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VOLUME 145 NO. 32 • tonicanews.com

Friday, July 12, 2019

Working on Casey’s

Construction at the long vacant lot in Tonica where the Village Inn once stood is in progress, and the foundation of what will be a new Casey’s General Store is visible. The new store will be located on the northwest corner of Route 251 and Ray Richardson Road.

Tonica leaders are hopeful the new Casey’s and the new Dollar General will spur further economic development within the community.

(Tonica News photo/Dave Cook)

Vol. 145 No. 32 One Section - 12 Pages

© The Tonica News

ILLINOIS VALLEY

LOSTANT There’s a new monthly due date for all Lostant

Summit set

water, sewer and garbage service bills. Effective July 1, those bills are due the last Friday of the month. / 3

Three state officials will speak at an economic summit coming up on July 18. / 5

STARVED ROCK Ever wanted to take a river cruise at Starved Rock? During July, Starved Rock Lodge will be offering a boat tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays. / 7

The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, July 12, 2019

| LOCAL NEWS

2 Take Tonica News on your next trip

Kylie Edens competes at queen pageant

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

Don’t forget to take along a copy of the The Tonica News. Once you get to your destination, have someone snap a photo of you holding the newspaper, and then send the photo to us along with pertinent information about who is in the photo and where you are. We’ll be happy to share your photo with other Tonica News readers, your friends, family and neighbors. Email your photo and information to news@tonicanews.com.

(USPS 633340) Published every Friday at Tonica, IL 61370 Entered at Tonica Post Office as Periodical Mail $22 In LaSalle County $25 Outside of LaSalle County

Subscriber Terms and Conditions may change at any time. The current version will supersede all previous versions. The most current version of subscription terms are posted on the website under Terms and Conditions.

Contact Editor, General Manager Jim Dunn jdunn@bcrnews.com Associate Editor Rita Roberts rroberts@bcrnews.com

Email news to:

news@tonicanews.com Photos should be sent as an attachment.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Tonica News, P.O. Box 340, Princeton, IL 61356

Tonica News photos/Dave Cook

Kylie Edens of Lostant competed for the queen’s crown during the Marshall-Putnam Fair Queen Pageant held Sunday, July 7, at the M-P Fairgrounds in Henry. Edens competed against four other young area women to represent the fair, which will run July 10-14. While not awarded the crown, Edens worked hard, represented herself well, and was chosen by the director and pageant committee to receive the annual Pam Veranda Award.

The award is named in honor of the Bureau County pageant director who lost her life to breast cancer.

STATE OF ILLINOIS | DISTRACTED DRIVING

New law that cracks down on texting while driving took effect as of July 1

First-time offenses are now moving violations SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s legislative strengthening of the law on texting while driving took effect July 1.

The law cracks down on texting while driving by classifying firsttime offenses as moving violations.

Under the previous law, second and subsequent texting while driving offenses are treated as moving violations, while first offenses are

treated as non-moving violations.

“With the increased use of technological devices, distracted driving has become a serious problem on the roads of our state and throughout the nation,” White said. “This important law will make our roads safer. No driver should be texting while driving.”

The penalty for a violation of this law results in a moving violation that will be recorded to the motorist’s driving record, as well as fines and court costs that will be determined by a judge. A driver who is convicted of three moving violations in a 12-month period is

subject to a driver’s license suspension.

Texting while driving is considered among the most deadly forms of distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a motorist traveling at 55 mph stops watching the road for an average for five seconds when sending or reading a text. This equates to driving blindly for the length of a football field.

Public Act 100-0858 was sponsored by state Rep. John D’Amico (D-Chicago) and state Sen. Cristina Castro (D-Elgin), and was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

MAGNOLIA

Home-grown business expands into LaSalle

BY DAVE COOK news@tonicanews.com

• Friday, July 12, 2019

MAGNOLIA — Tyler Reaska, a self-taught coffee roaster and owner of the wildly successful Sally Sue’s Coffee, has not only brought new business to his hometown of Magnolia, but is also expanding his enterprise into LaSalle, and possible well beyond the Illinois Valley.

