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Mendota Rotary Club installs Born Learning Trail
New trail promotes early childhood learning with signs, art for ages 0-5
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SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The Rotary Club of Mendota recently partnered with United Way of Illinois Valley to install a Born Learning Trail on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Blackstone Park, 300 Fourth Ave., Mendota.
The organization’s volunteers installed colorful signs, painted pathways, and cleaned up the trail’s surrounding area. The volunteers were also assisted by the Mendota Interact Club.
The Born Learning Trail features a series of play-based signs and sidewalk art. The signs and art encourage early childhood development through movement, exploration and creativity.
The trail will also include stations to help parents and caregivers turn moments into learning opportunities to promote literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills.
“Rotary’s motto is Service Above Self, and this project truly embodies that spirit,” Mendota Rotary Club president Susan Paugels said in a news release. “We are excited to be a contributor to the Born
LOCAL NEWS BRIEF
La Salle County property tax payment deadline is Nov. 12
Taxpayers in La Salle County must pay their property taxes by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, to avoid having their unpaid taxes sold at the tax sale, according to a news release from the La Salle County
Treasurer’s Office.
No payments will be accepted after the deadline, including those postmarked by Nov. 12. Unpaid taxes will be sold Thursday, Nov. 13.
Interest rates on first and second installment taxes will change as of Nov. 10.
Taxpayers unsure of the amount they owe should call 815-617-4196.
Payments must be made with certified funds such as cashier’s checks, money
Learning Trail. The trail is a great way for any adult to engage young children in learning activities. We hope the community will enjoy it for many years to come.”
The new trail is funded by a Rotary District Grant and matching funds from the Mendota Rotary Club. The trail is designed for families with children ages newborn to five.
“Partnering with the Mendota Rotary for this special ‘build day’ represents our
commitment to fostering community spirit and collaboration in the Illinois Valley,” United Way of Illinois Valley executive director Betha Ghighi also said in the news release. “Together, we are investing in the well-being of our area and creating opportunities for growth, support, and unity, ultimately strengthening our community and enhancing the lives of those we serve.”
For more information, call 920-242-9881.
orders, credit cards or cash.
Credit card payments can be made online at lasallecountytreasurer.com or by calling 815-393-2688 until 4 p.m. Nov. 12. In-person credit card payments are accepted at the treasurer’s office until 4 p.m. the same day.
The treasurer’s office drop box will close at 3 p.m. Nov. 12.
The office will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day.
Stage 212 announces auditions for upcoming holiday production ‘Joy to the World: A Holiday Revue’
Stage 212 will hold auditions for its upcoming holiday production of “Joy to the World: A Holiday Revue” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the theater, 700 First St., La Salle.
Veteran Jason Donohue, poses for a photo on Oct. 17 at the VFW Hall in Mendota. Scott Anderson ON THE COVER
The auditions are open to people in second grade and older.
The production will be directed by Jessica Kreiser. Vocal and instrumental auditioners should prepare a 30-second-long Christmas or holiday song cut. The auditions can be performed in person or video-recorded. Participants must fill out an audition form before auditioning at stage212.org.
Video audition submissions will be due at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. To submit a video audition, email productionmanager@ stage212.org with “Joy to the World Audition” in the subject line.
“Joy to the World: A Holiday Revue” will run from Friday, Dec. 5, through Sunday, Dec. 7.
– Shaw Local News Network
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Scott Anderson
The Rotary Club of Mendota recently partnered with United Way of Illinois Valley to install a Born Learning Trail on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Blackstone Park, 300 Fourth Ave., Mendota.
‘HOW BLESSED WE ARE AS AMERICANS’ Mendota vet Donahue never forgot freedom isn’t free
By TOM COLLINS
Want to sneak off at night? The U.S. Navy company commanders pointed out the hole in the fence at Great Lakes Naval Station.
Jason Donahue of Mendota remembered being flabbergasted when he and his fellow Navy recruits were shown how to make a getaway. But the chiefs had a pretty sound reason for giving the enlisted troops an out.
“Because they didn’t like paperwork,” Donahue said. “They told us, ‘If you’re going to do it right, you do it this way.’”
There plenty of days in basic training – and many nights aboard the USS Caron – when Donahue wondered exactly what he’d gotten himself into when he signed with Uncle Sam. But by the time he completed active duty in 1995 Jason Donahue was a proud Navy man and somebody who’d never take his freedoms for granted again.
“The one thing I specifically remember is how blessed we are as Americans,” he said. “We take a lot for granted.
“I’ve been to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and in the Arabic world, and the freedom of speech isn’t there. So you came to really appreciate the freedom, but also the price that we have to pay for it.”
He’s proud to have served Uncle Sam and that has permeated into his long stint at the Mendota VFW Post 4079, where he just finished a term as post commander.
But military service wasn’t something Donahue hadn’t grown up dreaming about. It merely seemed like a good option after his girlfriend at Mendota High School delivered big news. Surprise news. Donahue was just 16 years old but got no sympathy from his father, who told him to find a way to support his new family – and fast.
Seeking a way to feed his new family, Donahue contacted several recruiters. The Navy got back to him first. Comically, the Army recruiter never called while
the Marine Corps recruiter kept phoning even after he’d completed basic training at Great Lakes.
Or at least it seemed comical at the time. Operation Desert Storm was gearing up and Donahue now thanks his lucky stars that he was aboard a ship in the Persian Gulf rather than camped out in Iraq where the physical dangers were even closer at hand. Otherwise bright, sunny days were rendered pitch-black by the heavy smoke from the burning oil wells – and that was only one of the environmental hazards.
“I wasn’t very a religious man at the time,” he said. “But, you know, I think God moves you in certain directions, even when you don’t know it.”
As it was, he and his shipmates saw plenty of action aboard the Caron. One of Donahue’s duties was launching Tomahawk missiles and patrolling the Red Sea and Persian Gulf. While in the Gulf, the waters were littered with mines the Iraqis had placed in the Caron’s patrolling area.
“We saw first-hand the devastation of the mines when steaming past the Tripoli,” he said. “You might have a month of boredom and five minutes of, ‘What
are we in?’”
The young husband and father grew up fast, though his division officer at the time said Donahue hit the ground running.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Neil Drumheller, U.S. Navy (retired) said Donahue boarded the Caron shortly before the ship was deployed in December 1990 in Operation Desert Shield – soon Operation Desert Storm when, in January, combat operations were commenced.
It was a hectic time – the crew of the Caron earned commendations because there was no more than two hours’ down time at any point during the conflict – and Donahue distinguished himself.
“Jason fit right in,” Drumheller said. “He was a good technician. He had a good attitude and all the guys liked him.”
Donahue reveled in the camaraderie of the Navy but also learned to deal square-jawed with the rigors of military life.
Scott Anderson
U.S. Navy veteran Jason Donahue plays pool on Oct. 17 at the VFW Hall in Mendota.
A CLOSER LOOK
‘THANKSGIVING IS SCARING ME’
Local food pantries grapple with surging demand amid federal cutbacks
By TOM COLLINS tcollins@shawmedia.com
Got any spare cans of vegetables? Send them to your local food pantry. They all need them.
