TON-10-11-2019

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VOLUME 145 NO. 44 • tonicanews.com

Friday, October 11, 2019

Scouting for shelter

Students and staff can now enjoy a picnic shelter at Tonica Grade School, thanks to Brice Fundell, a junior at LaSalle-Peru Township High School, who as part of his Eagle Scout project, sought permission, planned and gained financial support and donations for the project. SEE STORY ON PAGE 4. (Photo contributed) Vol. 145 No. 44 One Section 12 Pages

© The Tonica News

COUNTY

Prosecutor runs again LaSalle County’s top prosecutor, who hails from Tonica, seeks a second term in the 2020 election. / 3

The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, October 11, 2019

| LOCAL NEWS

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UTICA | BURGOO FESTIVAL | 50TH ANNIVERSARY | OCT. 12-13

How a bowl of stew put Utica on the map In 1969, the crowd was ‘underwhelming.’ This year, Burgoo turns 50 and owes a debt of gratitude to a trainload of Chicagoans who helped popularize the event.

BY TOM COLLINS

What’s new at Burgoo?

Shaw Media

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UTICA — It was anything but an overnight success.

A member of the LaSalle County Historical Society had driven three hours to a tiny town west of Springfield and returned with a few cauldrons to whip up some pioneer stew.

The society thought it would be fun for people to sample what their ancestors ate while raising funds for the society.

But nobody knew what “burgoo” was in 1969, and the one kettle they cooked wasn’t exactly wolfed down by the crowd, if it can be called so, that descended on Utica for the inaugural Burgoo Festival.

“The first Burgoo Festival was pretty small and pretty underwhelming,” Amanda Carter, events coordinator for the historical society, said. “But they decided to stick with it, and it continued to grow.”

It’s a good thing they stuck it out.

This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of what has become the signature event not only for the historical society and Utica but, arguably, for LaSalle County as a whole. More than 350 vendors will be on hand to help the historical society bring in cash to operate its museum and live exhibits.

And in honor of the half centennial, a few new features were added.

This year’s festival includes a beer garden featuring “Burgoo Brew,” a beer specially crafted by Tangled Roots.

Live entertainment has been expanded to the front porch of the society’s Heritage Center, and there will be celebrity stirrers working the kettles of the eponymous stew.

Mary Pawlak, a longtime Utica village trustee, said she remembers the inaugural event in 1969 and agreed that attendance was limited. News reports at the time generously listed the crowd at 1,000, and Pawlak recalled that nobody stayed long.

The next few years weren’t much more inspiring. Dolores Passwater,

For Burgoo’s 50th anniversary, the LaSalle County Historical Society has added several events.

Saturday, Oct. 12

• Live music on the Heritage Center (208 Clark St.) front porch will be noon-3 p.m. featuring Colonel Boyd’s Band (ragtime music) and 6:30-9:30 p.m. featuring Chris Gelbuda and Friends.

• A Burgoo Brew Beer Tent will be open 1-11 p.m. at the Heritage Center featuring Burgoo Brew, brewed by Tangled Roots to commemorate the 50th anniversary.

Celebrity stirrers will preside over the Burgoo kettles from 7:30 to 11 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 13

Shaw Media file photo

Today, the Burgoo stew gets wolfed down in an hour or less, but 50 years ago, the lone kettle of pioneer stew didn’t attract many takers. A huge crowd is expected this weekend in Utica as the Burgoo Festival marks its 50th anniversary, but those who remember the inaugural event recall sparse attendance and suspicious looks at the stew. a longtime officer for the LaSalle County Historical Society, remembers one of the early Burgoo Festivals being sparsely attended, with no help at all from Mother Nature.

“There were very few vendors, and it was colder than all get out,” Passwater recalled.

It was a good five years, Pawlak recalled, before the Burgoo Festival attracted any serious attention. The turning point, she said, was when the festival turned 10. That year, a passenger train steamed into Utica and unloaded hundreds of Chicagoans making a day trip specifically for crafts and stew. Burgoo was suddenly on the map, there to stay.

“Now, people come from every-

• Live music on the Heritage Center resumes 10 a.m.-1 p.m. featuring Kevin Kramer and Friends and Big Uproar from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Note to readers: For a complete schedule, visit lasallecountyhistoricalsociety. org. where,” Pawlak said. “I know of a group from St. Louis who come every year. The Burgoo puts Utica on the map.”

The event has grown in other ways. The Burgoo Festival was Sunday-only until 2013, when the historical society decided a second day was warranted and extended the program to Saturday, attracting an additional 90 vendors.