A new Sally Sue’s Cafe is scheduled to open at 728 First St., Tyler in LaSalle, on July 27.

Reaska Reaska is also expanding his roasting operation in Magnolia with the addition of a 1,200- square-foot warehouse.

“We were at five employees, but we’ve added two here in Magnolia, and with the opening of the LaSalle location, we’ll have 12 total. With the way things are going, I’m expecting to need 15 by the end of the year, and it could even be up to 20,” he said.

On Saturday, July 6, Reaska was celebrating not only his new LaSalle location, but also the addition of a newly constructed patio in Magnolia. Customers can now either enjoy their coffee and food in the comfortable indoor seating area, or under a shady umbrella when the weather is pleasant.

After successfully providing organic, fair trade coffee to major regional retailers such as Hy-Vee, Schnuck’s, Green Top Grocery, Naturally Yours Grocery, Woodman’s, Valli Produce, Fresh Thyme, Tony’s Fresh Market, Brookhaven Market Place, as well as

LOCAL NEWS | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

Sally Sue’s Coffee is brewing more success

3

Tonica News photo/Dave Cook

Tyler Reaska’s small coffee enterprise in Magnolia, Sally Sue’s, has added a new patio for its customers to enjoy, and will also soon be opening a new cafe in LaSalle. Reaska, a self-taught coffee expert, is also anticipating a further expansion of his rapidly growing small business venture.

Illinois Valley establishments such as Bean Box, Uptown Grill and Rawfully Yours, Sally Sue’s customer list continues to grow.

“We’ve added more Hy-Vee’s, a handful of Sullivan’s, and will possibly be adding Menard’s,” Reaska said.

Sally Sue’s may also soon be available on the East Coast. Reaska said a broker for 1,000 locations in that region is interested in helping to greatly expand Sally Sue’s customer base.

“If that happens, I’ll be very happy.

At that point, I might add a few more stores, but that’s pretty much it, I’m set. I’d be content and will get to play some more golf,” he said.

“It’s been crazy to keep up with, but none of this would have happened without Tyler. He’s the man of persistence,” Emily Wingate, director of operations and Reaska’s fiancee, said as she served a line of customers.

Reaska is also interested in going beyond normal fair trade practices. A premium is already paid for the raw coffee beans used by Sally

Sue’s, but that premium goes to the farmers, not the workers. He said he’s hoping to take a trip to the source in the future in order to rectify that.

“I’d like to be able to say I’ll buy the whole crop this year if the farmer will agree to pay their workers a certain amount,” he said.

For more information, visit www. sally-sues.com online or visit the cafe in downtown Magnolia. Sally Sue’s can be reached via phone at 309-532-7285 or by email at Sales@ sally-sues.com.

IN BRIEF New due date for Lostant utility payments LOSTANT — Effective July 1, all Lostant water, sewer and garbage service bills will be due the last Friday of each month.

There are three ways to pay the bill: • They can be mailed to P.O. Box 186, Lostant, IL 61334; the postmark date is considered the payment date.

• They can be dropped in the red payment box in the front of the town hall. The last pickup time is 5 p.m. on the due date.

• They can be paid at Illini State Bank in Lostant during business hours. Payments put in their night drop will be processed on their next business day. Please note that starting July 1, Illini State Bank in Lostant will be closed on Saturdays. For more information, call 815-252-5454.

Several job openings at Tonica Grade TONICA — Tonica Grade School has announced it has full-time teaching openings for middle school math/response to intervention (RTI) supports; PE/ Health for elementary and junior high; and a part-

time elementary art position.

The math position can also be paired as a math/ assistant principal position with appropriate or in-progress Illinois State Board of Education certification.