The people who run food pantries in the Illinois Valley typically need donations of cash rather than food, but this year is a little different. Jan Martin, executive director of the Hall Township Food Pantry in Spring Valley explained it this way: The food banks are as depleted as she is.
Martin certainly needs monetary donations – she’ll put every last dime to good use – but she needs in-kind donations more than in years past. She cannot buy as much from the regional food banks, which are reeling from government cutbacks as much as she is.
“It’s devastating,” Martin said. “I have bare shelves in my warehouse and that’s never happened before, even during COVID.”
Food pantries throughout the Illinois Valley report the same problem. Months of federal budget cuts have pared or eliminated grants and, in turn, depleted the regional food banks. Local pantries still need cash, but they need direct donations of nonperishable foods to supplement what they can’t get from the regional food banks.
It could scarcely have come to a head at a worse time. Thanksgiving is approaching and Martin is fielding daily calls from families seeking holiday help. She’s bracing for a 15% increase from last year’s holiday demand, “and we’re still signing people up.”
At the Community Food Basket in Ottawa, Marissa Vicich agreed that she, too, is seeing an unhappy trifecta of less food from USDA Commodities, less food for purchase from the food banks and more families signing up.
“There’s a lot less to go around,” Vicich said. “Since the beginning of October, we’ve had 92 new families and the majority of those families do include children.
“I would say the largest surge was at the very beginning of COVID, but this is definitely going to be comparable.”
It’s the same story in Peru. Mary Jo Credi is executive director of the Illinois Valley Food Pantry and she’s watched with dismay as the feds have slashed critical funding over a roughly ninemonth span.
The IV Food Pantry was ticketed for a $550,0000 grant – needed not only to meet rising demand but to move into a larger space – but in March she got a call saying the grant was rescinded. Meanwhile, shipments from the food banks have tumbled 80% over the same span.
“It’s a lack of funding,” Credi said. “The government shut down so many federal programs that we rely on.”
Meat is most scarce and Credi is working the phones trying to procure turkeys for an estimated 500 Thanksgiving meal kits. Credi hopes to meet her goal but she’s worried about new appli-
cants: 50 new families have signed up for help since Oct. 1.
“They are panicking,” Credi said. “It’s getting scary. Thanksgiving is scaring me.”
At the Mendota Area Christian Food Pantry, executive director Tracy Cooper plans 180 holiday meal kits this Thanksgiving. That’s not only a record for the Mendota pantry, but it also represents a three-fold increase from when Cooper started six years ago.
To meet the holiday demand, Cooper is turning to local donors for items she once could procure from the food banks, led by turkeys. Most worrisome, though, is Mendota’s overall demand.
“We’re serving the highest number ever,” Cooper said. “We’ve already seen a huge jump this past month with about 40 new families.”
Demand could worsen depending on what happens to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps about one in eight Americans buy groceries.
The Associated Press reported Sunday that the Trump administration said it would not tap about $5 billion in contingency funds to keep SNAP benefits flowing into November. As of Tuesday, there was no resolution and federal food aid was poised to not go out Saturday, Nov. 1, which could increase pressure on local food pantries.
“I’m really afraid of what’s going to happen if they end this SNAP,” Cooper said. “I already have clients who are talking about that and who are worried about that.”
Scott Anderson
Boxes of prepared food packages are readied atop tables Tuesday at the Illinois Valley Food Pantry in Peru. Food assistance used by more than 40 million Americans will not be distributed in November because of the ongoing federal government shutdown.
AARP driver safety course to
be held Nov. 6
AARP is hosting a driver safety program on the Illinois Valley Community College Ottawa Center.
The program will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, and Friday, Nov. 7, at the center, 321 Main St., Ottawa.
The AARP Driver Safety Program is a classroom and online driving refresher course designed for drivers 50 and older. The program aims to help participants retain their driving competency.
The course will focus on how to navigate changes, review driving strategies, emphasize being smart on the road, look at changing technology, examine the effects of aging on driving and learn about the changes aging residents need to accept.
The course fee is $20 for AARP members and $25 for nonmembers. The course is free to participants who are enrolled in UnitedHealthcare insurance. To register, call 815-224-0427.
–MaribethWilson
• DONAHUE
Continued from page 3
“We don’t have the freedoms that the people back home do,” Donahue said “You know, we can’t just quit our job. We’re stuck there. We’d face court martial or, if you’re out to see, you’d have to swim home.
“You can’t can’t walk away from bad situations. You just got to suck it up and make the best of the situation.”
Phil Harth of Mendota, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, was a schoolmate of Donahue’s in grade school and a teammate in Little League – they reconnected years later through the VFW – and he wasn’t surprised at how openly Donahue speaks of his wartime experiences.
“He’s always been a cool-cat guy,” Harth said. “He’s always been a level-headed guy and good under fire. He just never got shook about anything.”
Donahue’s enlistment ran out in August 1995, but he served another six years in the reserves and returned to his native Mendota. Today, the 53-year-old is remarried and working at James Hardie Building Products in Peru.
Military service has become something of a family tradition. Shayne, the son from his first marriage, professed no interest in a military career, but two of his daughters did.
Henry Presbyterian holiday seminar offers support for those grieving during holiday season
Henry Presbyterian Church will host a two-hour holiday seminar designed to help people cope with grief during the holiday season.
The event will feature video stories from individuals who have navigated the emotional challenges of the holiday season after loss. Attendees will receive practical tips for managing difficult emotions and a small book for further study.
The seminar will take place at 2 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 9, at the church located at 511 Wirt St., Henry.
The church welcomes all and offers handicapped accessibility. Videos include subtitles for the hearing impaired. No registration is required, but organizers ask that attendees call 309-238-0432 or 309-364-2556 or email barnlady61537@ yahoo.com with plans to attend to help with planning.
–ShawLocalNewsNetwork
Eldest daughter Cera and her husband, Jovany, both are active duty in the U.S. Army. Cera is in human resources and Jovany is with the military police.
Middle daughter Halie was medically retired from the Army following an after-hours sports injury. Her husband, Nick Jones, is a military police officer stationed in Fort Leavenworth. Youngest daughter, Rubi, remains at home in Mendota.
“I always encourage them to join the military and it was always, ‘We ain’t going to join,’” he said, laughing. “And then one day, my oldest daughter decided she’s joining the Army.”
Bill Hunt, past commander of the VFW Post, wasn’t surprised by the effect Donahue had on his children, insofar as he has a knack for reaching out to fellow veterans, too.
Donahue’s sincerity and openness are infections and helped build VFW membership back up after the pandemic, which hurt all social clubs.
“Jason has the type of personality that allows him to interact with all generations of veterans,” Hunt said. “Veterans in general are closed off with regard to our service. Jason is atypical: he’s open, honest and shares his experience.
“Jason is genuine. A good man who cares about his community and fellow veterans.”
NOTICE OF PROPOSED TAX INCREASE FOR KISHWAUKEE COLLEGE
I. A public hearing to approve a proposed 2025 property tax levy increase for Illinois Community College District #23 will be held on November 11, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. at Kishwaukee college.
