Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9:00am to 3:00pm
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Wednesdays, $69 per year in advance in LaSalle, Lee and Bureau counties and $89 per year in advance in the United States outside of those counties.
Subscriber Terms and Conditions may change at any time. The current version will supersede all previous versions. The most current version of subscription terms are posted on the website under Terms and Conditions.
DEPARTMENTS
To reach all other departments, call 833-584-NEWS.
CLASSIFIED SALES classified@shawlocal.com
HELP WANTED employment@shawlocal.com
LEGAL NOTICES lasallelegals@shawlocal.com
OBITUARIES lasalleobits@shawlocal.com
General Manager/Advertising Director Jeanette Smith 815-220-6948 jmsmith@shawmedia.com
Editor Kevin Solari ksolari@shawmedia.com
The Mendota Reporter (USPS 399-100) is published Wednesdays except federal holidays
Periodical postage paid at Mendota, IL and additional mailing offices
Postmaster: Send address changes to Mendota Reporter, 703 Illinois Ave., Mendota, IL 61342
Mendota Reporter and ShawLocal.com are a division of Shaw Media.
All rights reserved.
Copyright 2025
Regulators deny about half of Nicor Gas rate hike request
By CLAIRE O’BRIEN cobrien@shawmedia.com
Illinois regulators reduced Nicor’s rate increase ask by about half Nov. 19.
The utility company requested a $314.3 million rate increase, but regulators cut $146.5 million from it, the Illinois Commerce Commission said in a news release.
The company had also requested a 10.35% return on equity, a way to measure returns to stakeholders. The ICC approved a 9.6% return on equity.
“The ICC’s responsibility is to balance the interests of Illinois’ utilities and their consumers. We recognize that any decision impacting Illinoisans’ bills is not a small one, and after careful review of Nicor’s proposed investments, the Commission opted to strike excess charges and approve necessary and justified projects,” ICC Chairman Doug Scott said in the release.
Nicor also was directed to maintain a 3% energy burden, a nationally recognized measure of affordability, for all customers by adjusting its low-income discount, according to the release.
The Citizens Utility Board said in a statement it was “thankful” the state commission “responded by derailing Nicor’s bid to raid consumers for costs that were blatantly inflated and unwarranted. In shrinking Nicor’s requested $314 million increase by more than half, the ICC’s ruling today exceeds the reduction recommended by two administrative law judges last month by an ample margin and reaffirms the Commission’s commitment to holding utilities accountable for every expense they attempt to charge consumers.”
CUB said Nicor customers have had four previous rate hikes in the last eight years and said the utility’s parent company has made $25 billion in profits in that time.
“Today’s decision provides important oversight to constrain spending and protect ratepayers from energy infrastruc -
ture costs they might otherwise fund for decades. In all rate cases, the legal burden of proof falls to the utilities, and many of the specific disallowances made to Nicor’s proposed investments were made to projects where the utility failed to sufficiently articulate management decisions, including the need, timing and pace of the proposed projects,” according to the release.
The impact of the decision on customers varies based on service class and energy usage, the commission said.
Following the ICC outcome, Nicor spokesperson Jennifer Golz said: “Every business decision we make is focused on providing our customers with high-quality and consistent service at the most affordable cost possible.” The utility company thanked the ICC for reviewing the request.
“The decision to make this request was not taken lightly. We know our customers count on us every day to deliver the energy they need and recognize our
William, Elijah, Noah and Samuel Gross of Peru help fly their drone through obstacles during a drone competition Saturday at the Second Story Teen Center in Princeton. Scott Anderson ON THE COVER
responsibility to help manage those energy costs. That’s why we’re doing everything in our power to minimize the impact on customer bills, from providing energy assistance to helping make homes more energy efficient,” Golz said in a statement.
Golz said customers can visit the Community Connection Center at nicorgas. com/c3 to be connected with energy savings resources, bill payment assistance programs and more.
Golz said while the company is reviewing the final order, it’s estimated a typical residential customer will have a bill increase of less than $4.25 per month, or 5% annually.
The commission also cut $55.8 million from Ameren Illinois’ rate request increase. The company had originally asked for $128.8 million, according to the commission. Ameren also got a 9.6% return on equity, below the 10.7% it had requested.
HOW ARE WE DOING?
We want to hear from you. Email us your thoughts at feedback@shawmedia.com.
Scan here to get Kendall County Text Alerts
Janelle Walker file photo Representatives from the Illinois Commerce Commission and Nicor presentations in August in Elgin about a proposed rate increase. The ICC voted Nov. 19 to give the utility about half the increase for which it asked.
Teen drone pilots take flight at Second Story Teen Center in Princeton
By SCOTT ANDERSON sanderson@shawmedia.com
Teams from Bureau, La Salle and Marshall-Putnam counties came together to showcase their flying skills during a drone competition Saturday at the Second Story Teen Center in Princeton.
Second Story Teen Center part-
nered with the University of Illinois Extension of Bureau, La Salle Marshall and Putnam Counties.
Drones and awards were purchased through a grant and donations from Compeer Financial.
LEFT: University of Illinois Extension 4-H Youth Development educator Shasta Hladovcak speaks Saturday during a drone competition at the Second Story Teen Center in Princeton. TOP RIGHT: Peter and Joseph Martin of Ottawa watch a drone fly over their heads Saturday during a drone competition at the Second Story Teen Center in Princeton. Teams from Bureau, La Salle and Marshall-Putnam counties came together to showcase their flying skills during a drone competition at the Second Story Teen Center in Princeton. ABOVE: Noah Mollin and Pierce Hubbard, both of Princeton, fly their drone through and around obstacles Saturday during a drone competition at the Second Story Teen Center in Princeton. The teen center partnered with the University of Illinois Extension of Bureau, La Salle Marshall and Putnam counties. LEFT: Several DJI drones take a break from their flights Saturday during the drone competition at the Second Story Teen Center in Princeton. The drones and awards were bought through a grant and donations from Compeer Financial.
