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FROM THE CEO’S DESK
John Rung
On Aug. 6, the Rochelle NewsLeader, Ogle County Life, Mendota Reporter and Amboy News ceased publication. Like many of you, we at Shaw Media felt the loss deeply. Local newspapers are a vital part of the fabric of a community, and when they go silent, something important goes missing.
That’s why I’m proud to share that Shaw Media has acquired the rights to publish these papers. Beginning with this edition on Aug. 27, they will once again serve the readers and communities that rely on them.
I want to be candid: We are working hard and moving quickly to bring these
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
OSF HealthCare adds podiatrist in Princeton, Peru
OSF HealthCare has added a new podiatrist to its staff in Princeton, Peru and the surrounding areas, according to an OSF news release.
Gayana Wanniarachchi, DPM, will assist patients in need of podiatry care at OSF Medical Group - Orthopedics, located at 530 Park Ave. E., Suite 101, and OSF Wound Care in Princeton.
She will also serve patients at 920 West St., Suite 221, in Peru.
Wanniarachchi will offer several general podiatry services, as well as specializing in advanced foot and ankle and wound care, according to the release.
She received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
publications back. In these first issues, you may notice that some of the content or presentation is still taking shape. The News-Leader, Life and Reporter resume publishing this week. The Amboy News will restart in the next few weeks. Please bear with us –we are committed to improving coverage and presentation in short order.
Most importantly, we want to assure you that your subscriptions will continue to be honored. In addition, readers will now benefit from expanded digital coverage of their communities through our website, ShawLocal.com. This means more timely updates, more photographs, and more ways to stay connected to the stories that matter most.
Shaw Media has a long tradition of local journalism. Our company was founded in nearby Dixon in 1851, and over the past 174 years, we have grown
to serve dozens of communities across Illinois and Iowa. In 2023 and 2024, we welcomed nine Northern Illinois radio stations into the fold. What has never changed is our commitment to being a trusted, local news source and an active, engaged member of the communities we serve.
We look forward to working with readers, advertisers and community leaders in Rochelle, Ogle County and Mendota. We plan to be here for the long haul – as stewards of these publications, partners in your communities and believers in the power of local news.
Thank you for welcoming us into your homes once again. Together, we will write the next chapter for these newspapers.
• John Rung is the president and CEO of Shaw Media.
and her medical degree from Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, according to the release.
New or existing patients can make an appointment with Wanniarachchi or a member of her care team by calling 815-4315746.
Ladd American Legion Auxiliary to meet Sept. 2
The Ladd American Legion Auxiliary, Post 938, will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the Legion Hall, 111 S. Main St.
This is the first meeting of the 2025-26 season. The group will collect donations for the Goodwill Stand Down. Anyone interested in joining the auxiliary is invited to attend this meeting.
– Maribeth M. Wilson
Gayana Wanniarachchi, DPM, will assist patients in need of podiatry care at OSF Medical Group – Orthopedics, located at 530 Park Ave. E., Suite 101, and OSF Wound Care in Princeton.
Peyton Woods and Micky Rowland feed animals on Aug. 31, 2024, at the Tri County Fair in Mendota. See story on page 3. Shaw Local News Network file photo
CORRECTIONS
Accuracy is important to the Mendota Reporter. Please call errors to our attention by phone at 815431-4073 or email at ksolari@shawmedia.com.
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Photo provided by OSF Health
Mendota’s Tri-County Fair set to open Thursday
By BILL FRESKOS bfreskos@shawmedia.com
The Tri-County Fair returns this week, bringing four days of entertainment to Mendota when it opens this Thursday, Aug. 28.
Among the planned events and races throughout the week, this year’s fair will offer carnival rides, a petting zoo and family-friendly activities along with food, drinks and a beer garden.
Specifically for grandstand events, Dirt drags will kick off the fair on Thursday. Gates and registration open at 4 p.m. with races beginning at 7 p.m. at the fairgrounds, 405 First Ave.
Grandstand admission is $10, and pit passes are $20.
The fair will also feature truck pulling on Friday. The competition begins at 7 p.m., with spectators encouraged to arrive early for seating.
To start the weekend, Megacross motorcycle racing will return on Saturday. Gates open at 1 p.m., with a riders meeting at 4 p.m.
Racing will begin immediately afterward. Grandstand seating is free.
Stock car races will be held
Sunday, Aug. 31. Gates open at 3 p.m. with hot laps starting at 6 p.m.
Grandstand seating is $10, and pit passes are $30.
A fireworks show will follow the races on the fair’s last day. The band Free Beer and Chicken will perform live from 8 to 11 p.m. in the beer garden.
According to their Facebook page, discounted passes are available if purchased before Thursday.
A Mega Pass, available for $80, includes unlimited carnival rides every day of the fair along with admission to all grandstand events.
A Carnival Pass, priced at $50, covers unlimited carnival rides only.
The fair is also offering a prefair bargain bundle – buy four event tickets and receive one free. Each ticket, valued at $10, can be used for any event.
Bargain bundle sales end at 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. For more information, call or text 815-5397974.
Admission to the fairgrounds and parking are free each day.
Tickets are available at the secretary’s office from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday.
Shaw Local News Network file photos
TOP LEFT: Megacross riders line up for race on Aug. 31, 2024, at the Tri County Fair in Mendota. TOP RIGHT: Child rides horse while being videotaped by father on Aug. 31, 2024, at the Tri County Fair in Mendota.
ABOVE: Megacross rider turns corner in race on Aug. 31, 2024, at the Tri County Fair in Mendota.
Can drones take the place of the crop duster?
Unmanned vehicles are prevalent, but might not take over all aerial ag duties
By SCOTT ANDERSON sanderson@shawmedia.com
Each summer, the skies around the Illinois Valley fill with yellow planes dodging power lines, making loud, distinctive sounds and spraying crop fields with pesticides, herbicides and fungicides.
Recently, they’ve been joined by unmanned aircraft buzzing through the fields. Large drones or unmanned aerial vehicles are popping up alongside the ears of corn throughout Northern Illinois.
The UAV’s are applying pesticides, insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers, water, dry fertilizer or other crop treatments with precision and accuracy.
Mike Pack, drone operator at Sun Ag Inc. in McNabb, uses a DJ AGRAS T40 that combines mapping, spraying and spreading functions, while using a UHD camera and adjustable gimbal to enable easy capture the desired view.
“The drone has a 10-gallon tank and can provide two gallons of coverage per acre,” Pack said. “The operation is fully programmable and it will fly and spray by itself.“
Battery life can be a hindrance, however, as the unit only provides a seven-minute flight time.
“Remote pilots need to constantly keep batteries charged and have an abundance of them,” Pack said.
Agriculture companies with drones need to have trained professionals, and remote pilots must pass the Federal Aviation Administration exams that govern the use of aircraft, including drones, to dispense or spray substances. While remote pilots are exempted from some rules that don’t apply to unmanned aircraft, the FAA certificate is the same.
Agriculture remote pilots are also licensed aerial pesticide applicators through the Illinois Department of Agriculture and must be insured.
Silas Steiner went into the spray drone business in 2023 while launching his company Thrive, located in El
Paso, Illinois.
Steiner has always been passionate about agriculture and fascinated by the growing industry of precision technology using drones. Steiner thinks the current technology won’t replace the airplane but is much safer.
“While drones have and will keep getting bigger and faster, it takes a fleet of multiple drones to be able to spray as many acres as a single airplane or helicopter can in a single day,” Steiner said. “Unmanned aircraft have their advantage when it comes to getting closer to tree lines, power lines and any other obstacles that may be in or border a field.
Drones also can be a safe option. While we still have to be cautious when landing and filling the drones, there is little risk of a pilot getting hurt during the operation.”
Drones and helicopters that carry aerial application can have a greater impact on the accuracy of the spray.
The company is a precision agriculture company offering drone application services, business development for drone operators, and custom-formulated drone-specific products.
Tyce Barkman, an employee at SweetWater Technologies Powered by Gripp in Wyanet, doesn’t think drones will take over everything, but they’ll have an impact.
“I believe drones will someday replace the airplane but not the helicopter,” Barkman said.
The future of using drones for aerial applications has its advantages and disadvantages. The crop duster hasn’t made its final approach yet, but with the use of drones, it is possible it may disappear.
Scott Anderson file photos
Thrive spray drone service owner Silas Steiner and drone pilot Christian Miller perform routine maintenance on a DJI XAG P150 drone July 28 while spraying on an application near Wenona. The drone weighs a little more than 100 pounds empty, but it can weigh as much as 250 pounds.