Around the same time, the historical society launched a marketing campaign aimed at drawing more visitors from Chicago and the Quad Cities. Tax records show that the society, over a three-year span (201214), nearly tripled its direct expenses in advertising and other outreach efforts.

It paid off. Burgoo’s gross receipts more than doubled over the same span, and the society enjoyed a record profit in 2015 ($81,481) and a record gross ($124,000) the following year.

ELECTION 2020 | LASALLE COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY

Tonica woman says her opponents have close ties to the prior state’s attorney SHAW MEDIA

Shaw Media file photo

First-term LaSalle County State’s Attorney Karen Donnelly addresses a group of residents in April 2018 at New Chalet restaurant in Ottawa. Donnelly called for the meeting to discuss matters of interest with the public. Donnelly, a Republican from Tonica, has announced she will seek a second term in the 2020 election. the failed insider crony politics of the past. That is precisely what my declared opponents represent. Both are close associates of the previous state’s attorney, Mr. Towne, whose time in office was plagued with allegations of scandal.

“In contrast to them, I offer the people of LaSalle County a commitment to build upon my record of

keeping our communities safe and leading by example as an ethical steward of taxpayer dollars,” she said.

Donnelly also prosecuted the LaSalle County auditor and two of her deputy clerks. The auditor was found not guilty by a judge, one of the deputy clerks not guilty by a jury trial and the third charged was

• Friday, October 11, 2019

LaSalle County State’s Attorney Karen Donnelly, a Tonica Republican, announced on Facebook she will be campaigning for a second term in office.

Donnelly announced her platform will include citing past history of reducing costs for taxpayers, standing up against corruption and a 100 percent conviction record of homicide cases during her tenure.

Donnelly, the first woman state’s attorney in LaSalle County, was elected in 2016 when she defeated incumbent Brian Towne. She charged him with 17 felony counts of official misconduct, and the case was appointed to a special prosecutor. The trial was dismissed because Towne’s speedy trial rights were compromised.

A former assistant to both Donnelly and Towne, Brian Vescogni, and Mendota attorney Todd Martin are also vying for the position.

“This election is about keeping LaSalle County safe for every family to live, work, attend school, worship and follow their dreams,” Donnelly said.

“Now is not a time to turn back to

dismissed prior to trial.

Donnelly also cited her work preparing a drug court and mental court funded through grants that she said have proved in the past to reduce incarceration rates for non-violent offenders and help those with substance abuse or mental health issues get the treatment they need.

She also added the office’s budget has decreased each of the past three years under her tenure.

Donnelly said she’s also prioritized local feedback through the method of hosting community forums and visiting schools.

“I want to build upon the national trend toward criminal justice reform and make LaSalle County a leader among the 102 counties in Illinois as a modern, cost-efficient and forward-thinking system that allows non-violent offenders who have completed their sentence to integrate back into the community with dignity and the ability to make a new life for themselves and their family,” Donnelly said.

“The momentum that began when I was elected as your state’s attorney was made possible by the hard work and dedication of the men and women who work in our office. I am running again so that together, we can continue to deliver results and never stop doing what’s right for LaSalle County families.”

Donnelly lives in Tonica with her husband of 30 years, Richard Donnelly.

LOCAL NEWS | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

Donnelly runs for second term as top prosecutor

3

The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, October 11, 2019

| LOCAL NEWS

4

TONICA GRADE SCHOOL | EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT

Eagle Scout project adds a useful shelter Brice Fundell plans, coordinates the work

BY CRAIG STERRETT Shaw Media

T

ONICA — Brice Fundell has discovered he loves to construct and create, so the high school junior decided to take on two projects instead of one in his quest for an Eagle Scout badge.

While in eighth grade, he stepped on glass and needed surgery for that, and he also had surgery for a skin problem.

During that period of time, he read a lot of “Dr. Who” comics and decided he wanted to build a Tardis — the science-fiction time machine to another dimension, built in a British 1963 police phone booth.

He talked to his dad, Ritch, and they built it together.

“I really wanted to Brice build a Tardis. That was what gave me Fundell the inspiration to build things,” he said.

This year, while seeking his Eagle Scout project, the LaSalle-­ Peru Township High School student asked people at his former grade school in Tonica what they’d like to see built.

They requested a border for containment of pea gravel around the grade school playground equipment, and he quickly offered to create that border by using railroad ties.

