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SPIRIT MATTERS
Jerrilyn Zavada Novak
In terms of national and world events, life seems pretty hopeless right now, doesn’t it?
Tensions in America are at a modern-day high, with ideological differences dividing longtime friends and family members.
Anger-charged rhetoric encouraging violence is everywhere, blasted on all forms of media – even from people in the highest office of the government, no less.
At a time when our leaders should be encouraging constructive dialogue, the divide is only growing wider and more dangerous.
And to put it bluntly, many people are scared.
They wonder how our nation – and our world – can possibly emerge from this crisis to become a more civilized society that many of us once knew, although those days seem like eons ago now.
How can we possibly restore peace without resorting to violence and widespread loss? How can unity ever be restored?
We are a world in desperate need of the feminine. Feminine energy neutralizes conflict and balances and restores equilibrium.
And the most famous spiritual feminine figure in the history of the world is Jesus’s own mother, Mary. For centuries, the faithful have turned to her in desperate times and not been disappointed.
“A true child of Mary does not fear death, nor the assaults of the devil, because Mary protects him.” – St. Alphonsus Liguori
As a lifelong Catholic, I know the
power of the rosary.
From a young age in Catholic school, we were taught of the love Jesus has for his mother, and how powerful and effective her intercessory prayers are for those in need.
There are countless stories through the centuries of answered prayers for those who pray the rosary.
A simple Google search can lead you down the proverbial rabbit hole of wonder.
And in church-approved apparitions, such as Fatima and Lourdes, the rosary is consistently presented as the way to peace.
St. Pope John Paul II was ardently devoted to the blessed mother – he credited her intercession with guiding the bullet that almost killed him in 1981 to miss his internal organs.
His 2002 apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae beautifully explores the efficacy of this ancient collection of prayers.
“From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust, even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ, her son and the son of God.” – St. John Paul II
I don’t remember exactly when, but during a time of crisis as a young adult, I picked up the rosary. I was in a prayerful relationship with Jesus and held the sacraments of the church as lifelines.
But something was missing. And when I began praying the rosary regularly, I realized that the something missing was the nurturing love, guidance and friendship of my spiritual mother.
I began to feel her quiet presence in my life, sustaining me through all its ups and downs. She has never left me, even when my consistency in prayer has waned.
Mary is not an impediment to our relationship with Jesus. If anything, she draws us closer to him, teaching us who he truly is – “the prince of peace” – and
A park bench memorializes Veronica Blumhorst at Kakusha Park in Mendota on Nov. 20, 2021. Shaw Locall News Network file photo ON THE COVER
constantly bringing our needs and concerns to him.
Jesus loved his earthly mother so much that he gave her to us and trusted us to her from the cross. Her vocation from God as mother of his son was inextricably linked with Jesus’s mission for eternity.
“Now beside the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. So, when Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’
“Then, he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ ” – John 19:25-27
Conventional wisdom in how to handle the crises we find ourselves in cannot hold a candle to the impenetrable and proven wisdom of turning to our lady of peace for relief and spiritual strength.
Mary lived on this earth during highly volatile times. She knows what we are going through, and her prayers are stronger and more powerful than any of the threats and calls for violence that flow from the small minds that are currently in charge.
I highly recommend praying the rosary and meditating on the accompanying mysteries of Jesus’s life as you do.
But if you are not Catholic and not comfortable doing that, I encourage you to at least consider turning to Mary as a spiritual mother and confidante, sharing your worries and fears with her, and trusting that her prayers will bring you the faith and equilibrium you need to weather these tumultuous times.
She will not fail you. And she will not fail us.
All we have to do is ask.
• Spirit Matters is a weekly column by Jerrilyn Zavada Novak that examines experiences common to the human spirit. Contact her at jzblue33@ yahoo.com.
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No answers in Veronica Blumhorst case after 35 years
FBI still investigating 1990 Mendota case as family pleads for closure
By MARIBETH M. WILSON mwilson@shawmedia.com
It’s been 35 years since Veronica Jill Blumhorst drove home from her job at a Mendota grocery store and parked her blue Chevrolet Corsica in her family’s detached garage.
The 21-year-old never entered her home and vanished without a trace. Her purse, keys, VHS tapes and her red smock from the Super Valu supermarket, where she worked for five years, were never recovered.
Blumhorst’s family and friends, the community and law enforcement are still searching for answers.
Paul Blumhorst, Veronica’s father, said in a recent interview that the years following Veronica’s disappearance were filled with a lot of ups and downs.
“It’s been very stressful for both my wife and I and our daughter,” he said. “We basically turned it over to the Lord and said ‘You handle it.’ ”
Blumhorst left the supermarket at 1:05 a.m. on Sept. 21, 1990, drove home four blocks away, and parked her car in the detached garage. She locked the driver’s door, closed the overhead garage door, turned off the light and exited.
She was wearing a light green shortsleeve sweater with a white tank top underneath, cream corduroy pants, brown shoes, a purple satin jacket, a class ring with a blue sapphire stone and a black watch.
In the decades since Blumhorst’s disappearance, investigators have been stymied. They interviewed Veronica’s friends and co-workers. They questioned her boyfriend, but he eventually asked for an attorney.
The Blumhorst family grew progressively unhappy with the police investigation, which prompted them to move out of town and out of state to Arizona.
A stumbling block in the investigation was that Veronica had been adopted, which made it hard for DNA purposes.
Paul said they had turned in a sheet and other items of Veronica’s for DNA, but later learned the Mendota Police Department had lost it.
“They lost it somewhere,” he said.
“They lost the evidence.”
However, according to an Oct. 2014 NewsTribune article, Blumhorst’s extensive dental work has since been added to a national database and can be used for comparison if an unidentified female body is uncovered.
The Blumhorsts privately retained cadaver dogs and psychics to locate Veronica, or her remains. Repeated attempts, including an excavation in 2014, were all unsuccessful, according to a November 2021 NewsTribune article.
Paul said he believes Veronica is dead and mentioned a potential person of interest (no one has ever been charged in her disappearance), but also said he’s more interested in laying his daughter to rest than in prosecuting whoever is responsible.
After repeated calls from friends and family, Blumhorst’s case garnered the attention of the Cold Case Foundation, which led to the case being handed over to the FBI in April 2020.
Paul said the FBI was able to get in contact with Veronica’s birth mother to obtain DNA.
Public Affairs Officer for the FBI Chicago Field Office, Gabrielle Szlenkier, said in a statement that the FBI cannot
comment on specifics regarding an ongoing investigation. FBI Chicago assesses every lead that comes in and, if credible, pursues it accordingly.
“We will continue to aggressively investigate this case until a positive resolution is reached,” she said. “As with all our investigations, we adjust and refine our strategy based on the results of ongoing leads, which include tips we receive through public outreach.”
Mendota Police Chief Jason Martin said when he took over the department, he reached out to and is now in close contact with the FBI regarding this case.