Sweetwater Technologies team members Chance Dahler and Jon Dybeck fly multiple DJ AGRAS T40 drones on a farm on Aug. 6 outside of Amboy.
IVCC Board approves contractor for new ag education center
Groundbreaking for state-of-the-art facility was Aug. 22
By MARIBETH M. WILSON mwilson@shawmedia.com
The Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees hired a building contractor for the College’s new agricultural education center on Aug. 19, according to an IVCC news release.
The Board accepted a bid of $7.643 million for the Agricultural Education Center from Vissering Construction Company in Streator, the news release said.
The contract still awaits approval from the Economic Development Administration, which, with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, is supplying grant funds, according to the release.
Additional funds will come through the IVCC Foundation Ag Campaign and from the College’s Education and Operations and Maintenance Fund.
This latest phase of the College agri-
expected to connect to the IVCC hub through the program that is funded by the schools and a U.S Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant, Morris said.
Morris also noted that the College is seeing a slight increase in fall enrollment in both headcount and credit hours compared to Fall 2024.
Other business
•The board approved the resolution to adopt the FY2026 budget.
•The board set a public hearing at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 16 in the Board Room to review the College’s intent to issue Working Cash Fund bonds of totals up to $1.650 million to increase the working cash fund.
cultural complex will bring classrooms and a lab closer to the test fields.
The 10,250-square-foot building will feature lab space, classroom and meeting spaces, student collaboration space, and an innovation lab, according to the news release.
The facility will allow IVCC to train and upskill agricultural workers in the development of sustainable practices and utilize technology in the field
of agriculture.
IVCC will break ground on the facility on Aug. 22.
During her monthly report, President Tracy Morris said in a news release that IVCC’s distance learning initiative is off to a strong start.
Students at Serena High School will earn dual credit as they join three IVCC classes from their home campus.
Other area high schools are
• The board authorized the purchase of software to ensure the accessibility of course content programs for $56,000 over the next three years.
• The board authorized the college to seek proposals for a vendor to ensure overall website accessibility.
•The board approved the appointments of Dr. Jessica Wofford, English and reading instructor and Angela Doermann, CNA instructor/program coordinator.
Shaw Local News Network file photo
The Illinois Valley Community College Board recently accepted a bid of $7.64 million for the Agricultural Education Center from Vissering Construction Company in Streator.
IVCC CELEBRATES SUMMER 2025 GRADUATES
A total of 148 students earned 169 degrees and certificates this summer at Illinois Valley Community College. Graduates are listed by hometown.
Bureau – Chelsea Piper, Medical Assistant
Chicago – Diego Ortega, Paramedic Compton – Logan Anderson, Truck Driver Training (TDT)
Dalzell – Marcos Maldonado Guzman, Associate in Science
Dana – Ashton Watkins, Associate in Arts, Associate in Science
Earlville – Pennylane Shufelt, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Grand Ridge – Brian Ksiazak, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Granville – Sydney Buffington, Practical Nursing; Wayne Lowe, TDT Advanced Proficiency
Hennepin – Tabitha Greve, Associate in Science; Emma Nicoli, Practical Nursing
La Moille – Julia Krueger, Medical Assistant
La Salle – Matthew Torres, TDT; Nathali Aguirre, CNA; Erica Antle, Practical Nursing; Jessica Beem, Office Management; Gabriela Gonzalez, CNA; Brycen Leffelman,
TDT; Megan McGuire, AAS in Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting; Callie Mertes, CNA; Mia Moncrief, Dental Assisting; Alexander Nieto, Associate in Science; Diana Reyes, AAS in Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting; Jordan Strange, Associates in Arts
Lostant – Madison Freeman, AAS in Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting; Timothy Holmstrom, AAS in Welding Construction Technology; Spencer Samek, AAS in Welding Construction Technology
Malden – Jennessa Israel, CNA; Anastasia Mallery Sondgeroth, Associate in Science
Mark – Preston Faletti, TDT Advanced Proficiency
Marseilles – Ashton Collins, AAS in Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting; Luke Cooper, AAS in Computer Networking Administration, Computer Networking; Jessie Robinson, CNA; Will Thrun, Paramedic; Riley Worby, AAS in Industrial Electrician
Mendota – Kate Biers, CNA; Logan Dewey, CNA; Antonio Escatel, TDT Advanced Proficiency; Vanessa Gomez Rico, AAS in Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting; Samuel Matura, CNA; Derek Nanez, Associate in
Arts; Stacy Pavnica, Dental Assisting; Miranda Roberts, Practical Nursing; Alondra Sandoval, CNA; Mileigh Schultz, CNA; Quenten Sondgeroth, AAS in Paramedic, Paramedic; Aaron Venegas, CNA; Grace Wasmer, Associate in Science; Madison Younglove, Associate in Arts
Minonk – Gary McLean, TDT
Morris – Andrew Meloun, TDT; Cynthia Rosas, AAS in Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting; Tristan Zink, TDT
Oglesby – Benjamin Kolczaski, Paramedic; Jonathan Konieczki, TDT; Stephanie Lijewski, AAS in Nursing; Avarie Ruppert, Practical Nursing; Alexandra Serratos, CNA; Nicholas Swiskoski, Paramedic Ottawa – Aidan Cofoid, AAS in Engineering Technology; Morgan Collins, CNA; Emelina Coss, Associate in Arts; Cassidy Downey, CNA; Dean Einhaus, AAS in Automotive Technology, Advanced Automotive Technology, Automotive Brakes, Suspension, and Alignment, Basic Automotive Technology, Driveability, Engine Performance; Karen Gomez, CNA; Jimena Gutierrez, Associate in Arts; Walter Haage, TDT Advanced Proficiency; Emma
Hall, CNA; James Halm, TDT Advanced Proficiency; Derrick Hobbs, Paramedic; Grace Johnson, Associate in Science; Nalani Kosin, AAS in Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting; Victor Kraucak, TDT Advanced Proficiency; Nicole Leal, TDT Advanced Proficiency; Leah Majcen, Associate in Science; Jaclyn Miller, Associate in Arts; Kyra Mitchell, Medical Assistant; Emily Myre, Dental Assisting; Adrienne Ortega, Practical Nursing; Talia Peck, Dental Assisting; Avelia Perez, CNA; Andrew Rowney, TDT Advanced Proficiency; Matthew Ruiz, Paramedic; Franklin Schuemann, Industrial Maintenance I; Manny Solano, Paramedic; Melanie Stisser, Associate in Science
Peru – Elisheva Bruins, Paramedic; Lydia Dornik, Associate In Arts; Kayli Marsala, Associate in Arts; Gabrielle Mosley, CNA; Camryn Piscia, AAS in Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting; Teagan Sadnick, CNA; Lorna Sramek, Associate in General Studies; Joseph Suarez, TDT Advanced Proficiency; Caitlynn Windsor, Paramedic
See IVCC SUMMER GRADUATES, page 10
&
Mendota to acquire old Phalen Steel building
Mayor: Street department likely to move in first
By TOM COLLINS tcollins@shawmedia.com
The City of Mendota is acquiring the old Phalen Steel building on North U.S. Route 52.
Monday, the Mendota City Council adopted an ordinance authorizing the purchase of property at 200 N. U.S. Route 52 for $1.15 million with all contents.
Mayor David Boelk called that “a very good price” and the city snatched it up. The city has long wrestled with a space crunch and decided the purchase was a more cost-effective option than new construction.
“We’ve been out of space for quite some time,” Boelk said. “We’re taking advantage of a well-priced piece of property with buildings in good shape.”
The Mendota City Council adopted an ordinance Aug. 18 authorizing the purchase of property at 200 N. U.S. Route 52 for $1.15 million with all contents. The city has long wrestled with a space crunch and decided the purchase was a more cost-effective option than new construction.
Separately, first-responders now have a financial incentive to become paramedics.
The city council approved a side letter of agreement with Mendota Fire
What will the city do with it? Boelk said the city has yet to assess the city’s needs versus the new property – “We’re looking at so many options” – but he does foresee the street department being moved there.
Department Local 4200, providing additional compensation for paramedics, from $2,000 to $7,000 a year. The hope is to incentivize more firefighters to acquire paramedic training.
“It will help those who are currently paramedics also,” Alderman Kyle
Kim said.
Finally, the city has a new police officer. Sabrina Poole, a current Mendota resident and graduate of La Salle-Peru Township High School, begins Sept. 2. Chief Jason Martin said Poole’s hire makes the department fully staffed.
Tom Collins file photo
Rosati’s in Mendota closes after 11 years
Maribeth M. Wilson
Rosati’s in Mendota closed its doors on Monday.
The restaurant, located at 801 Sixth St., announced the closure on its business Facebook account on Monday.
