1 Front Volume 140 No. 29
Friday, September 13, 2013
The Tonica News
Single Copy Cost 50¢
Lostant looks for flood relief By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@tonicanews.com
LOSTANT — As has been the case throughout the Illinois Valley this summer, the main topic at the Lostant Village Board meeting on Sept. 9 was flooding. Four residents of Second Street were in attendance looking for answers to the flooding problems that have plagued the street for some time.
Run-off from the field to the east of the village has caused water to pool in the neighborhood, causing property damage during the last couple of years, and the heavy April rains this year only heightened the problem. Streets and alleys chairman Chris Dose said he’s trying to get some grant and planning assistance from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), but so far
has had little success. “I called IEMA last week, and they were in meetings all week,” Dose said. “This week, the lady (who handles this area) is on vacation.” “Obviously, we’d like to see something done before the end of the year,” said Dave Brady, one of the residents present at the board meeting. Resident Dave Beavers had some suggestions on how to alleviate the prob-
lem. “Normally it takes about 12 hours for that water to get through. Our idea is, if we could slow it down, maybe to take 24 hours to get it to the point where it’s not running up Caldwell Street,” Beavers said. John Gennert, the farmer who tends the field east of town, has been invited to a couple of meetings to try to find an answer, but has
not been present at one yet. Many of the more effective solutions would require his consent to enact. Village President Fred Hartenbower said he and fellow resident Jack Moore had looked into solving the problem without Gennert’s approval. “Jack and I have looked at a lot of different laws,” Hartenbower said. “It depends on what they call it. If it’s just sur-
face water, then we could put a dam here. It’s best to work with the other owner and get his blessing; and not get into a conflict.” Moore, who was also present at the meeting, encouraged acting without Gennert’s permission. “None of those farmers are going to agree with what you do over there,”
See Flood relief Page 3
College enrollments are down By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@tonicanews.com
OGLESBY – According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, college enrollment in Fall 2012 plunged by half a million (467,000) from one year earlier. This decline, which includes both graduate and undergraduate enrollment, follows a period of substantial growth between 2006 and 2011. As the nation’s students begin a new school year, the Census Bureau released its annual set of tables on the characteristics of children and adults enrolled in school at all levels from nursery to graduate school. Among the characteristics examined were age, sex, race, Hispanic origin, nativity and foreignborn parentage. The decline in college enrollment was driven by older students, those 25 and older. Their enrollment fell by 419,000, while the enrollment of younger students declined by 48,000. In 2012, there were 19.9 million college students, including 5.8 million enrolled in two-year colleges, 10.3 million in four-year colleges and 3.8 million in graduate school. Locally, Illinois Valley Community College’s enrollment also slipped.
See College Page 2 Vol. 140 No. 29 One Section - 8 Pages
Tonica News photo/Dixie Schroeder
Reading, writing, ‘rithmetic ... and recess Megan McGuire climbs up the monkey bars during recess at Tonica Grade School.
Curling up with a good book September is National Literacy Month By Dixie Schroeder dschroeder@tonicanews.com
TONICA – Most people know just how important early reading is to a child’s development. A national survey noted 78 percent of preschool parents surveyed believed
reading was important to children being ready for kindergarten. There are many things a parent can do to help their child become ready for kindergarten or even preschool. Parents can first and foremost make an environment that is
filled with examples of positive literacy. In other words, parents can read with their children and assist their children to help grow their vocabulary and establish a lifelong love of reading. Several of the things a parent or guardian can
do to make a positive literacy environment in their homes include setting a time aside each day to read with their child or children. Twenty minutes a day is the recommended amount of time. Adults can have children select the books to read and start by simply reading the title and asking their child
Inside LGS hosts ‘Unpack Your Backpack’ See Page 6
© The Tonica News
what they think the title might be about. Children should be allowed to see the book as it is read to them, focusing on illustrations, pictures and even letting them turn the page. While an adult reads a book with a child, stop often to ask questions
See Literacy Page 4
2 Local 2 • The Tonica News • Friday, September 13, 2013
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. You can also drop it by our office in Tonica.
The Tonica News P.O. Box 86, Tonica, IL 61370 (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
Contact Publisher Sam Fisher sfisher@tonicanews.com Editor Terri Simon tsimon@tonicanews.com
Submit
The Tonica News encourages readers to submit news for publication in our paper. Special events, weddings, births, awards and honors, anniversaries, promotions, etc. are welcome items for the paper. Some fees may apply. Schools, businesses, organizations and groups are encouraged to send information on activities and events. If you have attended a function or event and have a photo and/or news, please submit them.
Email to:
news@tonicanews.com. Photos should be sent as an attachment. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Tonica News P.O. Box 86,Tonica, IL 61370
September is National Piano Month By Dixie Schroeder dschroeder@tonicanews.com
TONICA — Ever heard of Bartolomeo Cristofori? While his name may not ring any bells, the impact Cristofori has had on today’s culture cannot be ignored. Cristofori is the inventor of the modern day piano. A simple instrument that hits various strings with differing frequency using a keyboard, the piano has been the basis for music for hundreds of years. He made the first piano during the Italian Renaissance Era. Today society acknowledges the piano as an important and influential instrument within every musical genre, past and present. It is used by many popular artists. Elton John, Billy Joel, Adele and even the unusual Flava Flav use the piano for recording and during live performances. Even fictional characters have used the piano in memorable ways in popular culture. Schroeder from the comic strip “Peanuts,” Sam from the classic movie “Casablanca” and even Kurt Vonnegut’s “Kilgore Trout” have all played the piano. One of the quickest growing groups of wantto-be piano players in the United States today are adults, 25 to 75 years old. These adults have taken lessons as children but dropped the lessons and playing the piano, and they have now come back to it. Alex Teater, music teacher at Tonica Grade School, understands the importance of piano music in children’s lives.
“The piano is one of the most versatile and recognizable instruments that exists today,” he said. “As a music teacher, I use the piano every day in my class. Whether I am playing a few notes to help my students match pitch, or accompanying their song with several chords, my students respond to the instrument in a very positive manner. “As a music educator and musician, I believe that music is a fundamental building block to our personal identity,” Teater continued. “It opens the doorway to understanding other cultures; it allows us to express our feelings; and it stimulates our creativity. By using the piano in my classroom, I am able to pass those beliefs to my students more effectively than any recorded music ever could.” Today’s pianos are engineered with craftsmanship and a goal to produce good music. Technology has played a part in which the piano has profitted in tone and performance sound. Different types of pianos include the digital piano, player piano and silent piano. The player piano was invented in 1863 by Henri Fourneaux to entertain the masses. Today music is in a majority of homes, and the piano is in the thick of it. American jazz pianist and composer Bill Evans had this to say about the piano, and the influence it has on individuals. “When you play music, you discover a part of yourself that you never knew existed,” he said.