Photos by Scott Anderson
TOP
Mendota man picked up on Florida warrant
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
A Mendota man was picked up Friday on a Florida warrant and awaits extradition.
Ethan A. Brown, 29, was picked up by members of the United States Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force from the La Salle County Sheriff’s Office, the sheriff’s office said in a Friday news release.
Brown was wanted out of Martin County, Florida, for use of a computer to entice a minor to commit an illegal act or engage in any unlawful
sexual conduct with a child, transmission of material harmful to a minor by electronic device, and use of a twoway communication device to facilitate a felony.
The Mendota Police Department assisted in the execution of the warrant.
Brown was transported to the La Salle County Jail, where he will be held pending extradition to Florida.
Streator man charged with unlawful possession of a weapon
By TOM COLLINS tcollins@shawmedia.com
A Streator man was ordered detained Friday in the La Salle County Jail after police seized a loaded 9 mm gun and a silencer.
Brenden Ortman, 20, appeared Friday in La Salle County Circuit Court and was presented with two charges: aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a weapon without a firearm owner’s ID card.
Ortman was arrested after a state police trooper conducted a traffic stop Thursday.
The officer reported finding a “ghost gun” with an extended magazine, a 9 mm round inside and a silencer.
Although Ortman wasn’t charged with possessing body armor, prosecutors said in open court that he was wearing it during the traffic stop.
Public Defender Ryan Hamer argued officers had no evidence that any individual or group was threatened. Ortman has no criminal history, Hamer said, and he scored a
zero on a pretrial risk assessment.
“He has never been in trouble as an adult or a juvenile,” Hamer said, arguing that there are grounds to believe Ortman would comply with any terms of pretrial release.
La Salle County prosecutor Laura Hall asked for Ortman to be held, adding that one of the felonies Ortman is charged with is a detainable offense.
Hall said that the combination of the weapon, extended magazine, silencer and body armor are an active danger to the public, adding that “I don’t think an ankle bracelet is sufficient.”
Judge Michael C. Jansz agreed and declined to release Ortman.
“Those are not the kinds of things you do by accident,” Jansz said. “People don’t just ride around with that.”
Ortman next will appear in court Dec. 4 for arraignment.
Mendota DAR Chapter will sign veterans cards on Dec. 6
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The Fort du Rocher Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, of Mendota, met Nov. 8 at Community United Methodist Church with Regent Beverly Richardson presiding.
The chapter discussed donations to Freedom House in Princeton, which will be collected at the February meeting. Members also planned a Zoom meeting Feb. 14 with author K.M. Waldvogel to discuss her book, “Spies, Soldiers, Couriers & Saboteurs: Women of the American Revolution.”
During the meeting’s educational segment, members learned that the American Spirit magazine will end its print edition with the March-April issue and move online. They also heard Native American folklore and facts about Declaration of Independence
signer Button Gwinnett, whose signature is rare because he died young in a 1777 duel.
The program featured a memorial service during which members lit candles while sharing stories about their Revolutionary War ancestors.
The next meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at United Presbyterian Church in Mendota. Members will sign cards for veterans and are asked to bring calendars for women at the Dixon Correctional Center.
A Christmas potluck will follow the meeting.
DAR membership is open to women older than 18 who can trace their lineage to a Revolutionary War patriot. The organization focuses on education, patriotism and historic preservation.
For information, visit fortdurocherchapternsdar.com or dar.org, or attend the next meeting.
Photo provided by Diane McCully
Alice Giberson lights a candle for her patriot, John Harbaugh, during the memorial service.
Brenden M. Ortman
Ethan A. Brown
The Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce will host “A Mendota Christmas” on Saturday, Dec. 6, featuring holiday activities and shopping opportunities downtown.
Mendota Chamber sets holiday event ‘A Mendota Christmas’ for Dec. 6
SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com
The Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce will host “A Mendota Christmas” on Saturday, Dec. 6, featuring holiday activities and shopping opportunities downtown.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes visits with the Grinch and Santa, free horse-drawn carriage rides and a “Touch a Truck” experience with police cars, fire trucks and tractors.
The Grinch will have donuts with children in the Elks basement from 10 to 11 a.m. Santa will be available for photos from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Illinois Avenue.
The Mendota Lions Club will provide free hot chocolate and hot dogs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Taco Guzman will sell food during the same hours.
Children can participate in crafts and
take home their creations. Horse-drawn carriage rides will depart from the corner of Jefferson Street and Indiana Avenue.
All events are free, however the chamber will collect donations for Mendota Operation Elf Action, which provides Christmas gifts to children ages 1 to 12 from families needing assistance.
Chamber ambassadors will sell raffle tickets for an electric scooter and distribute free stickers for the ongoing Shop Local promotion.
The Shop Local promotion, which began Nov. 17 and runs through Dec. 23, gives customers one sticker for every $10 spent at participating businesses. Completed cards from at least five different businesses can be turned in for prize drawings.
Starting Dec. 8, the chamber will give away prizes daily through Dec. 23, with a grand prize drawing on the final day.
BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL
Choose between 3 great group departures with free local transfers to and from O’Hare. *
Head North to Alaska!
July 30–August 10 — Embark on an unforgettable cruise and land adventure from Anchorage to Vancouver. Dive into 3 nights exploring Alaska’s rugged interior, including Denali National Park, with a scenic day aboard the McKinley Explorer’s domed train. Then sail through breathtaking Glacier Bay, stopping at Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway—all while enjoying delicious meals onboard. Staterooms start at just $3,474 per person, double occupancy.
Discover the Majestic Canadian Rockies!
August 4–12 — Journey through jaw-dropping mountain peaks, sparkling turquoise lakes, and abundant wildlife. This epic trip kicks off in Calgary and takes you to Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, and the Columbia Icefields. Experience 2 days aboard the Rocky Mountaineer’s domed train winding through spectacular landscapes, finishing in vibrant Vancouver and the charming Victoria Island. Rates begin at $4,759 per person, double occupancy.
