50¢ JULY 17, 2019
PITTSFIELD, IL Thank you,
Freda Akers of Barry, for subscribing to Pike Press!
NEWS
GriggsvillePerry focused on life skills and careers. See page A2
Volunteers headed to Costa Rica on mission trip. See page A3
Fun at Pig days. See page B1
SOCIETY
Pike Press
By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press The owner of Gianni’s Pizza in Pittsfield had taken steps to keep water out of his building’s basement, but nothing seemed to work. Gianni Vitale even had a professional mason block an open door leading to what was thought to be a coal storage room from the days when coal was used to heat the building at the corner of Madison and Washington streets in Pittsfield. An opening in the sidewalk, covered by grates, on the Washington Street side, seemed to be the culprit for the persistent leaking. “We all thought it was coal chute,” Jeff Griggs, foreman of projects for the City of Pittsfield, said. “We thought it was maybe 7 feet deep and a couple of feet square.” But when city crews went to investigate they found a room as wide as the sidewalk, 7 feet deep and 30-40 feet long. “Now we’ve been
told it was for food,” Griggs said. “At one time this was a grocery store.” Richard Smith and his brother Robert purchased the building in 1991 from Essie Yackley, who previously operated a title research business
“…we’ve been told it was for food. At one time this was a grocery store.”
Jeff Griggs City of Pittsfield in the store front after a “5 and 10 store” there closed. “What we were told by different people at the time we purchased the building has never been documented anywhere that I’m aware of,” Richard Smith, said. Smith said the open(See, SURPRISE, A2)
Beth Zumwalt/Pike Press
City crews were out working before 6 a.m. last Wednesday to avoid disrupting traffic while filling in what used to be a loading area for produce at a building on Washington Street in Pittsfield. The area under the concrete was approximately four feet wide and 30-40 feet long and was covered by the sidewalk along the 100 block of Washington; the area is on the south side of the Gianni’s restaurant building. Here Bill Irwin pours in the dirt, while Steve Barker, far left, and Jeff Griggs, right, supervise the project.
Kayaking on Pittsfield Lake
See page A7
WEEKEND WEATHER FRIDAY, JULY 19
95 77 Low
SATURDAY, JULY 20
94 75 High
Low
SUNDAY, JULY 21
89 70 High
Low
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INSIDE Classified . . . . . . . .B5 Community . . . . . A7
VOL. 177, NO. 29
City crews unearth surprise room
Smith celebrating 99th birthday.
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Beth Zumwalt/PIke Press
Mark Melanson, in front, of Winchester, paddles his kayak on the Pittsfield City Lake early one morning last week, while Patrick Lamb shows how easy it is to fish out of one of the vessels that are gaining in popularity.
By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Kayaking is becoming more popular on the Pittsfield City Lake. The smaller, self-propelled boats are inexpensive for a beginner, easy to maneuver, transport and get into and out of the water. “There are two types of kayaks,” Mark Melanson, an avid kayaker, of Winchester, said last week, while kayaking on the Pittsfield City Lake. “The sit in and the sit on.” Both Melanson and Patrick Lamb use the sit in type because they use theirs for fishing and there is a place for equipment. “Some people prefer the sit on — in case they tip over, it is easier to get away from and get back on,” Melanson said. Lamb said his kayak weighs about 85 lbs, but cheaper ones weigh about 35-40 lbs. “The bigger they are the more expensive,” he said. “You can get 300 pound ones.”
The advantage to the heavier weight means the kayaker can stand and maintain a balance in the kayak while it is on the water. And, in addition to requiring no gas or fuel, oil or other supplies, a kayak does not require a sticker from the city of Pittsfield “We get a lot of calls from people asking us what they need to do to kayak on the lake,” Janet Rohn of Pittsfield City Hall said. “It’s nothing. They can just go.” Lamb says he doesn’t think kayaking is a trend by itself. “I think as more emphasis is put on physical exercise and being healthy, people are looking for different ways to get exercise, especially outdoors,” he said. “It’s a good workout and you are outside in the fresh air.” The city of Pittsfield is looking to put two kayak boat launches along the lake shores as sliding the kayaks in and out along the gravel along the water’s edge mars the boat’s finish.
County News . . . A2 - 3, . . . . . . . . . A8, B1-3, B6-8 Court . . . . . . . . . . B5 Marketplace . . . . . .B4 Obituaries . . . . . . A6 Opinion . . . . . . . . A4 Op-Ed . . . . . . . . . A5 Our Town . . . . . . .B3 Obituaries in this issue: Killebrew, McKinnon, Wiley.
Pike Press © 2019 All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Cardinal Inn for sale By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press Pittsfield could see another restaurant change if the Cardinal Inn sells. Luetta Swartz, owner of the restaurant, said the Cardinal Inn is for sale. “I’m 71, will be 72 in the fall,” Swartz said. “There is going to come a time when I can’t do this anymore. I want to get it sold before that time comes.” The Cardinal Inn is an “American food” restaurant located at 1299 W. Washington Street. For decades the iconic restaurant was located at 856 W. Washington and also served as a truck stop. In 2014 the business moved to a newer building further west
and in addition to continuing serving traditional favorites, both table side and at a buffet, entertainment was added Saturday night. Swartz said the restaurant will remain open while it is on the market. “I hope it sells but if it doesn’t, then it will stay open and I’ll run it as long as I can,” she said. “The State of Illinois and Pike County may talk about the economy improving but we don’t see it much.” Last week it was announced Doug Daniel had purchased the building which formerly housed the Red Dome restaurant in Pittsfield and hoped to be opening a restaurant in the facility again, although maybe not as big.
Pittsfield’s West Cemetery getting an upgrade By BETH ZUMWALT Pike Press The Pittsfield West Cemetery is getting some attention from private individuals, especially in the area of signage. A signage project has been undertaken by Bob Evans and Bob Smith and a second sign is being organized by Sarah Bernard and Chris Harris. Bernard and Harris are working on a sign that will identify the cemetery to those
traveling through town on U.S. 54 and Il. 106. “City Hall, the library, the historical society, all say they get lots of inquiries about where the cemetery is located,” Bernard said. “We wanted to put signage right on the highway.” Smith and Evans are working on an entry gate, which will also identify the cemetery. It will be placed at the northeast entrance off Grove (See, UPGRADE, A2)
Shelby Stroemer/ Pike Press
City administrator Jeff Hogge, far side of table at left, attended and helped answer questions at the American Freshwater Fishery job fair July 11 in Barry. Applications were available on the table to fill out.
Fishery looking to hire By SHELBY STROEMER Pike Press The industrial park in Barry is getting a new business in the once Collver Family Winery building as American Freshwater Fishery plans to bring new jobs and opportunities for the town. A job fair for the fishery was held in the community room in the Barry YMCA July 10 and July 11. Ronnie Opheim, American
Freshwater Fishery manager, had a total of 26 applications for positions. At the current time, they are looking to hire 10 to 15 people. Shifts for those hired will start at either seven or eight in the morning from Monday to Friday. At a later date, the company will consider hiring more people when new shifts become available. The blast chillers need to be installed prior to new shifts being added. The fishery now has a new
expected date of opening at the beginning of September. ”There’s not really much concern with smell yet,” Barry City Administrator Jeff Hogge said. “Almost no part of the fish gets wasted. The bones and tails are packaged up and sent back.” Leftovers of the fish are sent elsewhere to be made into fertilizer, he said. Potential new employees will receive phone calls about mid-to-late August and start training soon after.