Tonica News photo/Dixie Schroeder
Hanging around Jerzi Morstheiser of Tonica Grade School plays on the hanging rings during recess.
College From Page 1 “We’re down 6 percent in head count this year from last year,” said IVCC Director of Community Relations and Development Fran Brolley. “We’re also down 6 percent in credit hours taken.” For IVCC, this is not a new occurrence. Enrollment has been on the decline for a couple of years. “We set record attendance in 2010,” said Brolley. “We had 8,361 credit students enrolled between our fall spring and summer semesters. Numbers have been slipping since then.” Speculation on the reasons for the drop in enrollment point predominately toward economics with college being financially out of reach for many and the amount of grant money available being cut. Additionally, there’s a growing concern that college may not be worth the investment with at least one estimate of approximately 53 percent of college graduates currently unemployed or under-employed.
ILLINI STATE BANK Invites You To
“Customer appreciation day” Saturday, September 14, 2013
Coffee & donuts served in Lobby 8 am to 10 am Hot dogs & brat Sandwiches - Chips & dessert Served 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Food & Fun & Prizes TONICA Facility Serving at The Legion Hall
OGLESBY Facility Serving at The Bank FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
LOSTANT Facility Serving at The Bank
287280
Seeking Sources
3 Obit/Records Friday, September 13, 2013 • The Tonica News • 3
Quinn announces $496,000 for construction in LaSalle County MARSEILLES — Gov. Pat Quinn has announced a capital investment of more than $496,000 for a road construction project in LaSalle County. The project is part of Quinn’s agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois’ economy forward.
“This construction project will improve a section of I-80, a key Midwestern transportation route,” Quinn said. “It will also employ a number of construction workers, which will help the local economy as well.”
Pavement will be patched along Interstate 80 from the Bureau County line to the Marseilles interchange for $496,762 by D Construction Inc. of Coal City, the lowest of three bidders. The Illinois Department of Transportation will manage the project.
“Improving and sustaining our infrastructure is important to our area and to our state,” State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) said. “This capital investment will provide some needed updates to the area and create the jobs we so badly need in the state.”
TVFD responds to building fire TONICA — At 4 p.m. Sept. 5, the Tonica Volunteer Fire Department was paged out for a structure fire at the rural address of 237 N. 19th Road. On arrival, the department found a small out-building totally involved in fire. Tonica
command declared the fire under control and was doing overhaul operations at approximately 4:25 p.m. The Tonica Fire Department responded with two pumpers, a tender and a rescue unit, with the ambulance on
stand-by. As part of the recently implemented auto aid agreement, Lostant Fire Department also responded with a pumper. LaSalle County Sheriff’s Department provided traffic control. The structure and the small amount of con-
tents in the building were determined to be a total loss. The fire is still under investigation, but indications are that it was started by embers from a nearby brush pile fire. There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters.
Buying an alarm system? Summer is a time for fun in the sun, vacationing and outdoor adventures. Unfortunately, it is also a busy time for burglars. Investing in an alarm system may be a necessary purchase for some homeowners. The Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois (BBB) is advising homeowners, who are looking to install a home security system, to do research first. It is not uncommon for unethical salesmen to go door-to-door with high pressure sales tactics, making homeowners act quickly. They will go over the big details of their system and rush through the process to make a sale. Unfortunately, the sense of urgency these salesmen give to their customers can lead to a lot of trouble later on if the proper research is not done. “A home security system is a major purchase, and it is important that you research thoroughly before making any decisions,” said Steve J. Bernas, president/CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “There are many door-to-door salesmen that may not have your wants, needs
Hurst Funeral Home Tonica, IL
223-0380
and safety as high on their list of priorities.” The BBB advises consumers to do the following when looking to invest in a home security system: • Choose a professional installer. Deal only with reputable firms and check out the company’s Business Review with your BBB first at www.bbb.org You may also get a recommendation from the insurance company that covers your home. Carefully consider your security requirements. The best home security system will accommodate your lifestyle and the specific valuables you want protected. Review the sales contract closely to ensure you understand exactly what equipment and protection you will be provided and that it fulfills your wants and needs best. Contact at least three companies before selecting an installer. Research multiple companies and find out if they are properly licensed in Illinois and if they screen employees before hiring. • Ask about all charges
up front. Prices for home security systems will vary greatly, based on the level of protection and type of technology used, so be sure to know your budget and compare bids on similar systems. Do not forget to factor in the initial installation charge, as well as monthly monitoring charges. Talk to your insurance agent; some systems may qualify you for a discount on homeowner’s premiums. Ask for a complete inspection of your property and an itemized written estimate. Know the ins and outs of your contract. If your alarm system will be monitored, either by your installing company or by a third-party monitoring center, find out the length of the contract. Typically, monitoring contracts are between two to five years in length. Some questions to ask before you obligate yourself to a long term contract: 1. What is your recourse if you are not satisfied with the services provided? 2. Can you cancel the
Bar and Restaurant
Mark, IL • 815-339-6233 • www.cloverclub.net • 5-9PM
Mondays: Tacos $150 Wednesdays: Wings Thursdays: Grill Specials Fridays & Saturdays: EACH
Serving Full
menu only
SePt. 13 - Rob N Andrea 9-12 SePt. 14 - Todd Witek 9-1
contract? 3. What are your rights if your monitoring company is purchased or acquired by another alarm company? • Insist he installer “walks” you through your system until you fully understand how it works. This will prevent the most common problem: False alarms. False alarms are an indicator of the quality of the alarm installation and user education. Make sure that you are aware of how your system works and that all of you questions are answered. For more information on finding businesses and consumer tips, visit www. bbb.org
Septic pumping
Big D Earthmovers Excavating • Dirt Gravel • Sand Water & Sewer Demolition Insured & Bonded 815-882-2040 815-482-7879
Flood relief
forced to admit there is nothing it can do. In other action, the board: • Heard from Public Works supervisor Mitch McCaw on some problems with the sewer system. Two pumps had failed recently and had to be fixed. No bill has been received yet, but the board OKed a payment not to exceed $8,000. McCaw told the board replacement would be necessary down the road, but the pump hose currently runs on one phase power, and it would need to convert to three phase due to scarcity of one phase pumps. • Approved an expenditure of no more than $800 to fix a control panel at the pump house. The panel also failed with the pumps. • Heard a report from Health and Safety supervisor Tony Allison concerning dog registration and fees. Currently, Allison said there were more dogs unregistered than registered, but that was normal at this time of year. The board also revisited the kennel fees for three or more dogs, concerning a resident who claims he has two apartments and his dogs are split between them, therefore skirting the “three or more dogs at one residence” law. • Tabled a request to hire an additional assistant for tree-trimming for the village, pending more information.