Persons wishing to apply are asked to send by email a cover letter, résumé, recent letters of recommendation, and a screen print of an ISBE Professional Educator License to Tonica Grade School Superintendent Charles Schneider at cschneider@tonicagradeschool.org.

Jim Dunn

Rita Roberts

Editor, General Manager

Associate Editor

The Tonica News

The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, July 12, 2019

|

4 THE EDITORIAL PAGE OUR VIEW

Safer roads, more jobs require investment Who’s happy about paying more in taxes? Not us. But thanks to the 2016 “lockbox amendment” to the state constitution, at least all new transportation taxes will go where they are needed most — improving roads, bridges and other transportation-related projects.

I

llinois’ roads need repair and improvement — and that requires investment.

The public’s investment began Monday, when the state tax on a gallon of gasoline doubled, from 19 to 38 cents a gallon. There are a host of fee increases on vehicle titles and registration, with registration fees for conventional vehicles increased from $101 to $151. The price of a gallon of regular unleaded around the state now is near or, in many places, well above $3 a gallon.

Those are steep hikes, percentage-wise, and they will affect everyone who drives a vehicle in Illinois, along with a range of businesses that need to increase prices for consumers.

We take issue with the size of the tax increases. They are steep, although in the case of the motor fuel tax, they had not been adjusted in almost 30 years. We also are disappointed that our legislators continue to go down the path of more spending on the backs of taxpayers

without devoting any significant effort to reducing the cost of government.

However, the motor fuel and vehicle registration taxes are the best way in the current environment to fund the majority of what is projected to be an almost $45 billion, sixyear capital plan.

The motor fuel tax, collected by the state on each gallon of fuel sold, last increased in 1990. Since then, fuel efficiency among light-duty vehicles has increased about 25 percent, while inflation has whittled away the buying power of the tax dollars collected.

One reason the tax remained unchanged so long was that people worried — justifiably — that the money would be used by legislators for purposes other than transportation projects. That changed in 2016, when Illinois voters approved the “lockbox amendment” to the state constitution, which requires that money collected through taxes and fees on vehicles and fuel be spent on

transportation-related projects.

The transportation piece of the capital plan calls for about $33 billion worth of road, bridge, rail and other transportation projects over six years. Some of these projects will be selected by the Illinois Department of Transportation, but money also will flow to counties, municipalities and townships, all of which will see their share of the fuel tax roughly double as well.

So no matter which roads you drive on, there should be improvement in years to come. The plans call for about $11 billion worth of projects funded by borrowing money (Illinois’ transportation bonds are better rated than its other bonds because they have a dedicated funding source) and another $9.5 billion in projects funded as the money is available.

The other part of the capital plan is for building projects, including at state facilities, education projects and environmental projects — and this one is less straightforward.

The spending will be backed with revenue from opening new casinos in communities including Chicago and Rockford, legalized sports betting and a $1-a-pack increase in the cigarette tax.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will be charged with awarding grants for worthy projects around the state — and the opportunity seems ripe for money to be squandered on pet projects in favored lawmakers’ districts.

We’re not happy about paying more each year. Whether the revenue projections from new casinos and gambling expansion will live up to expectations remains to be seen, but we can rest assured that the extra money paid at the pump will be spent improving our transportation network, which has not seen significant investment in 10 years.

That will benefit for all of Illinois, by creating jobs, economic opportunity and safer roads.

Is it wrong for rich governors to save taxpayers money?

One reform group says it ‘feels wrong,’ but it’s what J.B. has also done in the past Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the $45 billion infrastructure bill into law recently during a three-day flyaround to several Illinois cities.

It’s a good bet that the billionaire Pritzker paid for the plane that took him and whatever staff he brought to the various venues, because he’s reg-

COMMENTARY Rich Miller ularly done that since taking office in January. The state hasn’t had an appropriation to pay to operate its fleet of aircraft since Gov. Bruce Rauner halted their use during a long period of political gridlock.