But he also decided to lead a project to provide some shade and shelter from the elements outside the school. Family members, friends and fellow Boy Scouts last week attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new shelter over two picnic tables.

In keeping with requirements for Eagle Scout projects, Fundell sought permission, planned, and gained financial support and donations for the venture.

Fundell then led a crew of helpers to get the jobs done.

He anticipates having his Court of Honor ceremony to receive the Eagle rank in the next couple of months, and his friends in Peru Boy Scout Troop 123, Colton Sittler and Christian Risk, also are in the process of attaining the rank.

In addition, his brother Connor,

Photo contributed

Brice Fundell (left, on ladder) and Connor Fundell (right, on ladder) nail support brackets to a shelter this summer that Brice Fundell constructed for his Eagle Scout project.

14, soon will advance to the Life Scout rank, just a step below Eagle Scout.

Why does Brice like being a Boy Scout?

“I like how it teaches you a lot of skills you could possibly use throughout your entire life, and I’m made some close friends,” he said.

He also made the Tardis, which he unveiled this spring at a sci-fi night at the Peru Public Library.

It’s not quite like travel into another dimension, but involvement in Boy Scouts has taken Fundell to a lot of new places.

As a Boy Scout, he has had one week of National Youth Leadership Training with Boy Scouts of America and is currently the senior patrol leader for the Troop 123.

He has been to Cache Lake, Ontario, for a BSA trip and has made two trips to Tomahawk Scout Reservation in northern Wisconsin.

He also is planning a canoe trip to the Boundary Waters in Canada in June 2020.

He is the son of Ritch and Nicole Fundell of Tonica.

Shaw Media photo/Craig Sterrett

Ritch Fundell (far left), Steve Hammerick, assistant scoutmaster, Brice Fundell and Al Leffelman, Tonica School Board president, cut the ribbon to dedicate the new shelter at Tonica Grade School, which was an Eagle Scout public service project of Brice Fundell.

OGLESBY

OGLESBY — State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, is helping local job seekers partner with local employers by working with Illinois Valley Community College to host a job fair from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the IVCC campus in Oglesby.

Local employers will be invited to participate to fill any openings.

“I want Illinois’ middle class to be stronger than it is, and that means helping people find jobs,” Yednock

opportunities. Because of limited space at the college, interested business owners must RSVP for this event in order to participate.

To do so, call at 815-324-5055 or email StateRepYednock@gmail. com. After receipt of an RSVP, additional information about setup, tables and chairs will be provided.

“I strongly encourage both employers and employees to participate in this event, as their joints efforts will

create a better Illinois and middle class in short and long term,” Yednock said.

“I look forward to working with IVCC and local employers to help people find work that is best for them and their families.”

IVCC is located at 815 N. Orlando Smith Road in Oglesby. The job fair will be held in the Peter Miller Community Technology Center in Room 124.

end of the transaction.

The program is accessible 24/7 at www.cyberdriveillinois.com through the “Online Services” section under the “Driving Record Abstract” category.

The purpose of a driving record is to document whether a person has a valid driver’s license, and to track a motorist’s history of traffic violations as well as any sanctions imposed by the Secretary of State.

Driving records are often required

by employers for employees who drive during the course of their workday.

Records may also be needed to obtain a new driver’s license for those who have moved to another state.

To use this service, customers will be required to enter personal information for security purposes, as well as information from the hard copy of their driver’s license, such as driver’s license number, issuance date on driver’s license, etc.

They may purchase their driving record once the required identification has been entered.

The fee is $12 per record, plus a $1 credit card processing fee. The $12 fee to purchase driving records is set by the state Legislature and is the same whether the record is purchased online or at a Driver Services facility.

Once payment has been accepted, customers will have immediate access to their driving record in a PDF file.

IN BRIEF Illinois driver records have now been made available online SPRINGFIELD — Illinoisans no longer need to visit Driver Services facilities to purchase their driving records because of a new program launched by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

Motorists may now buy a copy of their driving record online by visiting www.cyberdriveillinois.com. This new program will allow customers to immediately print their driving record at the

• Friday, October 11, 2019

said. “It is tough to make ends meet, and with the sudden closure of the Del Monte Foods in Mendota and the Hennepin Power Plant in our area, employers and employees need to work together to keep our economies going and ensure people know about what opportunities are available here.”