Experience Europe’s Most Iconic River
October 20–31 — Almost sold out! Travel along the Danube River surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage and breathtaking scenery aboard Avalon’s intimate Visionary ship. River cruising offers a uniquely relaxing way to soak in the landscapes without the hassle of constant packing and unpacking. Your journey begins with 2 nights in Prague, Europe’s gem city, and concludes with an extra night in historic Budapest. Enjoy all meals onboard, beer and wine served with lunch and dinner, plus daily guided tours to immerse you in rich culture and picturesque sights. Prices start at $4,022 per person, double occupancy.
*transfer available only on these specific dates.
Shaw Local News Network file photo
More photos from Second Story Teen Center
of La Salle, carries his drone during a drone competition on Saturday at the Second Story Teen Center in Princeton. Teams from Bureau, La Salle and Marshall-Putnam counties came together to showcase their flying skills during a drone competition at the Second Story Teen Center in Princeton. Second Story Teen Center partnered with the University of Illinois Extension of Bureau, La Salle Marshall and Putnam Counties. Drones and awards were purchased through a grant and donations from Compeer Financial. TOP RIGHT: (From left) Noah, William, Elijah and Samuel Gross of Peru, help fly their drone through obstacles during a drone competition on Saturday. ABOVE: Ryder Baugh of Washburn and Grant Hardy of Princeton fly their drone through obstacles during a drone competition on Saturday. LEFT: Ian
of Princeton reacts after landing a drone competition on Saturday.
Photos by Scott Anderson
TOP LEFT: Agustus Zelinski
Munn
Angels and other wonders light up the sky
SPIRIT
MATTERS
Jerrilyn Zavada Novak
“And [Jacob] dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” – Genesis 28:12
Last week, many in the Illinois Valley and around the state were gifted with brilliant views of the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights.
Although the solar storms that trigger the light show have been particularly intense this year, and there have been other sightings of the lights this far and further south, it is still extremely rare to see them in Illinois.
Even a friend who lives in Chicago’s Loop was able to see them, despite the significant light pollution in the area. The lights were clearly visible in the photos she shared.
I was fortunate enough – on a family vacation to Traverse City, Michigan – to witness the lights. Although I was sleeping at 10:30 p.m. and resisted getting up when my nephews came to drag me out of bed, I am grateful I relented. It was truly a magical experience to witness these mystical phenomena, and we were all left speechless.
A high school classmate lives in northern Wisconsin, and she periodically shares photos of the lights visible from her area. She never seems to get used to seeing them, and I can understand why.
But even more than that, it is gratifying for me to see the delight she takes in watching for them and, when she does see them, sharing them.
Her excitement and anticipation are akin to that of a child at Christmastime – as well they should be.
Even if there is a scientific explanation for them, the lights touch something deep in our souls and, in turn, allow us to be touched by the infinite.
After the light shows last week,
some photos began circulating on social media of what looked like angelic formations within the lights.
It could have been the power of suggestion, but it is hard to deny just how real these images appeared. The formations in these lights were majestic, just as you expect angels to be in their protective power.
Angels are pure spirit; they don’t have bodies. Although they don’t have bodies, they can take form.
Many of us have had encounters in our lives that cannot be easily explained. If all of this is true, would it be impossible that God saw fit to reveal his ongoing presence through pictures of these mysterious lights?
Besides, why does everything have to have a scientific explanation? I am all for understanding the workings of our world and the universe in which we live, but is it so bad to look upon it with a sense of awe and wonder from time to time?
Personally, this week I resolved to myself that I am going to intentionally seek out wonder each day of my life.
The wonder might be small or magnificent, but wonder in any form keeps us grounded in humility, and it helps keep us sane.
Wonder helps us to remember that our finite minds, even collectively, can never fully grasp the intricate designs of creation, which only God knows. And in instances like angelic figures appearing in photos of the northern lights, it helps us to hold on to faith in God’s protective presence, even during extremely difficult times.
This morning, I watched a short clip of Liz Cheney giving a eulogy for her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney.
She shared the following: “The night before my dad died, the sky above my parents’ house filled with clouds in the shape of winged angels. I’d never seen anything like it. It seemed, indeed, that angels and archangels and all the company of heaven had come to watch over him.”
Adults with autism respond to latest policy changes
By JANELLE WALKER jwalker@shawmedia.com
Before the Sept. 22 news conference where President Donald Trump discouraged people from taking Tylenol during pregnancy, Meg Brill and her friends heard an announcement was coming.
“It was lightly joked about in various autistic circles, that they are going to announce something” about a cause for autism, said Brill, of Highland Park.
Now, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revising its website and language surrounding vaccines and autism, three Illinois adults with autism talked about their reaction to the pronouncements.
She understands the desire to find a cause, because people want to feel they have control over things in their lives.
“It is a very nuanced diagnosis, and different in different people so there is no sense of control. It is easier to blame it on Tylenol than it being a nuanced issue” with many causes, including genetics, Sturgeon said.
Winfried Cooper
think it means they don’t care about their children, but they want an easy answer,” Brill said. “They make it seem like ... just do one really easy thing so your child won’t be autistic, and it doesn’t work like that.”
“I always thought about – in case of vaccine – they would rather have their kid dead than turn out like me. It is difficult to grasp that I am the thing they are afraid of,” Sturgeon said.
Living as an adult with autism isn’t easy, but those doing it say it’s not as difficult as some might suppose.
and is open about his diagnosis. He understands that not everyone wants to talk about or disclose it to others.
“They don’t want to be targets of bullies, or mistreated,” he said.
He encourages anyone with friends and family who have an autism diagnosis to be both supportive and respectful.
Because of her autism, Sturgeon said her parents would play Mozart to her, because there was a claim that listening to the music would “cure” her.
Brill, 23, said she was 11 or 12 years old when she was diagnosed with autism. She and others with a similar diagnosis spoke about their lives and their thoughts on the White House’s declaration linking acetaminophen – the active ingredient in Tylenol – to autism, and to the CDC’s new promotion of a link between autism and vaccines.
“It is RFK Jr. No one expected anything legit,” Brill said, referring to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and her doubts about his claim. He has also long promoted the link between autism and vaccines, which major national medical groups say is discredited.