Illinois is close to 400 miles long and more than 200 miles wide. Flying is far more efficient and much less exhausting than driving to

cities throughout this state in a day or two or even three. The governor should have better things to do with his time.

The state-owned airplane fleet was a constant source of irritation to good government types back in the day, and we regularly saw news articles about their use and/or overuse.

The Associated Press, for instance, published a story in 2007 about how then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich had taken almost 1,000 flights on state planes in five years. Blagojevich was known to commute back and forth from his home in Chicago to Springfield on days when the

General Assembly was in session.

Several politicians, including former Gov. Pat Quinn, were legitimately criticized over the years for taking state planes to official government events and then hosting campaign events nearby. The government flights essentially helped subsidize their campaigns.

But the debate shifted during Rauner’s one and only term. The mega-rich Republican was criticized by a reform group in 2017 for renting a helicopter with his own money to visit a flooded area in Lake County.

See MILLER, Page 5

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.”

NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS

NCICG hosting event July 18 at Hall High SPRING VALLEY — Three top Illinois officials are scheduled to speak on Thursday, July 18, at the North Central Illinois Council of Governments (NCICG) 2019 annual Economic Development Summit.

The NCICG’s Economic Development District will host the summit in the Hall High School Auditorium from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This year’s speakers are:

• Guthrie most recently served as the regional general manager for Uber Midwest in Chicago, where she partnered with cities and regulators to create safe, positive experiences for customers and residents. From 2013 to 2017, she was a client engagement manager and

in radio and television, serving as the agribusiness director for WMBD in Peoria.

• Before coming to I n t e r s e c t I l l i n o i s, Peterson served as Mark president and CEO Peterson of the Greater Rochester Enter prise, successfully recruiting scores of new companies, creating thousands of new jobs and more than $2.5 billion in new investments. Peterson has proved himself to be a strong advocate for the communities he serves, building a reputation among his colleagues as an exceptional leader and proactive change agent.

Peterson received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1983 from St. John Fisher College and went on to earn his Master of Business Administration in Kent State University’s Executive MBA Program in 1994.

Individuals with an interest in public transportation are strongly encouraged to attend, especially human service organizations serving individuals who use public transportation.

The Regional Transportation Committee is responsible for the development and implementation of the Human Services Transportation Plan. The plan identifies transportation needs and

develops solutions to improve transportation services for the general public. An emphasis is placed on seniors, people with disabilities, individuals with lower incomes and veterans.

The Illinois Department of Transportation has formed an agreement with North Central Illinois Council of Governments (NCICG) for the purposes of preparing, implementing and updating

the plan for Region 1 (Boone, Carroll, Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago counties) and Region 3 (Bureau, DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle and Putnam counties).

For more information about NCICG, the transportation plans for Region 1 or 3, or if special accommodations are needed, contact Kim Zimmerman at 815-433-5830.

choose not to accept travel and mileage reimbursements, or per diems or whatever. For that matter, some public school teachers dip into their own pockets to pay for classroom supplies. What do we do about them?

Not long after Quinn was elevated to governor after Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office, an Associated Press story favorably highlighted Quinn’s decision to pay for most of his overseas travel as lieutenant governor out of his own pocket. The story also reported that Quinn refused to accept a daily meal allowance when traveling and often paid for his own hotel rooms.

“The thrifty image is in contrast to Blagojevich, who was criticized for his frequent use of state aircraft,” the article’s author claimed.

Not a single good government

group spoke up back then to say Quinn’s alleged thriftiness with state money by paying his own way “feels wrong.”

But two rich guys in a row have taken heat for using their own money for trips on private aircraft instead of billing taxpayers.

I get the class consciousness angle here. “Get a load of Mr. Big Shot flying around on private jets.” But the guy is rich beyond most of our comprehensions and, just like Rauner before, Illinoisans knew that when they elected him. Candidate Pritzker flew around the state on a fleet of private planes, and now Gov. Pritzker is doing the same.

