where he served as sexton for many years. He started the Memorial Day services at the cemetery. He was very active in his church and served on the Parish Council. He also owned Ken’s Saw and Mower Shop, and was a dealer for Burrus Seed Company.

He loved spending time with his family and watching his grandchildren play sports. He never knew a stranger. He was happiest when mowing grass and visiting with his farm neighbors.

We will remember him for always being willing to drop anything to help anyone — be it his family or even

someone he had just met.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor; one daughter, Laura (Mark) Baer of Morton; two sons, Jeff (Tina) Busch of Tonica and Jim (Tracey) Busch of Tonica; seven grandchildren, Brad, Jamie, Derek, Josh, Kalli, Dylan and Jaden; and four great-grandchildren, Jack, Annabelle, Charlie and Jude.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Elizabeth (Shawback) Busch; three sisters, Pernetta Franklin, Lucina Franklin and Rosemary Mienders; and two brothers, Ronald and Bernard W. Busch.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, June 24, in Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Leonore with Msgr. James Swaner officiating. Burial was in Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery. Pallbearers were his grandchildren.

Visitation was held Sunday, June 23, in the Hurst Funeral Home in Tonica, where a rosary was recited. Visitation was also held prior to the service Monday in the church.

Online condolences may be viewed and remembrances shared at www. hurstfuneralhomes.com.

IN BRIEF Holiday obituary deadline The obituary deadline for the July 5 edition of The Tonica News will be at 9 a.m. Monday, July 1.

Secretary of State offices closed for Independence Day SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has announced all Secretary of State offices and facilities will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in

observance of Independence Day. All Secretary of State offices and facilities will be open for business on Friday, July 5.

Individuals can visit the Secretary of State’s website, www.cyberdriveillinois. com, to locate the nearest driver services facility and the hours of operation.

Drivers can also change an address, register to become an organ and tissue donor, or renew license plate stickers online.

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District bids farewell to financial adviser Whitmore credited with helping to improve finances

BY ZACHARY J. PRATT news@tonicanews.com TONICA — The year was 2016 when James Whitmore joined the Tonica School District as interim superintendent, and times were turbulent, fresh from cuts of various programs such as art and music.

But the district pushed through, and Whitmore transitioned to a financial adviser role.

Now, it is time for the Tonica School District to move forward without him.

Three years after joining the team, Whitmore is leaving the district in a much stronger position than when he arrived.

“He saved me from a public lynching. This guy is a savior to the school,” said Jeremy Hillyer, who had been board president at Whitmore’s arrival. “Tonica school is forever indebted to him.”

Ritch Fundell, board vice president, referred to his affinity toward Marvel’s film output as he said, “We don’t have to go to the theaters to see an Avengers movie to see a hero: we’re honoring a real-life hero tonight.”

Whitmore, however, maintains that he is given more credit than he is due for the district’s turnaround.

“As I step away, I am not the reason your fund balances are doing so well,” Whitmore said.

“Sometimes it’s like a quarterback on an NFL team. When you win, you get too much credit; when you lose, too much criticism,” he said.

Instead, he praised the district’s leadership, the board members, teachers and families, saying that “the district has been governed financially very well.”

With his time working with the board at an end, Whitmore says he could not be happier with where he leaves the district.

“Coaches used to tell you to make your last one your best one,” Whitmore said.

“This would be my ideal board.

Everybody working together for the betterment of the students.

“I had always wanted to see a unit function like that, and I’d never seen it until I came here.”

Nevertheless, the circle continues. As Whitmore retires from his own role, the board has brought on a new member. CiCi Fisher Chalus now fills the previously empty seat.

The building will be receiving an evaluation from NextEra regarding its lights and potential energy reductions.

NextEra will also seek out g rants for the reduction of upgrade costs.

Also, Tonica has accepted its part of an intergover nmental agreement to form a sports cooperative with Lostant for softball, as girls from both districts have expressed interest in the sport.

Hurst Funeral Home Tonica, IL

223-0380

Raindrops keep fallin’

5 RECORDS&LOCAL NEWS | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

LASALLE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

Tonica man charged with aggravated sexual abuse SHAW MEDIA OTTAWA — A 27-year-old Tonica man was charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse for having sex with a teenager between 13 and 17 years old, according to LaSalle County court documents.