Yednock and IVCC will be hosting the joint job fair to help local businesses offer open employment

LOCAL NEWS | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

Yednock, IVCC plan to host free job fair Oct. 15

5

The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, October 11, 2019

| COMMUNITY

6

OGLESBY

21st Century scholars announced during annual dinner on Sept. 26 OGLESBY — Gena Fassino of Peru and Devanshi Patel of LaSalle were named co-21st Century Scholars at the 13th annual 21st Century Scholars Society dinner Sept. 26 at Senica’s Deer Park Golf Club in Oglesby. Each will receive $3,000.

Both scholars plan to become physicians; they were 2018 graduates of LaSalle-Peru Township High School.

Patel was the salutatorian, finishing second in a class of 253.

Other finalists for the award, Megan Brooker, Julianna Kitzmann and Gabriella Nanez, each received $1,500.

Patel, the daughter of Jitendrakumar and Geetaben Patel, emigrated to the U.S. from India when she was 5 years old. In her speech, Patel credited teachers at all levels of her education for her successful acclimation.

“They treated me as equal to the other children, supported me and cheered me on,” she said. “They taught me how to speak, write and understand English. My teachers showed me how to tackle the subjects I had difficulty with and sometimes taught me one-on-one.”

She thanked members of the 21st Century Scholars Society who contribute $500 a year.

“Thank you for your dedication, you commitment, your encouragement, your donations and most importantly, for choosing to support education,” Patel said.

Fassino, the daughter of Mike and Dena Fassino, credited her doctor and mentor Dr. Yesenia Valdez and IVCC Dean of Natural Sciences Ron Groleau for inspiring her success.

She said of Groleau, her Anatomy and Physiology I and II instructor, “You go out of your way for all students in order for them to fully understand the material. You provide the most help and dedication I have ever experienced in the classroom.”

Photo contributed

IVCC Foundation 21st Century Scholars Society finalists Megan Brooker (left), Gena Fassino, Julianna Kitzmann, Devanshi Patel and Gabriela Nanez were honored Sept. 26. Patel and Fassino won the $3,000 scholar award, and Brooker, Kitzmann and Nanez each received $1,500.

Nanez, the daughter of Elicerio and Diana Nanez of Mendota, is a nursing student who hopes to become a nurse anesthetist.

Kitzmann, the daughter of Frank and Jennifer Kitzmann of Marseilles, plans to study mechanical engineering.

Brooker, the daughter of Jim and Sue Brooker of Granville, plans to major in actuarial science at the University of Illinois.

The Society also awarded $750 Merit scholarships to Joannah Cisneros of Oglesby, psychology; Adrian Espinoza of Mendota, finance; Anna Holland of Manville, nursing; Kylee Mallery of Tiskilwa, education; Jack O’Connor of Princeton, social work; Jacob Ritko of Streator

accounting; Garret Shan of Oglesby, education; Michael Stoens of Lostant, engineering; and Mitchell Vickers of Streator, chemical engineering.

Honorable mention awards of $500 went to: Wilson Copeland of Streat­ or, engineering; Brogan Dougherty of Ottawa, accounting; Valerie Gordon of Marseilles, psychology; Olivia Holmes of Hennepin, biology; Nathaniel Newman of Oglesby, accounting; and Ben Tran of Lostant, computer science.

In all, 20 students received a total of $20,250; since its founding in 2007, the Society has awarded over $180,000 to 157 students.

Currently made up of 41 members, the Society rewards IVCC’s most

promising returning students. To qualify, students need a minimum 3.5 GPA as well as extensive college involvement and community service.

New Society members welcomed Sept. 26 included alumni Larry and Gayla Johnson of Ottawa, and five employees: economics instructor David Barnes; Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs Bonnie Campbell and husband, Al; Assistant Director of Admissions Aseret Loveland and husband, David; Dean Ron Groleau and wife, Kim; and criminal justice program director Kevin Hermes and wife, Sherianne.

The evening included remarks by IVCC President Jerry Corcoran and Foundation President Sue Schmitt.

OGLESBY

Tonica Grade School

Breakfast Oct. 14 — No school.

Oct. 15 — Scrambled eggs with toast, granola/yogurt, cheese stick, fruit, cereal, juice, milk.

Oct. 16 — Biscuits and gravy, granola/yogurt, cheese stick, fruit, cereal, juice, milk.

Oct. 17 — Banana bread, granola/yogurt, cheese stick, fruit, cereal, juice, milk.

Oct. 18 — Poptart Friday, granola/yogurt, cheese stick, fruit, cereal, juice, milk.

Lunch Oct. 14 — No school.

Oct. 15 — Soft shell tacos (meat, cheese, refried beans), peppers, fruit, milk.