Any person desiring to appear at the public hearing and present testimony to the taxing district may, but does not have to contact Dr. Laurie Borowicz, President or Jill Fletcher, Chief Financial Officer, Kishwaukee College, Malta, Illinois, 60150, 815-825-2086, extension 9324 or 9517
II. The corporate and special purpose properly taxes extended for 2024 were $16,197,766. The proposed corporate and special purposes property taxes to be levied for 2025 are $19,591,567. This represents a 21.0% increase from the previous year.
III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2024 were $4,773,753. The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public commission leases for 2025 are $4,922,515. This represents a 3.1% increase from the previous year.
IV. The total property taxes extended for 2024 were $20,968,519. The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2025 are $24,514,082. This represents a 16.9% increase from the previous year.
Robert Hammon Secretary
Day of the Dead altars at IVCC celebrate culture, memory
By MARIBETH M. WILSON mwilson@shawmedia.com
Illinois Valley Community College’s Day of the Dead altar is filled with candles, personal treasures, photos and symbols to remember loved ones.
Similar displays have been assembled across Hispanic communities as Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) approaches Nov. 1 and 2 in celebration of family ties, shared cultural history and connection, IVCC said in a news release.
“Those who have passed are never truly gone – they are in the stories we tell. The altars are a way to stay in touch with our ancestors and pass those traditions on,” student Valerie Valdes of Mendota said in the release.
Valdes said Day of the Dead reminds her that her identity is something to cherish and be proud of.
“Because I know my family’s sacri -
embraces IVCC’s observance because it brings solace at a time of year that is a painful reminder of her younger sister’s death. Slaight places her sister’s favorite snacks on the altar each year, and her family leaves messages.
“We work hard to keep her memory alive, which I believe is the true meaning of this activity,” she said. “Sharing our grief gives us a chance to place that hurt somewhere. Realizing we can lean on each other for support helps us feel not so alone.”
This year, student Brisa Nunez of Mendota created an altar in her bedroom decorated in memory of her father. It includes a can of his favorite beverage, among other mementos.
“That altar brought me so much joy, which is why I wanted to create one this year at home,” Nunez said. ”Day of the Dead reminds me how beautiful and short life is, and how grateful we are for the time we had with someone.”
Nunez said the altar reminds her how many people like her there are.
fices made it possible for me to be here,” she said. “Sometimes I feel too American to be Mexican, or too Mexican to be
American, but the blend of two worlds is what makes me who I am.”
Art instructor Shannon Slaight
For information, listen to IVCC’s podcast at soundcloud.com/ivcceagles/ivccpulse-day-of-the-dead.
Photo provided by IVCC
Students and employees stop in IVCC’s main atrium to admire the symbolic displays and personal tributes that make an eye-catching Day of the Dead altar.
Ameren’s Illinois Valley Reliability Project
Work begins on switching station in La Salle
By SCOTT ANDERSON sanderson@shawmedia.com
Have you noticed excavators moving dirt along May Road in Peru?
Work is being done at the Illinois Valley Reliability Project, encompassing a 23-mile stretch of 138-kV transmission line, upgrading and rebuilding the existing Princeton substation in the City of Princeton, and building a new switching station called Lima located near Peru.
The transmission line will improve energy reliability for communities in La Salle and Bureau Counties.
It includes constructing the new transmission line will connect the Princeton substation to the new Lima switching station.
The Lima station will provide electricity to the City of Peru and La Salle County by adding the feed and supporting future growth and development.
Currently, Bureau County is served by a single radium feed and that is its only energy source.
The project promises to change that narrative, introducing an additional feed that will not only enhance the resiliency of Princeton but also provide much-needed support to the entire Bureau County region.
See ILLINOIS VALLEY RELIABILITY PROJECT, page 11
TOP LEFT: Crews excavate the area of the future site of the Lima substation for the llinois Valley Reliability Project on Wednesday along the 200 block of May Road near La Salle. TOP RIGHT: A study area map provided by Ameren shows the proposed site of the Illinois Valley Reliability project extending from Peru to Princeton. ABOVE: Ameren is building a new switching station called Lima. The Lima station will provide electricity to the City of Peru and La Salle County by adding the feed and supporting future growth and development. The plan is to have the project completed and operational in 2029.
Scott Anderson
Scott Anderson
Image provided by Ameren
La Salle County Clerk receives Commitment to Service Award
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
La Salle County Clerk Jennifer Ebner has been recognized with the Commitment to Service Award for outstanding dedication and commitment to public service.
The award was presented during an Oct. 23 ceremony in Rockford, presided by Putnam County Clerk and Recorder Tina Dolder, and 17th Judicial Circuit Court Associate Judge Donna Honzel.
The Commitment to Service Award honors clerks and recorders who exem-
plify integrity, leadership and dedication in serving their constituents. Recipients are recognized not only for the essential duties of record-keeping and elections administration, but also for their commitment to safeguarding democracy and strengthening public trust.
“It is a privilege to recognize Jennifer for their unwavering service and leadership,” Dolder said. ”Their work is a true reflection of the values this award represents.”
Ebner has served as La Salle’s County clerk since 2022.
• FOOD PANTRY SHORTAGES
Continued from page 4
For now, local food pantries are focusing on meeting holiday demand.
Vicich and other food pantry directors need donations of nonperishable foods led by canned goods – tins of vegetables, fruit, peanut butter, heat-andeat pastas – though Martin and Cooper said breakfast cereal is a screaming need. That’s an unhappy sign of the times: Martin said cereals had been easy to procure from the food banks, but not in 2025.
The Streatorland Community Food Pantry also appealed for canned vegetables and asked donors to bring them to the food pantry anytime during business hours or dropped off at after Streator Home Savings Bank.
None of which is to say that monetary donations will be refused.
At the Western Bureau County Food
Pantry, manager Christine Pratt said the pantry has an ongoing need to
“There are some things that are normally available from the food banks that we cannot get,” Pratt said, citing pancake mix and syrup as two examples.
(Pratt is, however, well-situated for Thanksgiving. A local church is is donating holiday meal packages.)
Vanessa Hoffeditz of the Bureau County Food Pantry in Princeton agreed the choices and selection at the food banks are more limited than in previous years but she, too, still can put donated money to work.
More worrisome is the growing volume of new applicants ahead of a high-demand season.
“We’re seeing anywhere from 30 to 50 households a day and we are seeing an increase in new households,” Hoffeditz said. “We do know the demand for that is going to be higher than what we can probably provide.”
Photo by JoAnn Hinerichsen
The 2025 Commitment to Service Award was presented to Jennifer Ebner (center) by Zone
President Tina Dolder (right) and Judge Donna Honzel (left) of the 17th Judicial Circuit.
Area schools brace for impact as free-lunch funding changes loom
Other local schools say they’re shielded, at least for now, from potential cuts to federal meal programs
By BILL FRESKOS bfreskos@shawmedia.com
As potential cuts to federal free and reduced lunch reimbursements raise concern for schools statewide, Mendota High School officials said they’re preparing for possible disruptions that could affect more than half of their students.
Changes have not yet taken effect, but schools are concerned about possible funding problems ahead.
Mendota Township High School District 280 Superintendent Denise Aughenbaugh said about 260 of the school’s 500 students qualify for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program. Many of them automatically eligible through Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program benefits.