From Page 1 Moore said. “You’ve got to go ahead and do it. Let them go through a lawyer, file a civil lawsuit, and let the judge decide who’s right.” A solution had been suggested in 1998 when this problem was addressed before, according to Dean Chalkey, project manager for Chamlin and Associates, but when the weather turned drier over the years, no action was taken. That solution included construction of an earthen berm with multiple outlet points to slow the water down as well as a connecting road between First and Second streets. This solution is currently estimated at $100,000. “If you think we’re going to take $100,000 and do something and bury a bunch of pipe, I don’t think the board’s going to end up supporting that,” Hartenbower said. Chalkey said the earlier estimate included the connecting road, and he would need to review the project to determine the cost. When questioned about whether the village was going to ignore the problem, Hartenbower told the board he had instructed the board secretary to keep the matter on the board’s agenda until the board is able to solve the issue or
Tri-CounTy AuTo SAleS
Rt. #71 • Standard, IL 61363
339-6165
2008 Hyundai Sonata 4 Cyl., Loaded $5,995
2006 Dodge Caravan Loaded $3,995
2007 Dodge Ram Pickup, V-8, Auto. $6,995
2005 Mustang Conv., Loaded $6,995
2006 Pontiac Grand Prix Loaded $3,995
2005 Hyundai Santa Fe 4x4 $3,995
Advertising Information Call Ashley at
815-875-4461 ext. 270 or email advertising@tonicanews.com
4 Biz Ag 4 • The Tonica News • Friday, September 13, 2013
Woodland owner conference UTICA/OGLESBY — The Illinois Forestry Association is holding its annual conference on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20-21, at Starved Rock State Park and Illinois Valley Community College in LaSalle County. Both IFA members and the public are invited to attend either the entire event or any portion they wish. This year’s theme is “Here Comes the Sun” - giving your trees room to grow. Friday afternoon field trips from 1 to 4 p.m. are free; professional foresters will discuss ways to provide your better trees the resources they need
Literacy From Page 1 as to how the story is developing and what may happen next. This practice helps a child develop comprehension skills. Repetition is important when reading with children, and a child learns from re-reading a book over and over again. According to the LaSalle Public Library, early reading with children is important. Early literacy and the creation of language through reading and writing skills are developed at about the same time in a child’s life. These skills are created in
to improve. Friday night, from 6 until 9 p.m., the IFA will host a dinner. The keynote speaker is Dr. William Luppold, research economist for the USDA Forest Service, presenting aspects of the international timber market that apply to Illinois woodland owners — where our timber goes, what it is used for, and export and import markets as well. The charge for the dinner and speaker is $25. Saturday, indoor presentations from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. will cover the methods addressed on Friday, what to con-
sider before opening the forest canopy, the wildlife benefits from opening the canopy, and the economic improvement to your timber from these methods. Saturday’s sessions include lunch, and the fee is $25. Speakers are from university forestry schools, the IDNR and the National Wild Turkey Federation. The fee for attending the entire program of field trips, dinner/speaker/ and indoor sessions is $45. More details are available on the IFA’s website, www.ilforestry. org/events. Alternatively, reservations can
“Reading and writing, like everything else, improves with practice.” RuthAnn Brizgis a child’s life through book reading, paper, crayons and a child’s parent or caregiver. Laura Frizol, library director at the LaSalle Public Library, agrees that providing a foundation when children are young is important. “Literacy is the foundation upon which so many aspects of a person’s life are based upon,” she said. “It is the basis of what allows a person to complete critical
activities such as filling out a job application or being able to read and understand their daily bills. The ability to read and comprehend is fundamental. It is never too late to learn these skills.” Lostant Grade School librarian RuthAnn Brizgis also thinks reading and literacy are important. “Reading is a big part of the learning process, and the library is one of the many tools that can
be made by mailing a check (made out to the Illinois Forestry Association) and an indication of which portions of the program you wish to attend, to Richard Pouzar, 2303 W. Cording Road, Galena, IL 61036. Registrations and fees must be received by Sept. 15. Questions can be sent to admin@ilforestry.org. Lower registration fees are available to IFA members: You can become a member on their website. The Illinois Forestry Association is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, registered with the state of Illinois. be used in that process,” she said. “The library can offer the participant many ways to enrich their learning from text to visual.” Margaret Atwood, a Canadian author, poet and writer, has been a strong literacy activist over her career. She noted the importance of literacy in a person’s life. “Reading and writing, like everything else, improves with practice,” Atwood said. “And of course, if there are no young readers and writers, there will shortly be no older ones. Literacy will be dead, and democracy — which many believe goes hand in hand with it, will be dead as well.”
USPS brings major changes to Priority Mail TONICA — Free insurance, improved tracking and day specific delivery are part of the U.S. Postal Services’ new Priority Mail product line. “Now our customers can get an even greater value when they use our Priority Mail products,” said Tonica Postmaster, Kathleen Newhalfen. “This Priority Mail line gives small businesses and other shippers another reason to use the Postal Service.” Priority Mail will now provide scheduled delivery: 1-day, 2-day or 3-day based on the original and destination of the package. The Postal Service will provide improved USPS tracking for all priority mail products. Tracking and scheduled delivery information will be prominently and conveniently located on customer’s retail receipts and is also available online using Track and Confirm. Free insurance is another new Priority Mail feature designed to meet the growing needs of small busi-
Fish for stocking OTTAWA — LaSalle County Soil and Water Conservation District is taking orders for fish to stock new ponds or restock existing ponds.
Locker room 123 E. St. Paul Street
Spring Valley, IL • Sporting Goods • Team Equipment • Custom Screen Printing & Embroidery
1-815/663-1108
Orders must be received by Sept. 20. Fish will be delivered to the district parking lot at Route 23 and Dayton Road at 8 a.m. Oct. 2. Open Noon Sunday!
815-894-2124
Serving You Since 1907 Famous Homemade Sauce On Chicken Parm $9.50! TrY SundaY aT LanuTi’S Family Style Chicken Famous TurTLE deep Fried Catfish!
Information and order forms are available on the district’s website: www.lasalleswcd.org or by calling the district at 815-433-0551, ext. 3.
Meeting Calendar Sept. 16 — Tonica Village, Tonica Village Hall, 7 p.m. Sept. 18 — Tonica School Board, Tonica Grade School, 7 p.m.
Do you have the coverage you need? Are you sure? At COUNTRY, we do more than help you find the insurance you need... we help you understand your coverage. Find out more today!