“It’s with a heavy heart we must announce the closing of this location,” the post said. “We have loved being a part of this great community for 11 years.”
In a Facebook post to its staff, the owners said the closure was “strictly a financial decision” as they had been trying to sell the business for more than a year.
The Elgin-based chain still has locations open in Ottawa and La Salle.
The Times / NewsTribune / Bureau County Republican is committed to keeping readers up to date with business happenings in the area.
Much of our reporting relies on what we see and hear, but we’re also reach-
ing out to readers for tips on business items. If you have a tip to share for Eyes
Rosati’s Sports Pub of Mendota abruptly closed its doors for the final time on Monday on Sixth Street in Mendota.
La Salle County to host 31st annual food service seminar
cal hazards and safety in the food service industry, public health emergencies in a food establishment, history of food safety, service animals and food establishments, IDPH program updates and plumbing in food establishments
•IVCC SUMMER GRADUATES
Continued from page 6
Princeton – Cainee Bohnsack, CNA; Mark Cissell, TDT Advanced Proficiency; Merri Cruz, Associate in General Studies; James Gassen, Paramedic; Heather Loftus, CNA; Thomas Makransky, Associate in Science; Kelsey Moore, Practical Nursing; Sophia Ni, CNA
Ransom – Garrett Williamson, TDT
Seatonville – Chipper Rossi, CNA
By TOM COLLINS tcollins@shawmedia.com
The La Salle County Health Department will sponsor the 31st Annual Food Service Seminar on Sept. 8 at Senica’s Oak Ridge, La Salle.
Registration is from 8 to 8:30 a.m. The seminar begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes about 4:30 p.m.
The program features speakers from Quik-Kill Pest Eliminators, Inc., Performance Food Service – Thoms Proestler (PFG), the Peoria City/County Health Department, the La Salle County Health Department, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Cintas Corporation and OSF Healthcare.
Topics include pest control, chemi-
September is National Food Safety Education Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that annually 48 million people in the U.S. – about one in six Americans – contract some form of food-borne illness.
Of those cases, 128,000 lead to hospitalization, and an estimated 3,000 deaths annually are attributed to food-borne illness.
Foodborne illness is preventable when following the basic safety guidelines: clean, separate, cook and chill.
To preregister for the food service seminar, please call the La Salle County Health Department at 815-433-3366 or visit lasallecountyil.gov.
For more information on food safety, visit the CDC website.
Serena – Tyler Shannon, Associate in Science
Spring Valley – Genavyve Barnes, CNA; Haley Campbell, CNA; Jacob Delafont, TDT; Maria Garcia, Associate in Arts; Jacob Harris, TDT; Tiffany Hegland, Dental Assisting; Jasmin Martinez, CNA; Christopher Murphy, TDT Advanced Proficiency; Maria Pawlak, Paramedic; Ashton Pecher, Associate in Arts; Ariana Villalobos, Dental Assisting
Standard – Lena Sartin, CNA
Streator – Eddie Brewer, TDT Advanced Proficiency; Carissa Dye, Practical Nursing; Alyssa Eutsey, Practical Nursing; Amarion Ford, Associate in Arts; Zulema Gonzalez,
Dental Assisting; Lily Graham, CNA; Abigayle Gribbin, CNA; James Hutton, Paramedic; Kylie Kendall, AAS in Accounting, Accounting, Advanced Accounting; Maiya Lansford, CNA; Tina Mauk, Practical Nursing; Haley Mosqueda, Associate in Arts; Morgan Neitzel, Industrial Electrician; Shawn Palko, CNA; Alexia Pohlod, CNA; Joey Puetz, CNA; Jasmine Stanton, Paramedic; Marisa Vickers, Associate in Science; Ella Westrick, Associate in Science; Syria Zuniga, Associate in Science
Tinley Park – Matthew Murphy, EMT
Tiskilwa – Julie Kern, Practical Nursing; Erin May, CNA; Matthew Sims, AAS in Industrial Electrician, Industrial Electrician
Tonica – Elwin Goodbred, TDT
Troy Grove – Milianna Castaneda, CNA
Utica – Christina Burleson, TDT Advanced Proficiency; Riley Cetwinski, TDT Advanced Proficiency; Sabryna Hamilton, Paramedic; Michelle Reed, AAS in Automotive Technology
West Brooklyn – Emma Augustine, AAS in Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting
‘Where Our Paths Meet’ aims to explore some of Mendota’s migration stories
New historical initiative includes oral histories, documentary and museum exhibition
By MARIBETH M. WILSON mwilson@shawmedia.com
The Mendota Museum & Historical Society will debut “Where Our Paths Meet: Journeys to Mendota,” an initiative that explores the migration stories of families who arrived in Mendota from Mexico during the 1960s and 1970s, according to a MMHS news release.
The project will run from early September until the end of October. It includes oral history interviews, a documentary film and a museum exhibition.
“This effort is critical to the Historical Society’s mission as we are delving into an aspect of local history that we have not yet explored,” Alex P. Revzan, MMHS executive director, said in a news release.
The program is a collaboration between the Historical Society, Reimag-
LOCAL NEWS BRIEF
7 ticketed in Mendota for underage alcohol sales
The Mendota Police Department and Illinois State Police ticketed seven people on Aug. 20 for allegedly selling alcoholic beverages to underage customers. The agencies conducted a joint investigation into the illegal sale of alcohol to underage individuals, the departments said in a news release.
Those cited were:
Shannon D. Russell, 38, of Mendota (Rosati’s Pizza)
ine Mendota, the Illinois Valley Hispanic Partnership Council and Northern Illinois University and is funded by a grant from Illinois Humanities.
The interviews are now archived at the Founders Memorial Library at NIU and available to scholars for research and will then become the basis for a 30-minute documentary film detailing the experiences of these early migrants and the impact of demographic change on the city, according to the release.
“Telling these stories is vital to our continued efforts to build community and begin new discussions surrounding Mendota’s past, present, and future,” Reimagine Mendota’s Amy Brewer said in a news release.
Accompanying the film will be an exhibition installed in the Hume-Carnegie Museum in Mendota. The exhibition will include a variety of photographs and objects on loan from members of the Mendota community.
“The Hume-Carnegie Museum, which was originally built as a Carnegie library in 1902, is an outstanding place to hold this exhibition, and we look forward to welcoming new audiences on the foot of this initiative,” Revzan said.
West Nile mosquitoes reported positive Thursday in 3 La Salle County cities
By TOM COLLINS tcollins@shawmedia.com
Mosquitoes collected from three La Salle County municipalities have tested positive for West Nile virus, the La Salle County Health Department reported Thursday.
Marla Castro, 31, of Mendota (Frankie’s Tavern)
Andrew S. Abbott, 52, of Mendota (Fitzer’s)
Anthony Anu, 36, of Mendota (Mobil gas station)
Paul A. Drees, 66, of Mendota (Lakeside Liquor)
Ethan A. Brown, 29, of Mendota (Casey’s General Store)
Luz E. Arteaga, 56, of Mendota (Arteaga Liquor) – Shaw Local News Network
The virus is transmitted through the bite of a culex mosquito, commonly called a house mosquito, that picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks.
Most people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms; however, in rare cases it can lead to severe illness including paralysis, meningitis or encephalitis (i.e., brain and nerve infections), or even death.
People older than 60 and those with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk for severe illness.
REDUCE – Make sure doors and
windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut. Eliminate or refresh all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed each week, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other containers.
REPEL – When outdoors, wear shoes and socks; long pants; and a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt, and apply an Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR 3535, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone according to the label instructions.
REPORT – Report locations where you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week, such as roadside ditches, flooded yards and similar locations that may attract mosquitoes. The local health department or city government may be able to add larvicide to the water.
Shaw Local News Network file photo
A mosquito bores into the arm of a willing volunteer in La Salle. Experts say the best defense against mosquito bites is avoiding outdoors from dusk to dawn, covering skin with light-colored clothing, and applying a repellent containing DEET.
Illinois Valley Photos of the Week for Aug. 17-23
LEFT: A fifteen-second exposure of the Zipper carnival ride during the 170th annual Bureau County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 23, in Princeton. TOP RIGHT: Planes get in formation before attempting the state record of most jumpers in belly formation on Wednesday, Aug 20, above Skydive Chicago in Ottawa. LEFT: Jason Gonzales, student at SOAR (Students Obtaining Achievement and Responsibility) pets Haven, the Peru Police Department therapy K-9 while entering the school building on Thursday, Aug. 21, in Peru. ABOVE
performing on Thursday, Aug.
Photos by Scott Anderson
TOP
:Trace Adkins smiles to the crowd while
21, at the Bureau County Fair in Princeton.