“I think it is a very, very obvious scapegoat because it is one of the most common over-the-counter painkillers,” Brill said of Tylenol.
Ursula Sturgeon, a 23-year-old from Naperville, is studying dramaturgy at Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh and was diagnosed with autism at age 7. She said she’d heard of “weird conspiracy theories” linking autism to things like vaccines and Tylenol. As these have been promoted, she said she thought, “Here we go, let’s see what they will come up with.”
Winfried Cooper said he hoped federal autism policy would follow science. Cooper, 36, of Elgin, was diagnosed at age 8, in LaGrange Park schools. He’s lived in Elgin for 20 years.
Without definitive science to tie Tylenol to autism, he is afraid children won’t get needed medicine when they are sick.
“My fear now, for kids, is if they are sick and need cold medicine or Tylenol Flu ... kids can’t take it” and if they do, other children will bully them, saying they will now be autistic, Cooper said.
For people who have not had autism touch their lives, Cooper want them to understand that it comes in different formats. The disorder ranges from people who will not able to live on their own at any point in their lives to high-functioning people like him, Sturgeon and Brill.
“We process information differently,” Cooper said, and also learn differently, experience emotions differently, and relate to school and work differently. “Autism is not a disease. It means your mind processes differently from others.”
“It happens. It is genetic or it is something else. But if their child has autism, get them help. Interact with your child and don’t be ashamed of your child,” Cooper said.
Shame around the diagnosis, and the suspicions around vaccination as a cause from a now-debunked 1998 study, has hurt children because they may not have gotten tested because of that shame, Sturgeon said.
Children who feel different from their peers but don’t get that diagnosis – or support from their parents and school –often end up foundering later in life, Sturgeon said: “There is a benefit of having the diagnosis in the first place. I know what my deal is.”
“I have met a lot of people diagnosed as adults whose parents were firmly in denial. Maybe they were not specifically anti-vax, but they were somewhere in that field. It makes me frustrated. I don’t
Brill has a degree in digital marketing and works in retail. There is less of a stigma attached to autism now, but at times she is still hesitant to tell people –especially employers – about her diagnosis.
“People are still kind of weird about it. I feel like people treat you like a child sometimes. I am an adult,” Brill said.
She’s also been told she seems disinterested when, in fact, she was enjoying herself, because those around her might not understand her reactions are not the same as theirs.
Cooper is active in his community
Now, she is studying his music and opera, a music style she sees as a storytelling tool.
Knowing she is autistic has helped her as she goes through college. “I had to know how I thought. ... That has given me an advantage,” Sturgeon said. She also said that those with autism often can narrowly focus on a handful of things they are interested in – music in her case.
“I think it comes down to ... it isn’t something to be ashamed of. It is a disability but not a disability that is a personal failing of any sort. Embrace who you are versus being something that you are not,” Sturgeon said.
Meg Brill
Ursula Sturgeon
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Mendota Chamber’s Shop Local contest going through Dec. 23
The Mendota Chamber of Commerce has kicked off its annual Shop Local promotion. The promotion runs through Dec. 23 at participating businesses throughout the area.
Customers will receive one sticker for every $10 spent at participating businesses. The stickers go on Shop Local cards available at participating businesses or the Mendota Chamber office.
For more information, contact the Mendota Chamber of Commerce.
Heritage Tractor plans Christmas event
Dec.
16 in Mendota
Heritage Tractor’s Mendota location will host a Christmas event from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16.
The family-friendly event will feature a visit from Santa, a coloring contest with prizes, hot chocolate and candy canes. Guests can receive 10% off toys and apparel, excluding battery-operated riding toys, during the event.
Heritage Tractor, a local John Deere dealer, said the event is a way to celebrate the season and give back to the community. For more information, visit the Heritage Tractor Facebook page.
IVCC campuses close for Thanksgiving break
Illinois Valley Community College campuses in Oglesby and Ottawa will close for Thanksgiving break Wednesday, Nov. 26, through Sunday, Nov. 30.
Classes and operations will resume at 8 a.m. Monday, Dec. 1.
• SPIRIT MATTERS
Continued from page 7
I have read much on the spirituality of death, and it is not unusual for the dying to report the presence of something in the room with them that is invisible to others.
Often, the dying report winged figures, such as angels, as well as the presence of deceased family and friends in the room.
These incidents occur across all faiths, traditions and cultures and are corroborated in countless reports by nurses, hospice workers, death doulas, family members and friends.
Olivetta Market offers gourmet goods and tastings in Utica
Olivetta Market recently opened its new location to the public at 122 Mill St. in Utica.
Olivetta Market offers infused olive oils, aged balsamic vinegars and a gourmet goods selection including dip mixes, soups, artisan chocolates and honey.
“It’s wonderful seeing people experience the different flavors and start talking about how they’d use them, drizzled over chocolate or pizza, added to pasta dishes or a stir-fry, or served as an appetizer with bread for dipping,” Olivetta Market owner Teresa Anderson said in a news release.
Participants can try free products in the store’s tasting room. Visitors will also be able to browse gift sets and learn about smallbatch products and makers. The store will host seasonal tastings, events and collaborations with local businesses.
Olivetta Market is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays through Mondays.
For more information, visit olivettamarket. com or facebook.com/olivettamarket.
–ShawLocalNewsNetwork
Illinois Valley Democrats plan Christmas party Dec. 18
Illinois Valley Democrats will hold its annual Christmas party at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at the La Salle Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4668, 2325 Donahue St.
There will not be a meeting in November, due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
All Democrats are welcome and encouraged to attend. Food can be bought through the La Salle VFW.
–MaribethM.Wilson
So, if Liz Cheney says she saw a sky full of clouds in the shape of angels the night before her father died, I am apt to believe she wasn’t just imagining things.
Angels are messengers from God. How those messengers take form will always be a mystery to us, but if they bring a sense of hope, peace and goodwill during our darkest days and nights, then it should not be too much of a stretch to believe they are real.
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.