Armando Vazquez-Trinidad was arrested and taken June 17 to the LaSalle County Jail. Bond is set at $50,000 with 10 percent needed for release. If found guilty, Vazquez-Trinidad faces three to

seven years in prison, or fines of up to $25,000.

Making his first court appearance June 18, Va z q u e z - T r i n i d a d Armando was appointed a pubVazquezlic defender.

Trinidad His next court hearing was scheduled for June 27 in Judge Cynthia Raccuglia’s courtroom.

LASALLE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Deer accident At 7:06 a.m. on June 20, deputies investigated a single-vehicle accident at Route 71 and East 1069th Road in Deer Park Township. Mitchell Theisinger, 24,

of Tonica was westbound on Route 71 when a deer ran onto the road. Theisinger was unable to avoid striking the deer. No injuries were reported, and no citations were issued.

Read us online • tonicanews.com

Our Office Will Be Closed on Thursday, July 4 to celebrate Independence Day.

OFFICE HOURS RESUME FRIDAY, JULY 5

• Friday, June 28, 2019

Tonica News photo/Dave Cook

While many area farmers finally made it into their fields to plant, heavy rains continue to threaten the newly emerging crops. Reports indicate that as of June 16, 88 percent of the state’s corn crop and 70 percent of soybean crop had been planted. During the same period, 74 percent of the corn and 50 percent of the beans had emerged. Compared to last year during this time, nearly all the corn had emerged, and 93 percent of the beans were growing.

Jim Dunn

Rita Roberts

Editor, General Manager

Associate Editor

The Tonica News

The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, June 28, 2019

|

6 THE EDITORIAL PAGE

Stratton a no-show toward end of spring session Lieutenant governor’s absence is seen as a ‘missed opportunity’

“W

e are so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish this first legislative session of ours,” Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton told a TV interviewer earlier this month.

“We said that we wanted to think big for the people of Illinois, we said that we wanted to get Springfield back on the track of working families, and that’s what we did.”

But a former House colleague was overheard telling Stratton at a bill-signing ceremony the next day how much she’d missed her.

Indeed, Stratton’s absence from the legislative arena was the subject of much speculation in the waning days of the spring session.

J.B. Pritzker often referred to Stratton as a “partner” during the campaign. And she was unarguably indispensable during Pritzker’s statewide bid.

Stratton was only in her first term in the Illinois House when Pritzker picked her to run with him, but she’d already impressed her colleagues with her abilities. It was widely assumed that Stratton would play a major role in the governor’s dealings with the Legislature.

But, depending how you count,

COMMENTARY Rich Miller Stratton was only in Springfield for about 20 days during the five-month legislative session. Her public schedule, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, shows her departing for Springfield from Chicago a few times at 6 o’clock in the evening with no events when she arrived, so I didn’t count those.

Her schedule only includes a handful of meetings with legislators and scheduled appearances at legislative-related events.

And the last time Stratton was in Springfield was May 16, and she departed for Chicago at 2 o’clock.

That meant Stratton completely missed the final two weeks of the spring session, which is typically a busy time, but was especially so this year as one hugely important bill after another was hotly debated by the House and Senate.

As mentioned above, her absence was the source of frequent chatter in Springfield, particularly when some members of the House Black Caucus began resisting pressure to vote for the cannabis legalization bill.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx traveled to Spring-

field at least twice to help put out that fire, and several Senate Black Caucus members also played a crucial role as did Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell, who, like Stratton, is a former House member.

The governor’s office was in an “all hands on deck” mode during those final days, but according to her office, Stratton wasn’t even in Illinois. She traveled “out of state” from May 22 through May 25 for her daughter’s graduation and then left on May 28 “with a U.S. delegation of women leaders to Israel,” her office said.

Legislative session was scheduled to end on May 31 but ended up lasting until June 2.

Stratton returned on June 5, just in time to attend Gov. Pritzker’s bill-signing ceremony for budget-related legislation, even though the budget deal was made and voted on while she was out of the country.

She also attended the governor’s signing ceremony for the Reproductive Health Act the following week, the day after she was interviewed on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” program.