174 skydivers set new vertical formation world record
Five-day effort culminates in jumpers shattering 10-year-old tally after weather delays
By MAKADE RIOS Shaw Local News Network correspondent
After five days of weather delays, 174 skydivers successfully broke the 10-year-old 164-way vertical skydiving world record on Friday at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa.
Organizers confirmed the achievement on Facebook following official review, marking a major milestone in the sport.
The previous record was set in 2015.
The new record was set during a meticulously coordinated jump that brought together athletes from around the globe.
Photos by MaKade Rios
TOP LEFT: Natalie Pitts (left) and Sergio Farrell enjoy a laugh together after successfully landing in the drop zone Friday above Skydive Chicago in Ottawa. TOP RIGHT: Planes perform a flyover in formation Friday above Skydive Chicago in Ottawa. ABOVE: Skydivers glide toward their drop zone Friday above Skydive Chicago in Ottawa. LEFT: Juan Leg records on his phone skydivers’ glide toward the drop zone Friday at Skydive Chicago in Ottawa.
Lead in water likely not cause of elevated lead levels in children
By CAMDEN LAZENBY clazenby@shawmedia.com
Although the number of children living in Illinois ZIP codes where they are required to receive lead-exposure testing has grown, a medical expert thinks well-known sources of exposure are still the main culprits.
Dr. Susan Buchanan, a clinical associate professor and associate director of the occupational and environmental medicine residency program at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health, said lead found in paint used inside older homes remains the primary source of lead exposure for children.
“The primary source is in old buildings,” Buchanan said.
She also said lead found in public water systems isn’t the main driver of elevated lead levels in children.
“There is lead in a lot of the plumbing, especially in our urban areas, but water is not a major source of lead because the actual levels in water are such that a child would have to drink exorbitant amounts of water to raise their lead levels,” Buchanan said.
In 2021, Illinois legislators sought to
Camden Lazenby file
First Ward Alderman Alan Bauer displays during a 2023 Sycamore City Council meeting part of a lead service line he had replaced on his home years before the city of Sycamore offered the current lead service line replacement program, which allows residence to replace lead service lines at no cost to them. On the right is a copper water service line, commonly used to replace lead service lines.
mitigate the public’s exposure to lead through the Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act. That piece of legislation requires municipal water
systems in Illinois to replace lead service lines by 2034, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Regardless of the source of exposure,
lead can have harmful and adverse effects on a child’s health, including damage to the brain and nervous system and slowed growth and development, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Learning, behavioral, hearing and speech problems are all associated with lead exposure, according to the CDC.
Dr. Chukwunonye Ogbuji, an OSF Healthcare pediatrician, said lead exposure can cause learning difficulties and disabilities that affect the rest of a child’s life.
“Some of the damages are irreversible, like the behavioral problems, attention problems, hyperactivity,” Ogbuji said. “You may see kids who have no history or family history of [attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder], you know, presenting with symptoms like that or presenting with autistic symptoms. It could be as a result of lead exposure.”
That’s not theoretical, as Ogbuji said he’s seen the consequences of lead exposure in Streater and Ottawa.
“Unfortunately, we do see some
See LEAD IN THE WATER on page 15
photo
Continued from page 14
children with high lead levels here,” Ogbuji said. “We do see a good number of children with high lead levels. Streater, unfortunately, has some houses that might be a little old ... so children who live in those houses, they usually get exposed to lead.”
Ogbuji and Buchanan said structures built or painted before 1978 are where many children with elevated lead levels are exposed to the toxic metal.
“If they live in an old house or they see kids putting like paint chips in their mouth, [parents or guardians] should be very concerned about that, that those kids might be exposing themselves to lead at that point,” Ogbuji said.
Buchanan said children often ingest lead paint dust when they put their hands in their mouths after playing in areas contaminated with lead. Those areas aren’t confined to old buildings, however. She said lead-contaminated soil also is a chronic culprit.
Parents and guardians who seek to mitigate their child’s risk of lead exposure are encouraged to wash their child’s hands after playing in outdoor areas near old roads. That’s because lead gasoline, which has been completely banned in the U.S. since 1996, can still be found in the soil near roads that once saw vehicles that ran on lead gasoline.
“Lead is a metal, and so it doesn’t break down. So, once it’s in the soil, it’s not going away,” Buchanan said. “The soil in all old urban areas is contaminated with lead. The other important issue is that it takes very little lead-contaminated dust to raise a child’s lead level, unlike water.”
Changes in state policy mean more children will be tested for lead exposure
In June, the Illinois Department of Public Health added 180 new ZIP codes to its list of areas where children are required to receive lead-exposure testing. Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, La Salle, McHenry and Will counties were among the 47 counties containing ZIP codes added to the testing list. Every ZIP code in Illinois is expected to be put on that list in 2026, according to IDPH.
Those policy changes stem from the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, which requires children living in high-risk ZIP codes in Illinois to be tested for lead exposure when they turn 1 and 2 years old.
Ogbuji said the parents of older children are often given a questionnaire used as a screening tool to determine a child’s risk of elevated lead levels in their blood, but he stressed the importance of blood
testing 1- and 2-year-olds.
“I think it is important that parents make sure their kids go to those appointments at those ages and get their lead levels checked,” Ogbuji said.
Buchanan said the 180 ZIP codes that were put on the lead-exposure testing list were added because state legislators lessened the amount of lead that can be found in blood before public intervention is required.
If the blood tests indicate lead levels of more than 3.5 micrograms per deciliter, public intervention is required. The threshold for public intervention was 5 micrograms per deciliter until Jan. 1, according to the Lead Poisoning Prevention Act.
Buchanan said she supports the state’s new lower threshold.
“Our science is advancing, in our ability to detect subtle neurocognitive abnormalities in young kids,” Buchanan said. “What our science has shown is that even very low levels of blood lead affect neurocognitive abilities.”
Of the 206,016 children who were given lead-exposure blood tests in 2023, 3,217 children were found to have blood levels over the public intervention threshold, according to the Illinois Lead Program 2023 annual surveillance report.
Public interventions include a home inspection to determine the source of lead exposure and what removal options can be used. Additionally, a public health nurse visits the family to identify ways to protect the children from lead exposure.
Ogbuji said children with elevated blood lead levels are retested one or three months after the elevated lead levels were discovered.
In the Rockford region – Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, Carroll, Ogle, DeKalb, Whiteside and Lee counties – almost 11,000 children were given bloodbased lead-exposure tests in 2023. Of those children, 214 had blood lead levels at or above the old public intervention threshold, and 361 were above the new limit.
The number of elevated blood lead levels cases was not uniformly distributed between races. While Black children accounted for 20% of the children tested for elevated blood lead levels, 29% of all children with elevated results are Black, according to the surveillance report.
Of the children tested, 19.5% were Medicaid recipients, and 2% of those children had elevated blood lead levels. Of the 80.5% of children who weren’t on Medicaid at the time of the tests, 1.5% had results requiring public intervention.
Buchanan said children from families with higher incomes are often better able to mitigate exposures to lead
La Salle woman pleads guilty to 2023 hit-and-run
A La Salle woman faces up to 18 months in prison when she stands for sentencing Nov. 5 for leaving the scene of a 2023 crash that injured an elderly motorist.
Lauren N. Finnell, 33, appeared Friday in La Salle County Circuit Court and entered a blind plea to leaving the scene of an accident with injury, a Class 4 felony carrying up to three years in prison. In exchange for her plea, La Salle County prosecutors agreed to recommend no more than 1½ years. Finnell will have an opportunity to address Circuit Judge Michelle A. Vescogni at a sentencing hearing set for Nov. 5.
Finnell was charged June 3, 2024, after a yearlong investigation into the crash.
Streator woman gets 4 years for drugs, stolen gun
A Streator woman pleaded guilty Friday and was sentenced to four years in prison for possessing a stolen gun recovered during a police seizure of drugs.
Cheyenne Pratt, 23, appeared Friday in La Salle County Circuit Court and entered a
complex plea agreement to resolve several open cases.
The crux of the deal is that Pratt pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a stolen firearm, a Class 2 felony carrying three to seven years, and accepted a four-year prison term.
She also pleaded guilty to a pair of Class 4 felonies – unlawful possession of a controlled substance and violating the terms of pretrial release – and was sentenced to a pair of two-year terms. These will run concurrently with the conviction for firearm possession.
Pratt’s most serious charges were filed after a June 19 traffic stop in Streator, during which a K-9 officer alerted to the presence of purported narcotics in the vehicle driven by Pratt. A search of the vehicle also yielded a .22-caliber revolver that was later found to have been reported stolen.