Affordable housing law clearly isn’t the right tool to solve problem
Government isn’t exactly a multiple choice test, but eliminating the wrong answers can still be a good step toward a lasting solution.
Impact For Equity recently released a report titled “Many highcost suburbs continue to violate state affordable housing law” (tinyurl.com/ Impact4Equity).
With footing in outside data – notably June’s joint report from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Project for Middle Class Renewal, which said Illinois currently is short 142,000 housing units but would need to open 227,000 over five years to meet projected demand – the report spotlights the 2003 Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act, amended in 2021 and 2023.
Altogether the result depicts a problem that’s worsened over time while largely toothless attempts at
ANOTHER VIEW
EYE ON ILLINOIS
Scott T. Holland
fixes gather dust as they’re ignored in multiple municipalities. More than a third of the local governments required to submit plans didn’t do so and more than 75% off those that did submit plans turned in noncompliant documents.
However, the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s standards for determining whether a plan is compliant “are inconsistent, unclear and likely overestimate actual compliance,” the agency said, lest there be any wondering why legislation alone hasn’t solved this problem.
The law’s goal is for every municipality to have at least 10% of its hous-
ing stock qualified as affordable based on monthly rent or, for owner-occupied homes, a combined monthly cost of mortgage, property taxes and insurance, and comparing those totals to the median household income according to U.S. Census Bureau calculations. Right now, according to Impact for Equity, 43 of 44 affected municipalities are in the Chicago metro area, and the monthly figures are $1,181 for renters and $1,575 for homeowners.
The Authority runs numbers every five years, which seems too infrequent given market trends. The Illinois Realtors website reports the median price of Chicagoland single family homes and condo units jumped 8.5% from October 2024-October 2025. To say the median incomes hasn’t experienced a similar spike is an understatement.
Nine of the governments that did submit plans took note of a fundamental challenge: They don’t control their
residents’ salaries. Further, town populations are quite a small percentage of the overall region used in these calculations. For all the governments in the 20203 cycle, the report noted, there are nine Illinois and four Indiana counties all linked economically to Chicago.
Affordable isn’t a sufficiently objective adjective as to be solved through government action, whether the noun is housing, medication, child care, higher education or any number of semi- or fully-public sectors.
If the solutions were easy we’d have them already, but it’s hard to mount a justification for keeping the AHPAA on the books – or to envision a new plan with worse results.
• Scott T. Holland writes about state government issues for Shaw Local News Network. He can be reached at sholland@shawmedia.com.
Confusing offensive speech with leadership is a threat to our society
By The Daily Herald Editorial Board
Despite his assertion following the killing of Charlie Kirk in September that it is “long past time for all Americans and the media to confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree,” there is not even faint hope that President Donald Trump will ever regulate his rhetoric on his own.
The more pertinent question –although it, too, seemingly remote – is whether his supporters and his adversaries alike, will come to see the damage he is doing to the fabric of our democracy with his untethered “frankness,” to quote his White House spokeswoman, and demand a more constructive tone in our public utterances.
We have been pleading for years for him, for all our public leaders and for all of us as individuals to show more dignity and civility in public conversations, and through all that time, we have watched with dismay as the situation has gotten worse instead of better. There are plenty of reasons, societal and otherwise, for the decline
we are witnessing, but the role of the president of the U.S. must be ranked among the most serious – and utterly condemned.
It may be argued that a group of Democratic congressmen invited trouble when they issued a Facebook post this week reminding service men and women, “You can refuse illegal orders.” But President Trump’s inordinate response did nothing to diminish the issue of their concern and much to inflame it further.
“SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” he declared in one Truth Social post, before sharing another person’s post that said, “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD!!”
How, one naturally wonders, does such language “confront the fact that violence and murder are the tragic consequence of demonizing those with whom you disagree”? Especially coming from someone who encouraged an angry mob to attack and overrun the U.S. Capitol – some carrying signs calling for the hanging of his own vice president? Especially considering that under international law and U.S. military policy, the congressmen he is
How does one respect the values of a president who says of the brutal murder and dismemberment of a journalist that “things happen,” as Trump did during his meeting last week with the Saudi crown prince who the CIA says ordered the killing?
Asked on Thursday about Trump hissing “Quiet, piggy” in response to a reporter’s question about Jeffrey Epstein, spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt welcomed “the frankness and the openness that you get from President Trump” and credited it as “one of the many reasons that the American people reelected this president.”
If her political instincts are correct, they only demonstrate our point. For if the American people can overlook name calling and barely disguised death threats toward political adversaries from the most influential political pulpit in the country, a dangerous tolerance for the offensive has deeply infiltrated the texture our society. And if they can accept it from this president, they can accept it from the next one, whatever his or her party. And if they can accept it from presi -
dents, they can only expect more of the same from congressmen, state legislators, county officials, village board members and each other.
It will continue to seep ever further into our everyday dialogue and interactions, making it impossible to achieve the tolerance and compromise upon which successful democracy depends.
We charge at the windmills of the president’s speech with a certain sense of quixotic desperation. We know that he is not likely to moderate his “frankness,” is even proud of it. But we know that many others of us – hopefully most of us – recognize its impropriety, its offensiveness and its ultimate danger. Whether to supporters of the president’s policies or folks yearning for very different operations of our government, we plead again. Condemn offensive language. Renounce schoolyard bullying and name calling. Embrace reason and civility.
Respect, as President Trump himself said last September, “the values of free speech, citizenship, the rule of law and the patriotic devotion and love of God.”
Plan approved to shift services from Ottawa to Peru
By BILL FRESKOS bfreskos@shawmedia.com
The Illinois Department of Public Health state board voted to approve OSF’s consolidation plan on Tuesday night in Bolingbrook, despite a strong effort from communities on the east side of La Salle County.
Many speakers urged the board to reconsider the plan, which will shift key services, including obstetrics and higher-level inpatient care, from OSF Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa to OSF in Peru.
City officials and residents from Ottawa, Marseilles and Streator made sure board members knew their stance on OSF’s proposal.