Stratton’s spokesperson defended his boss, saying she’d been “deeply involved” in legislation and had “countless conversations” with legislators. And the governor’s office claimed Pritzker consulted with her “regularly” on issues like expungement during the cannabis legalization debate: “Illinois is a more just and equitable state today because

of the lieutenant governor, and her work will continue to be central to the progress we make.”

But I talked with several House Democrats, mainly Black Caucus and female members, and everyone said the same thing: They had little to no interaction with Stratton on important legislation.

“Not at all,” said one legislator, adding “She stopped by to say hi but no conversations on bills.”

“She seemed kind of on an island of her own, if you asked me,” said another.

It’s not unusual for a lieutenant governor to not take a major role at the Statehouse. The office has no constitutional duties.

This simply wouldn’t have been a story with almost all previous lieutenant governors because expectations were so low. Expectations for Stratton, on the other hand, were sky high and remain so, as clearly shown by that WTTW interview.

As far as I can tell, she wasn’t elbowed out by the governor or his administration. She chose this path, which is obviously her right as a constitutional officer. And, in the end, almost all of the governor’s bills passed.

But the words I heard most often about her were “disappointing” and “missed opportunity.”

Note to readers: Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax. com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Update about affiliation between St. Margaret’s, IVCH To the editor: We would like to take this opportunity to provide our communities with an update about progress made regarding an affiliation between St. Margaret’s Health and Illinois Valley Community Hospital, as part of SMP Health System.

Since we announced our intent to affiliate in March, we have been going through a process called due diligence. This includes a comprehensive analysis of the operations and finances of both organizations, as well as legal and regulatory considerations. Through our due diligence, we will determine how an affiliation would enable us to better serve our patients and communities.

We are taking all necessary steps

to make sure that we are going about this in the right way. We want to ensure that we move forward in a way that makes us stronger stewards of health care for our communities.

As part of this complex and lengthy process, our organizations have shared hundreds of documents and thousands of pages for review. Both organizations are working with experienced legal counsel and advisers who have special expertise in hospital partnerships.

While due diligence is progressing deliberately, we are still on track to achieve our goal, which is the signing of a binding definitive agreement, later this summer.

A leadership team from St. Margaret’s and SMP Health System met with IVCH’s Board of Directors and administration at

Write to us Letters to the Editor should not be more than 500 words in length. 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. the end of May. The meeting was overwhelmingly positive, with leaders from both organizations discussing their shared vision for the future of health care in the Illinois Valley.

Both organizations, whose board members are comprised of local community and business leaders, see a great deal of potential in com-

bining our strengths to improve access to high-quality health care and increase our service offerings close to home.

We look forward to sharing details of the proposed regional health network as they are developed. As soon as there is more information to share, you will hear it from us first.

We are grateful for the support received from our patients, staff and community members. We remain as committed as ever to working together to provide the best health care for residents of the Illinois Valley, now and long into the future.

Tommy Hobbs, Peru Tim Muntz, Spring Valley Note to readers: Tommy Hobbs is CEO of Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru, and Tim Muntz is president and CEO of St. Margaret’s Health in Spring Valley.

Wanda Mountain Boys gospel group to perform Sunday at TUMC

University of Illinois Extension and Starved Rock State Park offers Master Naturalist training UTICA — Those who love the outdoors and want to share their passion for the natural world with others should consider becoming a University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist volunteer.

The mission of the Extension’s Master Naturalist program is to provide science-based educational opportunities that connect people with nature and help them become engaged environmental stewards. Volunteers in the program are provided opportunities to explore and expand their understanding of the natural world. They also help provide educational outreach and assist with environmental stewardship projects.

This year, members of the U of I Extension – Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam County Unit, along with Starved Rock State Park, are excited to offer volunteer training starting this fall. Training will cover numerous subjects including geology, archaeology, botany, wetlands, ornithology, the forests of Illinois, entomology, and more.

Training will be held one day a week over the course of 10 weeks, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., from Sept. 3 to Nov. 5. Classroom time will be held in the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center. Field trips for hands-on training will include Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park, Dayton Bluffs,

Nachusa Grasslands, and Dixon Waterfowl Refuge.

Volunteers completing the training sessions will then work on Extension-approved environmental stewardship and educational outreach projects with other Master Naturalists and local partners.

To maintain their Master Naturalist certification, volunteers must complete 10 hours of continuing education, and 30 hours of approved service work in the local area annually. The U of I Extension provides ongoing training and coordinates regular meetings to support Master Naturalist volunteers.