“I am not authorized to speak on
behalf of the FBI and can’t really comment on the leads that they have followed up on,” he said. “The FBI and the Mendota Police Department continue to seek information about this case, regardless of how significant they feel it may or may not be.”
Paul said he is not aware of any updates in the case, but thanked the community of Mendota for continuing to reach out and support the family.
“They’ve been fantastic,” he said. “They have been supportive of us. We even have people to this day who contact us.”
Looking back, Paul said he hopes the community remembers Veronica for who she was.
“She always had a smile on her face,” he said. “She enjoyed talking to people, having fun. You know, she wasn’t an angel, but she was a very good girl and she had lots of friends in Mendota and other towns too. So, just remember her as being a very happy girl.”
The FBI and the Mendota Police Department encourage anyone with information, even if they’re not certain of its value, to call 1-800-225-5324, 815-5399331 or submit online at tips.fbi.gov. Tipsters may choose to remain anonymous.
Image provided
A citizen-led search is planned in the spring for the remains of Veronica Jill Blumhorst, who disappeared in 1990. The search will focus on an area by the bridge on Knox Road over Big Bureau Creek near Bartlett Woods Nature Preserve, about 2.5 miles southeast of Sublette.
Photo provided
Veronica Blumhorst
Coffee shop opens in Spring Valley
A new cafe offering coffee, sweet treats and a welcoming space recently opened at 1746 U.S. 6, Suite B, Spring Valley.
The Daily Grind Specialty Cafe staff roast their own coffee and the menu offers a traditional espresso bar, pourover coffees and G2O, which is carbonated water, energy concentrate and fruit syrup. Its fall menu includes sweater weather chai, pumpkin bar brew, salted maple nut, and caramel apple G20.
The cafe also carries Spring Valley Bakery items that vary daily, but include fruit danishes, turnovers, meltaways and twists.
It also has a growing menu of in-house items, including pastries such as trifle cups and a gourmet grilled cheese menu.
Hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Heritage Harbor to build event center
Heritage Harbor announced plans to build an event center at its resort in Ottawa.
The year-round, indoor-outdoor venue will offer a 4,000+ square foot main room, flexible pre-function areas, and outdoor patios. The space will accommodate up to 250 guests for corporate retreats, weddings, and celebrations across multiple rooms – cocktail hours on the patio, dinners in the main hall and breakouts in adjoining spaces. Amenities include a warming kitchen for catering teams and a full bar setup.
The venue is booking events for summer 2026.
Popular Oglesby restaurant returns
An Oglesby favorite has reopened. Oriental Kitchen recently reopened at 146 E. Walnut St. The Chinese restaurant offers carry-out only and accepts cash only.
It can be reached at 815-361-0101. Hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Ottawa garden center changing hands
Garden’s Gate is changing owner -
ship, and the new owner is a familiar face to customers of the longtime Ottawa garden center.
“I am excited to share with you that Garden’s Gate has officially been sold to someone who shares the same passion and dedication I’ve always had for this business,” Stephanie Stacy, who has been the owner since 2009, posted on the business’s social media. “Many of you already know her – she has been an integral part of Garden’s Gate for the past five seasons. It is with great pride that I introduce the new owner of Garden’s Gate: Kayla Rivers.”
Rivers will be relocating the greenhouses and creating her own space near Heritage Harbor in Ottawa in time for spring.
“While there will be some changes, you can look forward to the same high-quality plants, inspiring workshops, and, most importantly, a continued love of all things ‘planty,’ ” Stacy wrote.
“As for me, I have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to create a new horticultural legacy and share my passion with a new community. While I am beyond excited for this new challenge, Ottawa will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
Ottawa pizzeria enters final week of business
Iniga Pizzeria Napoletana’s last day in Ottawa will be Sunday.
After initially planning to open a second location in DeKalb, the pizzeria
past year, we have to sadly say goodbye,” read a post on its social media.
The Ottawa location opened at 215 W. Jefferson St. in 2019.
Streator boutique hosts grand reopening
More of Me is celebrating its move to a new location this weekend.
The shop, 212 E. Main St., #1, Streator, is moving just down the street to 316 E. Main St.
announced it will instead close its Ottawa location and relocate to DeKalb, 206 E. Lincoln Highway.
“We love this town, but rising costs and literally a ‘perfect storm’ over the
“Leaving behind the space that has been our home for the last five years is bittersweet. My heart aches with gratitude for Rick and Stephanie Wilkinson, who have shown such kindness and hospitality to me and More of Me during this time,” read a post on the business’s social media. “But with change also comes blessings. What Chris and Sarah Over have done with their building at 316 is nothing short of amazing, and I feel so honored to be stepping into the opportunity they’ve created.”
The grand reopening begins at 3 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and will include refreshments and giveaways.
MaKade Rios for Shaw Local News Network
Staff cut ribbon of new cafe, The Daily Grind, on Aug. 8 on Route 6 in Spring Valley.
Stephanie Jaquins
Fort du Rocher Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter of Mendota meets at Graves-Hume Library
Members discuss events, conservation and upcoming projects
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The Fort du Rocher Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Mendota met Sept. 13 at the GravesHume Library, with Regent Beverly Richardson presiding.
Guest Jane Setchell Porter attended the meeting.
Members reported on the recent Sweet Corn Festival booth, where children enjoyed activities and signed a total of 250 Christmas cards for military personnel and Flights of Honor participants.
A Veterans of Foreign Wars member offered their facilities for future chapter meetings and support for America 250 celebrations. Members from other chapters shared their plans for the America 250 observance.
The chapter is sponsoring the final Lunch in the Park event Friday, Sept. 26, at Mendota’s Veterans Park. Chairpersons Carolyn Schultz, Donna Jungnickel and Jan Koch will oversee the event, with setup beginning at 9:30 a.m. and lunch served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Members were reminded to send dues to Ann Goy by Oct. 1.
Richardson and Registrar Ruth Meinhardt attended DAR Days in Lisle on Sept. 6, noting that the Cameo Society of Illinois DAR meets twice a year. The society is for members with relatives who also belong to the Illinois DAR.
The District II fall meeting is scheduled for Oct. 25 at the Mendota Civic Center. Nancy Gillfillen will present on Sacagawea. Registration is due Oct. 10. The chapter approved hosting a fundraising table organized by Alice Giberson, Koch and Schultz.
Meinhardt reported that the chapter has 38 members and one prospective member. Members were asked to collect nonspiral-bound calendars to donate to the Dixon women’s prison in December.
Name badge order forms were distributed, and a group photo will be taken at the October meeting for inclusion in American Spirit magazine.
Sharon Presse will share a link for
ordering Wreaths Across America, with orders due Nov. 1. Amanda Simpson has contacted local schools regarding the Good Citizens Awards, with forms to be mailed soon.
President General Ginnie Sebastian Storage highlighted the new conservation program focused on preserving the nation’s landscapes and wildlife. Her project, “Leave a Legacy: Let’s Keep America Beautiful,” encourages members to join cleanup efforts and notes the resurgence of bald eagles.