Matthew Hostetter Granville, IL 61326
1112-500HO
www.countryfinancial.com
815-339-6136
Pressure Washers, Parts Washers, Detergents SaleS: Hydrotek, Whitco, Pressure Pro, Alkota, Hot and Cold Water units Service: Timely and Reasonable Rates, On-Site Repair On All Power Washer Brands DetergentS: Truck Wash, Aluminum Brighteners, Degreasers, Concrete Removers, Asphalt Release Agent, Polished Aluminum Cleaner
CALL TODAY FOR DEMONSTRATION OR REPAIR
815-894-3541 815-440-9904 Spring valley, il
agindsupply.com e-mail: greg@agindsupply.com
Be American... Buy American!
nesses and other frequent shippers. Priority Mail 1-day, 2-day or 3-day will include $50 or $100 of insurance coverage depending on the payment method, such as whether a customer brought it to a retail counter or it was paid for online. “Our customers expect more from us,” Newhalfen said. “We will continue to meet their expectations by providing them with important new features that include new packaging, free insurance, date specific delivery and free tracking.” Newly-redesigned Priority Mail boxes and envelopes are available in post offices and online at usps.com with many priority mail flat rate sizes and pricing. Express Mail services will continue as Priority Mail Express, providing next day service with a money back guarantee and up to $100 of free insurance. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
We offer: • Your choice of our elegant dining room or our white high peak 3200 square foot (40x80) tent with modern profile. Both overlooking a spectacular view of our PGA golf course. • Beautifully landscaped grounds for outdoor ceremonies. • Custom menus and professional service.
5 Perspective Friday, September 13, 2013 • The Tonica News • 5
The Editorial Page The Tonica News Sam R Fisher
Terri Simon
Publisher
Editor
That first day ... It didn’t seem like that long ago I was writing my “last day of school/first day of summer” article. Sadly, I was planning on writing a “first day of school/last day of summer” article, but that didn’t work out as planned. I guess I should have followed my own advice; I really shouldn’t make plans. The first week of 2 p.m. dismissals, reviews and countless syllabuses has been BRUTAL. I’m only joking. The first week is always the easiest, content-wise. It’s all reviews, mainly. The most challenging part of the whole year is trying to work out a decent sleep schedule between night shifts at COMMENTARY work and early morning classes. Please wish myself and most of the student body luck in this year’s sleeping endeavors. Sleeping is important; that’s when your dreams get conjured up and reminds you of things you would love to forget. That first day of school sneaks up on you with the subtlety of a brick thrown through your window. Instead of a single insult, this brick contains a list of all the activities you never accomplished in the two and a half months of freedom. It may be a long list (if so, lower your standards, or get off your couch and do something!) or a short list (raise your standards, kid, or congrats for doing most of the things on your list). Either way, 99 percent of the time you won’t accomplish every little thing you desire. And that’s OK. You try and try and try until your knuckles bleed or the Advil supply has severely diminished. That’s what prioritizing is all about. Back to the brick. So it comes in your window, shattering whatever chance you had left of doing everything on your list, and POOF! ... You’re magically walking down the school hallway after what felt like yesterday. You say hi to your friends you haven’t seen in a while. You step in front of the locker assigned to you in your freshmen year, your old friend, your home away from home. You spin the lock and the numbers click in place before you even repeat the numbers in your head. It’s so engraved in your brain that your fingers move faster than your mind. And you’re back. Nothing has changed. When you sit down at a desk in your first hour, you’re already dreaming of your last day in May. Will you graduate? Or will you continue this routine next year? Who knows? We don’t know where we’ll be tomorrow. Hopefully, you have enough control of your grades to know that you’ll advance a grade or graduate if everything stays as planned. But if any of you folks remember Part 1 of my June article, plans are not something I am fond of. I encourage them, yes, but I do not completely believe in them. I believe in going with the flow, but I also believe in going against the tide. I believe in letting the pieces fall into the places you’ve crafted and allowing them to fit as they please. I believe in laws and rules, but I also believe in dreams and the power of them. I believe that education can launch you in that direction. So essentially ... I believe in the first day of school. Maddi Loiselle, 16, of Hennepin is a junior at Putnam County High School. She can be reached in care of Putnam county Record at P.O. Box 48, Granville, IL 61326.
Maddi Loiselle
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.
On the street “I think it might make people want to text more behind the wheel, since they can no longer can call or use their phones. This may cause other problems.” Jan Gray, Leonore
As of Jan. 1, 2014, it will be illegal to drive and use a handheld cell phone at the same time. What do you think of this new law in Illinois? “That’s a very good idea. No texting or no talking makes the road a whole lot safer. It’s not intrusive. No not for this. It’s about being safer on the road.” Terri Myers, Normal
“It doesn’t matter to me one way or the other. I don’t really use mine all that much. There’s a bit too much government in our lives. Sounds like a lot more paperwork for the police, unfortunately.” Kelli Demiam, Serena
“I think its important. I know in our area we have had a lot of accidents whether it was texting or talking on the phone or whatever, especially with all the construction going on in Illinois. I would agree with it.” Kerry Gordon, Berlin, Wis.
“Just because they signed a piece of paper doesn’t mean it’s a law. I mean they are going to have to police it. There’s not enough police to cover that amount of people using cell phones when they drive. They can’t police that. There is no way. It’s too complicated.” Mark Demiam, Serena
Flippin’ the birdie I have always lived with the sincere belief that everyone is born with at least one God-given talent that they can do better than almost anyone else. The key to success in life is figuring out what that talent is before you die. Can you imagine what the world would be like if Rembrandt, Da Vinci or Grandma Moses had never picked up a paint brush? What if Shakespeare became a pirate instead of putting ink to paper? What if Michael Jordan had never picked up a basketball? What if Donald Trump had never done whatever it is he does? I think that’s what separates us “regular” folks from the “famous” people. They’ve just been lucky enough to have stumbled upon what they are truly good at. The rest of us are just hanging around trying to figure out what our “thing” is. For most of my life, I’ve wandered the planet trying to determine my “special” talent. Sometimes the planets align themselves in just the right way, and I’m happy to report that I may have found my calling. I recently made the delightful discovery that I am an awesome badminton player. In fact if I were a little younger, had received the proper coaching and training, I might possibly have been one of the world’s best badminton players … ever. Alas, I probably won’t turn professional now because when you combine the facts that I’m in my late-40s and up until the time of writing this, I thought the word was spelled “badmitton” instead of “badminton.” I guess that none of us world-class athletes are known to be brainiacs. It’s because we spend so much time in the gym honing our skills. I discovered that I was a prodigy when my mother sent home some 50-year-old badminton paraphernalia with my daughter a few weeks back. The equipment had just been gathering dust up in the storeroom, and Mom thought she would enjoy playing with it. The equipment consisted of three or four banged-up, warped rackets, and three shuttlecocks, or as
Greg Wallace FROM THE SKETCHBOOK we in the sport refer to as “birdies.” That’s it. There was no net. I imagine that it deteriorated into dust back during the first term of the Reagan Administration. But that didn’t really bother us. The way I see it, a net would just hamper my natural fluidity and grace when playing the sport. I’d hate to cheat any of my neighbors watching me play and enjoying my graceful leaps, bounds and spins. My daughter and I just go out in the backyard and whack the birdies around. There aren’t any boundaries or rules to speak of. In fact, it’s kind of an added challenge to play around the trampoline, hammock and cable television wire. It’s tough, but real athletes adapt. At first, her 8-year-old coordination prevented her from hitting the birdie on a regular basis, or sometimes, at all. When she did manage to get ahold of one, I was pleasantly surprised to find the natural ease I had in returning it to her. It almost seemed second nature as I flicked the racket about, flipping the birdie back in her direction. The more we played, the better we got. She was able to hit the birdie much more consistently, and I started to get more confidence in my play. It has gotten to the point where I almost feel bad when I violently smash the birdie back toward her wide-eyed, terror-stricken face. I tell her I’m sorry and try to explain to her that when you’re riding a thoroughbred, sometimes you just have to let the horse run. The other day when we were playing, I noticed that she was showing vast improvement. Not only was she hitting the birdie more often, but she was also hitting it to areas beyond the 2-3 foot radius I can comfortably cover without sweating and/or hurting myself. She audibly giggles when she hears Daddy’s knees make funny noises.