“These families will be impacted by the SNAP benefits elimination,” Aughenbaugh said.
“We need to increase our support to students and families as necessary.”
To prepare for the potential confirmation of federal funding cuts, Aughenbaugh said the school has shared additional food resources with families, including the Feed His Children program, a local ministry of CrossBridge Church that provides a free bag of groceries every two weeks to households in need within District 280.
The program serves families experiencing financial hardship, including those who qualify for free or reduced lunch, and allows for exceptions in emergency circumstances such as sudden loss of income or foster placement.
Families can sign up through school social worker Dave Roden, who helps coordinate pickup through the school’s business office.
The school also operates the Trojan Armory, a small on-campus store that offers nonperishable food and basic
LA SALLE COUNTY MARRIAGE LICENSES: OCTOBER 1 TO 15
• Enrique Juarez Mosqueda of Aurora and Jessica Rodriguez of Aurora
• Dean Mickel Colmone of Spring Valley and Kaylee Elizabeth Golden of Spring Valley
• Lorena Guzman of Sandwich and Alyssa Paige Wilson of Sandwich
• Andrew Kyle Kroma of DeKalb and Monique Rochelle McIntosh of DeKalb
• Jeremiah Cortez Louis Clark of Streator and Destiny Marie West of Streator
• Todd Allen Richardson of Ottawa and Regina Ann Starr of Ottawa
• Nolan Kale Morse of Ottawa and Michaela Claire Neurohr of Ottawa
• Francis Michael Terry of Ottawa and Kelly Ann Chamberlain of Ottawa
• Royd Elliot Saladino of Peru and Elizabeth Catherine Rosenberger of Peru
• Zachary James Townsend of Sheridan and Elisha Nicole Ekl of Sheridan
• Travis Gene Maltas of Peru and Morgan Leigh Rieuf of Peru
• Matthew John Coppolillo of Tinley Park and Jaden Simone Espinoza of Tinley Park
supplies to students.
Aughenbaugh said Mendota’s community has been generous and quick to respond when help is needed.
“We are fortunate because the Mendota community is very generous and will respond with support if and when asked by the schools,” Aughenbaugh said.
However, she expressed concern about the uncertainty surrounding federal reimbursements and U.S. Department of Agriculture commodity food donations if funding interruptions continue.
“But if these reimbursements to schools stop, it will be a significant problem for us,” Aughenbaugh said.
Other area districts said they expect little or no immediate impact.
Streator Elementary School District 44 Superintendent Jeff Alstadt said all students get free breakfast and lunch through the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal program that covers meal costs for schools with many low-income families.
“Our students and their families will not be negatively impacted by any
changes to the standard free and reduced-price eligibility guidelines,” Alstadt said.
Mendota Elementary School District 289 also participates in the CEP program, ensuring free meals for all students through at least June 2027.
Most Illinois schools take part in the program, but those under the CEP aren’t affected right away because their funding is set for several years at a time.
Ottawa Township High School District Superintendent Mike Cushing said OTHS is not part of the National School Lunch Program, and any federal changes to that system won’t affect the school.
He said about 34% of OTHS students currently qualify for free or reducedprice meals.
For Mendota High School, unfortunately, the uncertainty remains.
With almost half of its students relying on federally assisted meals, the district plans to continue coordinating with community partners to make sure students get fed if the program falls.
• Micah Christian Hurd of Gridley and Lidia Marie Templeton of Gridley
• Joseph John Wallace of Ottawa and Khaliun Mend Amgalan of Chicago
• Rhett Charles Hundley of Peru and Meghan Patricia Senica of La Salle
• Robert John Woestman Jr. of Sandwich and Lauren Kimberly Reddoch of Sandwich
• Matthew David Meiron of Lostant and Kaitlin Scarlett Reason of Lostant
• Eric Robert Thompson of Coal City and Terra Nicole Hunt of Wilton, Iowa
• Jacob Matthew Scott of La Salle and Sheridan Layne Ferguson of Peru
• Jermaine Javaris Porter of Sheridan and Jasmine Lee Bowens of Spencer, Iowa
• Dennis Ray Stopher of Prescott, Ariz. and Kathy Lynne Young of Prescott, Ariz.
• David Lee Carlson of Joliet and Shaina
Hope Busch of Sandwich
• Conrad Donald Weiden of Oglesby and Katrina Linn Summers of Oglesby
• Douglas Anthony Snell of Streator and Alexis Danae Smith of Streator
Tino’s, last shoe repair shop in La Salle County, closing after 40 years
EYES ON ENTERPRISE
Stephanie Jaquins
The last shoe repair shop in La Salle County is closing.
Tino’s Shoe & Boot Repair in Ottawa is shuttering after 40 years.
In a statement posted to social media by the family of the business, Brittany (Rubio) Ahrendsen, Tyler Ahrendsen and Kathy Rubio said the decision did not come easily, as this shop has been more than just a place of work – it’s also a place of connection, craftsmanship and community.
“We are deeply grateful for your trust, loyalty and friendship over the years,” according to the statement. “It has been an honor to repair your shoes, restore your leather goods and share in so many conversations along the way.”
The shop at 217 W. Main St. will close in a few weeks. An exact date has not been announced. Current jobs will be finished, and new jobs will not be
accepted.
“Please feel free to stop in and show your support, as this was not an easy decision,” according to the statement.
Tino Rubio ran the shop until he died in 2023. Rubio began as an apprentice at 16, taking over 11 years later and buying the business in 1985, according to a 1988 Daily Times article. He learned the craft from Bill Salomone, who died in 1978. That same year, the original store, called Salomone’s, located next to the Roxy Theater, burned down. It moved to 221 W. Main St., and by then, Rubio had bought the business and diversified it by selling antiques.
Rubio moved his store to 1015 La Salle St., where it remained until 2019, when it relocated to its current location.
• 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 reaching out to readers for tips on business items. If you have a tip to share for Eyes on Enterprise, email newsroom@mywebtimes. com.
Stephanie Jaquins
The last shoe repair shop in La Salle County is closing. Tino’s Shoe & Boot Repair in Ottawa is shuttering after 40 years.
• ILLINOIS VALLEY RELIABILITY PROJECT
Continued from page 7
As the project progresses, Ameren will submit two final routes of the project to the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2026.
Once the certificate is granted, the ICC will approve a final route. Ameren will then contact land owners to collect information, understand the opportunities, and easement and compensation will be discussed with each land owner.
Access roads will be built throughout the line from Peru to Princeton along Interstate 80.
Steel poles will be built from a height of 80-120 feet tall, with as many as 7 to 8 structures (poles) per mile and an average span range of 700 to 800 line feet between structures.
The plan is to have the project completed and operational in 2029. The Illinois Valley Reliability project will enhance economic growth for now and in the future.
TOP: Crews excavate the area of the future site of the Lima substation for the llinois Valley Reliability Project on Wednesday along the 200 block of May Road near La Salle. ABOVE: An information sheet provided by Ameren shows the projected benefits and construction schedule for the Illinois Valley Reliability Project.
LEFT: Ameren is building a new switching station called Lima. The Lima station will provide electricity to the City of Peru and La Salle County by adding the feed and supporting future growth and development. The plan is to have the project completed and operational in 2029.