Maybe there’s a dollar point above which personal spending for public purposes could be disclosed. But it “feels” like such a law would be targeting one guy.

And to what end? Are we really entitled to know how much an elected official spends out of his or her own bank account rather than charging taxpayers?

The reformers need to think this whole thing through and come back with an actual policy proposal that goes beyond feelings and addresses the potential for real abuses. The Center for Illinois Politics announced that it would host a public forum about this topic so it could be thoroughly discussed. Fine by me.

Either way, pick a lane. Don’t spend decades complaining about the use of state-owned planes, then suddenly shift to criticizing privately funded flights.

More about the speakers:

IN BRIEF Transportation Committee plans July 26 meeting in Oregon OTTAWA — The Human Services Transportation Plan (HSTP) — Region 3 — (Bureau, DeKalb, Grundy, Kendall, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle and Putnam counties) Transportation Committee will meet at 10 a.m. Friday, July 26, at the Rock River Center, 810 S. 10th St., Oregon.

• MILLER Continued from Page 4 The executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform said at the time that there should be some sort of public disclosure when private funds are used for state purposes.

And Pritzker was just criticized by another reform group for paying for private jet rides for him and his staff to official events in Washington and New York. “It feels wrong,” said the executive director of Common Cause Illinois, according to Chicago’s NBC 5. The reformer said the use of private money for public purposes concerned him.

It may “feel wrong” because of the amount of money involved, but there are some elected officials of more modest means who

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

• Friday, July 12, 2019

• Erin Guthrie, acting director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

• Colleen Callahan, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

• Mark Peterson, president and CEO of Intersect Illinois.

Also presenting will be Dionne

partnership portfolio manager at McKinsey & Company in Chicago.

She received her MBA from the University of Michigan S t e p h e n M . Ro s s Colleen School of Business Callahan and Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from Stanford University. Guthrie lives in Wicker Park with her husband and son.

• Prior to being named director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources earlier this year, Callahan managed her own communications consulting firm after serving for more than seven years as state director for USDA Rural Development in Illinois. During her tenure at USDA, she and her staff worked with local communities and businesses to generate a $1 billion increase in the Illinois rural development loan portfolio.

Callahan also worked for 30 years

Rober ts-Eme gha, who is partnership coordinator with the U.S. Census Bureau.

T he event re presents an opportunity for area leaders and citizens to meet Erin with and hear these Guthrie officials speak about their plans for Illinois and the region.

For more information on registering for the event, or sponsorships for this event, contact Dianna Tuftie at dtuftie@ncicg.org or call 815-433-5830.

LOCAL NEWS | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

Three state officials to speak at economic summit

5

TONICA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT | MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT

LASALLE COUNTY CORONER’S OFFICE

Firefighters respond to 12 emergency calls during June

Death investigation OTTAWA — The LaSalle County Coroner’s Office responded to the Illinois River, west of the Route 351 Shippingsport Bridge, south of LaSalle, on Saturday, June 29.

The male decedent recovered from the water was identified as David R. Gallina, 53, of Ottawa. An autopsy was conducted as part of the investigation with further information to be released when it becomes available.

This incident is under further investigation by the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office, the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office, the Ottawa Police Department and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services.

TONICA — At the July meeting of the Tonica Volunteer Fire Department, Chief Al Stremlau reported there were 12 emergency calls during June.

The calls consisted of one auto-aid to Leonore for a vehicle fire; one mutual-aid structure fire call to Utica; one mutual-aid ambulance to Oglesby; eight other ambulance requests; and one call for a hazardous condition with power lines down.

The total calls year to date is 75.

Monthly training covered National Incident Management System (NIMS) command and control, logistics and communications. Other training included residential self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) interior search drills; ladder carries and raises with firefighting evolutions; rescue operations; and roof ventilation.

Officer Lead Squad training covered leadership, communications, organizational skills and the review and operation of apparatus and equipment.

EMS training included airway management and respiratory distress.