The American Indian Minute, presented by Richardson, discussed the Iroquois Great Law of Peace from 1142, which established the democratic Iroquois Confederacy centuries before the U.S.
The Flag Minute reminded members that the flag should not be flown at night unless properly illuminated.
The Patriotic Minute honored John Bartlett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Hampshire,
who also served as governor and chief justice. Bartlett practiced medicine for over 40 years, promoting wellness through diet, exercise, fresh air and a contented mind.
The Celebrate Daughters segment recognized women who served in the U.S. Army during the Revolutionary War as unpaid soldiers, cooks, nurses and spies.
The National Defender reported on MIA Ronald W. Forrester, whose remains were identified and interred at Arlington National Cemetery in 2024 after disappearing in 1972. DNA testing has improved identification efforts but remains a lengthy process for families.
In the Conservation Minute, Leslie Althaus explained that honeybees are not native to Illinois and are more prone to stinging than native bees. She noted a decline in wild bee populations due to habitat loss.
Diane McCully shared details about the current DAR Museum exhibition in
Washington, D.C., “Revolution in Their Words: Penning Independence,” which features diaries, speeches and letters that reveal personal experiences during the American Revolution. The exhibit runs through December.
Meinhardt presented a DAR YouTube video on setting goals using the SMART method – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely – and encouraged members to create strategic plans.
The next meeting will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 11 at the Illinois Veterans’ Home in La Salle. Members will assemble and distribute fall goodie bags as part of their Day of Service project.
Membership in the DAR is open to women age 18 and older who can trace their lineage to a Revolutionary War patriot. The organization promotes education, patriotism and historic preservation. For information, visit the Fort du Rocher chapter website at fortdurocherchapternsdar.com or dar.org.
Scott Anderson
The Fort du Rocher Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Mendota met Sept. 13 at the Graves-Hume Library, with Regent Beverly Richardson presiding.
Mendota seeks $600K grant for Lake Mendota Park upgrades
By MARIBETH M. WILSON mwilson@shawmedia.com
Lake Mendota Park could see some improvements by next year with the help of a potential grant.
The Mendota City Council unanimously approved the commitment of local funds for the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program during Monday’s meeting.
Mendota is applying for a $600,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant, a program administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for improvements to Lake Mendota Park.
If received, the city would match the $600,000.
The grant would go toward funding two new soccer fields, the addition of a practice soccer field, a bank shot (a basketball court with varying heights and levels), sand volleyball, a ninja course and a new playground area with a sensory garden, Project Director Annie Short said.
The deadline to apply for the grant is Sept. 30, with a decision expected next spring.
Mayor David W. Boelk said the city had already been successful when it was awarded a $600,000 matching grant
to renovate Strouss Park.
“We’re big believers in our parks,” he said. “I already think we have a great park system; we just don’t have the top equipment out there.”
Kyle Russell file photo
The Mendota City Council unanimously approved the commitment of local funds for the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program during Monday’s meeting.
No September trial in Ottawa shooting death
By TOM COLLINS tcollins@shawmedia.com
A Spring Valley woman charged in a 2023 shooting death in Ottawa will not stand trial this month – and the window for her to stand trial this year is closing fast.
Chastity Furar, 23, also listed in Ottawa, appeared Friday in La Salle County Circuit Court for a final pretrial conference on the first-degree murder charge, which was filed after Eric Clements was shot outside his Ottawa home.
Jury selection was scheduled to begin Sept. 29.
However, Ottawa defense attorney Karen Donnelly asked the judge on Friday to strike trial dates and instead schedule a hearing on several defense motions.
According to Donnelly’s filings, Furar was illegally questioned after she requested legal counsel. Donnelly also alleged that police violated Furar’s rights when collecting surveillance and during the traffic stop when Furar was taken into custody.
Those issues must be resolved before trial, so Circuit Judge Michelle A. Vescogni scheduled a Nov. 7 motion hearing. Trial dates will be set later.
Furar is not charged with firing the shot that struck and killed Clements. Instead, she is charged as an accessory for allegedly supplying the weapon to murder suspect Nicolaus Phillips and for driving Phillips to and from the scene June 5, 2023.
The sentencing range for murder is 20 to 60 years with no possibility of probation. If convicted, both suspects would face extended prison terms because a firearm was used to kill Clements.
Phillips recently waived his right to a jury trial. He will next appear Oct. 15 for a status hearing in a separate courtroom. His bench trial is not yet scheduled.
Friday’s postponement means it is now possible that neither case will go to trial by the end of the year.
Lining up witnesses becomes challenging as the holidays approach, and scheduled judicial vacations will further limit autumn dates.
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Scott Anderson file photo
Chastity Furar appears before judge Cynthia Raccuglia during a hearing in the La Salle County Governmental Complex courtroom July 14, 2023, in Ottawa. Furar and Nicolaus Phillips of Spring Valley are charged in the shooting death of Eric Clements of Ottawa. Clements was killed on June 5th after being shot in the chest, allegedly by Phillips.
Remembering Gov. Jim Edgar’s 1990 campaign stop in Peru
By SCOTT ANDERSON sanderson@shawmedia.com
Check out photos from when Jim Edgar campaigned in Peru 35 years ago. The photos were found in the La Salle NewsTribune archives.
On Thursday, Aug. 30, 1990, the Illinois gubernatorial candidate traveled to
Peru on the Spirit of Peoria paddle-wheeler for a campaign stop.
Edgar won the race and became the 38th governor of Illinois on Jan. 14, 1991, and served two terms until 1999.
Before becoming governor, he served as Illinois secretary of state from 1981 to 1991. Edgar died Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, at age 79.
NewsTribune file photo
Jim Edgar campaigns on Aug. 30, 1990, as a candidate for Illinois governor with the Spirit of Peoria paddle-wheeler in Peru.
Lady landowners invited to seminar on farmland leases and conservation
Female landowners and farmers in the area are invited to attend the 10th annual Lady Landowner Seminar on Tuesday, Sept. 30, in Princeton.
The free event runs from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Warneke Woods, County Road 1835 North, and includes light refreshments.
Garrett Thalgott, general counsel for the Illinois Farm Bureau, will lead the seminar with a presentation on farmland lease considerations. He will cover key topics for landowners, tenants and agricultural professionals, including lease agreements, market trends and legal issues.
After Thalgott’s talk, representatives from the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Soil and Water Conservation District will discuss conservation programs and tools available to help farmers and landowners improve their land management.
This seminar is sponsored by the Bureau County Farm Bureau, the Marshall-Putnam Farm Bureau, the Bureau County FSA, the
Bureau County SWCD and the Department of Agriculture’s NRCS.
Space is limited, and reservations are required by Sept. 26. Interested participants can register by calling the Bureau County Farm Bureau at 815-875-6468 or the Marshall-Putnam Farm Bureau at 309-364-2501.