Oct. 16 — Grilled chicken salad, bread stick, fruit, milk.

Oct. 17 — Chili with the works (cornbread, cheese, onions, sour cream), carrot, fruit, milk.

Oct. 18 — Stuffed-crust pizza, Romaine lettuce and salad dressing, cookie, fruit, milk.

Breakfast Oct. 14 — No school.

Oct. 15 — Pancake and sausage on a stick or cereal, toast, granola, yogurt, fruit, juice, milk.

Oct. 16 — Cheese omelet or cereal, hash browns, toast, granola, yogurt, fruit, juice, milk.

Oct. 17 — Sausage, egg and cheese tortilla or cereal, toast, granola, yogurt, fruit, juice, milk.

Oct. 18 — Cinnamon rolls or cereal, toast, granola, yogurt, fruit, juice, milk.

Lunch Oct. 14 — No school.

Oct. 15 — Boneless chicken drumstick nuggets and dipping sauces, carrots, fruit, zert pudding, milk.

Oct. 16 — Noodles, meatballs, gravy, lettuce and salad dressings, corn, fruit, dinner roll, milk.

Oct. 17 — Turkey and cheese wrap or ham and cheese wrap, fruit/veggie bar, chips, milk.

Oct. 18 — Pepperoni pizza, lettuce and salad dressings, fruit, cookie, milk.

Putnam County Community Center Oct. 14 — Smoked sausage, fried potatoes, green beans, fruit cocktail, dinner roll with butter.

Oct. 15 — Ham and turkey with lettuce and tomato on bread, macaroni, broccoli, applesauce.

Oct. 16 — Chili with beans, corn on the cob, pineapple chunks, corn bread, fruit juice.

Oct. 17 — Meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, mixed vegetables, roll with butter, banana, dessert.

Oct. 18 — Pork roast with gravy, sweet potatoes, steamed cauliflower, strawberries, wheat bread.

Bread, butter, fruit juice and 2% milk are available with meals.

For reservations, call 800-7574579, 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.

7

• Friday, October 11, 2019

OGLESBY — More than 40 colleges and universities will be represented at Illinois Valley Community College’s 47th annual College and Career Night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, in the gym.

A financial aid seminar will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg Cultural Centre.

Schools and institutions include: Aurora University, Blackburn College, Bradley University, Carthage College, Concordia University-Chicago, Dominican University, Drake University, Eastern Illinois University, Elmhurst College, Eureka College, Illinois Institute of Art, Illinois State University, IVCC, Illinois Wesleyan University, Knox College, Lewis University, Lincoln Christian University, Lindenwood University, Loras College, McKendree University, Methodist College, Midstate College, Monmouth College, Morrison Institute of Technology, North Central College, Northern Illinois University, Paul Mitchell the School, Rockford University, St. Ambrose University, St. Anthony College of Nursing, St. Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Trinity Christian College, University of Chicago, University of Dubuque, University of Illinois-Springfield, University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Valparaiso University, Western Illinois University and WyoTech.

For more information, call 815-224-0439 or visit www.ivcc.edu/collegenight.

Lostant Grade School

COMMUNITY | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

IVCC will host College and Career Night Oct. 22

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The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, October 11, 2019

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8 THE EDITORIAL PAGE

Jim Dunn

Rita Roberts

Editor, General Manager

Associate Editor

The Tonica News

Illinois’ connection to the Vietnam Memorial Ex-congressman planted the seeds for a powerful tribute WASHINGTON — There is power in names.

That is something of which former Illinois Congressman Paul Findley was keenly aware. Findley, a Republican from Jacksonville, died last month at age 98.

Findley, who served in the U.S. House from 1960 until 1982, was an early critic of American military involvement in Vietnam.

“We were looking for a way to send a message of our opposition,” said Stephen Jones, a former aide to Findley. “He had voted against extending the draft and reappointing General (Earle) Wheeler as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. But then we came up with the idea of putting the name of every servicemen killed in action into the Congressional Record.”

More than 35,000 names were initially entered into the record, throwing the Government Publishing Office into disarray and forcing the Congressional Record to be published a day late for perhaps the first time in modern history.

“It had an impact. More than 100,000 copies were printed and it became one of the most requested items from that office. To the best

In the years following the conflict, the list took on new significance.

“My father always believed that the architect for the Vietnam Memorial, Maya Lin, drew her inspiration to list all of the names on the memorial from the work he had done with the Congressional Record,” the congressman’s son, Craig Findley, told me this past week.