– Tom Collins
• LEAD IN THE WATER
Continued from page 15
than
“The
Here
Cheyenne S. Pratt
Community Foundation to celebrate 10 years
Monthlong events include $190K in grants, day of service, recognition of former state Rep. Yednock
By MARIBETH M. WILSON mwilson@shawmedia.com
The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation will celebrate its 10th anniversary this fall.
According to an SRCCF news release, the foundation will celebrate the anniversary with a series of events, including an honors breakfast, a day of service and a ceremony featuring more than $190,000 in grants to
eight local nonprofits.
“The celebration will highlight the foundation’s work in arts and culture during the week of Sept. 8, community improvement Sept. 15, health, wellness and education Sept. 22, and community impact Sept. 29,” SRCCF said in the release.
At 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, the foundation will honor former 76th District state Rep. Lance Yednock for facilitating grants to Camp Tuckabatchee, Illinois Valley Food Pantry, Volunteers in Action/Meals on Wheels, Arukah Institute of Healing, The Ottawa Center for the Arts, The Ottawa Children’s Exploreum, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Second Story in Princeton. The event at August Hill in Utica is
invitation-only.
Trail cleanup at Starved Rock State Park will be the focus of the SRCCF Day of Service from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25.
The anniversary will conclude with an SRCCF Honors breakfast to recognize outstanding contributions to the foundation at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the Tangled Roots Tap Room, 812 La Salle St., Ottawa.
“From the beginning, our foundation has enjoyed outstanding board leadership and community support. Our goals for the anniversary are to raise awareness of our consequential work and recognize those who’ve invested in and believed in us,” SRCCF President Fran Brolley said in the release. “We also intend to grow our
donor base.”
To contribute, visit srccf.org/anniversary-appeal.
Individuals donating $100 or more will receive a limited edition SRCCF phone charging device.
Since its founding in October 2015 by Pamela and Chuck Beckett of Ottawa, the foundation has invested over $3 million in the La Salle, Bureau and Putnam County region.
It is achieving its mission of “Connecting people who care with causes that matter” by establishing 130 charitable funds supporting the arts, education, the environment, mental health, economic development and more.
For information, visit srccf.org, call 815-252-2906 or email fran@srccf. org.
Photo provided by Janice Corrigan of SRCCF
Current and former board chairs of the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation gathered Dec. 11, 2024, at the historic Gen. Wallace Home of Jay and Kim McCracken of Ottawa. Pictured are Jay McCracken, left, Bob Eschbach, Reed Wilson, co-founder Pamela Beckett, and current chair Tracy Bedeker. Former chair Tom Justice was unavailable. The Foundation is celebrating its 10th anniversary this fall.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
MENDOTA
ROMAN CATHOLIC MASS
Rev. Greg Nelson, Pastor
Fr. Joseph Domfe, Parochial Vicar
Ray Fischer, Jose Lopez, and Hector Diaz, Deacons HOLY CROSS, MENDOTA
Weekday Mass
M - 6 p.m., Tu - 8 a.m., W - 8:10 a.m., Th - 8 a.m., F - 7 a.m. Weekend Mass
Sat - 8 a.m. (1st Saturday only), 4 p.m.; Sun - 6:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon (Spanish) Confession
STS. PETER AND PAUL, PETERSTOWN
Weekend Mass: Sun - 9 a.m. Confession
ST. THERESA, EARLVILLE
Weekday Mass: Wed 7 a.m., Fri. 8 a.m.
Weekend Mass: Sat 5 p.m. Sun 8 a.m.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
100 E. Sixth St. • (815) 538-5587
Rev. Mary Bohall, Pastor SUNDAY SCHEDULE:
9 a.m. Coffee Fellowship
9 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship
In-person & on Facebook at: Mendota First United Methodist Church
ZION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
808 Jefferson St.
Pastor Jeff Brace jbrace8459@gmail.com
Church office (815) 538-2186
Facebook: Mendota Zion United Methodist Church
SUNDAY’S CHEDULE: Sunday Worship 9 a.m.
Sunday School for Preschool - 6th grade in fellowship hall during worship service (Parking lot worship available on 90.9 FM during Sunday services)
TUESDAY - Prayer group 7 p.m.
UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH
4401 State Route 251 • (815) 538-3444
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Rev. Charles Yeakel, Pastor
E-mail: mendotaupc@yahoo.com www.mendotaupc.org
SUNDAY: Christian Education-10 a.m. Worship - 11:30 a.m.
WEDNESDAY: Midweek Bible Study - 7 p.m.
Your Guide to Local Houses of Worship
NEW COVENANT ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Rt. 251 at Lake Mendota P.O. Box 54
Phone (815) 539-7107 (church) (815) 871-5702 (pastor)
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Larry Sheaves, Pastor www.newcovenantmendota.org www.facebook.com/NCAOG
“Preaching the blood, book and blessed hope.”
Sunday School Worship
MENDOTA BIBLE CHURCH
Rt. 251, 1/2 mile south of Mendota (815) 538-6876
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Brian Kelly, Pastor www.mendotabiblechurch.org
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
Sunday School Worship Evening Service
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH
607 Tenth Ave. • (815) 539-5626
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Pastor Elise Rothfusz E-mail: office@stjohnsmendota.org Website: www.stjohnsmendota.org
Schedule:
9 a.m. Sunday Worship in person and online via YouTube Find us on Facebook
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1003 5th St.• (815) 538-5603
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Website: fpcmendota.com
Accessible
Pastor Laurie Walker
Fellowship 9:45 a.m.
Children’s Sunday School following children’s message Worship 10:30 a.m.
Available on Facebook Live
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/fpcmendota
CHRIST’S CHURCH
“He is the Head of the Body, the Church . . . That in everything He might have the supremacy.” Col. 1:18 1107 Main St. • (815) 993-2462 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Dave Manion Jim McDowell
Wayne Shuman
Please join us for . . .
Sunday Bible Study (all ages) 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m.
Church Builders 12:30 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer 6 p.m. Men’s Ministry
Ladies & Mens Bible Study Thursday 6 p.m.
Non-denominational Please call for more information
COMPTON
IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
398 Church Road, Compton
Pastor Jeffrey Schlesinger (815) 539-6567
Wheelchair accessible Website: www.ilccompton.org
E-mail: immanuellutheran compton@live.com
“Living in God’s Grace as a Neighbor to the World”
SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
8:30 a.m. Worship at Immanuel 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship at First Online “devotional service” videos continue every Sunday at facebook.com/ilccompton and YouTube. Check our website and Facebook page for more information.
LA MOILLE
ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
LaMoille (Clarion) 4 miles west of Mendota on Rt. 34
Pastor Sarah (Churness) Floyd (815) 539-7820
Sunday Worship 9 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Accessible
COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH La Moille • (815) 638-2348
Pastor David Jungnickel
E-mail: lamoillecumc@gmail.com
SUNDAY WORSHIP 9 a.m. Children’s Sunday School following children’s message FELLOWSHIP 10 a.m. (nursery available) Mondays - 10 a.m. Adult Bible Study Wednesdays - 5:30 p.m. Soup & Soul
TROY GROVE
FAITH BIBLE FELLOWSHIP
208 W. South St., Troy Grove
Pastor Brian Hamiel Website: www.faithbiblefellowship.info E-mail: fbfchurch20817@gmail.com
“At Faith Bible Fellowship, we exist to glorify God through the equipping of His saints, teaching of His Word and raising of His name. We would love to have you join us to worship and learn about our risen Savior.”
SUNDAY SCHOOL - 9 a.m.
SUNDAY SERVICE - 10 a.m.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT - 6:30 p.m.
OPINIONS THE
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.
Let another government body pay for it
I’ve been belatedly reading Jeremiah Joyce’s 2021 book “Still Burning: Half a Century of Chicago, from the Streets to the Corridors of Power; A Memoir.”
The former 19th Ward alderman and Southwest Side state senator is a conversational writer and speaks frankly about some very divisive times, particularly regarding race (it can get cringey).
Joyce is remembered now as a consummate insider, but he came up the hard way without regular party support. It wasn’t until he forged a bond with Richard M. Daley, the first Mayor Daley’s son, that he came into his own as a power broker.
Anyway, what I wanted to tell you about was one of Joyce’s observations of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, who died in office in 1976 during Joyce’s one and only aldermanic term.
“Over time,” Joyce wrote of the first Mayor Daley, “he developed a firm though rarely spoken theory of Chicago government – let some other entity pay, whether it be the state, the county, a regional body or the federal government.”
It was true then and it’s still true today, although perhaps stated more bluntly by the city’s current mayor and
some of his closest allies.