– Shaw Local News Network
Illinois Valley Democrats to meet Thursday at La Salle VFW
Illinois Valley Democrats will hold a meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at the La Salle Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4668, 2325 Donahue St.
All Democrats are welcome and encouraged to attend. Food can be bought through the La Salle VFW.
–
Maribeth M. Wilson
ICE in La
Salle: Immigration agents in town searching for criminal suspect
Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were in La Salle on Thursday, police confirmed, but agents were investigating a sexual assault, not
conducting an immigration enforcement roundup.
La Salle Police Chief Mike Smudzinski confirmed Friday that federal agents did visit the city, but he squelched rumors that agents were conducting random immigration checks. Instead, agents were looking for a man wanted for questioning in the sexual assault of a girl.
“It was not a random force roundup,” Smudzinski said. “They’ve been looking for this guy, and so are we.”
As of Friday, no one was in custody. Smudzinski said he would have been alerted because ICE is aware the individual is wanted for questioning on a local matter.
Meanwhile, reports of an ICE raid Thursday at a south-side Ottawa plant appear to have been unfounded.
A Shaw Media news reporter spoke to workers at the plant who dismissed reports of an ICE raid.
Ottawa Police Chief Mike Cheatham said Friday that there was “no such activity involving ICE to report in Ottawa.”
– Tom Collins
Thompson elected ICMB chair
By TOM C. DORAN tdoran@shawmedia.com
Tim Thompson was elected chairman of the Illinois Corn Marketing Board by his peers for the 2025-2026 term.
Thompson of Franklin grows minimum-till corn and no-till soybeans with his father-in-law, Gary Heyen, in Morgan County in west-central Illinois.
Thompson and his wife, Tami, have two children, Timothy Jr. and Marleigh, and also welcomed a foreign exchange student, Maren, of Oslo, Norway, as part of their family.
Besides his work on the family farm, the new ICMB chair also is a regional sales manager for Valent U.S.A.
In his free time, he trains Labrador retrievers, competes in American Kennel Club performance field trials, and enjoys hunting and fishing.
“I have been in the ag crop protection business for over 30 years. I’m a regional sales manager for Valent U.S.A. I have a sales team that covers the top northeast corner of the U.S. –about 18 states. We call on distributors
and retailers, as well as growers, to sell crop protection products on corn, soybeans, apples, peaches, grapes and a whole variety of specialty crops as well,” Thompson said.
The Thompsons purchased a small farm in Georgia a few years ago and have some plans for the site beyond a place to enjoy the warmer weather in the winter.
“We also have longleaf pine trees. We put in about 7,000 of those trees 12 months ago. My children will have the opportunity to see those fully harvested 25 years from now, but it’s another agricultural opportunity for us, and it’s been a learning experience for sure,” Tim Thompson said in an interview on Illinois Corn TV. “My entire family is very involved in the process.
In about year eight, we’ll start harvesting pine straw, which is sold for landscaping, and in about year 13, we’ll
LA SALLE COUNTY MARRIAGE LICENSES
Here is the list of couples who applied for La Salle County marriage licenses from Sept. 1 to Sept. 12, 2025.
• Nicholas Ronald Frye of Ottawa and Alexandra Louise McDonnell of Ottawa
• Ronald Richard Lahman III of Wenona and Kathrine Ann Deinert of Wenona
• Jospeh Michael Kellams of Saint John, Indiana, and Jamie Lynn Carlson of Saint John, Indiana
• Jacob Andrew Ovanic of Glen Carbon and Amanda Christine Sommer of Glen Carbon
• Jacob Alan Black of Streator and Addison Ann Price of Streator
• Alec Austin Yates of Carmel, Indiana, and Julia Marilyn Kaster of Carmel, Indiana
• Jack Griffin Clausel of Elgin and Emily Elizabeth Ness of Elgin
• Corey Jay Pohlman of Ottawa and Suzanne Artemise Loebach of Marseilles
• Frank Charles Senica III of La Salle and Haley Nicole Duncan of La Salle
start thinning out the crop. And then in about year 25, we’ll start harvesting for the full crop.
“When we harvest the pine trees in 25 years, they’ll go into telephone poles or lumber. They’ll be 75 feet tall by that time,” Thompson said.
Other officers
Also elected to ICMB officer positions were Matt Raben, Carmi, vice chairman; Terry Smith, Clayton, treasurer; and Dan Meyer, Tuscola, secretary.
These ICMB farmer leaders strategically invest Illinois corn checkoff dollars to grow demand, create new markets and foster an understanding of corn farmers and the corn industry, which is Illinois’ highest valued agricultural commodity.
The ICMB was established in 1982 to manage the voluntary checkoff investment that corn farmers in the state agreed to implement that year. The farmers who make up ICMB are elected by their peers to serve unpaid threeyear terms.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEF
IVCC Launches EKG technician training program starting Sept. 30 Illinois Valley Community College will begin a 50-hour EKG Technician Certification Program on Sept. 30, designed to prepare students for roles supporting doctors in detecting heart conditions. The program trains students to perform electrocardiograms, which record the heart’s electrical activity. It covers anatomy and physiology of the heart, medical terminology, ethics, legal aspects of patient care, electrocardiography and stress testing.
Students will gain hands-on experience using EKG equipment and participating in clinical lab practices. Upon completing the 20-session course, which runs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. through Dec. 11, students will be eligible to take certification exams.
Tuition for the program is $1,299. Students may qualify for a 50% tuition discount through the Noncredit Strategies at Work Grant.
To register, call 815-224-0427 or visit ivcc.edu/enroll. Use class ID 25354.
– Shaw Local News Network
• Rodney Jay Rod II of LaMoille and Felicia Christine Sassin of LaMoille
• Luke Jeffrey Blakley of Ottawa and Jaidan Marie Monet Mathews of Ottawa
• Joshua Ryan Eplin of Streator and Kiegan Ann Gelsthorpe of Streator
• Thomas Travis Harvey of Peru and Amara Serena Hatley of Peru
• Phillip Lee McDonald of Marseilles and Kara Ann McConville of Marseilles
• Mark David Mayhew of Streator and Kimberly Ann Overton of Streator
• Tomasz Antoni Augustyniak of Dalzell and Hannah Jay Parochetti of Dalzell
• John Patrick Rose of Oglesby and Rachel Helen Dose of Oglesby
• Johnathan Dale Ruddy of Cornell and Sydney Lane Shepherd of Pontiac
• David Michael DiSantis of Earlville and Tiffany Lynn Bridgewater of Earlville
• Tyler Raymond Purcell of Oglesby and Taylor Ann Piontek of Oglesby
• Tommy Lee Woodyer of Ottawa and Alyssa Denay Sallis of Ottawa
Tim Thompson
‘Tomato Troubles’ grows at La Salle County Jail
Master Gardener plot gives drug treatment inmates seeds for recovery, practical skills
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
This summer, the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program brought its “Tomato Troubles” workshop to the La Salle County Jail.
