The Herald-News • Sunday, October 18, 2015
|GETTING STARTED
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Falling into autumn In the past few weeks, both editions of The Herald-News have had stories about haunted houses put on in the time leading up to Halloween as a way to spook and scare local residents. We’ve also had stories about pumpkin farms, a play with a ghoulish theme and festivals that celebrate all things that have to do with autumn. Despite the cooler temperatures and shorter days, I do love autumn. There’s nothing I like more than heading outdoors to take in the changing colors on the trees and other foliage that paint a tapestry across the landscape. It’s a ripe time to visit apple orchards or pumpkin farms – both of which are plentiful in this part of Illinois. Last year, I introduced my then 1-year-old nephew to the joy of jumping in leaf piles and throwing them in the air (he took much plea-
VIEWS Kate Schott sure in throwing them on my head) and can’t wait to get a big pile raked up again this fall. Long story short – it’s a great time of year to enjoy the outdoors. The only bad thing is it’s short-lived and followed by the much less enjoyable bitter cold of winter. This weekend’s forecast looks sunny and decent as I type this Friday afternoon; here’s hoping you get to join me in a few days of soaking up the sun.
Comics change
If you’re a fan of the comic “Stone Soup,” I have some sad news for you. The producer of the comic “Stone Soup” is ending its daily run effective this weekend. Starting Monday, the com-
ic “Frazz” will replace “Stone Soup” on the comic pages inside of The Herald-News editions. The full-color comic section that is inserted into the Sunday edition will still continue to carry “Stone Soup.” So if you’re missing the comic, my apologies. The syndicate we get that particular comic from gave us a few choices to choose from to replace it, and our company (“Stone Soup” was in multiple Shaw Media publications) went with “Frazz,” which is about school custodian Edwin “Frazz” Frazier and the various people in his world. We hope you enjoy it. Thank you for reading The Herald-News.
• Kate Schott is editor of The Herald-News, the Morris Herald-News and Herald Life. She can be reached at kschott@shawmedia.com or 815-280-4119. Follow her on Twitter @Kate_Schott78.
Educators in Will, Grundy seek more local control By FELIX SARVER fsarver@shawmedia.com As school districts in Will and Grundy counties endure the burden of some state requirements district officials say sap time and resources, Gov. Bruce Rauner has made relief from those mandates a priority under a task force established earlier this year. The Local Government and Unfunded Mandates Task Force – chaired by Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti – seeks not only to investigate ways to consolidate local governments, but also to eliminate mandates that burden them. By the end of the year, the task force plans to present to Rauner policy solutions for those issues. In August, the Large Unit
District Association – representing the largest Illinois school districts – showed support for Rauner’s plan to eliminate mandates. Several months earlier, members of the task force passed proposals to provide relief for physical education and drivers education mandates for schools. There’s a variety of state mandates that come from lawmakers but not from the Illinois State Board of Education, which may enforce them, said Lane Abrell, Plainfield School District 202 superintendent. District 202 is a member of the Large Unit District Association. Abrell said in talking with District 202 Board of Education members, district
See MANDATES, page 32
Plainfield post office goes pink for breast cancer awareness More online
By VIKAAS SHANKER vshanker@shawmedia.com PLAINFIELD – People were greeted Friday to a pink mail room when they stepped inside the Plainfield U.S. Post Office. Employees accented themselves with pink clothing and set up pink ornamentation and a pink table promoting breast cancer awareness. Post office supervisor Jen Triner spearheaded the “Post Office Goes Pink Day” as an enthusiastic supporter of breast cancer awareness. She raised $3,800 and walked 39 miles in support of the cause in 2010. “When I did walk, there were thousands and thousands of people,” Triner said. “I thought about what I could do.” Triner, whose cousin and aunt are breast cancer survivors, greeted customers Friday morning as they came in, inviting them to the awareness table. On the table were cupcakes, brownies, cookies, bottles of
Visit this article at TheHerald-News. com for a video of Jen Triner talking about the Plainfield post office’s breast cancer awareness campaign.
Vikaas Shanker – vshanker@shawmedia.com
The U.S. Post Office in Plainfield accented the customer area with pink and set up a table promoting breast cancer awareness Friday. water and candy. Along with a pink breast cancer awareness balloon, a large card carried the names of at least 50 people who know someone who has or has been affected by the cancer.
“Just look at the sign,” Postmaster Ronald Kinzler said, adding that three relatives, including his mother, have dealt with breast cancer. “Just our employees signed it. These are all people who know someone
that has been affected.” All federal post offices are celebrating breast cancer awareness month. But Kinzler said Triner took it to the next level. Those wishing to support
the cause can buy at any post office breast cancer awareness themed stamps, a 20-stamp sheet for $12, with $2.20 going toward breast cancer research. Plainfield resident Olga Korbonska bought a sheet Friday morning. “I always try to donate if I can,” Korbonska said. “In my family there has been all different kinds of cancer: skin, kidney. I think it’s important to spread awareness. If you catch it early, it’s good. You hopefully have a better chance at surviving.” Kinzler said the Plainfield post office plans on “going pink” again next year.