Work details have been in progress transfer-

ring equipment from the old rescue truck to the new truck. The new truck will be in service soon. Members will complete driving and operational training during July.

The annual portable fire extinguisher inspections have been completed.

Firefighter Tom Goskusky repaired the east side entrance door.

Assistant Chief Bill Gray reported on the progress of the needed repairs to the rain gutters damaged during a storm earlier in the year.

Department members made a donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities First Responder Hero Room where the Tonica Volunteer Fire Department patch will be on display.

Stremlau thanked the department members and citizens who worked hard to make the department’s fundraising drawdown a success.

The next fundraising events will be the motorcycle cruise-in, the pork chop supper, the car cruise-in and the 50/50 drawing.

The department is thankful for all who support them as they continue to provide fire, rescue and medical services without property taxation.

LASALLE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Domestic battery At 12:55 a.m. on July 5, LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office deputies investigated a domestic-related incident at O.S.F. St. Mary’s Hospital in Streator.

After further investigation, deputies learned a domestic battery occurred at the upper apartment in the 100 block of Wauponis Street in Tonica. Deputies made contact with and arrested Tyler Maschek, 32, of the same address for domestic battery and resisting a peace officer. Maschek was transported to the LaSalle County Jail.

Bond will be set by a judge.

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The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, July 12, 2019

| LOCAL NEWS&RECORDS

6

LASALLE

OGLESBY

LASALLE — Director Reid Tomasson has announced auditions for Stage 212’s 2019 off-season production, “First Date,” the musical comedy by Alan Zachary, Michael Weiner and Austin Winsberg, will be at 6 p.m. Monday, July 22, and Tuesday, July 23, at the theater, 700 First St. in LaSalle.

Tomasson will be casting 12-15 people, including one male lead, one female lead, additional male and female supporting roles and an ensemble. The casting age range is generally young adult, but there are opportunities for older actors. All actors must

Adult student welcome reception

be over age 16 to audition.

All auditioners must come prepared with a 60-to-90-second a cappella musical selection. For those interested, there will be an opportunity to perform a cold reading from the script.

Those auditioning should also come prepared with all conflicts and availability. Familiarity with the script is not required to audition. For more information, visit www.stage212.org.

“First Date” will be presented Sept.

20-22.

Stage 212 auditions are open to all, regardless of prior theatrical experience.

OGLESBY — Illinois Valley Community College’s admissions office will host the “My Turn to Learn” adult student welcome reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, in the cafeteria.

This free event is for all prospective and current adult students attending IVCC to help ease them into the college routine by meeting fellow adult students, alumni and IVCC employees.

“Adult students are role mod-

OGLESBY

IVCC’s Parent College 101 to make sense of enrollment process

UTICA

Boat tours available at Starved Rock

OGLESBY — Illinois Valley Community College’s admissions office will host Parent College 101 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, in Room CTC124-125.

This free event is for parents and guardians of current high school students, and will provide information on the college search process, including topics such as when to start, the difference between certif-

the schedule will run as follows: 2:45 p.m., check in Great Hall; 3 p.m., depart on the trolley for the boat and go on a river cruise; and 4:30 p.m., return to the Lodge and tour concludes. Book online at www. starvedrocklodge.com or call 815220-7386.

OTTAWA

NCAT will provide bus service from LaSalle County to Peoria twice a month

OTTAWA — North Central Area Transit (NCAT) has announced it will be providing transportation from LaSalle County to Peoria on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month starting in July.

Any medical appointments or other activities should be scheduled between 9 a.m. and noon. The bus will arrive in Peoria for the first scheduled appointment and wait until the last is completed. NCAT will accommodate as many riders as possible, so be prepared to wait for others’ appointments.

This route is open to the public, but seating is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

icates and four-year degrees, and what to do when a student enrolls.

“Navigating the college enrollment process can be confusing. Our goal is to help make sense of it all not just for IVCC, but any college. This will help them take ownership of their college path,” IVCC Director of Admissions Quintin Overocker said.