With a new garden in its first year, the project has given inmates in the drug treatment program a chance to learn new skills and take pride in their work.
The garden began this spring with donated plants from Bonie Plant Farms in Ottawa. Inmates Hallan Brady, Derek Hornick and Jovanny Castaneda
The
rolled up their sleeves to handle planting and weeding. Their work included tying up tomato plants and trimming them at the bottom to keep the airflow.
“This project has given our inmates
in our drug treatment program another tool during their recovery to experience something they never thought they would do or care about,” La Salle County Jail Superintendent Jason Edg-
comb said. “It helps them enjoy some of the simple things that living a sober life can present to them. They get excited to see what they have worked on produce so much harvest.”
The “Tomato Troubles” workshop walked participants through how to spot plant problems and find solutions. The workshop included prevention tips on soil health, crop rotation, watering, mulching, pruning, staking and airflow. Participants asked questions and shared observations, applying what they learned as they moved through the garden.
“Overall, it was a positive and practical program, helping participants strengthen gardening skills and build confidence in caring for their plants. I look forward to seeing how the garden grows in the future,” Master Gardener coordinator Bettyann Harrison said.
For information about the Master Gardener program, call 309-364-2356 or email bettyann@illinois.edu.
Photos provided Karina Delgado
Hallan Brady picks tomatoes in the garden.
La Salle County Jail’s garden features a variety of vegetables.
USDA lowers corn, soybean yield forecasts
By TOM C. DORAN tdoran@shawmedia.com
The U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered U.S. corn and soybean average yield forecasts in its Sept. 12 crop production report.
Based on conditions as of Sept. 1, U.S. corn yields are expected to average a record high 186.7 bushels per acre, down 2.1 bushels from the August forecast, but up 7.4 bushels from last year’s final estimate.
Total planted area, at 98.7 million acres, is up 2% from the last month’s estimate and 9% above the previous year.
The nation’s harvested area for grain is forecast at 90 million acres, 2% higher than the previous forecast and 9% higher than in 2024.
U.S. corn production for grain is forecast at 16.8 billion bushels, up less than 1% from the previous forecast and 13% higher than 2024. If realized, this would be the highest grain production on record for the nation.
USDA estimates the country’s average soybean yield to be a record 53.5 bushels per acre, 0.1 bushel lower than the August forecast and 2.8 bushels above last year.
Total soybean planted area, at 81.1 million acres, is up less than 1% from the last month’s estimate and down 7% from the previous year.
Area harvested for beans in the U.S. is forecast at 80.3 million acres, up less than 1% from the previous forecast, but down 7% from 2024.
The crop production report opened with a special note from the USDA: “Each September, the National Agricultural Statistics Service has the opportunity to revise planted and harvested acreage estimates for chickpeas, corn, cotton, dry edible peas, lentils, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans and sugarbeets. Revisions are based on all available data, including the latest certified acreage data from the Farm Service Agency. All states in the estimating program for these crops were subject to review and updating.”
Illinois
Based on Sept. 1 conditions, USDA lowered its projected Illinois average corn yield by 2 bushels from last month to 219 bushels per acre, 2 bushels above the 2024 statewide average. If realized, the 11 million harvested acres for grain is projected to produce 2.409 billion bushels.
The Illinois estimated soybean yield came in at 65 bushels per acre from the USDA, unchanged from last month’s projection. With a harvested area of 10.2 million acres, Illinois would produce 663 million bushels of soybeans.
Indiana
USDA kept Indiana’s average corn yield estimate of 205 bushels per acre, 7 bushels ahead of 2024. With harvested acres of 5.25 million, the state is estimated to harvest just over 1.076 billion bushels.
Indiana’s average soybean yield was lowered by a bushel from last month to 61 bushels per acre, 2 bushels above 2024. The 5.43 million harvested acres
are projected to produce 331.23 million bushels.
Iowa
Iowa’s average corn yield was lowered by 3 bushels from last month to 219 bushels per acre, 8 bushels higher than 2024. It’s anticipated that 13 million harvested acres are projected to produce 2.847 billion bushels.
USDA increased Iowa’s average soybean yield by 2 bushels from last month to 65 bushels per acre, 5 above a year ago. If realized, the state’s 9.38 million harvested acres would produce 609.7 million bushels of soybeans.
Survey Procedure
Objective yield and farm operator surveys for this report were conducted Aug. 25 to Sept. 9 to gather information on expected yield as of Sept. 1.
The objective yield surveys for corn and soybeans were conducted in the major producing states that usually
OBITUARIES
ANTONIA SAUCEDA
Born: December 27, 1933
Died: September 9, 2025
It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Antonia Sauceda of Peru, IL, formerly of Onarga, IL, at the age of 91 on September 9, 2025.
Antonia was born to Nicanor and Felipa on December 27, 1933 in Ejido San Antonio Del Joral, General Cepeda, Coahuila, Mexico. They preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Bernabe Sauceda; three siblings, Ventura Reyes, Mcliton Zamora, and Monica Saucedo; one son, Hector Lara; and one grandson,
• FARMING FORECASTS
Continued from page 14
account for 75% of the U.S. production.
Farm operators selected for the objective yield survey were interviewed to update previously reported acreage data and seek permission to randomly locate two sample plots in selected fields for the
Joseph Lopez Jr.
She is survived by three daughters, Eva Lopez, Christina (Isaul) Martinez, and Eva (Oscar Robles) Sauceda; two siblings, Reyes and Juana Zamora; fifteen grandchildren, Alicia (Ernesto) Lemus, Nancy (Claudio) Garcia, Maria (Doug) Bridges, Oscar Jr., Nadia, Leslie, Alexis, Cynthia, and Sofia Robles, Ernesto Jr., Bibiana, and Nehirin Lemus, Austin, Isaul Jr., and Brandon Martinez; eight great-grandchildren, Sophia and Remington Bridges, Milla, Emma, and Tommy Martinez, Natache, Noah, and Nolan Garcia, and Arely Martinez; and her beloved dog Chippy.
She often spoke of her years spent with her paternal grandmother, Pascuala as some of the best years of her life. They both had a beautiful and close bond. Her favorite part of the day was gathering wood for her grandmother so she could start the fire for their
objective yield survey.
The counts made within each sample plot depend on the crop and the maturity of that crop. In all cases, the number of plants is recorded along with other measurements that provide information to forecast the number of ears or pods and their weight.
The counts are used with similar data from previous years to develop a pro -
meals. She later went on to marry whom she would always describe as the most patient and caring man in the world, her husband Bernabe Sauceda on December 17, 1969 in Watseka, IL. She spent most of her days caring for her family in the most loving way, helping raise her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and babysat many kids along the way. There was never a dull moment or an empty belly at Nana’s house. She would be up early in the morning preparing homemade flour tortillas for the day, often making smaller ones to fit her grandkids’ tiny hands and she would butter them up for everyone. Everything she did for her family was always above and beyond. She filled their minds with knowledge and stories from her past. She brought them up to love the country and to honor all of the sacrifices many have made for the freedom we have. She taught them to love their roots and to keep up
jected biological yield. The average harvesting loss is subtracted to obtain a net yield.