Adults aged 18 and over are welcome to register.

The cost for Master Naturalist training to become a certified volunteer is $250. For more information, or to sign up, visit https://go.illinois.edu/2019mntraining, or call Meg Overocker, program coordinator, at 815-433-0707. Space is limited, and registration closes Aug. 23, or when the class is full.

Preference will be given to residents of Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam counties.

If you need a reasonable accommodation, indicate when registering. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow time for meeting access needs.

For more information, call the U of I Extension – LaSalle County at 815-433-0707. Extension offices are located in Princeton, Ottawa, Henry and in Oglesby, on the IVCC campus.

LASALLE — Stage 212 has announced the cast for their presentation of the classic, multiple Tony Award-winning “Hello, Dolly,” the enduring and endearing musical by Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart.

Dolly Levi is a widow, matchmaker and also professional meddler, but everything changes when she decides the next match she needs to make is for herself. Set in New York City at the turn of the 20th century, “Hello, Dolly!” is boisterous and charming from start to finish, and features such memorable songs as “Before the Parade Passes By,” “It Only Takes a Moment,” “Put on Your Sunday Clothes,” and, of course, “Hello, Dolly!”

The cast includes Kelly Johnson as Dolly Levi, Joel Stevenor as Horace Vandergelder, Becky Christopherson as Irene Molloy, Tony Christopherson as Cornelius Hackl, Mary Rose Prosinski as Minnie Fay, Damian Gonzalez as Barnaby Tucker, Sarah Hunter as Ermengarde, Kyle Showen as Ambrose Kemper, Naomi Ochuba as Ernestina, Deana Brown as Ms. Rose, Kevin Alleman as Rudolph, and Trenton McKinnie as the judge.

Featured in the dancing ensemble are LeSavior Summers, Courtney Ries, Amilia Sanchez, Sydnee Wright, Nick Hancock, Trenton McKinnie, Tim Campbell and Aiden Schneider. Featured in the vocal ensemble are Macy Anderson, Naomi Ochuba, Kevin Alleman, Vicky Bickel, Anthony Hewitt, Deana Brown, Isaac Alvarado, Jenifer Rexius and Zoe Piano.

Production staff includes director/music director Phil Grant, director/choreographer/ set designer Neal Phelps, producers Becky Christopherson and Abby Bertrand, stage manager Luiz Guzman, costume coordinators Kyle Showen and Joel Stevenor, dance captain Reid Tomasson, set construction crew Tony Christopherson, Cory Tomasson and Jorge Sanchez, lighting designer Matt Boehm, light operator Bob Johns, spotlight operator Ella Johns, sound operators Dylan Kilter and Jackson Schneider, and stagehand Max Wertz.

“Hello, Dolly!” will be presented July 19 through Aug. 4 at Stage 212, 700 First St., LaSalle. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m.

There will be matinee and evening performances on July 27 and Aug. 3. Tickets will be available to the general public for $20 each beginning July 8, and may be purchased by visiting the box office between 4 and 6 p.m.

Mondays and 9 a.m. and noon Saturdays or by calling 815-224-3025 during the same hours. Tickets may also be purchased online by visiting www.stage212.org.

“Hello, Dolly!” is produced by arrangement with TAMS-WITMARK, www.tamswitmark. com.

• Friday, June 28, 2019

UTICA

Stage 212 announces cast for ‘Hello, Dolly!’

7 COMMUNITY | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

Photo contributed

The Tonica United Methodist Church will host a music worship service, featuring the Wanda Mountain Boys, a Southern gospel group, at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 30, at the church, located at 423 E. Wauponis St. in Tonica. A potluck will follow the service. For more information on the group, visit www.wandamountainboys.com.

LASALLE

The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, June 28, 2019

| COMMUNITY

8

TONICA

OTTAWA

Tonica High School alumni reunion TONICA — The Tonica High School alumni will hold a reunion Sept. 14 at the Oglesby Elks building.

The Class of 1979 will host the event. Admission is $30 per person, and the evening will begin with registration and cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

Call Sue Huss Ashley at 815-481-

6399 or Jan Wiertz Musgrove at 815202-4607 to make reservations. Mail checks to Karla Walgenbach Goskusky at 534 N. 1950th Road, Tonica, IL 61370. When registering, indicate if celebrating an anniversary and to reserve a table for classmates. There were 99 graduates and 34 guests in attendance last year.