Evidently, my wife had been practicing with her while I wasn’t home. I guess that she doesn’t derive the same kind of joy that I do in my total badminton domination of a little girl. My daughter’s getting pretty good. In fact, sometimes the master has become the student. She’ll probably take the sport to heights that I can only imagine. Apparently the birdie doesn’t fall far from the tree. So it is with this in mind that I come before you today to announce that I am now retiring from the sport of badminton. It’s tough stepping away from the game I’ve so deeply loved and cherished over the past month and a half, but I don’t want to be one of those guys that held on for too long. No, it’s time for a new breed of superstar to step into the spotlight and take the reins. I’ve had my moment in the sun. What would have happened if I had taken up the sport back when I was in my teens? One can only imagine. Sure, I’d most likely have made millions traveling around the globe playing in the Professional Badminton League. I’d probably still be playing in Europe somewhere on the senior circuit, trying to shoo away all the badminton groupies who would just be after me for my fame and fortune. It would have been a totally different kind of life, but I don’t know if I would be truly happy right now. It leaves a person to wonder what could have been. But don’t feel bad for me. No, I was lucky enough to find my purpose here on this planet before it was too late. So I wish all of you readers the best of luck as you travel through life. I hope that you all somehow stumble upon the one thing that you’re better at than anyone else and makes you happy. What will I do in my retirement? Well everybody had better look out next summer because I’m pretty sure my mom has a 50-year-old croquet set buried in that storeroom somewhere. You can contact Wallace at gwallace@bcrnews.com. You can follow him on his blog at http://gregwallaceink.blogspot.com.
6 Life 6 • The Tonica News • Friday, September 13, 2013
Community
LGS hosts ‘Unpack Wheels for Nathan Your Benefit to be Backpack’ held Oct. 12 By Dixie Schroeder dschroeder@tonicanews.com
LOSTANT — A benefit for a local Lostant boy is set to be held on Oct. 12 at Dave’s Lost-Ant on Route 251, south of Lostant. Nathan Burcar of Lostant is suffering from Duchenne’s, a rare and debilitating form of Muscular Dystrophy. Wheels for Nathan is a fundraiser dedicated to helping raise money for Burcar to get a speciallymade power wheelchair and adjust his home to accommodate the chair, according to Nathan Burcar’s mother, Josie Lutz. “It is for Nathan to ultimately get his power wheelchair which has to be specially made to fit him,” she said. “We have a guy that will be coming from Chicago to do that. But we will also have to have ramps on the house
and have six of our doorways widened.” Nathan’s father, Doug Burcar, has donated his 1985 Harley Davidson Sportster XLX 1000 motorcycle with 17,000 miles on it for a raffle at the event on Oct. 12. The motorcycle will be on display at Uncle Stewy’s Roadhouse until the benefit. Participants in the raffle need not be present to win. The benefit will feature a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, a hog roast, other raffles and live entertainment throughout the event. There will be a children’s bouncing house, face painting and a balloon fellow on hand for the kids. Sponsors from the area include Country Catering, Blue Collar Bikes, Hi-Hart, S & N Boardwalk, Quaker Lane Est. and the Stone Seed Group. For questions or to purchase tickets, contact Dave’s Lost-Ant at 815-368-9090.
LOSTANT – Lostant Grade School hosted its “Unpack your Backpack” and open house night on Aug. 15. This night was set up for the families of the students and any interested community members to visit the school and learn more about what will be happening in the coming school year. A hot dog dinner was served in the school cafeteria. “Unpack your Backpack” night allows the students to drop off their supplies prior to school starting and gives the students, their families and the community, the opportunity to meet new teachers and see how the classrooms will be set up when school starts. With the new instructional model going into effect this year, “Unpack your Backpack” also gave the teachers the opportunity to explain to the families how the new model would work.
IVCC summer graduates OGLESBY — Three local residents were among the 240 students who picked up their degrees following the 2013 summer semester at Illinois Valley Community College. Marie Janusick of Lostant is now a cer-
tified nursing assistant. Krista Lenhausen, also of Lostant, received her associate degree in science. Benjamin Blanco of Tonica received his associate degree in applied science in electrical construction technology.
Edgewood Ladies League MCNABB — The Edgewood Ladies League met on Sept. 3. Hostesses for the day were Kay Marincic and Jackie Stupic. The play of the day was low putts. Winners included in A flight — Catherine Gregarich; B flight — Kay Marincic, Dolly PIccolli and Donna Berry; in C flight — Kathy Kline. Low gross for the day was Cyndi Palm who also had low net. Low putts was Catherine Gregarich, and birdies was Cyndi Palm. ••• Visit us online at www.tonicanews.com.
Putnam County Community Center Sept. 16 — Chicken ala king, mashed potatoes, lima beans, apricot halves, buttermilk. Sept. 17 — Chicken salad, pasta salad, fruit compote, dessert. Sept. 18 — Baked chicken quarter, red quartered potatoes, steamed spinach, citrus cup, Texas sheet cake, wheat bread. Sept. 19 — Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, mixed vegetables, roll and butter, dessert. Sept. 20 — Tuna salad, navy bean soup, mixed vegetables, Mandarin oranges, wheat bread.
Book Signing Join Terri Simon for a book signing of her new book:
Photos contributed
Above: Diana Ioerger (from left), school board president; Susan Swartz, assistant cook; Cindy Burcar, school board member; and Nicole Larson, cook; get the meal ready during Lostant Grade School’s “Unpack Your Backpack” night and open house Aug. 15. Below: Local Lostant families enjoyed a meal during the Lostant Grade School’s “Unpack Your Backpack” night and open house Aug. 15.