The plots are visited starting in September and are revisited each month until crop maturity, when the fruit is harvested and weighed. After the farm operator has harvested the sample field, another plot is sampled to obtain the current year’s harvesting loss.
with traditions. Antonia enjoyed sewing, long walks in the evening and loved John Wayne and Clint Eastwood movies. She was a woman who was very strong in her faith as she loved helping at her local church. She taught her family to pray the Rosary and to serve and trust in the Lord. She made lifelong friendships in her hometown, sharing her family’s joys and sorrows. No one can replace the unconditional love she had for each and every one of them up until her very last day.
Visitation was at Knapp Funeral Home in Onarga on Friday, September 19, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Funeral Mass followed at the Immaculate Conception Church in Gilman at 12:30 P.M. with Rev. Fr. Santiago Corona officiating. Burial followed at Onarga Cemetery. Please share a memory of Antonia at www. knappfuneralhomes.com.
The farm operator survey was conducted primarily by telephone with some use of mail, internet and personal interviews.
Approximately 7,600 producers were interviewed during the survey period and asked questions about probable yield. These growers will continue to be surveyed throughout the growing season to provide indications of average yield.
Photos by MaKade Rios
ABOVE: Princeton’s Caroline Keutzer celebrates her team scoring Sept. 18 at Ottawa High School in Ottawa. LEFT: La Salle-Peru’s Damian Cortes (left) waits for a chance to react Sept. 17 while Ottawa’s Jorge Lopez headers the ball at Ottawa High School.
• PHOTOS OF THE WEEK Continued from page 16
TOP LEFT: Members of the Hall-Putnam County football team ride on a float during the inaugural Homecoming parade on Sept. 17 down McCoy Street in Granville. TOP RIGHT: An aerial view of firefighters on top of a roof at Grassers Heating and Plumbing on Sept. 17 in McNabb. ABOVE: Coal City’s Gaven Vestal receives a touchdown pass as Streator’s Quintin Stevens defends Friday at Doug Dieken Stadium.
Scott Anderson
Katy Arnold
Scott Anderson
Drought pushes Illinois River to near historic low
By SCOTT ANDERSON sanderson@shawmedia.com
The Illinois River is inches away from hitting a record low in La Salle. Currently, the river level in LaSalle is 10.5 feet.
The lowest reading recorded at La Salle was 10.04 feet on Sept. 28, 2004. The Illinois Valley currently is experiencing an abnormally dry period, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
See DROUGHT, page 19
Photos by Scott Anderson
TOP LEFT: A trickle of water falls down Lake Falls at Matthiessen State Park on Sept. 17 near Oglesby. A lack of rainfall has caused waterfalls to dry up at Matthiessen and Starved Rock state parks.
TOP RIGHT: An aerial view shows exposed silt surrounding the narrow opening between Goose Lake and Lake Senachwine on Sept. 13 near Putnam. Goose Lake and Senachwine Lake are backwaters of the Illinois River. ABOVE: Pelicans stand atop an exposed rock Sept. 17 below the historic Starved Rock State Park icon.
LEFT: An aerial view shows the lock and dam Sept. 17 in Starved Rock State Park. The Illinois River is nearing its all-time record low.
• DROUGHT
Continued from page 18
Photos by Scott Anderson
TOP LEFT: A kayaker passes underneath the Illinois Route 89 bridge on Sept. 16 in Spring Valley. The shoreline creeps towards the first peer as water records flirt with record-low numbers.
TOP RIGHT: A view of the Vermilion River near the Ed Hand Highway Bridge on Sept. 16 in Oglesby. ABOVE: Loopers make their way downstream of the Illinois River on Sept. 17 near Starved Rock State Park. LEFT: The Illinois & Michigan Canal in Utica is shallow and covered in moss on Sept. 16.
Hennepin unveils sculpture, dedicates Bridge to Wetlands named for former mayor
By MARIBETH M. WILSON mwilson@shawmedia.com
Hennepin Mayor Quentin J. Buffington spoke while dedicating the “Grazing Cattle,” a public art sculpture, on Saturday.
The unveiling and dedication of the sculpture was a part of a two-part ceremony, as the official opening of the Kevin Coleman bridge to the wetlands.
“Public art has a unique way of enriching our environment,” Buffington. “It tells our story, brightens our spaces and inspires connection and conversation.”
“Grazing Cattle” was purchased in cooperation with the Walter Durley Boyle Trust and Saint Bede Abbey, and created by artist Father Joseph Heyd of Saint Bede Abbey in Peru.
Rich Cummings, a former student of Heyd and curator of his collection, said Heyd was an amazing man who would be thrilled to see his work – what he called “those crazy things” – overlooking the Illinois River.
“I think we can look to his origins
with simple geometric shapes, his studio, which was originally a dairy barn –which he actually shared with the cows,” Cummings said. “So, we can look to that to see where his inspiration came from and I don’t think we could have picked a perfect setting.”
The sculpture presents cows as geometric shapes that will cast whimsical shadows as nature’s light plays across the many facets, according to a city news release.
It was placed on a bluff overlooking the Illinois River. Metal fabricator and welder Frank Boggio of Hennepin carefully restored the artworks and metalwork.
The dedication of the sculpture concluded with comments from Steve Mignone, a long-time friend and associate of Heyd, and a blessing from St. Bede Abbot Michael Calhoun.
Following the dedication, the community headed down to the Wetlands Bridge.
“This bridge is more than a structure,” Buffington said. “It directly
See BRIDGE TO WETLANDS, page 21
And Reconditioning Process
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Kyle Russell
Abbott Michael Calhoun approaches the newly installed “Grazing Cattle” sculpture Saturday by renowned artist The Rev. Joseph Heyd of Saint Bede Abbey for blessing after prayer at the riverfront in Hennepin.
• BRIDGE TO WETLANDS
Continued from page 20
connects our community to over 2,500 acres of wetlands and the trails of wild and plant life that make this region so extraordinary. It represents vision, perseverance and teamwork.”
The bridge, the brainchild of former Mayor Kevin Coleman, has been in the works for over 20 years.
Coleman said throughout the years, he never stopped working toward a direct connection from Hennepin to the Wetlands.
The bridge is an iron and wood structure that spans over Coffee Creek and allows for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
According to a news release, the almost $800,000 bridge project was funded through a combination of local and state grants as well as generous community support, marking a significant investment in both the village’s infrastructure and its connection to nature.
President and Executive Director of the Wetlands Initiative Paul Botts said the Wetlands are now at 3,100 acres and visitors have the option to walk, bike, or use any non-motorized means on the two trails.
“I want to see the next generations, you can get up close and personal,” he said about visitors to the area.