Scott Anderson
Image provided by Ameren
Seasons come and seasons go on their own timeline
Every year, I am more and more impressed with the range of Mother Nature’s expressive voice.
Through every season, she sings different songs, and if we listen closely, those songs can inform the cycles of our soul’s internal seasons as we move through life.
In winter, Mother Nature is silent. Only those with eyes to see and ears to hear can recognize her in the barren landscape with its cold and snow, while everything else hibernates and rests.
Just as nature grows quiet in the winter, so is it a cosmically blessed opportunity for our souls to be still and listen for the gentle guidance of the holy one in our toned-down lives.
In spring, her maiden voice incarnates in the new buds opening into blossoms and new life born in the animal kingdom. As the season progresses, the world comes alive after the cold, dark winter with a colorful palette of floral beauty.
So, too, do our spirits come alive in ways we had previously not expected. Each new spring is a rebirth for the
SPIRIT MATTERS
Jerrilyn Zavada Novak
world and for all who live here.
In the summer, Mother Nature is in full-on flaunt mode. Everything is green and growing, verdant and lush. Think old-school Whitney Houston with her full, majestic voice. In summertime, nature is queen.
Life is easy – or at least easier than usual. Days are long, and most of us are more active. Maybe our reflective lives take a bit of a back seat as the summer sun pulls us out into the world.
Now we are midway through autumn, and this season is a master class in letting go of who we think we are.
Mother Nature’s voice in early autumn is at its most brilliant. The colors inspire awe and reflection. But then the leaves fall, the temperatures drop, and all of life begins to withdraw into rest.
Every season is an expression of God’s intellect and creativity, but to me, autumn most signifies the wisdom that comes from allowing ourselves to shed the old narratives we have lived.
In autumn, we are asked to let go of the safety we have found in living a certain way and withdraw into a more contemplative way of life, allowing the holy spirit to quietly go to work on us in the depths of our souls.
While the holy spirit works in silence, we often don’t know what is taking place. We might feel lost and in a liminal space. Autumn asks us to trust that even in the loss and letting go, new life in a new form will be waiting for us on the other side.
Sometimes the autumns and winters in our souls seem to go on forever.
We get restless, wondering if the best of our lives is behind us, wondering if we will ever feel fully alive or purposeful again. These barren seasons of the spirit can be excruciating.
Just as we are on the brink of despair, however, something seems to
soften. A new little bud appears in the story of our lives, and all of those long, dark nights of the soul when the holy one was working deep in the background of our lives begin to reveal their meaning.
I have been in one of these autumn/ winter periods for a long time now, no longer feeling comfortable in the past spring and summer I lived but not knowing for sure what creative form the future holds. In the meantime, I have been trying to force various projects that just haven’t taken root.
I don’t think my experience is unusual for those of us in midlife. We are in a liminal space. Our task is not to do, but to be.
And so, we wait for the first light tune of spring, knowing she always arrives in our lives exactly when she is supposed to arrive.
Hey, boomers, ever look across the bridge you’ve crossed?
How did we do it? There are days I wonder.
I think about all my years in journalism and wonder how I managed to track down stories and sources without the internet.
Thank you to newspaper “morgues” with news clips from years ago. There was a permanence to them that I don’t feel with online archives. Thank you to libraries, and bless the telephone, the phone book and city directories as well as my personal and sacred collection of phone numbers and addresses built over the years.
People were the ultimate connection. They led to other people. They all had stories to tell. They still do, but now many are slideshows too easily found online. They often don’t seem real. It is still important to knock on doors.
How did we do it? How did we get things done? I’ve heard others ask the same thing, often remembering the map. The road atlas.
We mapped out every trip into strange territory. Advice from others was vital: “Don’t take that fork to the left by the big red barn. You’ll get lost.”
Now, I’m tethered to a talking cellphone, and I miss knowing about that red barn. But alas, I am hooked –plugged into the now world. I’ve crossed the bridge.
The word “bridge” is perfect, and guess where I found it? Yep, online – a Facebook post written by someone calling himself Richard who says he is 74 years old. I have no idea who really wrote the piece, but it’s notable. (Search online: “We are the bridge.”)
Richard exposes the heart that beats within that question: How did we do it?
“I’ve come to realize something about my generation: We are the bridge,” Richard said. “We were born in one world … and grew up in another.
“We lived in a world built on patience. We waited for letters to arrive. We waited for the library to open. We waited for our favorite song
to play again on the radio – and when it finally did, it felt like magic. Then, almost overnight, everything changed.”
So true. I remember adults telling me that “patience is a virtue.” Ha. I’d tell new generations that patience is a skill. Speed is king now. Fast is furious.
“We’ve seen milk delivered to the door in glass bottles … and we’ve scanned groceries without speaking to a single cashier,” Richard said. “We’ve dropped coins into pay phones … and we’ve made video calls to loved ones across oceans.”
Yes, we adapt. It’s not always easy.
“Got a problem with your cellphone or that damn remote? Well, you need to find an 11-year-old.”
Bet you’ve heard that before. Richard sees it differently.
“Sometimes, the younger ones look at us like we’re behind,” he said. “But what they don’t see is this: We know both worlds.
“We’ve lived long enough to understand that you can change without losing yourself. That you can honor where you came from while still learn-
ing where the world is headed.
“Maybe that’s our greatest gift: the memory of a slower, gentler time and the courage to adapt to a world that never sits still. We can teach the young that not everything needs to happen instantly. And we can remind our peers that it’s never too late to try something new. Because that’s what we are – the bridge between what was and what will be.
“And as long as we keep standing strong, the world will always have something solid to cross on its way forward. Because every generation builds the road a little further. And ours?
Ours remembers both the dirt path and the highway.”
I don’t live in the past. But I visit a lot. How did I do it? Doesn’t matter now. What’s important is I did it. And I’d do it again.
• Lonny Cain, retired managing editor of The Times in Ottawa, also was a reporter for The Herald-News in Joliet in the 1970s. His Paperwork email is lonnyjcain@gmail.com, or mail the NewsTribune, 426 Second St., La Salle IL 61301.
Lonny Cain
PAPERWORK
Starved Rock State Park hosts U of I Extension state conference
180 Master Naturalists visted the park during October conference
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Starved Rock State Park, the most-visited state park in Illinois, hosted 180 University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalists and staff Oct. 9 and 10 for its annual state conference.
Set against migrating pelicans on the Illinois River and bald eagles soaring above the park’s sandstone bluffs, the conference brought together volunteers from across Illinois to share ideas and gain skills for local environmental stewardship.
Illinois, known as the Prairie State, contains 14 distinct natural divisions, all facing challenges such as habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and climate change. Conference speakers emphasized that ongoing efforts by environmental stewards, both large and small, make a difference in conservation.
“You all are the inspiration for the hope that I have in a better future and a better world, and I want to say thank you,” Master Naturalist program specialist Abigail Garofalo said in her welcome address.
The conference began with guided tours of Starved Rock State Park, the lock and dam, Dixon Waterfowl Refuge, Dayton Bluffs Preserve and the Illinois River. Participants hiked to observe birds and geological features, and kayaked through wetlands to study local wildlife.