We saw it again for the umpteenth time last week when Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates castigated the governor and the Democratic legislative majorities for not spending more on the city’s schools.
Gates, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s most visible ally, was responding to Gov. JB Pritzker’s remarks to reporters that the Chicago Teachers Union’s demand for $1.6 billion in additional state funding is “just not going to happen.”
“And it’s not because we shouldn’t,” Pritzker clarified. “We should try to find the money, but we don’t have those resources today, and we’re not going to see the resources from the federal government level either.”
Pritzker went on to blame the Trump administration. “The federal government has taken away education funding from schools all across the U.S.,” he
said, adding that the state has increased funding by $2.5 billion during his time in office.
CTU President Gates issued a blistering response: “Logic would tell you that if the Republican despot in the White House is defunding public education, then a state with a Democratic supermajority should take the opposite approach by fully funding schools in its largest district. There was no delay in giving $10 billion in tax breaks to the wealthiest businesses and individuals in our state, so why do Black and Brown children have to wait?”
The CTU has mentioned these “$10 billion in tax breaks” quite often, so I reached out and asked what that was all about.
For the most part, these aren’t actually “tax breaks.” Instead, almost $6 billion, according to CTU spokesperson B. Loewe, comes from the Illinois Revenue Alliance’s list of potential tax hikes on corporations (although a very small part of that is from closing corporate tax loopholes). An additional $4.5 billion is from not imposing a state surcharge on annual income over $1 million, which would require a constitutional amendment and couldn’t be implemented until
after the 2026 election, if voters approved it.
Loewe also pointed to several state incentives criticized by a group called Good Jobs First, including tax breaks for electric vehicles, data centers and TV and film production.
But it’s not like state leaders can snap their collective fingers and suddenly produce $10 billion in new revenues. Lots of labor unions, particularly the trades, would strenuously object to some of these ideas.
What the CTU really wants is an immense expansion of the state tax base.
“Why do students at Carver Elementary have to go without their flag football team?” Gates asked about state underfunding. “Why are educators being told to conserve toilet tissue and paper towels? Why does everyone have to subsidize the foot-dragging of our governor and Democratic General Assembly.”
From the first Mayor Daley to the present, some things never change.
• Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
Lawmakers should consider addressing self-funding loophole
A common frustration is encountering people – from low-information social media posters to high-ranking elected officials – ranting about policies or proposals with no chance of being enacted or, in some cases, not actually on the General Assembly’s table.
But just like the adage holding jazz is about the notes that don’t get played, sometimes ire is properly directed at legislation no one is discussing. Call it the “there oughta be a law” corollary. Put another way: When everyone agrees there’s a loophole, why isn’t anyone tightening that string?
On Thursday, Capitol News Illinois covered the ongoing dispute between Senate President Don Harmon and the State Board of Elections. The issue dates to March, when state officials responded to a Chicago Tribune inquiry into the Oak Park Democrat’s fundraising by sending a certified letter
accusing Harmon of improperly accepting donations after the March 2024 primary.
There are undisputed facts: Harmon gave his own campaign $100,001 in January 2023. That meant he or anyone else running for the seat could accept contributions from individuals and political action committees.
Harmon did just that – openly –believing he understood the rules based in large part on his role in writing them. But the elections board disagrees, saying the “self-funded” cap extended only through the end of the primary cycle, so he should not have
accepted $4 million and as such is subject to a $9.8 million fine.
Harmon’s attorney, Mike Kasper, argued that a candidate shouldn’t need “to make another $100,001 loan to reactivate the self-funding exemption when the primary season concluded,” according to CNI’s Ben Szalinski. “And it should still be in effect through the 2026 election, he argued.”
While Kasper said the limit should stay off until Harmon’s seat is contested in November 2026, he also allowed for a minimum cap of the November 2024 cycle.
“If it’s unfair to have the caps reattached after the primary when there’s a self-funder, it seems even more unfair to apply it halfway through the election,” Kasper said. “I don’t think anyone ever intended for the caps to be put back on in the middle of an election.”
The board contends Harmon’s read-
ing undercuts the broader importance of the statutory concept of “election cycles,” regardless of the fact senators serve tagged two- and four-year terms.
According to CNI, the board may render a decision on Sept. 16, and that “ruling is likely to set a precedent for future campaigns.”
Absent from the arguing is meaningful legislation clarifying unanswered questions. Rather than let appointed bureaucrats essentially settle a legal question, this could’ve been solved in the spring session or addressed in the fall veto session.
Guesswork, even reasoned, serves no one. This is a job for the General Assembly.
• Scott T. Holland writes about state government issues for Shaw Local News Network. He can be reached at sholland@shawmedia.com.
Rich Miller VIEWS
Scott T. Holland EYE ON ILLINOIS
STATE
DOJ demands Illinois voter personal information by Sept. 1
State asked for deadline extension to research legal basis of the demand
By PETER HANCOCK phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com
SPRINGFIELD – Federal officials are continuing to press their demand for Illinois’ unredacted voter registration database, which includes sensitive personal information, and are now giving state officials until Sept. 1 to comply.
In an email on Aug. 21, Michael E. Gates, an attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, rejected the Illinois State Board of Elections’ request for additional time to research the legal issues involved in the demand to determine what data it can lawfully turn over.
“The electronic form of Illinois’s Voter Registration List already exists and can be easily transmitted to the Justice Department by following the instructions in our [July 28] letter,” Gates wrote. “The legal authorities presented by the Justice Deprtment’s [sic] for the transmittal of the VRL are clear. Having said this, we will extend the time to respond for Illinois to September 1st.”
The Justice Department has said it wants the state’s complete voter registration database – including “all fields contained within the list” – so it can determine whether the state is complying with provisions of the 1993 National Voter Registration Act.
That law requires states to keep those lists accurate and up to date. That includes occasionally purging the list of registrations of people who have died or moved.
In addition to the database, DOJ also asked the state in its July 28 letter to identify the number of people purged from the rolls due to being noncitizens,
adjudicated as incompetent or having felony convictions. And the agency asked for a list of all state and local election officials who have been responsible for carrying out list maintenance functions since the November 2022 elections.
The elections board responded to that request on Aug. 11 by providing most of the information DOJ sought, including a copy of the same voter registration database that state law allows it to release to political committees and other government agencies.
That list includes voters’ names, addresses, voting history and the date when they registered to vote. It does not include other sensitive personal information contained in voters’ records such as their dates of birth, driver’s license numbers and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers.
The board cited both federal and state laws for redacting that sensitive information including the federal Privacy Act, the Illinois Identity Protection Act and the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act.
But DOJ wrote on Aug. 14 the state’s response was insufficient and insisted on access to the entire, unredacted database, “including the registrant’s full name, date of birth, residential address, his or her state driver’s license number or the last four digits of the registrant’s social security number as required under the Help America Vote Act to register individuals for federal elections.”
HAVA is a 2002 federal law that was enacted in the wake of the contested 2000 presidential election. Among other things, it sets minimum standards for states to follow in several areas of election administration, including voting equipment and maintaining statewide voter registration databases.
DOJ has not said why that information is necessary for it to investigate the state’s compliance with requirements for maintaining up-to-date voter registration rolls.
OBITUARIES
MERCEDES ROSTAGNO
Born: January 9, 1925 in DePue, IL
Died: August 22, 2025 in Barrington, IL
Mercedes Rostagno, age 100, of DePue, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 22, 2025, at JourneyCare Hospice in Barrington, IL. She lived her entire life in DePue, IL up until October 2024, when she moved to Riverside Residence in McHenry, IL.
A funeral Mass of Christian burial for Mercedes will begin at 11:00 AM, Thursday, August 28th, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in DePue. The Rev. Scott Potthoff will officiate. Burial will follow at Valley Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation for Mercedes will be held Thursday morning, at the church, from 10:00 AM until time of services.
The Barto Funeral Home, Spring Valley, is honored to be assisting the family.
She was born in DePue on January 9, 1925, to Angel and Maria Garcia, who were from Aviles, Spain. Beloved wife of Lawrence Rostagno (deceased) who she married on May 11, 1946. Merce had one sister, the late Amelia Wujek (Garcia) and two brothers, the late David and Joe Garcia.
Mercedes worked for Westclox during WWII supporting the war effort. She then became the caretaker of the family. Her cakes, cookies, and pies were a thing of beauty. She will be missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by one daughter, Kristie Wolek and her husband Brian Wolek. She also has two grandsons Andrew Wolek and Alex (Megan) Wolek and two great granddaughters, Elizabeth Rose and Emma Grace Wolek. She also had many nieces, nephews, and cousins who she loved as her children.
A guestbook may be signed and memories shared by visiting bartofh.com.