PERU

First round of grants awarded to local arts organizations OTTAWA — The Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund, a new fund of the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation, has announced they have awarded their first round of grants to local arts organizations.

The fund offers financial support through competitive grants to charitable organizations and agencies engaged in the world of art throughout Starved Rock Country, and provides a non-competitive, neutral hub to engage and connect local artists and arts organizations, cultural organizations, sponsors, patrons and venues.

In May 2019, the first round of grants were awarded through the new Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund, throughout the three-county region. A total of $15,375 was awarded to 11 organizations, in support of 15 arts-related projects. Grants were awarded to NCIArtworks, Ottawa Concert Association, Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, LaSalle County Historical Society,

Stage 212, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School, Princeton Theater Group (Learning Stage), Poco a Poco, Community Outreach Teen Center, Spring Valley Library, Princeton Community Band and Oglesby Public Library.

“This is a great start to the fund’s ability to support the arts in our area,” said Shanna Dugan, the Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund administrator. “We have recently applied for funding through the state of Illinois, and hope to receive even more financial support to expand our impact. With the support of our state and our community, we can only expect the arts to continue to grow. I’m excited to be an integral part of that growth.”

For more information on the Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund, grant applications and the upcoming launch of the new art-centric website, visit https://srccf.org/ donate/arts-of-starved-rock-country-fund.

EDUCATION BRIEFS Photo contributed

Angela Bosi (from left), 2018 Carol Greening Scholarship recipient, and Mary Jauch, 2019 Carol Greening Scholarship recipient, are pictured with Roy Greening.

Mary Jauch receives Carol Greening Memorial Nursing Scholarship PERU — Mary Jauch of Peru is the 2019 winner of the Carol Greening Memorial Nursing Scholarship administered by the Illinois Valley Community Hospital Foundation.

A graduate of the nursing program at Illinois Valley Community College and an IVCH nurse for almost 20 years, Jauch will use the scholarship to help her obtain a bachelor of sci-

ence degree in nursing from Western Governors University. She says her goal is to become a nurse educator.

Carol Greening was an IVCH nurse manager who died in 2000.

The scholarship was established in her memory by her husband, the late Ken Greening, and has been continued by the Greening family since his death.

MENUS Putnam County Community Center

July 5 — Baked chicken, brown rice, mixed vegetables, orange slices.

July 1 — Ham, turkey and cheese on sub roll, macaroni salad, mixed vegetables, grapes and melon.

July 2 — Cheeseburger, bun, coleslaw, bean salad, pears, potato chips, dessert.

July 3 — Cheese and sausage on small pizza, salad with toppings, green beans, bread sticks, strawberries.

July 4 — PCCC closed.

Bread, butter, fruit juice and 2% milk are available with meals. For reservations, call 800-757-4579, 24 hours in advance of the day’s meal. The menu is subject to change. Meals are available to senior citizens 60 plus at no cost, but donations are appreciated. The meal program is partly funded by donations, so they have a suggested donation of $5 per meal. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m.

Area IVCC graduates announced OGLESBY — A total of 378 students graduated this spring at Illinois Valley Community College.

Area graduates include: Cedar Point — Gary Olson and Kaylee Puetz.

Lostant — Lauren Bernardoni, Rachel Maggio, Natalie Olson, Morgan Phillips and Lidia Templeton.

Tonica — Maryn Ellis, Andrew Gray, Brianna Halberg and Rachel Huska.

IVCC to offer adult education programs in fall OGLESBY — Illinois Valley Community College’s Adult Education office will hold free registration sessions for all new and returning students in Adult Basic Education, High School Equivalency and English as a Second Language classes.

Registration at the Oglesby campus will be held Mondays from July 15 through Aug. 5, and at the Ottawa Center on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from July 16 through Aug. 7. To schedule an appointment, call adult education specialist Cindy Lock at 815-224-0358. No walk-ins will be accepted.

All adult education offerings are free to students who qualify for enrollment,

and classes fill quickly. The complete schedule for ABE/HSE and ESL and citizenship classes can be found online at www.ivcc.edu/adultedschedule.