“From the start of this process, there has been no real discussion or negotiation with the communities impacted on this project,” State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel said. “The participation from OSF was never about meeting the requirements. It was about checking the box.”
Ottawa Mayor Robb Hasty urged the
board to delay the decision. Among many reasons, he emphasized that the region’s growing population and industrial growth were not reflected in OSF’s projections.
“We are not the same community we were ten years ago,” Hasty said. “These numbers don’t tell the full story of what is coming. Approving this now without up-to-date data puts our residents at risk.”
The board voted 6-3 in favor of the project, although many board members admitted that it wasn’t an easy choice and OSF’s work with the Ottawa community wasn’t finished.
“In my time on this board, I’ve never seen a community get behind their hospital like this,” board member Gary Kaatz said. “The regionalization plan is smart and provides better services for the area, but you have to continue working with the communities to get them excited about this.”
Echoing the general sentiment of the board members who voted yes, David Fox said that although he was
David Toney for Shaw Local News Network Illinois state board chairwoman Debra Savage listens during the meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18, held at the Bolingbrook Golf Course in Bolingbrook.
impressed and moved by the public hearing, it doesn’t change the fact that rural healthcare is moving in the
wrong direction.
“This is obviously an emotional issue and a very challenging situation,” Fox said. “But rural healthcare is in a challenging situation. It’s a time of transition, and I think OSF is on the right track for the long-term needs of the community as a whole.”
With the board’s approval, OSF will move forward with designating its Peru hospital as the region’s centralized hub. Obstetrics, neonatal services and many intensive-care beds will officially be shifted to the Peru campus next year, where OSF says it can consolidate staff, equipment and specialty physicians.
“We understand this is difficult for the Ottawa community,” OSF CEO Bob Sehring said to board members. “However, to provide sustainable, high-quality care - ICU and OB services need to be consolidated at a central hub.”
“It’s about building the clinical infrastructure to keep patients closer to home, attract specialists, and ensure the best outcomes across the region.”
Local leaders, OSF react to consolidation plan
Officials tip their cap to community for its unified response
By BILL FRESKOS bfreskos@shawmedia.com
Despite drawing a large public turnout, OSF HealthCare’s consolidation plan cleared its final hurdle on Tuesday night - a decision that local officials said left them disappointed and worried about the future of healthcare on the east side of La Salle County.
The Health Facilities and Services Review Board voted in favor of OSF’s decision to transfer OB and some ICU services from Ottawa’s hospital to Peru to create a regional hub.
The vote passed 6-3, board members emphasized that although they were moved by the community’s feedbackOSF’s regional hub model was smart for the long-term needs of healthcare in the Illinois Valley.
Ottawa Mayor Robb Hasty said he was disappointed by the board’s decision, but encouraged by how strongly the community’s concerns resonated with board members.
“I am disappointed by the Health Facilities & Services Review Board’s decision yesterday,” Hasty said. “However, the close vote and the direct comments offered by the HFSRB Board to OSF Administrators made it clear that our community’s efforts did not go unnoticed. Ottawa spoke with one voice, grounded in data, compassion, and a commitment to protecting essential care for the people of this region.”
Hasty also thanked the Citizens for Healthcare in Ottawa (CHO) organization for its work throughout the process.
“I want to express my sincere and deep gratitude to everyone at the CHO organization,” he said. “Their hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in this community have been extraordinary. We will continue to stand with them, and with all those who depend on accessible, high-quality healthcare close to home.”
Peru Mayor Ken Kolowski, whose community previously experienced major healthcare service losses, said he understands Ottawa’s frustration but believes the plan will ultimately strengthen care throughout the region long term.
“I understand and respect what Ottawa is going through because I lived it
when Peru lost everything in 2023,” Kolowski said. “I believe that this plan will stabilize healthcare in the entire region and not just for Peru.”
OSF HealthCare said the decision allows the group to move forward with a long-term, sustainable regional model.
“We are grateful to the Review Board for its thoughtful consideration and support of our plan, and to the many clinicians, community members, and partners who have voiced encouragement for this important step forward,” said OSF CEO Bob Sehring. “This decision allows us to build on our commitment to providing exceptional care with the right expertise and resources in the best setting for our patients.”
Sehring emphasized that centralizing inpatient obstetrics and ICU services in Peru will “allow more patients to receive services closer to home,” and highlighted expanded mobile, virtual and telehealth services intended to help maintain longterm continuity of care.
“This regional approach is about longterm sustainability, quality, and access,” he said. “It allows our teams to work collaboratively across locations, supporting better outcomes, stronger recruitment and retention of specialists, and the stability our communities deserve.”
OSF said implementation will begin over the coming months, with ongoing communication to patients and providers.
David Toney for Shaw Local News
Ottawa community members show their support by wearing the phrase “Save Our Hospital” or by wering red attire during the Illinois board meeting Nov. 18.
Marseilles man gets 52 years for killing his father in 2024
Petre removed over outbursts before sentence handed down
By TOM COLLINS tcollins@shawmedia.com
Logan Petre could one day walk out of prison, but he’ll be an old man after serving time for killing his dad, Leo Petre, on Father’s Day weekend 2024.
Petre, 23, of Marseilles was sentenced to 52 years for strangling his father, but he wasn’t present in La Salle County Circuit Court when his sentence was handed down.
Petre was brought in for the 1 p.m. hearing, but he didn’t last 15 minutes before Circuit Judge Michelle A. Vescogni held him in direct contempt (vacated after she sentenced him to prison) and ordered him out of the courtroom.
Petre had been thrice removed at a hearing Sept. 5 when Vescogni delivered a ruling finding Petre guilty of murdering his father. Any hopes that he would regain his composure Monday were quickly dashed.
As Vescogni and the attorneys discussed whether to keep Petre physically restrained at sentencing, Petre repeatedly exploded and yelled that his rights were being violated.
“You’re not treating me like I’m a human being,” Petre said, adding later that he’d been placed in almost aroundthe-clock segregation for the past four months. “You guys have been holding me hostage.”