Menus Sept. 20 — Pizza, Lostant Grade School lettuce salad, carrots,
Breakfast Sept. 16 — Biscuits and gravy. Sept. 17 — Omelets. Sept. 18 — French toast. Sept. 19 — Pigs in a blanket. Sept. 20 — Breakfast pizza. Lunch Sept. 16 — Chicken quesadilia, rice, carrots, pineapple. Sept. 17 — Baked ham, au gratin potatoes, green beans, pears, bread and butter. Sept. 18 — Grilled cheese, chips, grapes, veggies and dip. Sept. 19 — BBQ rib on bun, cheesy potatoes, peaches, cookie.
Lunch Sept. 16 — Chicken wrap, shredded lettuce, carrots, pears, cheese cup, sour cream, salsa, salad dressing, milk. Sept. 17 — Spaghetti, sauce, meal balls, Romaine lettuce, fruit side kick, bread stick, salad dressing, milk. Sept. 18 — Chicken nuggets, broccoli, carrots, peaches, cookies, ranch, ketchup, milk. Sept. 19 — Breaded pork patty, bun, green beans, Mandarin oranges, orange Jell-O, cool whip, ketchup, mustard, pickles, milk. Sept. 20 — Hot dog, bun, corn on the cob, baked beans, melon, ketchup, mustard, milk.
grapes.
Tonica Grade School Breakfast Sept. 16 — Pancake and sausage on a stick, cereal or yogurt, toast, fruit, juice, milk. Sept. 17 — Pancakes, cereal or yogurt, toast, fruit, juice, milk. Sept. 18 — Scrambled eggs, cereal or yogurt, toast, fruit, juice, milk. Sept. 19 - French toast sticks, cereal or yogurt, toast, fruit, juice, milk. Sept. 20 — Bagel with cream cheese, cereal or yogurt, toast, fruit, juice, milk.
Bounce Back with us from Start to Finish t
ar
St
Bounce Back
Sept. 14: Homestead Festival from 10 a.m. to noon on the Verizon lawn next to the Prouty Building
Sept. 15: Homestead Festival from noon
to 3 p.m. on the Verizon lawn next to the Prouty Building (Rain location inside the Prouty Building) While supplies last.
HOM
E
• Comprehensive discharge planning • Home safety evaluations • Outpatient therapy services • Post discharge follow-up call
Liberty Village
Peru 815-224-2200 • Princeton 815-875-6600 Not-for-Profit Provider
www.simplythefinest.net
7 Life Friday, September 13, 2013 • The Tonica News • 7
Health and Safety Fair to be Sept. 16 OGLESBY — The annual Health and Safety Fair will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 16 at Lincoln School, 755 Bennett Ave., Oglesby. The Oglesby Preschool program will be the host for this event. There will be more than 30 businesses or agencies on hand to answer questions for parents needing assistance at the event. For more information, contact Sue Massey at Lincoln School, 815-883-9297.
Library Corner LASALLE — The program “Shelfari — What’s It All About?” will be presented at 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at the LaSalle Public Library. Shelfari is a social cataloging website for books. Shelfari users build virtual bookshelves of the titles they own or have read, and can rate, review, tag and discuss their books. Users can also create groups that other members
may join, create discussions and talk about books or other topics. Recommendations can be sent to friends on the site for what books to read. Learn more when experienced user Nancy Nieslawski walks you through the world of Shelfari, and all it has to offer. This program is free and open to the public.
Food court I’m sure you have a lot of extra tomatoes from the garden. How about trying some fresh tomato recipes to accompany your meals? There’s nothing better than the fresh sliced tomatoes by themselves or with your sandwich or any casserole.
Judy Dyke GRANDMA JUDY’S CAFE
Pico de Gallo 2 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced 1 medium-size ripe avocado, diced 1/4 cup diced white onion 1 serrano or jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped (optional) 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil Salt to taste Toss together first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and chill 1 hour. Season with salt to taste.
Corn and Tomato Salad 1 1/2 cups bow-tie pasta 2 fresh ears of corn or 1 cup whole kernel frozen corn 1 cup shredded, cooked chicken 1 large tomato, seeded and chopped (about 3/4 cup) 1/4 cup olive oil 3 tablespoons vinegar 2 to 3 tablespoons pesto 1 tablespoon chicken broth or water 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper Romaine leaves 2 tablespoons finely shredded Parmesan cheese Snipped fresh basil Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta, rinse in cold water and drain again. Meanwhile, if using fresh corn, cut the kernels off the cobs. Cook corn, covered, in boiling water for 10 minutes or until corn is tender; drain. (If using frozen corn, cook according to package directions; drain.) Let cool slightly. In a large bowl combine pasta, corn, chicken and tomato. In a screw-top jar combine the olive oil, vinegar, pesto, chicken broth or water, salt and pepper. Cover and shake well. Pour over pasta mixture; toss gently to coat. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours. To serve, line a serving platter with romaine leaves. Arrange salad on romaine leaves. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and basil over top. Do you have a tomato recipe you’d like to share with other readers? Email it to me at judyd2313@ frontier.com. Please remember to include your name, address and telephone number (telephone number won’t be published). Happy Tomato-ing!
Six study habits to adopt No matter what age or academic level, employing effective studying strategies can make all the difference between acing a class, barely passing, or worse, failing miserably. Unfortunately, many of today’s most common study methods can lead to utter disappointment despite best efforts and intentions. In fact, recent research out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison found many popular study habits are not beneficial at all, and in some cases, are actually detrimental. This year, ditch the surprisingly shoddy study habits and utilize proven effective and emerging technology-based strategies as building blocks to get ahead — in school, and ultimately, in life. With this in mind, EdTech authority and academic futurist Ashish Rangnekar, CEO of BenchPrep, offers this insight on six good-sense study habits sure to keep students on track toward academic
success. • Pay attention to study location: Find a quiet, uncluttered, distractionfree area away from the residence, and try a few locations until the ideal study place is discovered. Different spots may work for different subjects, too! Whatever the location, leverage powerful new mobile, interactive study solutions that allow high school and college students to better prepare for tests and course work through any portable device from anywhere, at any time. • Vary study topics: Psychologists say alternating study topics rather than cramming on a specific one in a single session leaves a deeper impression on the brain. So, don’t grind on the same subject all night. Change it up, take breaks and re-visit the material in intervals — even spacing over a period of days if possible, which has been proven to enhance retention even
815-339-6278 • Open 7 Days a Week MOn. 1/4 Fried Chicken & sun. FREE Food Sunday Fries $5.00 Tues. All You Can Eat Tacos $5.00 DrINK SPECIALS WeD. Bleu Cheese Steak MOn. $2 Well Drinks Wrap w/ One Side $7.99 Tues. $2.50 Dos Equis Draft Thur. Hamburger WeD. $5 Martini w/ Matty Illman Horseshoe $6.99 Thur. $3 Pint Captains FrI. Ribeye Steak FrI. $3 Jager Bombs Sandwich $7.99; Ribeye saT. $3 Buckly Or Steak Dinner $9.99 Patron Shots saT. 1/2 Rack Baby Back sun. $2 Ribs $8.99 Serving 4-9 Bottles
www.paganolearys.net 304 S. McCoy St. • Granville, IL
further. • Make information meaningful: Whether it’s creating rhymes or patterns, or even relating material to something else perhaps through word or scenario associations, such tactics can make information more meaningful and will enhance information recollection. The University of Maryland reports mnemonic devices, or memory tricks, are particularly useful for remembering factual information like names, dates, formulas, or other information that requires rote memorization. • Tap online resources:
Don’t get stuck on a problem or resigned to an illfated grade in a difficult class as there are powerful resources at a student’s fingertips. For example, companies like Academic Earth offer a comprehensive online collection of free video tutorials for college courses — all accessible at no cost. Other companies like OpenStudy enable Internet users to readily connect and engage with other students who are learning the same subjects at the same time — regardless of school, expertise or location — facilitating online, on-demand peer-to-peer
assistance, support and other helpful interactions. • Engage in social learning: Research has found that there is a benefit to studying with friends. In one recent study from the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California San Diego, it was revealed “the higher the volume of interaction, the more likely the students were willing to exchange information in more complex ways and with greater frequency, forming ‘information cascades,’ a mechanism that spreads information from a single source to one or multiple sources.”