Rich and Nic Keegan spoke about the donation of the property, followed by Ken Giodano, who spoke about the design and engineering of the project.
Right before the ribbon cutting, Cummings told the crowd he had been keeping a secret – the city had named the bridge in honor of former mayor Coleman, who never tired in his pursuit to connect Hennepin to the wetlands.
“Wow, I’m kind of speechless,” Coleman said. “It’s quite an honor to have something named after you...I guess keeping at it to have my name or the family name put on something in the Village of Hennepin. I’m very honored.”
The ceremony ended with a blessing from Calhoun.
Photos by Kyle Russell
TOP RIGHT: Guests walk across the Kevin Coleman Bridge for its christening use Saturday after the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 501 3rd Street in Hennepin. ABOVE: Abbott Michael Calhoun blesses the new Kevin Coleman Bridge after prayers during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 501 Third St. on Saturday in Hennepin.
Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra presents ‘Go West, Young America!’ pops concert
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra will open its 76th season with a pops concert titled “Go West, Young America!” on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
The concert will be held at the Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg Cultural Centre at Illinois Valley Community College. Guest conductor Stephen Squires will lead the orchestra in a program featuring Western-themed classics, including Aaron Copland’s “Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo,” John Williams’ “The Cowboys,” and the Overture to “Oklahoma!.”
Squires recently retired from university teaching and was named professor emeritus of conducting at Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. He previously taught at the Northern Illinois School of Music, where he earned the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award.
This concert is part of the IVSO’s “Flight” season, a five-cycle series inspired by tasting flights in wine or coffee. Each concert features a differ-
ent conductor and offers a unique musical experience.
To complement the season, the IVSO is offering a limited-edition Coffee Quintet Flight ticket for $30. Sponsored by Bean Box Espresso, the ticket includes admission to any single IVSO concert and five custom coffee and concert pairings, such as the “Go West, Young Americano!” Only 100 Coffee Quintet punch cards are available and can be purchased online or during concert intermissions. More details are at ivso.org/coffee.
Regular tickets cost $22 for adults, $10 for college students with ID, and are free for students through 12th grade. Season subscriptions, Coffee Quintet punch cards, and tickets for “Go West, Young America!” are available at ivso.org.
The concert is partially supported by the Illinois Arts Council and sponsored by Maze Lumber. Season sponsor Miller Group Charitable Trust also supports the IVSO. All venues comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accommodation requests can be sent to accessibility@ivso.org.
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
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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.
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.
When veto session begins, energy legislation should vie for top billing
Amidst everything going on with the state, national and international political scene, it was actually refreshing to read a banal headline from Capitol News Illinois on Friday: “Nuclear power, battery storage funding at center of energy policy debate.”
Most of the time, energy legislation surfaces these days, it’s to remind everyone of the bills fueling the federal bribery investigation that brought down bigwigs at Commonwealth Edison, as well as previously untouchable House Speaker Michael Madigan. But this time (at least for now), Andrew Adams’ reporting focuses on the basics of what could be on the table during the October veto session, a welcome reminder that our elected officials still must head to Springfield to conduct the people’s business.
In this light, energy subjects are especially interesting because they rep-
EYE ON ILLINOIS
Scott T. Holland
resent one of the few topics where typical political alliances are realigned. In recent memory, it was easy, in certain parts of Illinois, to find houses with “Fire Pritzker” signs adjacent to placards demanding bills to ensure the future of a nuclear plant – a plan that required the governor’s support to advance.
Exelon and ComEd likely didn’t intentionally site their facilities in areas that regularly send Republicans to the Statehouse, but that’s the current dynamic. Political divides on these matters often are more notable in the Democratic Party. Having a larger tent
increases the possibility of different camps stumping for competing priorities, and that’s been especially true with regard to climate change, fossil fuels, alternative energy and lots of other buzzwords. Illinois Democrats have set bold goals for emissions rates, electric vehicle usage and more, but they’ve also, as Adams noted, established conditions where “these always-on, power-hungry facilities are a key aspect of Illinois’ economic development strategy, and the state has offered several data center companies tax incentives to locate here.”
Political fascinations aside, a practical downside of the ongoing debate is being reminded that in the macro context of anything falling under “energy,” residential customer bills are something of an afterthought. This has long been true whenever utilities are accountable to shareholders, but it seems particu-
larly striking at a time when economic conditions are unstable at best and we’re heading into another Midwestern winter.
It’s worth reading Adams’ entire story (tinyurl.com/CNIenergydebate), but take note of a reference to a plan to add a surcharge to utility bills to fund corporate battery storage incentives. The Illinois Power Agency reports “adding 6 gigawatts of battery storage to the grid – the equivalent of several power plants’ worth of batteries – would reduce costs to consumers by about $2.70 per month in northern Illinois and about $7.50 in downstate Illinois.”
The study has already generated bipartisan pushback.
• Scott T. Holland writes about state governmentissuesforShawLocalNews Network. He can be reached at sholland@shawmedia.com.
Edgar embodied the ‘civility, compromise and compassion’ he preached
Jim Edgar ran a brilliant campaign for governor in 1990. He set the template for every winning statewide race since then by focusing on the importance of independent suburban women.
The Republican Edgar defeated a Catholic Democrat – Neil Hartigan – in that race, with a boost from the National Abortion Rights Action League’s endorsement. That endorsement most definitely helped him with suburban women, who were just starting to lean Democratic. Every successful high-profile statewide candidate since then has focused on winning the votes of suburban women. No major statewide candidate has won without them. Edgar broke the code. And 35 years later, his approach still works.
Edgar also realized that property taxes were a much more important issue than the income tax in the suburbs and everywhere else. Hartigan campaigned on a pledge to repeal a temporary state income tax surcharge for education and local government. Edgar said he’d keep the surcharge in place and tackle property tax increases instead, understanding that those property taxes were more important to voters than a half point on the income tax. The Illinois Education Association, which represented (and still does) lots of suburban and Downstate teachers, endorsed him
Rich Miller VIEWS
over the Democrat Hartigan. After he was elected, Edgar forced an overtime session that eventually produced a cap on suburban property tax increases.
Statehouse denizens often referred to Edgar as “Governor No” back in the day. Edgar had succeeded Gov. Jim Thompson, who tried for 14 years to be everything to everyone. Edgar inherited a ballooning budget deficit and after he was elected insisted that the state had to live within its means.
That insistence meant repeated clashes with lefty activists, many of whom loudly pounded on the House doors in protest during an Edgar budget address announcing his proposed Medicaid cuts. At the time, Medicaid costs were rising far faster than state revenues, and Edgar insisted that something had to be done.
“Governor No” was often better at blocking things than passing things, as evidenced by his eventual abandonment of an election-year push in 1994 for an assault weapons ban. But he remained popular among the electorate, and he
hammered his ’94 Democratic opponent Dawn Clark Netsch’s campaign pledge to increase income taxes in order to reduce property taxes and cruised to a 30-point victory.