After repeatedly warning Petre to pipe down, Vescogni ordered him removed. After a short recess, she determined that safety concerns for others precluded Petre from returning to open court.
Although it’s rare for a murderer to be sentenced while not personally present, it’s not unprecedented in La Salle County. Streator killer Carl Lenard refused to come out of his cell for sentencing in 2017.
Petre was convicted after an intermittent bench trial in the spring. He and Ottawa defense attorney Ryan Hamer argued that Leo Petre was impaired and head-butted Logan, initiating an altercation in which Logan feared for his life. Vescogni wouldn’t buy it. She rejected Logan’s statements to the police, save for one.
He showed up for sentencing but didn’t stay long. Logan Petre, 23, of Marseilles lost his cool and was removed Monday from a La Salle County Courtroom. After his removal, Circuit Judge Michelle A. Vescogni sentenced Petre to a near-maximum 52 years for killing his father, Leo, on Father’s Day weekend 2024.
When police asked how long he held Leo in a neck hold, Logan answered, “Ten minutes at least, probably five.”
It was, the judge ruled, long enough to rule out self-defense.
“This was not second-degree murder. This was not involuntary manslaughter. This was first-degree murder,” Vescogni said.
At sentencing Monday, Hamer asked Vescogni to consider the minimum 20 years, citing not only Logan’s youth (he was 21 at the time) but also evidence of provocation by his father and injuries that Logan suffered during the quarrel. Hamer also suggested that Petre was a good candidate for mental health treatment in the Department of Corrections.
“This is a tragic situation,” Hamer
said. “There’s no question about that.”
But Assistant La Salle County State’s Attorney Jeremiah Adams asked for the maximum 60 years. Adams said there was no provocation by Leo Petre. Rather, Leo’s death was the culmination of a period of increasingly erratic and violent behavior.
Witnesses called to the stand Monday described a downward spiral in which Logan Petre drank heavily, alienated his friends and, shortly before his murder arrest, charged into a friend’s home and threatened to kill him with a knife.
“Except for his youth, there’s no mitigation at all,” Adams said. “The defendant is a danger to everyone everywhere he goes. It’s unbelievable the
amount of rage that comes out of him at the slightest offense.”
Vescogni largely agreed. The judge said she considered applying the statutory factors in mitigation – “I tried,” she said. “I have really, really tried” – but said she couldn’t get past the danger Logan posed to specific individuals and society at large.
She settled on a near-maximum term of 52 years.
Petre’s prison time isn’t quite set in stone. He has several open cases, and one of them is a pending charge of home invasion.
If convicted, Petre would be required by statute to serve a sentence of six to 30 years back-to-back with his sentence for murder.
Scott Anderson
Earlville man charged with downloading illicit video
Mast granted pretrial release with home confinement
By TOM COLLINS tcollins@shawmedia.com
An Earlville man faces up to 30 years in prison in connection with downloading a video containing sexual images involving a child.
Jason Mast, 42, appeared Friday in La Salle County Circuit Court and was presented with a Class X felony with a six-year minimum. There is no possibility of probation.
Mast was granted the services of the
Jason E. Mast
public defender and given a Dec. 4 court date. He was granted pretrial release with a GPS monitor and what prosecutors termed “pretty detailed” restrictions on internet use. Mast may have no contact with anyone younger than 18.
According to newly filed court records, authorities in Kane County monitored a downloaded video and traced it to Earlville. Mast, according to court records, was interviewed by police and admitted to downloading the video.
• Christian E. Leek, 31, of Peru (driving with a revoked license)
• Louden A. Herbsleb, 37, of Leland (two counts of aggravated fleeing and eluding; driving with a revoked license)
• Erik D. Keen, 47, of Ottawa (aggravated domestic battery)
• James L. Lester, 69, of Streator (aggravated battery)
• Cornell T. Jones, 49, of Streator (unlawful possession of a controlled substance)
• Terrence C. Shanklin, 43, of Chicago (unlawful possession of a controlled substance)
• Ignacio Lopez, 28, of Aurora (driving with a revoked license)
• Avin A. Alvarez, 24, of Peru (unlawful possession of controlled substance)
• Joseph L. Kohr, 30, of Oglesby (criminal damage to property)
• Sabina E. Guajardo Ochoa, 26, of Princeton (unlawful possession of a controlled substance)
• Shane E. Pennington, 19, of Ottawa (aggravated assault, aggravated fleeing and
eluding, unlawful possession of a controlled substance)
• Linda A. Martinez, 54, of Streator (forgery)
• Lawrence Berry, 52, of Ottawa (aggravated battery)
• Bobby C. Phillips, 48, of Ottawa (driving with a revoked license)
• Darius M. Carroll, 19, of Ottawa (unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle)
• Evin T. Hensley, 19, of Leland (two counts of aggravated battery)
• Avery L. Harris, 33, of Doyline, Louisiana (unlawful possession of a controlled substance)
• Janelle L. Rich, 40, of Rutland (unlawful possession of a controlled substance)
• Devon M. Walker, 29, of Streator (unlawful possession of a controlled substance)
• Dillon W. Hampton, 32, of rural Sheridan (driving with a revoked license)
• Tammy K. Beebe, 46, of Spring Valley (unlawful possession of a controlled substance)
• Eugene J. Orvis, 48, of Ottawa (driving with a revoked license)
• Audrey A. Paulin, 37, of Morris (unlawful possession of a controlled substance)
• Sarah M. Kubisak, 33, homeless (unlawful possession of a controlled substance, violating an order of protection)
THERE WHEN YOU NEED US MOST
Serving you is our specialty, because we make your needs our priority. Get coverage from people you know will be there when you need them most. Trust in Tomorrow.®
Contact us today.
BRUCE A. CHRISTMANN
Born: May 8, 1943 in Mendota, IL
Died: November 15, 2025 in Mendota, IL
Bruce Christmann, 82, passed away on November 15, 2025, in Mendota, Illinois, the town where he was born and which he called his home. Cremation rites have been accorded. Wasmer Funeral Home is privileged to assist the family.