The free classes begin Aug. 19 and 20, and an online HSE option is also available. For ABE and HSE information, call Lock. For ESL, or citizenship class information, call Sara Escatel at 815-224-0355. Check facebook.com/ IVCCAdultEducation for updates and more information about IVCC’s adult education programs.

Area students named to IVCC presidential honors list OGLESBY — For the spring 2019 semester, more than 165 students were named to the presidential honors list at Illinois Valley Community College.

Students included on the list earned a grade point average of 3.75 to 4.0 in 12 or more semester hours. Area students included on the list were: Lostant — Lauren Bernardoni, Alan Bruner, Morgan Phillips, Michael Stoens, Albert Templeton, Andrew Templeton, Lidia Templeton, Ben Tran and McKayla Urbanowski.

Tonica — Armando Baltazar, Maryn Ellis, Rachel Huska, Meara Rees and Kiley Rosnes.

General Terms and Policies

450 • Under $1000

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.

************ HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL?

CLASSIFIED LINE AD & LEGAL DEADLINES: • Friday deadline: Friday before by 3pm We Accept

232 • Business Opportunities ********** 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 Buying? Selling?

Renting? Hiring?

Call 815-433-2001 to place your ad.

Tonica News Classified Buying?

Selling?

Renting?

Hiring?

Call 815-433-2001 to place your ad.

Tonica News Classified

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)

460 • Garage Sales PRINCETON 12440 IL Hwy 26 (4 miles South of Library). Thursday, Friday, Saturday, June 1, 2, 3; 9am-5pm. Adult, boys' (2t-7) clothes, boys bike, toys, games, furniture, kitchen, lights, linens, tools, antiques, air compressor, books. Etc.

767 • Mobile Home Sales **************** 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 Email news to: news@tonicanews.com Tonica News

999 • Legal

PUBLIC NOTICE

Perona, Peterlin, Andreoni & Brolley, LLC IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS IN THE MATTER OF: THE ESTATE OF JOHN MELVIN EARLE SR, Deceased No: 19-P-129 CLAIM NOTICE Notice is given of the death of JOHN MELVIN EARLE SR, of Leland Illinois, who died on December 22, 2018.

Letters of office were issued on June 13, 2019, to SANDRA S. EARLE whose address is 680 Haish Blvd., Apt. 228, DeKalb, IL 60115 and whose attorney is GARY L. PETERLIN, Perona, Peterlin, Andreoni and Brolley, LLC, 170 E. Walnut Street, Oglesby, Illinois.

Notice is given to any unknown heir or legatee whose names or addresses are not stated in the petition for letters of office or are unknown, that an order was entered by the Court on April 4, 2019 admitting the decedent?s Will to probate. Within 42 days after the date of the order of admission you may file a petition with the Court to require proof of the Will by testimony of the witnesses to the Will in open court or other evidence, as provided in Section 6-21 of the Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/6-21). You also have the right under Section 8-1 of the Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/8-1) to contest the validity of the Will by filing a petition with the Court within 6 months after admission of the Will to probate.

Claims against the estate may be e-filed in the Office of Greg Vaccaro, Circuit Clerk, Probate Division, Downtown Courthouse, Ottawa, Illinois 61350, or with the representative, or both, on or before December 29, 2019. If a claim notice is mailed or delivered personally to a creditor of the decedent, their claim must be filed in the above entitled cause within 3 months from the date of mailing or delivery, whichever is later. Any claims not filed within the above periods are barred.

E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions. To e-file, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider. Visit https://efile. illinoiscourts.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.

Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the Representative and to the Attorney within ten days after it has been filed.

Perona, Peterlin, Andreoni & Brolley, LLC 170 E. Walnut St., PO Box 35 Oglesby, IL 61348 Tel: 815-883-4102 (Published in The Tonica News June 28, July 5, 12, 2019) 1675646

LOST & FOUND If you have lost or found anything just call us at 815-4332001 to help match items with owners.

ZOOM IN ON A BUYER

Advertise your goods and services in the Classifieds and reach hundreds of potential buyers daily. Call today to place your ad and make a sale quickly.