Edgar had actually favored a tax swap plan since the 1970s, and he introduced his own variation on the Netsch plan after he was reelected. But, because of the 1994 national Republican landslide and a Republican-drawn legislative map, the Republicans held the majority in both legislative chambers and his proposal went down in flames. (He said at the time he had polling that showed his plan was popular, but when I pressed him for his numbers, he said I made more money than he did so I should do my own poll.)
He put the state on a path to pay down its pension debt, agreeing to a plan that didn’t kick in with higher payments until long after he would be gone from office. But Edgar realized that something was better than nothing, and even though the plan was flawed, and the state is still struggling all these years later to pay down its pension debt, Illinois has mostly remained on track.
Edgar increased K-12 education and higher education funding, implemented an “instant” background check on gun buyers, and left the state with a $1.2 billion budget surplus (almost $3 billion in
today’s dollars). That surplus was almost immediately spent when his successor, George Ryan, took office and was eventually restored under the current governor.
Since leaving office, Edgar has focused on promoting bipartisanship and leadership building with his tremendously successful Edgar Fellows program, which trains new politicians (mainly legislators) to govern and work with others.
Edgar spoke out frequently against the rightward drift of his beloved Republican Party, eventually parting ways with the GOP because of Donald Trump. In a speech last May, he also stressed what he called “the three C’s.”
“Civility, Compromise and perhaps most important, particularly today, is Compassion.”
Jim Edgar died this month. I think Darren Bailey (yes, Darren Bailey) probably said it best after Edgar’s death was announced: “He was a man of integrity and strong moral character who dedicated his career to public service. His contributions to Illinois will not be forgotten.”
I couldn’t agree more.
•RichMilleralsopublishesCapitol Fax,adailypoliticalnewsletter,and CapitolFax.com.
SPORTS
MENDOTA REPORTER SPORTS ROUNDUP
Jonas Fitzgerald wins playoff, leads Mendota golf to Princeton Invite title
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK
contact@shawmedia.com
BOYS GOLF
At Princeton: Mendota senior Jonas Fitzgerald beat Rock Falls sophomore Lucas Porter in a playoff hole in the pouring rain to claim medalist honors at the Princeton Invitational on Sept. 20 at Chapel Hill Golf Course.
Fitzgerald carded a 76. Three other Trojans placed in the top 10 as Mendota tallied a 317 to win
the team title by 18 strokes over Hall (335). The host Tigers (356) finished fourth and La Salle-Peru (364) was fifth among the nine teams.
At Kewanee: Ashtyn Stamberger carded a 37 to claim medalist honors and lead Mendota to a victory in a Three Rivers Conference triangular on Sept. 18 at Baker Park Golf Course.
The Trojans scored a 157 to beat Sherrard (189) and Kewanee (191). Dane Doyle fired a 39 for Mendota, while Grady Jones had a 40, and Brody Hartt added a 41.
BOYS SOCCER
Mendota 7, Monmouth-Roseville 0: Isaac Diaz notched a hat trick to lead the Trojans to a Three Rivers Conference victory on Sept. 20 in Mendota.
Johan Cortez and Cesar Casas each scored two goals for Mendota (13-2).
Washington 2, Mendota 1: Cortez scored the Trojans’ lone goal in a nonconference loss on Sept. 18 in Washington.
Mateo Goy made 13 saves for Mendota (12-2).
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Erie-Prophetstown d. Mendota 25-19,
25-13: Mariah Elam had five kills and a block as the Spikers lost in a Three Rivers Conference East Division match in Mendota.
Laylie Denault put down four kills for Mendota, while Eva Beetz had nine assists.
FOOTBALL
Monmouth-Roseville 42, Mendota 21: The Titans built a 42-0 lead in the third quarter to start the running clock against the Trojans in a Three Rivers Conference Mississippi Division game on Sept. 19 in Monmouth.
PUZZLES
ACROSS
1. Gas usage measurement
4. Muslim mystic
8. Towards the mouth or oral region
10. Monday (Spanish)
11. Frame for a coffin
12. Rub out
13. John __, English educator l467-l5l9
15. Small round particle
16. Chilean seaport
17. News service
18. Pay for dinner
21. Glamorous city
22. Subway rodent
23. “The Raven” author
24. Buddhist festival
25. Cost, insurance and freight (abbr.)
26. Indigenous person of Thailand
27. “The Blonde Bombshell”
34. Series-ending episodes
35. Bluish greens
36. Aquatic mammal
37. Unit of measurement
38. Eye membranes
39. Indian god of dissolution
40. People of Scotland
41. Leak slowly through
42. Rock icon Turner
43. Midway between south and southeast
DOWN
1. Large hat covering
2. “From what is earlier” (Latin)
3. Celtic
4. Retirement region
5. A way to change posture
6. Touches
7. A small island
9. Rubbish
10. A citizen of Laos
12. A place to dance
14. 19th letter of Greek alphabet
15. Mild expression of surprise
17. 17th letter of Greek alphabet
19. Descriptions
20. Men’s fashion accessory
23. Thieves of the sea
24. Prohibit
25. Card game
26. French and Belgian river
27. Underling
28. Downwind
29. Type of medication
30. German city
31. Animal disease
32. Martini ingredients
33. Get away from
34. Stuffed (French)
36. Type of precipitation
ad li ne and job information for the po sitions is li sted on the we bsite. An y questions can be dire ct ed to Dr St even R. Wrob leski at (815) 223 -2 373
LASALL E- PE RU TOWNSHIP HI GH SCHOOL IS AN EQUAL OP PORTUNI TY EMPL OYER
Garage Sales
HENN EPIN Town Wi de Garage Sales
Friday and Saturday, September 26 and 27 8am - 3pm
Maps available at North Central Bank and Hennepin Food Mart
Something on every street in Hennepin!
WENONA TO WN WIDE FALL GARAGE SALES
Friday, Sept 26 & Saturday, Sept 27
Times may vary.
Maps available at local busine ss es and home sales
Aucti ons
PU BLIC AUCT ION
Satu rd ay 9/27 at 9:30 am GUNS - A 1959 C hevy Bel AirTools - Collectibles & Primitives Sa le at the Home 10 88 County Rd 2350-E Magnolia, IL 61336
Th ere are 16 Gu ns (Shot gu ns, Ri fl es & Ha nd gu ns!!! 59 Bel Ai r Not Running but make a Gr eat Project or Ra t Ro d!; Ri di ng Mo wer, Ne w Snow Bl ower; Blue Onion Gl asswar e and so Much Mo re
See Complete Listing and Pictures at www.aucti on zi p. co m
Owner - Larry & Kathy Ca rr, Magnolia, IL Call John at Lauf Au ction , We no na , IL 81 5-257-44 42 or johnelau f@gmail. co m
Email: clas sified@shawlocal.co m or call: 815-526- 4645 Garage Sales
Place your Garage Sale ad online 24/7 at ww w.Shaw Local.com/garagesales