• Have a great study attitude: Think positive and focus on skills. Rather than dreading the experience, thinking positive will make the time to study easier to approach and mindshare won’t be expended on feeling resentful. In fact, “study attitudes” was identified in research as one of four pillars that “play a critical and central role in determining students’ academic performance.” In short, study time is a friend. Regard it that way, and soon enough, any student can look forward to a productive, self-fulfilled academic experience.
Celebrating 25 Years of bringing genuine compassion to health care and exceptional skills to post-hospital and long-term care.
Five-Star Quality Rated by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
1650 Indian Town Road Five-Star Henry, ILQuality 61537 Rated by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 309.364.3905
8 History/Classifieds 8 • The Tonica News • Friday, September 13, 2013
History of the Tonica News 10 years ago Almost 110 people attended the annual Tonica High School Alumni dinner on Sept. 13 at the VFW Hall in LaSalle. The Class of 1963, celebrating its 40th reunion, hosted the event. Barbara (Mertel) Sarver headed up the organization committee. Highlighting the festivities was a display of THS photos and keepsakes that evoked more than a few fond memories. The Tonica Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1937 as a non profit corporation. Its’ mission has been to provide the best possible emergency services without taxation. Each year the group hosts an annual townwide collection night. This year’s event was Oct. 6. The fifth annual Lostant Fall Fest kicked off Oct. 3 with a Vegasstyle fundraiser at the Lostant Fire Station, and it was sponsored by the
Lostant Ambulance. On Oct. 4 there was a pancake and sausage breakfast. Family and friends came together on Sept. 14 to celebrate Le Verne Foote’s birthday. Mr. Foote turned 85 on Sept. 12, and the group gathered at the home of Dorene and Larry Giltner’s in Tonica. A total of 59 Illinois rural protection districts and fire departments shared in $302,544 in matching grant funds through the federal Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program. Leonore Volunteer Fire Department received $2,783. Michelle Ernat and Aaron Kuipes were united in marriage during a ceremony performed on March 29 at the Wright House in Mesa, Ariz. Parents of the couple were Mr. and Mrs. Richard (Janice) Ernat of Tonica and Mr. and Mrs. Arlan (Patricia) Kuipers of Platte, S.D.
100 years ago Real estate deals: The Ed Brennemann farm was sold to Otto Thorson for $212.50 per acre. The Noah Lock farms of 340 acres were sold by the Master in Chancery and purchased among the heirs. J.W. Richarson bought the Conaway house on north hill. Away to college: Geraldine Bullock, Mable Alleman, Dorothy Smith and Paul Richey went to Knox College; DeWit King and Harold Hensold to the University of Illinois; Leonard Long and Lloyd Austin to Wesleyan; George Simmons to Drake; Ervin Flint to Michigan University; Annis Morris to Normal University; Stokes Burgess and Fred Stehl to Veterinary College in Chicago. School teachers in Tonica Schools were L.M. Butler, principal; Helen Edwards, assistant principal; Belle Kreider,
–––– 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
- 200 Employment 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
- 400 Merchandise 450 • Under $1000 16.9 Chest style deep freezer, $300 or best offer. Call or text 815-8301419 or 815-830-6726 ************ 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) or mail to: BCR, PO Box 340, Princeton, IL 61356 No Phone Calls!
460 • Garage Sales PRINCETON 1/2 mile south on Rt. 26. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, September 12, 13, 14; 8am-4pm. HUGE SALE! Lots of collectibles including Coke collectibles, Carnival, depression glass, crocks, books, comics, sport cards, bikes guitars, amps, Hot Wheels, old advertising thermometers, dvd's, cds', drum set, McCoy pottery. Too much to list SEATONVILLE 400 Main Street. Thursday, September 12, 4pm-7pm; Friday, Saturday, September 13, 14; 8am-3pm. Household, Antiques, collectibles, jewelery, shoes (mens 12), adult and boys high school clothes- name brand, some new. Misc. SPRING VALLEY 227 East Caroline (last block before crossing Spring Valley Bridge). Friday, Saturday, September 13, 14; 8am4pm. 3 FAMILY SALE. Fairy Garden pieces, adult Halloween costumes, Jim Bean collectible bottles, furniture, seasonal items
460 • Garage Sales Sunday, September 15 FLEA MARKET BUREAU COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS 811 West Peru, Princeton. 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. $1.00 admission Free Parking Food Stand is available. Antiques, Collectibles, New & Vintage items
- 700 Real Estate For Sale 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
grammar; Nelle Hartenbower, intermediate; Hazel Egerton, primary. Other teachers were Irma Alleman in Center School; Carrie Tutt in Ashley; Stanley Egerton in Powell; Maud Williams in Knapp; Irene Egerton in Hall; Winnie Egerton at Lowell; Carrie Miller at Does; and Harry Miller at the Shields District in Hope Township. Deaths: Mrs. John Lock of Vermillion town died on the 1st at age 78; and Mrs. Jerry Studebaker on the 9th at age 65. Other news: Henry Bruch Jr., John Schafer, Henry Giese and H.F. Hartenbower went to Minnesota to look over land. Don Hannum and family moved to Tonica, where he assisted D.P Long in the barber shop. Mable Barrett was honored with a shower in the Mrs. A. Hiltabrand home. Frank Richey attended an American Road Congress in Detroit. Mr. E.H. Child was elected presi-
dent of the LaSalle County WCTU. Gus Giese and wife and Mrs. Jacob Ott visited relatives in Nebraska. Mrs. Elijah Baldsin was in Mt. Morris, Mich., to help her father, Orland Hart, celebrate his 100th birthday.