For more information or to RSVP, visit www.ivcc.edu/events.

MENUS Putnam County Community Center

You must call at least three days before your requested travel day to reserve your seat, however, the sooner scheduled, the better. A oneway fare is $15, and a round-trip fare is $30. Only cash is accepted on the bus, but pre-paying with a credit card is available by calling NCAT at 833-433-6228.

NCAT provides public transportation for LaSalle County Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For information about the door-to-door, demand-response service, call 833-433-6228 or visit www. ridencat.com. All NCAT vehicles are ADA compliant and equipped with a wheelchair lift or ramp.

July 15 — Bacon, lettuce and tomato with wrap, crackers with cheese, cauliflower with dip, peaches.

July 16 — Spaghetti with meat sauce, salad with toppings, muskmelon, garlic bread, dessert.

July 17 — Swedish meatballs, brown rice, asparagus and broccoli, pears.

July 18 — Barbecue on bun, coleslaw, baked beans, fruit.

July 19 — Egg salad on wheat bread

with lettuce and tomatoes, carrots, peaches.

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.

112 S. St. Paul St. Mark, IL 61340 Johnny Sieg Owner/Operato

OGLESBY

Adult Student Info Session on July 31 process and introduce prospective students to campus resources, and other adult students will share their success stories,” Assistant Director of Admissions, Records and Transfer Services Aseret Loveland said.

For more information on the session, call 815-224-0439. RSVP at www. ivcc.edu/events.

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OGLESBY — Illinois Valley Community College’s admissions office will host an Adult Student Info Session from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 31, at the Ottawa Center, 321 W. Main St. “Entering college as an adult can be intimidating. This free session will help demystify the enrollment

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UTICA — During the month of July, Starved Rock Lodge will be offering a boat tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The tour includes trolley transportation to the Eagle I for a river cruise on the Illinois River.

The cost is $18 per person, and

els to their own families, fellow employees and friends. They typically are juggling family life, as well as work, and this event can help them get their footing as they take on school,” IVCC student recruitment specialist Gracelyn Ouesse said.

Families are invited to attend with the student, and there will be refreshments and activities for children. RSVP at www.ivcc.edu/ events.

COMMUNITY | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

Casting call for Stage 212’s ‘First Date’

7

The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, July 12, 2019

| COMMUNITY

8

OGLESBY

University of Illinois Extension recognizes volunteers OGLESBY — Dedicated volunteers were recognized at the recent University of Illinois Extension — Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam Multi-County Unit Council meeting on June 18.

Dr. John Ehrhardt of Wenona was recognized for his four years of dedicated service on the Multi-County Unit Advisory Council for the U of I Extension, and Laurie Delgado of DePue was recognized for her two years of dedicated service.

U of I Extension council members provide leadership in shaping the vision for the Extension in support of the citizens in Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam counties. Members represent their county and serve as catalysts to provide input to local issues, needs and concerns that can be addressed through the Extension’s unbiased and research-based educational programs and services.

Members are advocates, and they promote and connect local people to educational programming, which includes agriculture; natural resources; 4-H youth development; community and economic development; and family, nutrition and consumer sciences. The council meets on a regular basis to oversee programming and finances.

“Both Dr. Ehrhardt and Ms. Delgado have provided outstanding service. They have been dedicated to supporting the needs of their county and have been a strong voice to ensure the quality and continuation of 4-H and Extension education programming. It has been a great pleasure to work with them as a part of the Extension Council team,” County Director Jill Guynn said.

For more information, visit web. extension.illinois.edu/blmp or call 815-224-0889.

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Photo contributed

Regional Superintendent and Council Chairman Chris Dvorak (left) presents a Certificate of Service to Dr. John Ehrhardt of Wenona for four years of dedicated service on the Multi-County Unit Advisory Council for the U of I Extension. Also recognized was Laurie Delgado (not pictured) of DePue for two years of dedicated service.

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