Call Us Today! 815-433-2001

• Friday, June 28, 2019

Call 815-875-4461 classified@bcrnews.com

Put your ad in for FREE

999 • Legal

9 CLASSIFIED | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

––––––––––––––––––––Classifieds ––––––––––––––––––––

Business Directory Marketplace

Auto Body Specialists Truck Toppers & Accessories

Towing Available

FOLEY MOTORS

Full Service Store Fully Insured

325 North 25th Rd, Route 251 South of Peru

Rt. 29, Henry, IL 309-364-4711 www.foleymotorsinc.com

815-224-1506

EMERGENCY: 815-252-0032

Steps Garage Floors Sidewalks

Pole Barns Retaining Walls Parking lots

Buying, Selling or just curious?

Raejean Glynn, Owner Terry Glynn, Owner

Angie Heckman, Broker

815-878-8948

www.gonetrealtyandland.com gonetrealtyandlandco@gmail.com

Free Estimates Fully Insured

PASSINI PLUMBING & HEATING David Passini

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309-312-0180 cell call or text SM-PR1616536

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trusted installers. Licensed and insured.

We are the READER’S CHOICE for #1 PLUMBER!

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Need a new water heater installed?

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COMPLETE CAR AND TRUCK CARE 24 HOUR TOWING SERVICE Rt. 89, McNabb, IL • Jack Bima, Owner

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LOOK FOR THE MAN IN THE ORANGE & WHITE VAN

107 East Harrison St. • Granville, IL www.kettmanheating.com • 815-339-6124

AUTO BODY

route71autobody@frontier.com

Tonica Telephone Co. Toncom Long Distance

HEATING & PLUMBING, INC.

JACK’S GAS & SERVICE

815-339-4108 815-481-2639

Mon-Fri 8AM - 5PM

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9286 East Power Plant Rd. Hennepin, IL 61327 Fax 815-925-7475 gngdemolition@yahoo.com

SM-PR1616513

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882-2191 Monday-Saturday 882-2250 Evenings & Sundays

B & M Concrete, Inc. EST 1988 Magnolia, IL 61336 815-488-7210 (cell) 815-257-7212 (office)

“WE DO ALL TYPES OF CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION”

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GRANVILLE

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Driveways Patios Curbs

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Mike Supan Jr. Linda Supan Michele Straughn

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SHOP THESE AREA BUSINESSES AND SEE HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR VARIOUS NEEDS!

Quality Pre-Owned Vehicles

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The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, June 28, 2019

| CLASSIFIED

10

Now Offering Higher Speeds!

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to aDD your listing to this page contact ashley at (815) 875-4461, ext. 6345

Business Directory

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FOR ALL YOUR TOWING & RECOVERING NEEDS

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9126 HENNEPINFLORID RD Hennepin, IL 61327

PRECISION EXTERIOR WASHING Soft Washing / Pressure Washing

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• Parking Areas • Tanks • Barns • Heavy Equipment • Form Machinery • After Hours Services

OVER

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in the washing business!

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108 639

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ING

112 S. St. Paul St. Mark, IL 61340

Open 7 days/week 8-5pm

Johnny Sieg Owner/Operator siegtire.com 815-878-7367

Cars, Trucks, Trailer, Motorcycles, ATVs, & Lawn Mowers also Bicycles

Where We Always Keep You ou

Interstate Battery Sales

Since 1919

Plumbing • Heating • Electrical

Mounting, Balancing, Rotating, Patches, Plugs and all tire repairs plus Small Implement Farm Tires

Always FREE Estimates

Rollin! Now accepting all major credit cards! 24 Hrs. Service • 815-442-3415 to aDD your listing to this page contact ashley at (815) 875-4461, ext. 6345 -Fri 5PM

DY

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Reuse.

Repurpose.

Really Save!

Take a fresh look at the Classifieds, the original way to shop green!

• Friday, June 28, 2019

36 ll) ce)

SHOP THESE AREA BUSINESSES AND SEE HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU WITH YOUR VARIOUS NEEDS!

CLASSIFIED | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

Marketplace

Summer is HERE!

Did You Know Our Assisted Living Offers ...

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Clean computer fans and heat sinks to ensure they are clean.

Clean exterior so system “looks like new”

FREE one year of managed anti-virus!

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Have your air conditioner checked & cleaned or replace that old unit with an efficient Carrier Air Conditioner!

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The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, June 28, 2019

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