New laws aim to shield providers of abortion meds, ban ticketing in schools
By PETER HANCOCK phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com and BEN SZALINSKI bszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com
Gov. JB Pritzker signed the final two bills from the spring session Friday, giving his approval to more than 430 bills approved by lawmakers this year.
The final bills signed Friday are designed to improve access to abortion medication even if the federal government revokes permission for a certain drug. The governor signed a bill earlier in the week prohibiting students from receiving municipal tickets for disciplinary infractions.
The General Assembly sent 436 bills to the governor’s desk this year, with Pritzker signing all but three of them. Pritzker issued a pair of vetoes to Senate Bill 246, which would have allowed nonprofits to participate in the state’s investment pool, and House Bill 2682, a crisis assistance measure that had duplicative language in a bill Pritzker previously signed.
Pritzker also issued one amendatory veto to House Bill 2568 because a portion of the bill was written into the wrong sec-
tion of state law. Lawmakers can decide whether or not to accept the change when they reconvene in October.
Abortion medication access
Illinois will allow health care professionals to prescribe certain medications over the next decade even if the federal government revokes approval for a drug under House Bill 3637.
The bill stipulates that any medication that had U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval prior to 2025 and remains approved by the World Health Organization will remain legally accessible in Illinois even if the FDA revokes approval of the drug. The law would remain in effect through 2034. It was primarily aimed at protecting providers of abortion mediation.
The bill expands “shield law” protections to all Illinois health care workers to protect them from prosecution in other states or disciplinary action in Illinois for providing health care that is legal in Illinois but may not be legal in other places.
“As an anti-woman, anti-science, authoritarian administration invades our privacy, Illinois is holding the line and we are fighting back,” Pritzker said
at a news conference in Champaign.
The Trump administration has planned to review the FDA’s authorization of mifepristone, a leading abortion pill.
General Assembly Republican opposed the bill, arguing the state should not ignore the FDA’s guidance about medications.
Pritzker also signed House Bill 3709, an initiative of a group of University of Illinois students that requires Illinois colleges and universities to provide students access to contraception and abortion medications at campus pharmacies and health care centers beginning this school year.
“These services will now become more easily available from a source that young women can trust,” Pritzker said.
No municipal fines for students
Municipalities in Illinois may no longer issue fines, fees, tickets or citations to students as a form of school-based discipline under a new law signed Wednesday.
Senate Bill 1519, sponsored by state Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, took effect immediately and is intended to
close a loophole in a 2015 law, which prohibited schools from issuing fines for disciplinary infractions.
A 2022 investigation by ProPublica and the Chicago Tribune found that schools were getting around that law by referring students to local law enforcement for offenses such as truancy, vaping, fights or other infractions. The investigation also found Black and Latino students were fined at disproportionate rates.
The law does not apply to delinquent or criminal behavior. It also does not apply to traffic, boating, or fish and game laws.
“Our schools should be places of learning and growth – not entry points into the justice system,” Villa said in a statement. “When we treat student behavior with fines and tickets, we fail to address the real issues and risk derailing a young person’s future.”
The new law also requires school districts that employ school resource officers to have a memorandum of understanding with their local law enforcement agency to ensure SROs are properly trained and do not use fines or tickets for disciplinary infractions.
PUZZLES
ACROSS
1. Mongolian politician
5. Coconut palms
10. Rounded knob
14. Japanese city
15. Covers in soft material
16. Walk around
17. Ancient region in Syria
18. French painter
19. Grandmother
20. Cow part
22. Rocky peak
23. Secret plan
24. Sings to one’s lover
27. More (Spanish)
30. Father
31. Chinese philosophical principle
32. Hat
35. In agreement
37. A person’s brother or sister
38. Evil spirit
39. Monetary units
40. Partner to cheese
41. About Sun
42. A place to dance
43. Performer __ Lo Green
44. Beach accessory
45. Recipe measurement (abbr.)
46. Partly digested food
47. Pooch
48. Honorific title added to family name
49. Salts
52. Lichens genus
55. Lowest point of a ridge
56. Type of sword
60. Albanian language
61. Gold measurement
63. Italian seaport
64. Longtime late night host
65. Extremely angry
66. U. of Miami mascot
67. Mid-month day
68. Omitted from printed matter
69. Upper body part
DOWN
1. Two-toed sloth
2. Cooking ingredient
3. Iranian city
4. Publicly outs
5. Steep-sided hollow
Spoke
7. General law or rule
8. Extravagantly theatrical
Very fast airplane
Arm bones 11. Ancient kingdom near
__ fide: legitimate
Gemstone
Counsels
Top exec
Cool!
Touch lightly
Extract money via taxation
Dyes
Cloying sweetness
Soft drinks
Capital of Guam
Chemical compound
36. The bill in a restaurant 37. Car mechanics group
38. Late comedian Newhart
40. Health care for the aged 41. Wise individuals
43. A passage with access only at one end 44. Trim
46. Former OSS
47. The upper surface of the mouth
49. Edible lily bulbs
50. Type of reef 51. Vaccine developer 52. Mottled citrus fruit
53. A place to store lawn tools
Rare goose native to Hawaii
57. Hollywood pig 58. Musician Clapton
59. Take a chance
61. Spanish soldier
62. Mark Wahlberg comedy
Dead Sea
SPORTS
BOYS SOCCER PREVIEW: MENDOTA
Veteran Mendota squad eyeing state championship
Trojans return top 4 goal scorers, goalkeeper from 1A third-place team
By KEVIN CHLUM kchlum@shawmedia.com
After years of knocking on the door with deep postseason runs, the Mendota boys soccer team broke through last fall and qualified for the IHSA Class 1A state tournament.
The Trojans placed third, losing 1-0 to eventual state champion Normal U-High in the semifinal before beating Columbia 2-1 in penalty kicks in the third-place game.
With seven starters and other contributors back from last year, the Trojans have only one goal in mind this season.
“We’ve only got one goal this year and we’ve been working hard for it all summer,” Myers said. “We’d like to return to Hoffman Estates (for state) but win the whole thing this time.”
Myers said he felt last year the Trojans made a big step in bringing home the program’s first state trophy.
“Going into last year, my concern was that we had a hard time whenever we would play another really, really good team,” Myers said. “We sometimes had a hard time stepping up to the plate and coming through, but we did that last year. So now I think these boys are over that hurdle and they’re very focused.”
The Trojans bring back their top four goal scorers in Cesar Casas (32 goals), Isaac Diaz (31), Johan Cortez (28) and Sebastian Carlos (16).
Cortez, the 2024 NewsTribune Boys Soccer Player of the Year, also had 28 assists, while Casas had 12, Carlos had 10 and Diaz had nine. Casas and Diaz were NewsTribune All Area and Carlos was honorable mention.
“It’s a nice thing to have four really talented offensive players,” Myers said. “Johan, Isaac and Cesar were all over 20 goals and Sebastian wasn’t all that far behind. Sebastian’s confidence has
we’re going to miss a beat in the back with those four this year.”
Ramiro Palacios is back at center midfield, while junior Gael Garcia also will play in the midfield.
“That’s a lot of leadership there,” Myers said about Palacios, who is a two-year starter. “Gael is a very fast, very aggressive player. Gael can close down really quick. He’s a smart player. He’s got the ability to push forward and help out in the attack, too.”
Mauricio Salinas will be Mendota’s first player off the bench who can play any position, “which is going to help us,” Myers said.
The Trojans also return senior goalkeeper Mateo Goy, an All-Area pick last fall who made 103 saves and allowed 24 goals in 30 games. He recorded three playoff shutouts and did not allow more than one goal in a game in the postseason.
“Having Mateo back in goal is going to be huge,” Myers said. “Mateo did a fantastic job for us last year and came up super big for us at state in both games. This year, we’re expecting him to make the jump and become even more of a leader for us. He already has been doing that at practice. He’s been very vocal when we’re doing any type of activity that involves him working with the defense. I think his confidence has risen since last year, which is great. If you have a goalkeeper who’s playing confidently, he’s probably going to make quite a few saves.
grown big time and he’s been very noticeable over the summer. He’s very confident on the ball this year. I’m expecting him to make a push to be the leading goal scorer this year. He’s been doing a great job. Isaac is gaining confidence, is starting to pressure the ball a little bit more and is becoming more aggressive. Cesar and Johan are both incredible to have.
“It makes it very hard for another team to stop us defensively when we don’t have one guy, we have four guys who can put the ball in the back of the net pretty easily.”
The Trojans did lose All-Area mid-
fielder David Casas and All-Area defender Mauricio Martinez, along with starting defenders Cameron Kelly and Cameron Escatel.