What is known, is that Lin used the list Findley had the Pentagon compile to inscribe the name of every American killed in Vietnam onto to the memorial, Jones said.

The black granite wall, with the names of 58,318 fallen soldiers carved into its face, was completed in late October 1982 and dedicated

in November 1982. The wall is V-shaped, with one side pointing to the Lincoln Memorial and the other to the Washington Monument.

Lin’s conception was to create an opening or a wound in the earth to symbolize the gravity of the loss of the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.

The memorial is now the most visited site in Washington.

Mary O’Malley Bragg, of Mansfield, first visited the memorial with her mother to see her brother Freddy’s name.

“It was so emotional. There were people just like us standing there crying. Each name on that wall represents a whole universe.

“Each person on the wall is loved and is connected with others, and each name represents its own tragedy.”

A rubbing of Fred O’Malley’s name is framed and hanging in her home.

“It’s so nice that when friends visit Washington, D.C., they trace his name and share it with us. It reminds us that he is remembered and honored. I keep all of them.”

For Steve Watts, of Galesburg, visiting the wall is a means of coming to terms with a tumultuous era.

“The name of my cousin, Gale Vogler, is on that wall. He was five years older than me, and we weren’t close. But it was a controversial time. I remember being

worried about being drafted. I don’t like the word ‘closure.’ For me, going to the wall and seeing his name was like putting a period at the end of a sentence.”

Vogler was a standout athlete at United Township High School in East Moline.

For this writer, when I first stood in front of that black granite wall, I was a senior at Galesburg High School visiting our nation’s capital with a dozen of my classmates in April of 1983.

Although the war had ended only eight years earlier, for a teenager it was ancient history. It might as well have been the Romans and Carthaginians fighting in 264 B.C., Vietnam seemed a distant time, unrelated to me.

As I reached out and touched the black granite and my fingers traced a random name, a National Park ranger sidled next to me.

“Do you know the average age on this wall?” she whispered.

I shook my head, and she said, “19.”

I looked again into the wall and saw my 18-year-old self, reflected back among the names. A chill passed through me. These were men and women my age. The war became real.

and was on pace to work many more years.

Every health care provider and every emergency room visit were always the same diagnosis of normal aging.

This disease has reached epidemic proportions masquerading itself as “old age,” and families and health care providers continue to struggle with education and support.

Doctors deserve education to diagnose this disease earlier to slow the progression of the disease.

Families deserve answers. And most of all, victims of this disease

deserve a cure so they can live their life to the fullest.

With early diagnosis, research, family support and education we want to spare this hardship for other families.

For these reasons, I have asked my elected officials to prioritize this vulnerable population. Increased research funding is vital, but so too are enhanced care and support services for individuals and their caregivers.

Thankfully, my congressman, Adam Kinzinger, is taking an active stance on this issue by co-sponsoring the bipartisan

Improving HOPE for Alzheimer’s Act (H.R. 1873) and Younger-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease Act of 2019 (H.R. 1903). The two bills are critical to improving access to resources and enhancing quality of life for those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Please join me in thanking Rep. Kinzinger for ensuring that Alzheimer’s is brought to the forefront of the congressional agenda. Together, we have the opportunity to help those struggling with this terrible disease until a prevention or cure is found.

COMMENTARY Scott Reeder of our knowledge, it was the first time all of those names became publicly available. Every six months, Paul would add names of additional people killed in action to the record.”

The printed names were read aloud at anti-war demonstrations, treasured by families of those slain, and stood as a silent testimony to the horrible cost of war.

Significance of Findley’s list

Note to readers: Scott Reeder is a veteran statehouse journalist and a freelance reporter. His email address is ScottReeder1965@gmail. com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Supports House bills to fund research for vascular dementia To the editor: My story is not rare, as I am one of millions of people that became a caregiver to a person with dementia. My mother, Grace Whitten, lost her battle with vascular dementia after five years. I am aware of the emotional, physical and financial toll this disease takes.

She was a local award-winning journalist and editor. She finally retired at age 75 when this disease started to present itself. She was passionate about her life’s work

Cindy Petersen, Putnam

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.”

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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.

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WestCare is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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The Tonica News Classifieds

815-433-2001

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 Tonica News Classified 815-433-2001

450 • Under $1000 ************ 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)

HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? Put your ad in for FREE Items $1,000 or less can run FREE for 1 week.

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, firewood or animal sales.