The second day featured presentations on wildlife rehabilitation, tick safety, emerging water contaminants, wetland ecology and native plants. A panel discussed community science opportunities, highlighting how public
LOCAL NEWS BRIEF
IVCC spring registration open; payment deadline Dec. 10
Registration for spring classes at Illinois Valley Community College is underway.
Current students should use the college’s online portal, IVCC Self-Service, to plan their schedules and
participation in bird surveys has provided decades of data to guide conservation efforts.
Keynote speaker Tara Beveroth, an avian ecologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey, underscored the importance of citizen science in tracking bird population trends.
Emily Hansen, a commercial agriculture educator with local Extension offices in Bureau, La Salle, Marshall and Putnam counties, coordinated the conference.
“It was a pleasure to support the dedicated volunteers who make such a meaningful impact in our communities and to introduce them to the fantastic
natural areas in La Salle County,” Hansen said.
Illinois has about 900 Master Naturalist volunteers who study topics including botany, environmental ethics, archaeology, climate, forestry, geology, prairies, mammals, birds, insects, and urban and agricultural systems.
They apply their knowledge through projects such as invasive species removal, habitat restoration and wildlife monitoring.
The Master Naturalist program is offered through local Illinois Extension offices statewide. More information is available at extension.illinois.edu/MN.
The Extension’s natural resources, environment and energy program provides research-based education to promote healthy ecosystems and resilient communities. It supports volunteer programs such as Master Naturalists, Climate Stewards and Master Watershed Stewards.
The University of Illinois Extension serves all 102 Illinois counties with educational programs and partnerships. It is the public outreach arm of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Learn more at extension. illinois.edu.
register as quickly as possible.
New students should complete an application and schedule a meeting with a counselor to register, as well as schedule any necessary placement tests.
Now is a good time to get a financial aid application underway, too.
To preserve their chosen class schedules, students must pay in full or arrange a payment plan by Dec. 10 using IVCC Self-Service at www.ivcc. edu/selfservice. Students receiving financial aid also must notify the cashier by that date.
– Shaw Local News Network
Scott Anderson
An aerial view of the fall colors near Lovers Leap on Oct. 31 at Starved Rock State Park. The park hosted nearly 200 Master Naturalists in October for the University of Illinois Extension’s state conference.
Police looking for Marseilles drug suspect after finding cut tracker bracelet
By TOM COLLINS tcollins@shawmedia.com
Caitlin Panas was charged after a trio of Marseilles cocaine deals and given a notice to appear in court. After skipping a court date, she was arrested and placed on GPS monitoring. Authorities counted 22 violations of her pretrial release.
Now, police have recovered Panas’ ankle bracelet, but with no sign of Panas.
La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro said Friday that Panas won’t get another chance at pretrial release – not if he has anything to say about it.
Navarro’s office filed new charges against Panas, issued a warrant for her arrest and filed a petition asking the judge to hold her in jail once she’s caught.
“This case just illustrates everything that’s wrong with the SAFE-T Act and with giving pretrial release to high-risk suspects,” Navarro said.
Panas, 35, homeless, was already facing up to 30 years if convicted of any of three charges after drug agents conducted a series of controlled drug buys in May and June 2024. All three are Class X felonies carrying six to 30 years with no possibility of probation.
Before the SAFE-T Act, a bond of $100,000 was not uncommon for a large cocaine delivery, let alone three. But under the SAFE-T Act, Panas wasn’t
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
IVCC to hold Veterans Day flag-raising ceremony; campus closed Nov. 11
Illinois Valley Community College will close both campuses Tuesday, Nov. 11, for Veterans Day.
The college will honor veterans with a flag-raising ceremony at 8:15 a.m Monday, Nov. 10. Members of Oglesby American Legion Post 237 will lead the event, which is open to the public.
After the ceremony, attendees can gather in CTC rooms 124-125 for coffee, doughnuts and brief remarks from IVCC
held on the felony drug counts, which were filed in January. The bracelet was ordered only after she was picked up in May on a failure-to-appear warrant.
Nevertheless, Panas skipped a September court date, according to La Salle County Circuit Court records, and a sheriff’s deputy found her bracelet cut off on Oct. 9.
Fed up, Navarro last week authorized a charge of escape, a Class 3 felony carrying two to five years in prison, along with obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony carrying up to three years, in connection with providing a false name to an Ottawa officer investigating a disturbance.
Meanwhile, Navarro has renewed his appeal to Illinois lawmakers to modify the laws governing ankle bracelets for felony suspects. While he’s awaiting updated figures on the number of GPS bracelets that have been damaged or destroyed, La Salle County had reported damage to almost 1 in 5 units at the close of 2024.
Navarro reported that about 45 felony suspects were placed on GPS monitoring (not counting traffic offenders), and eight of them illegally removed their bracelets and absconded, a failure rate of 18%.
BUILDING TOMORROW BY DRIVING CAREFULLY
Share the road during harvest season. Local farmers are hard at work carrying precious cargo and appreciate your cooperation. Trust in Tomorrow.®
Classes and services will resume at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12.
– Kevin Solari
Oglesby American Legion to hold taco night Nov. 12
Oglesby American Legion will hold its monthly taco night from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Meals of three tacos cost $6, dine-in or carry-out. Call 815-883-3214 with questions or to place an order.
–Tom Collins
P.O. BOX 349, Sublette, IL 61367
Sublette 849-5219
LaMoille 638-2171
Amboy 857-2125
Caitlin Panas
STATE
Bill to regulate homeowners’ insurance rates fails on final day of veto session
Pritzker had called for action in wake of State Farm’s
27.2% rate hike in July
By PETER HANCOCK phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House rejected a bill Thursday that would have given the state Department of Insurance authority to regulate homeowners’ insurance rates.
Gov. JB Pritzker had called for the legislation in July after State Farm Insurance announced it was raising rates for property and casualty insurance in Illinois an average 27.2%.
The company attributed that hike to losses it sustained from weather-related disasters in Illinois. But Pritzker and legislative leaders suggested the company was shifting the cost of disasters in other states onto the backs of Illinois consumers.
“As states across the country face even more extreme weather than we do, we need to make sure Illinois homeowners are not paying for losses that companies experience in other states,” Pritzker said in an op-ed column published in the Chicago Tribune July 30 that was cosigned by House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Senate President Don Harmon.
While State Farm insisted the Illinois rate hikes were the direct result of losses the company incurred in Illinois, Pritzker and Insurance Director Ann Gillespie accused the company of refusing to provide any evidence to support that claim.
At the same time, they used the controversy to highlight the fact that Illinois is the only state in the nation without a law prohibiting excessive, inadequate or discriminatory insurance premiums, and the only state without the authority to review insurance rates for either homeowners’ or auto insurance.
“I think that’s an important protec-
head, cause uncertainty in a framework that’s never been tried before, and every single one of your constituents who has a homeowner’s policy will pay extra because of the uncertainty that It creates,” Keicher said. “It’s the uncertainty of the rate environment that we are worried about here.”
The amendments passed through the Senate on Thursday afternoon on a vote of 41-15. But a subsequent vote in the House to concur with those amendments fell four votes short of the 60 needed for passage. Six House Democrats were recorded as voting “present.”