Defensively, Danny Garcia returns at left back, with seniors Alex Beetz and Luis Ramirez, both four-year varsity players, stepping in at center back. Senior Angel Orosco, who rotated with Escatel last year, takes over at right back.
“We have multiple players who are fully capable of playing in the back,” Myers said. “We’re going to have some new guys in the back, but we have experienced players, and I don’t really think
“We’re expecting him to be that anchor for us in the back. We know when we need a big save, Mateo usually delivers.”
With their eyes on the big prize this season, Myers said Mendota’s schedule is more difficult.
“We’ve beefed up the schedule even more,” Myers said. “We’ve kept those same tough teams like Moline, Yorkville and Peoria Christian and we’ve added Washington, Quincy Notre Dame and Rock Island to give us more bigger schools and tough 1A teams that we could come across in the playoffs just to have us as prepared as we’re going to get.”
Scott Anderson file photo
Mendota’s Sebastian Carlos reacts after scoring a goal against Peoria Christian in the Class 1A IVC Sectional championship last season.
Senior Laylie Denault to lead ‘very young’ Mendota roster
Denault led NewsTribune area in kills last season
By KEVIN CHLUM kchlum@shawmedia.com
The Mendota volleyball team is extremely young this season.
The Spikers will start two juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen in coach Demi Salazar’s second season leading the program.
“We are very young, starting mostly underclassmen and juniors, but we can do things given the correct growth backing,” Salazar said.
Due to their youth, Salazar said the Spikers are “concentrating on defense.”
Sophomore Zariah Escatel will lead the back row, expected to be the team’s libero. She led the area in aces last season with one per set.
“She is incredible,” Salazar said. “So we only have to get the others to work together to be successful.”
Seniors Addi Jones and Maren Atherton are varsity returners who also will play defense.
Salazar said he expects the offense to “develop fast.”
“We have multiple hitters who can place the ball,” Salazar said. “Our offense has all new setters, so it may take time to settle in. The preseason showed
development though, so we have high hopes.”
Leading the way is senior Laylie Denault, who was the top hitter in the area last season at 3.9 kills per set. Denault was a NewsTribune All-Area first-team selection, as well as unanimous All-Three Rivers Conference East Division.
“We can possibly see her having less focus from other teams as we bring others into our offense,” Salazar said. “While she’s known for her kills, she is also a great passer and leader. We will look to her for that.”
Senior Sydney Tolley is a “very accurate hitter”, junior Elaina Koch returns after starting at middle hitter last season, junior Harlow Folty is a “great blocker who’s shown great improvement” and junior Maraiyah Roxanne is a first-year player who “has reshaped how teams hit against us already.” Freshman Abby Delao also is expected to be one of the team’s top hitting options.
Freshman Eva Beetz and junior Kate Strouss take over as the team’s setters.
“We have all newcomers and are young,” Salazar said about the team’s setting positions. “Eva Beetz and Kate Strouss will see the most action, but our two right side hitters (Delao and Folty) are previous setters.”
Despite the youth, Salazar said the Spikers’ goal is to “go as far as we can.”
Last season, Mendota finished 7-27-1 overall and 3-7 in the Three Rivers East.
5 TO WATCH
With the volleyball season getting underway Monday, here are five players to keep an eye on in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.
Laylie Denault, Mendota, sr., OH Denault was the focal point of the Spiker offense last season and led the area in kills at 3.9 per set. Coach Demi Salazar said Mendota will have more hitting options this season. That could pull defensive attention away from Denault and help her have another big season.
Camryn Driscoll, Princeton, sr., L
It starts with a pass from the back row, and Driscoll provides a steady presence there for the Tigresses as a three-year varsity starter. With six seniors returning, Driscoll and Princeton have high hopes.
Aubrey Duttlinger, La Salle-Peru, jr., OH
Duttlinger has been a big swinger since her freshman season and once again brings a powerful presence at the net to the Cavaliers. Duttlinger, who recently committed to NCAA Division I Troy University, ranked second in the area in kills last year at 3.5 per set.
Myah Richardson, Putnam County, so., S/RS
Richardson burst onto the season as a talented all-around player as a freshman, finishing top five in the area in kills, aces and digs. As one of only two starters back for the Panthers, she’ll be counted on to be an impactful player once again while leading the team.
Harper Schrock, Henry-Senachwine, sr., OH
Schrock led the Mallards in kills last season - ranked third in the area at 3.3 per set - to help Henry to a school-record 30 wins and a sectional final appearance. With all-stater Kaitlyn Anderson graduated, Schrock could be in line for even more swings this fall. – Kevin Chlum
Alex T. Paschal file photo
Mendota’s Laylie Denault plays a shot over the net against Newman. Denault led the NewsTribune area in kills last season.
Aden Tillman developing at quarterback
Senior working under 1st-year coach Jim Eustice
By KEVIN CHLUM kchlum@shawmedia.com
After refereeing Mendota basketball games several times last winter, Mendota‘s new football coach Jim Eustice knew senior Aden Tillman was a competitor.
But in terms of quarterback skill, Tillman was underdeveloped when the Trojans first took the field for summer workouts in June.
“He was pretty raw from a quarterback standpoint when we got out here, but we’ve done a lot of work with him, and he’s drastically improved his mechanics,” Eustice said. “Mentally, he’s a real smart kid, so he’s picking everything up. I think he’s going to do real well. The kids really look at him as a leader.”
For Tillman, this summer was the most position-specific coaching he’s received.
“I’ve never really had any quarterback coaching, but he really taught me some mechanics and I feel like he’s helping me as a quarterback,” Tillman said.
Eustice said the coaching staff has worked with Tillman on “a lot of little technical things,” including ball position, his feet and his hips.
“I used to throw like a baseball player,” Tillman said. “Now I’m throwing it like a quarterback, and that’s really the biggest thing.
“I’m throwing a lot tighter spirals. I’m getting it to a spot with a lot more velocity on it.”
The quarterback coaching has been “by committee,” which has included Eustice, former Mendota superintendent Jeff Prusator and former Trojan quarterback Bryson Prusator.
“He’s taken it all in, and he’s done a lot of extra work on his own to change and become what he is now,” Eustice said. “His improvement from June 2 when we first got out here to tonight (July 31, the last day of summer workouts) is off the charts as far as looking like a quarterback out there.”
Last fall, Tillman completed 81 of 149 passes for 856 yards and nine touchdowns to seven interceptions while run-
He was pretty raw from a quarterback standpoint when we got out here, but we’ve done a lot of work with him, and he’s drastically improved his mechanics.”
1,007 yards rushing, 17 TDs rushing in 2022).
“I’ve always seemed to have a pretty good quarterback who has a lot of fun in this offense, so I think Aden’s going to be another one,” Eustice said. “When you go through the list over the years, he’s going to be right there with those guys.
“He’s a tough kid, a smart kid. He’s getting to throw a good ball. He’s going to be able to run when we need him to. He’s a leader.”
Along with playing quarterback, Tillman will return to playing defense this season. He played free safety as a sophomore but last fall only played QB as the old coaching staff preferred him playing one way.
“I’m excited for it,” Tillman said.
Tillman said he feels the Mendota defense, which allowed 44.8 points per game last season, has made progress over the summer.
“The defensive side has been awesome,” Tillman said. “We’re all flying to the ball. We’re swarming. We’re doing everything we’re coached to do, and it’s working.”
Eustice said the staff will have to keep an eye on him playing both ways because it’s “a tough task to be playing 100% of the snaps in this conference.”
ning for 258 yards as the Trojans finished 0-9.
Mendota opens the season Aug. 29 at Riverdale.
“I think I can do anything that the team needs me to do,” Tillman said about his strengths. “I can run. I can throw. I can get out of the pocket. I’m going to encourage my teammates every
single play. I don’t care what happens, I’m going to motivate everyone on our team to be better the next play.”
Eustice said Tillman fits the mold of past quarterbacks he’s had who have been successful in his offense, including Max Bray (1,421 yards, 11 TDs passing; 1,006 yards, 19 TDs rushing in 2023) and John Brady (1,449 yards, 12 TDs passing;
“He’s just as smart on defense in that free safety spot,” Eustice said. “He’s filling alleys really nice. He’s not afraid to come up and hit you. I know he’s excited he can play defense this year.”
Tillman hopes to keep improving after his successful summer.
“The goal I have for myself is to keep on striving to be the best version of myself,” Tillman said. “I’m going to keep striving to make this team the best version of itself.”
Jim Eustice, Mendota football coach, on quarterback Aden Tillman
Scott Anderson file photo
Mendota quarterback Aden Tillman throws a pass during a joint practice in July at Mendota High School.
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