E-mail information to: classified@bcrnews.com (include name, address & phone number) or call 815-433-2001

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

• Friday, October 11, 2019

Call 815-875-4461 classified@bcrnews.com

228 • Help Wanted

E-mail items for sale to:

classified@bcrnews.com

815-433-2001

ANNUAL - STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS SUMMARY FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2019 Copies of the detailed Annual Statement of Affairs for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2019 will be available for public inspection in the school district/joint agreement administrative office by December 1, annually. Individuals wanting to review this Annual Statement of Affairs should contact: Lostant CUSD 425 315 West 3rd Street, Lostant, IL 61334 815-368-3392 8:00am - 4:00pm School District/Joint Agreement Name Address Telephone Office Hours Also by January 15, annually the detailed Annual Statement of Affairs for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2019, will be posted on the Illinois State Board of Education's website @ www.isbe.net.

SUMMARY: The following is the Annual Statement of Affairs Summary that is required to be published by the school district/joint agreement for the past fiscal year.

Statement of Operations as of June 30 2019

Local Sources Flow-Through Receipts/Revenues from One District to Another District State Sources Federal Sources Total Direct Receipts/Revenues Total Direct Disbursements/Expenditures Other Sources/Uses of Funds Beginning Fund Balances - July 1, 2018 Other Changes in Fund Balances Ending Fund Balances June 30, 2019

1000 2000 3000 4000

Operations & Debt Educational Maintenance Services 1,207,373 142, 114 181,073 0 188,755 86,904 1,483,032 1,268,183 0 1,054,603 0 1,269,452

0 0 0 142 ,114 111,262 0 172,156 0 203,008

0 0 181,073 238,363 54,350 22,080 0 19,140

SALARY SCHEDULE OF GROSS PAYMENTS FOR CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL AND NON-CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL GROSS PAYMENT FOR CERTIFIED GROSS PAYMENT FOR NON-CERTIFIED PERSONNEL PERSONNEL Salary Range: Less Than $25,000 Salary: Janis Salary Range: Less Than $25,000 Salary: Watkins, Rhonda Anderson, Kelly Wiesbrock, RuthAnn Brizgis, Carol Spangler, Patricia Sarah Robertson, Jason Weber, Rita Ford, Long, Sheri O’Brien, Debra Wiesbrock, Teresa Barbara Halcott, Tyler Jensen, Denise Kline, Beckett, Jarett Roehrig, Jennifer Tooley, Jessica Denise McGillis, Brianna Downey, Holli Rapp Flaherty, Rachel Maggio, Jennifer Mertel, Salary Range: $25 000 - $39 999: Tricia Haynes Raelyth Reed, Niki Rauba, Kelly Wiesbrock, Salary Range: $40,000 - $59,999: Amy Olson, Bryan Stillwell Amy Roach, Jessica Smith, Angela Walgenbach Salary Range: $40,000 - $59,999: William Salary Range: 60,000 - $89,999: Melissa Weistart Einhaus, Jill Newbold Salary Range $90,000 and over: Sandra Malahy

Municipal Retirement/Social Capital Working Transportation Security Projects Cash 66,804 28,720 0 13,809 0 67,632 0 134,436 67,431 0 217,288 0 284,293

0 0 0 28,720 22,383 0 62,261 0 68,598

9 CLASSIFIED | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

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

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 13,80 9 109,709 0 85,946 0 99,755

Tort 156,358 0 0 156,358 3,874 0 105,262 0 151,911

Fire Prevention & Safety 27,796 0 0 27,796 0 46,133 0 70,055

Payments over $2,500, excluding wages and salaries.

Person. Firm. or Corporation, Aggregate $11,455; Grainco FS, $11,578; Zukowski Law Amount Offices, $11,771; Card Service Center, $13,813 Delta Dental, $2,808; Illinois Association of Kohl's Wholesale, $15,769; Ramza Insurance School Boards, $2,823; Hillman Pediatric Group, $18,813; Constellation Energy, $20,063; Therapy, $2,919; TRS .58%, $3,014; Dresbach Mark Karlosky Consulting, $24,680; Illinois Distributing, $3,080; ISBE Technology Loan, Central School Bus, $28,668; L.E.A.S.E., $3,374; Frontier, $3,524; Chemsearch, $3,561 $33,108; Fieldcrest Community Unit #6, Serv-U, $3,628; Menard's, $4,413; Muller- $33,430; TRS 9.0%, $46,877; LaSalle-Peru Pinehurst Dairy, $4,449; Hopkins & Associates, Township High School, $50,462; Humana $5,500; Ricoh, $6,469; Melvin's Plumbing , Inc., Insurance Company, $51,957; Atlanta National $7,275; Grand Ridge CCSD #95, $8,729 Bank, $234,988; Putnam CUSD #535, $384,858 Imprest, $8,752; IMRF, $9,038 Next Era Energy, $9,583; Illinois Public Risk SM-PR1711134 Fund,$10,363; Streator Elementary #144,