140 years ago C.M. Keller purchased the Dimmick print plant and on April 25, 1874, issued the first copy of the Tonica News. He located on the second story of the newly-erected brick building, now Cofoid’s store from which place this paper was issued for 28 years. Mr. Keller was the publisher until Oct. 4, 1875, and the business was sold to his cousin, W.A. McGrew. A year later, the latter changed the name of the paper to “The Advertiser” and continued that publication for some time with varied success.
144 years ago O.J.
Dimmick
and
his brother printed an advertising sheet called the Eden Tyro distributed gratuitously. It was a four-column, four page paper about two columns of local news. Several issues of this were distributed and they received encouragement and blossomed out into a regular newspaper in 1870. They then changed its name to the Tonica Register with subscriptions for a year being $1.50.
145 years ago O.J. and L.W. Dimmick of the pioneer family of Vermillionville, moved to Tonica and lived in the present Jack Runyon home, south of the Methodist church. O.J. Dimmick was crippled and had to use a wheelchair. He taught school in the basement of the old Methodist church and was a justice of the peace. With his brother they bought a few cases of type and a small job press and did job printing.
999 • Legal Notices
999 • Legal Notices
999 • Legal Notices
999 • Legal Notices
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT THEREOF THIRTEENTH CIRCUIT STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF LASALLE IN THE ESTATE OF ) THOMAS W. ) GENTERT, ) Deceased, ) No. 2013-P-162 CLAIM NOTICE Notice is hereby given in the death of Thomas W. Gentert, of the Township of Hope, LaSalle County, Illinois, on May 26, 2013. Notice is hereby given to creditors, and unknown heirs of said decedent not named in the Petition to Admit the Will to Probate, whose names and addresses are not stated in said Petition of the death of said decedent. Notice is hereby given of the Admission to Probate of the Will of said decedent, said Will dated April 29, 1998. Letters of Office were issued on September 4, 2013, to John A. Gentert, 1441 East Sixth Road, Lostant, IL 61334, Independent Executor for the estate. The Attorney for the Estate is Attorney Emmanuel F. Guyon, 5 East Bridge Street, Streator, Illinois 61364. The resident agent for Claims submission, and the resident agent for Service of Process is John A. Gentert, for any Notice or Demand required or permitted by law to be served on the Independent Executor for any legal purpose. The Estate will be administered without Court supervision unless under Section 28-4 of the Probate Act (755 ILCS 5/28-4) any interested person ter-
minates Independent Administration at any time by mailing or delivering a Petition to Terminate Independent Administration to the Circuit Clerk of Court. Claims may be filed on or before March 9, 2014. Any claim not filed by March 9, 2014, to Mr. Andrew Skoog, Clerk of the Circuit Court, 119 West Madison Street, Ottawa, Illinois, 61350, or claims may be filed with the Independent Executor, or both. If filed with the Clerk, the claimant must, within ten days of filing, mail or deliver a copy of the claim to the Independent Executor, and file with the Clerk proof of such mailing or delivery. John A. Gentert, Independent Executor of the Estate Emmanuel F. Guyon, Attorney for the Estate 5 East Bridge Street, Streator, IL 61364 Published in the Tonica News Sept. 13, 20 and 27, 2013.
HUNTER, ) DECEASED. ) 2013-P-164 PUBLICATION FOR CLAIMS CLAIM NOTICE Estate of MARJORIE GRACE HUNTER, Deceased. Notice is given of the death of MARJORIE GRACE HUNTER, of Oglesby, Illinois. Letters of office were issued on August 27, 2013, to GERALD M. HUNTER, 129 W. Walnut Street, Oglesby, IL 61348. Claims against the estate may be filed with the office of the Circuit Clerk, Probate Division, LaSalle County Courthouse, Downtown Courthouse, Ottawa, IL 61350, or with the representative, or both, within 6 months from the date of issuance of letters, and 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 Skoog Clerk of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court Ottawa, Illinois Published in the Tonica News Sept. 13, 20 and 27, 2013.
With the requisite Affidavit for Publication having been filed, NOTICE is hereby given to named Defendants, Unknown Owners, Non-Record Claimants, and Unknown Tenants/Occupants who are Defendants in the above entitled cause, of the Complaint for Foreclosure that has been commenced in this Court against you and other Defendants, requesting the foreclosure of a certain Mortgage conveying the premises described as follows, to-wit: Lot Seven (7) in Block Twenty-one (21) in Assessor’s Plat of a portion of Section Twenty-Five (25) Township Thirty-Three (33) North, Range One (1) East of the Third Principal Meridian, excepting and reserving, however, the coal and other minerals underlying the surface thereof, and the right to mine and remove the same. Tax Parcel No: 18-25-306-007 Common address known as 428 Hayden Avenue, Oglesby, Illinois 61348 The Mortgage was made on July 27, 2005 by Eugene Baker, who is the Mortgagor and current title holder of record, to the Illini State Bank, a State Banking Corporation, of Tonica, Illinois, as Mortgagee, and the Mortgage was recorded on July 27, 2005 in the Office of the LaSalle County Recorder’s Office, Ottawa, Illinois as Document No. R2005-19322. Summons was duly issued by the Court against you as provided by law and the above court action is now pending. Therefore, unless you, the named Defendant, Unknown Owners, Non-Record Claimants, and Unknown Tenants/Occupants, as Defendants, file your answer to the Complaint or otherwise file your appearance in this case in the Office of the Circuit Clerk of LaSalle County located at the LASALLE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, 119 WEST MADISON STREET, OTTAWA, ILLINOIS 61350 within thirty (30) days from the date of the first publication of this Notice, a default may be entered against you at any time after that day and a Judgment may be entered in accordance with the request for relief in the Complaint for Foreclosure. ANDREW F. SKOOG CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS Attorney Lisa Olivero Olivero & Olivero Attorneys for Illini State Bank, a State Banking Corporation 1611 Fifth Street Peru, IL 61354-2603 (815) 224-2030 Note: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act you are advised that the law firm referenced in this Notice is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Published in the Tonica News Sept. 13, 20 and 27, 2013.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS ESTATE OF ) MARJORIE GRACE )
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 13TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LASALLE COUNTY – OTTAWA, ILLINOIS ILLINI STATE BANK, A State Banking ) Corporation, ) Plaintiff, ) vs. ) Eugene Baker, CitiFinancial Services, Inc., ) Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC, ) Unknown Owners, Non-Record Claimants, ) And Unknown Tenants/Occupants, ) Defendants. ) No. 2013-CH-198 NOTICE BY PUBLICATION NOTICE OF PENDENCY OF ACTION
We’re Taking Free Classified Advertising
for all items valued under $1,000!
E-mail items • Up to 5 lines of copy for sale to: classified@ • 3 items maximum in ad bcrnews.com • 1 ad per week, per household • Private party sales only • Excludes services, firearms & animal sales