Bills are rarely defeated on the floor of either chamber because leaders are usually careful not to call bills for a vote unless they are confident there are enough votes to pass them. And on those occasions when a vote appears to be coming up short, the bill’s sponsor will typically make a motion just before the final tally is recorded to delay final consideration of the bill so it can remain alive and negotiations can continue.
tion for consumers,” Gillespie said in an Oct. 14 interview with Capitol News Illinois. “It also helps to pretend against any risk of cost shifting, because if we’re the only one not regulating it, we make a nice target for any potential cost shifting.”
Gillespie said she did not have direct evidence that State Farm or any other insurance company was shifting the cost of losses in other states to Illinois customers. But she did say, “I see things that raise questions, and without the ability to review rates, we cannot dig in, we cannot compel transparency to be able to answer those questions.”
The proposal was contained in a pair of Senate amendments to an unrelated insurance bill that had passed the House in April. It would have required that insurance companies give customers 60 days’ advance notice of any premium increase greater than 10%.
The bill also would have required companies to use Illinois-specific data on insurance losses to justify rate increases for Illinois customers. And it
would have prohibited companies from charging “excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory” premiums for homeowners’ insurance.
Although the bill would not have required insurance companies to get prior approval from the department for any changes in premiums, it would have given the department authority to review rate changes after they were put into effect. It also would have established a judicial review process for companies to appeal any finding that its rates were unreasonable.
But if those appeals were rejected, the bill would have authorized the department to order companies to refund excessive premiums back to their customers.
Opposition on the floor
State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, argued those provisions amounted to a radical shift in Illinois’ regulatory environment, which ultimately would have led to higher premiums for consumers.
“This bill will turn the industry on its
State Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, the chief sponsor of the insurance bill, said he plans to reintroduce the bill in the 2026 session. He attributed its defeat in the veto session to last-minute lobbying by the insurance industry.
“The insurance industry, you want to talk about one of the strongest lobbying arms at the Capitol,” he said in an interview Monday. “Ninety-nine percent of that piece of legislation was agreed upon.”
Kevin Martin, executive director of the Illinois Insurance Association, applauded lawmakers for not passing the bill, saying it created “an extreme prior-approval system unlike anywhere else in the country,” and that it would have driven up costs for Illinois consumers.
“This bill would have jeopardized Illinois’ competitive insurance market and had the potential to drive up premium costs for Illinois families by 20%,” Martin said in a statement.
Pritzker’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Mark Busch file photo
State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, speaks April 4, 2023, during a news conference at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
Ottawa resident announces candidacy for La Salle Co. clerk
Charlie Mitchell seeks Democratic nomination
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
Charlie Mitchell, a lifelong La Salle County resident and an “experienced election and operations professional,” announced Friday his Democratic candidacy for La Salle County clerk.
Mitchell, who resides in Ottawa, said he brings more than 25 years of experience working directly with county and union election teams throughout Illinois and across the country.
“La Salle County is home for me,” Mitchell said. “I grew up here. My family is here. I care deeply about the people who live and work in our communities. The clerk’s office plays a meaningful role in residents’ daily lives – from vital records and licensing to ensuring our elections are well-organized, fair and transparent.
“I believe every resident should feel respected and confidently served when they walk through those doors.”
Mitchell’s professional back -
Holy Cross School in Mendota recently announced its honor roll for the first quarter of the 2025-26 school year.
High honor roll
Fifth grade: Adan Delao, Daniel Escatel, McKenna Faber, Shayne Full, Morgan Happ, Frank Hochstatter, Will Hornung, PJ Konopka, Cecilia Ortiz, Brooks Pawlowski, Kohen Piller, Jase Reppin, Savy Richey, Ella Wujek
Seventh grade: Nicole Cervantes, Eliana Escatel, Samantha Escatel, Henry Happ, Paul Hochstatter, Mingxi Huang, Sofia Lemus, Armani Quintana, Brooklyn Shakespeare, Ally Tillman, Jaxson Zimmerlein
ground includes supporting and managing election operations in counties of all sizes. His work has focused on helping local offices build strong systems, train staff effectively, improve voter access, and ensure compliance with state and federal requirements –all while prioritizing efficiency and accuracy.
“I’ve seen firsthand the dedication of the staff in the La Salle County Clerk’s Office,” Mitchell said. “They care about this community, and they care about doing the job well. I would be honored to support their work and lead the office with professionalism; fiscal responsibility; and respect for every resident, regardless of political affiliation.”
Mitchell said his campaign will focus on listening to community members and ensuring that the clerk’s office is a place where residents feel welcomed, supported and served.
Eighth grade: Emme Beetz, Cale Full, Linda MacDonald, Lillee Monterastelli, Camden Pawlowski, Ellye Reppin, Molly Wilson
Honor roll
Fifth grade: Eleanor Gahan, Nikolas Gahan, Madilyn Hayward, Kyle Henkel, Alexia Lerma, Connor Reppin, Tiberius Schwingle, Carly Smith
18. Indicates beside 20. Worn by exposure to the weather
24. A body of traditions 26. College students’ ultimate goal 28. Amino acid
30. Nasal mucus 32. US government entity
Swinish 35. Legislative body in Russia
37. Grant an exemption to
Put in advance
Satisfy
Felt
43. Mild yellow Dutch
49. Gasteyer and de Armas are two
50. Ancient person of Scotland
51. Cheerless
55. Unwell
cheese made in balls 45. Witnesses 47. Picnic invaders
Farmland Auction
Tract 1: 132.30± total tax ac. in part of Sec. 25, WyomingTwp., Lee Co., IL Tract 2: 76.47± total tax ac. in part of Sec. 17, Hall Twp. Bureau Co., IL
Timothy A. Harris, IL Licensed Auctioneer, Designated Managing Broker 815-875-7418 timothy.a.harris@pgim.com
www.capitalag.com
The real estate is located 2 miles southwest of Ottawa, IL or 50 miles southwest of Joliet, IL. The land is further described as being located in Sections 26, 27, 34 & 35, T33N-R3E, South Ottawa Township, LaSalle County, IL.
Farmers & investors, be sure to check out this large, contiguous offering that contains Class A soils! Close to several excellent grain market outlets.
SESSLAR FARM
Mendota explodes in second half to beat Harvest Westminster, repeat as sectional champs
Trojans return home to play in supersectional Monday
By BRAD MARTIN Shaw Local News Network correspondent
While fans and coaches may not like to take things slow in the first half, the cardiac kids from Mendota seem to love thriving in the second half.
The Trojans turned a scoreless first half into a blowout 6-0 victory over Harvest Westminster Christian in the Class 1A Indian Creek Sectional championship Friday in Waterman.
“The last month we seem to start out slow and then go crazy in the second half,” Mendota coach Nick Meyers said. “I don’t know if we come out too nervous or what, but I think they’re getting confident that they can turn it on in the second half.”
The Trojans, who won their second consecutive sectional title and third in the last five years, return home Monday for the Mendota SuperSectional.
Mendota (23-4) will face the winner of Saturday’s Maroa-Forsyth Sectional final between Alleman and Quincy Notre Dame.