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The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, October 11, 2019

| CLASSIFIED

10

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325 North 25th Rd, Route 251 South of Peru

815-224-1506

SM-PR1675529

EMERGENCY: 815-252-0032

The Tonica News Classifieds 815-433-2001

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LASALLE COUNTY, OTTAWA, ILLINOIS ESTATE OF JOHN DITTLE, JR., DECEASED NO. 2019-P-202 PUBLICATION FOR CLAIMS CLAIM NOTICE Estate of JOHN DITTLE, JR. Deceased.

Notice is given of the death of JOHN DITTLE, JR., of Oglesby, Illinois.

Letters of office were issued on September 24, 2019, to KRISTINA A. DITTLE, of 2395 E. 275th Rd, Oglesby, IL 61348, whose attorney is Gerald M. Hunter, Ltd., 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.

Greg Vaccaro Clerk of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court Ottawa, Illinois (Published in Tonica News October 4, 11, 18, 2019) 1706979 Buying? Selling?

Renting? Hiring?

Call 815-433-2001 to place your ad.

Tonica News Classified HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? Put your ad in for FREE Items $1,000 or less can run FREE for 1 week.

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, firewood or animal sales.

E-mail information to: classified@bcrnews.com (include name, address & phone number) or call 815-433-2001

999 • Legal

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LASALLE COUNTY Estate of WILLIAM A. MARKS, Deceased.

No. 2019-P-180 NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the death of WILLIAM A. MARKS. Letters of office as Independent Executor were issued on September 4, 2019 to CAROL SCHINZEL, 508 N. Locust Street, Wenona, Illinois 61377 and whose attorney is M.G. GULO & ASSOCIATES, LTD., 123 S. Monroe Street, Streator, Illinois 61364.

The estate will be administered without Court supervision, unless under Section 5/284 of the Probate Act (Ill. Compiled Stat. 1992, Ch. 755, Par. 5/28-4) any interested person terminates independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the Clerk.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 119 W. Madison Street, Ottawa, Illinois 61350, on or before April 1, 2020, or if mailing or delivery of notice from the representative is required by Section 5/18-3 of the Probate Act of 1975, the date stated in that notice. Any claim not filed within that period is barred.

Copies of any claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the estate representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed with the Clerk.

Dated this 27th day of September, 2019.

Jim Olson, Clerk of the Circuit Court 13th Judicial Circuit, LaSalle County, Illinois (Published in the Tonica News September 27, October 4, 11, 20, 2019) 1703573

PUBLIC NOTICE

IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LASALLE COUNTY Estate of KENNETH E. UBREN, Deceased.

No. 2019-P-191 NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the death of KENNETH E. UBREN. Letters of office as Independent Executor were issued on September 13, 2019 to THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OTTAWA, ILLINOIS and whose attorney is M.G. GULO & ASSOCIATES, LTD., 123 S. Monroe Street, Streator, Illinois 61364.

The estate will be administered without Court supervision, unless under Section 5/284 of the Probate Act (Ill. Compiled Stat. 1992, Ch. 755, Par. 5/28-4) any interested person terminates independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the Clerk.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 119 W. Madison Street, Ottawa, Illinois 61350, on or before April 15, 2020, or if mailing or delivery of notice from the representative is required by Section 5/18-3 of the Probate Act of 1975, the date stated in that notice. Any claim not filed within that period is barred.

Copies of any claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the estate representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed with the Clerk.

Dated this 4th day of October, 2019.

Jim Olson, Clerk of the Circuit Court 13th Judicial Circuit, LaSalle County, Illinois (Published in the Tonica News October 4, 11, 18, 2019) 1706634 Need help Rebuilding, Repairing or Replanting?

Check out the Marketplace Business Directory in today's Classified

You Want It? We've Got It! Classified has Great Variety!

815-433-2001

11

• Friday, October 11, 2019

SM-PR1675506

Our Customers

See It Right Here!

PUBLIC NOTICE

999 • Legal

CLASSIFIED | The Tonica News / tonicanews.com

Business Directory Marketplace

999 • Legal

The Tonica News / tonicanews.com • Friday, October 11, 2019

12