“Coach just tells us play for the seniors,” Mendota junior Casas said. “They have played amazing for four years and we wanted to keep this going for them especially. The passing was just amazing, especially in the second half and now we have a chance to go back home again with a chance to go to state.”
The Trojans controlled the early part of the game, but it did not result in any goals in part due to Warriors goalie Trevor Schuler.
With 31 minutes left in the first half, the Warriors got a good look as Brian Powers took a shot, but Mateo Goy was ready for the stop for Mendota.
Five minutes later, Miles Meurer took a shot only to be denied again by Goy. With 22:40 left, Schuler made a finger tip save on a shot from Casas.
As the Warriors were heading back down for an attack on back-to-back possessions, Mendota’s Angel Orozco and Luis Ramirez had outstanding defense to keep the Warriors scoreless.
Mendota had its share of opportunities as Mauricio Salinas’ shot was just wide of the net and Abel Nanez was denied by solid defense from Ethan Nagler as the game went into the halftime break with the score remaining 0-0.
The Trojans came out much more aggressive in the second half and it paid off in a big way.
Salinas got a rebound and blasted a shot from 20 yards out for the game’s first goal.
However, the Trojans were just getting started. Less than three minutes later, Casas picked up his first goal of the night as he settled the ball down in front of the net and made it 2-0 Mendota.
The onslaught didn’t stop there as Casas got a tremendous pass from Johan Cortez and made it 3-0.
The great defense and passing continued for the Trojans as Cortez passed to Nanez, who found Arian Chavez, who got a rebound and gave the Trojans a commanding 4-0 lead.
“I’m not sure why we play the way we do at the beginning and then turn it on in the second half,” Cortez said with a laugh. “But we came out aggressive and the passing was amazing and we were able to get the ball in the net and get the win.”
The Trojans were not done yet as Cortez drew out Schuler from the net with 16 minutes remaining and beat
him to the ball and got the goal to make it 5-0.
“I thought we came out and executed our game plan perfectly,” Harvest Westminster coach Pedro Assumpcao said. “We knew they had a lot of weapons and we wanted to push them outside and I thought we did that well in the first half. But it’s hard to keep a team like that down all night and once they got the first couple goals, I think it became a mental thing after that and snowballed from there.”
Ten minutes later, Cortez made another great pass to Casas and he capitalized for a hat trick and a 6-0 advantage for the Trojans.
Mark Busch
Harvest Westminster’s Elijah Schultze (left) and Mendota’s Johan Cortez fight for possession Oct. 31, during the Class 1A Indian Creek Sectional championship game Friday in Waterman.
Mendota beats QND to earn return trip to state
By KEVIN CHLUM kchlum@shawmedia.com
With just over 26 minutes left on Monday, Mendota senior Johan Cortez kicked a cross into the box.
Junior Cesar Casas charged into the box and fired the ball past Quincy Notre Dame keeper Carter Hankins to give the Trojans the lead.
“I was feeling confident we were going to win,” Mendota senior goalkeeper Mateo Goy said. “I didn’t think they were going to come back, especially with this atmosphere.”
Goy played a key role in the lead, holding up as he made several big saves down the stretch to help the Trojans to a 2-1 victory in the Class 1A Mendota Supersectional to punch their ticket back to state.
“It feels amazing to go back,” Mendota senior Mauricio Salinas said. “I’m proud of my teammates. All the hard work that started in the summer until now is really worth it. It’s what led us here.”
Last fall, in the program’s first trip to state, Mendota placed third with a penalty kick win over Columbia. The Trojans lost 1-0 to eventual state champion Normal U-High in the semifinals.
“It’s an awesome feeling [to be going back to state],” Mendota coach Nick Myers said. “It’s a goal we set as soon as we won that third-place game last year. We knew we had a bunch of our core coming back. Last year we were just kind of happy to be there. This year we’re not just happy to be there. We want to win the whole thing.”
The Trojans (24-4) will play Coal City (23-3) in the second semifinal at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Hoffman Estates. The Coalers advanced with a 1-0 win over Williamsville in the Maroa-Forsyth Supersectional.
“I haven’t heard much about them, but I expect them to be a good team,” Salinas said. “We just have to play our game and come out fast early on in the game.”
Mendota was scoreless at halftime of the regional and sectional finals, but Salinas put the Trojans on the board in the 13th minute when he corralled a long pass from Cortez, worked past a defender and put the ball into the lower left corner of the net.
“I got a long pass from Johan, I did a fake shot and it got me open and I took
a shot with my left foot and it went in,” Salinas said. “It felt amazing, hearing the crowd cheer for you, watching your teammates be happy for you. I’m proud of that goal because it helped get all my teammates to this point.
“We had to learn from our mistakes from the last few games. The last few games were a little iffy in the first half and we just couldn’t let that happen again.”
Mendota held a 1-0 lead at halftime and maintained it through the first 10 minutes of the second half.
The Raiders broke through on their third free kick from just outside the box in a 5:10 span when Hudson Moore kicked in a rebound with 29:21 left after Goy stopped the initial free kick and another shot.
It was the first goal the Trojans allowed in the postseason.
But Mendota responded quickly with Casas’ goal 3:20 later.
“I think it shows our composure and our leadership that when they tied it up, we didn’t break, we kept going and we got one not too long after that,” Myers said.
Myers said the second goal “put a smile” on his face because the Trojans
executed something they work on every day at practice.
“We knew they were a little vulnerable if we could get the ball to the outside and whip it into the middle, and we were finally able to do it,” Myers said. “Cesar made a great run and kudos to him for not blasting it over the goal and just placing it perfectly in the middle of the net.”
Goy and the Trojans’ defense made the lead hold up. The senior keeper made a diving save of a hard shot with 9:28 left and made another tough save after a free kick with 4:58 remaining.
“I positioned myself,” Goy said.
“The save with 9 minutes left, he hit it pretty good.”
The Raiders (6-13-3) had one more desperation attempt off a long free kick with 5 seconds left, but Goy stopped the last shot, setting off the celebration.
The Trojans grabbed the plaque, ran it toward their fans and were mobbed by the student section.
“It’s amazing,” Goy said. “Last year after we lost the first game, I was really upset. After the third-place game, I was like, ‘We deserved first, we worked hard for it.’ I still think the same thing. Now we’re going to go back and we’re going to prove it.”
Photos by Scott Anderson
Mendota keeper Mateo Goy (1) and his teammates celebrate after defeating Quincy Notre Dame in the Class 1A Mendota Supersectional on Monday, Nov. 3 at Mendota High School.
Mendota keeper Mateo Goy makes a spectacular save against Quincy Notre Dame during the Class 1A Supersectional game on Monday, Nov. 3 at Mendota High School.
SPORTS
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1994: George Foreman, 45, becomes boxing’s oldest heavyweight champion.
1969: Brazilian soccer icon Pele’ scores his 1,000th career goal.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
STATE BOUND
Mendota defeats QND to earn a return to state / 23
Mendota’s Danny Garcia (left) gets in front of Quincy Notre Dame’s Matthew Many (right) to knock down the ball during the Class 1A Supersectional game on Monday, Nov. 3 at Mendota High School.