Born on May 8, 1943, in Mendota to Frank and Eleanora Christmann, Bruce grew up with a strong sense of community and family. He pursued higher education at Iowa Wesleyan, where he earned a degree in education, but he’d be the first to tell you that some of the best lessons in life came from being part of the basketball team. During his college
PEGGY NEAL (CHANDLER) FORSELL
Born: October 31, 1957 in Aurora, IL
Died: November 22, 2025 in Earlville, IL
Peggy Forsell, 68, of Earlville, passed away on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at her home, surrounded by her family.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Peggy was born on October 31, 1957 in Aurora to Henry and Joan (Mead) Chandler. She was a graduate of the IVCC Nursing School and worked as a RN. She married Stephen Forsell on July 30, 1982 in Aurora. Peggy enjoyed flower gardening, hiking, and especially having family get togethers. She most recently worked at the Veteran’s Home in LaSalle, IVCH, and Heritage Manor in Mendota. She treated
years, Bruce was a dedicated athlete, playing basketball all four years for the school’s team. His love for sports never faded, and he could always be counted on to talk basketball, or any sport, with anyone who’d listen.
In his younger years, Bruce rarely sat still. He was happiest on the golf course, or on his motorcycle, soaking in the freedom of an open road or a sunny afternoon. He lived with a sense of enthusiasm that made even ordinary days feel fuller. And no matter where he went, he brought humor with him. He was quick with a joke or a story. Everyone who knew Bruce could tell you he had a certain expertise about just about everything.
Throughout the entirety of his life, his sharp mind never really shut off. His math skills were lightning-fast, and he could calculate the score of the game before you’d even finished asking the question.
Bruce shared many cherished years with his beloved wife, Margaret Christmann. They built their home, their traditions, and their family
every patient with the same love and care as a member of her family.
She is survived by her husband, Steve “Stevie;” three children, Becky (Chandler) Lampson of West Brooklyn, IL, Stacy (Chandler) Walters of Troy Grove, IL, and Stephen E. Forsell of Elgin, IL; five grandchildren; three great grandchildren; a brother Ralph Chandler of Plano; and a sister Cindy (Chandler) Flanders of Chapel Hill, TN.
She was preceded in death be her parents, and a sister Lorna Mae.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
You may sign the online guestbook and share remembrances at www.MuellerFH.com.
Mueller Funeral Home and Crematory 800 First Avenue, Ottawa, IL 61350 815-434-4433.
together. After she passed, he carried her memory with tenderness and gratitude. Their children: Paul Christmann and Cheree Joerger, along with her husband, Brad, were the pride of his life, and being a grandfather was one of his greatest joys. Bruce took great pride in his grandchildren: Hope, Sam, Ava, Pryar, and Liam Christmann; and Javen, Nora, and Leo Joerger. He also kept the memory of his grandson TJ close to his heart.
Over the years, Bruce and Marge welcomed many cats and dogs into their home, treating each one like family. But none captured Bruce’s heart quite like Roxie. She became his loyal companion, shadowing him through daily routines and offering the kind of easy, quiet companionship he treasured. Bruce adored her, and the comfort and laughter she brought into his later years meant more than he ever needed to say out loud.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Frank and James; wife Margaret; and grandson TJ. We take comfort in imagining the
MAKENNA SAYLOR
Born: June 30, 2000 in Rockford
Died: November 15, 2025 in Mendota, IL
Makenna Marie Saylor, age 25, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at OSF St. Paul Medical Center in Mendota. She was born on June 30, 2000 in Rockford, IL, the daughter of Shawn Saylor and Erin Daul. Makenna loved being outside, whether it was fishing, camping at Woodhaven, sledding or going for walks with her grandmother. Simple things made her happy, and she brought true joy to all those who knew her. Makenna also enjoyed watching movies, especially Transformers, collecting Pokemon, and watching her
reunion they now share.
Bruce was deeply grateful for the kindness of dear friend Alice Fritz, whose unwavering support to both him and Marge over the years meant more to him than words could say. Bruce lived with heart. He laughed easily, loved deeply, and never turned down the chance to spend time with the people who mattered to him. His legacy is found in the friendships he built, the stories he told, and the memories he leaves behind.
May his memory bring comfort to all who knew him. A Celebration of Life will be held on January 3, 2026, from 01:00 PM at Mendota Moose Lodge. Memorials may be directed to Mendota Area Senior Services (MASS), or Illinois Valley Animal Rescue (IVAR). Condolences may be left at wasmerfuneralhome.com.
two goats, sheep and the rooster outside her family home. She graduated from Mendota High School, Class of 2022. Preceded in death by her grandfather, James Daul.
Makenna is survived by her mom, Erin Castle and guardian, Glenn Castle, father, Shawn Saylor, grandparents: Mary Lou Saylor, Jerry (Cindy) Saylor, and Kim Daul; brother, Aiden Castle; sister, Molly Saylor, 2 step sisters: Jennifer and Kylie Castle; 2 aunts: Monica (Brad) Near, and Lindsey (Jeremiah) Gambrel; her uncle Rodney Saylor; and many cousins.
Private family services will be held at the Horner Merritt Funeral Home, 800 Monroe Street, Mendota, IL with Father Gregory Nelson officiating. Cremation care provided by Horner Merritt Funeral Home. A memorial has been established to design a memorial bench in Makenna’s honor. Guest book at www. Merrittfh.com
PUZZLES
ACROSS
1. Popular wine __ Spumante
5. Greatly impressed
11. __ and that
12. Uttered with passion
16. Boats
17. Veteran actor Harris
18. Casserole with game
19. Reprehensible acts
24. They precede C
25. Says under one’s breath
26. Taxis
27. It transfers genetic info
28. NFL great Randy
29. Where college students sleep
30. Major European river
31. Taco condiment
33. -frutti
34. Polish city
38. Astronomy unit
39. Khoikhoin peoples
40. Bears QB Williams
43. Scrambled, fried, boiled
44. Price indicators
45. One-time world power
49. When you hope to get somewhere
50. Farm building
51. Choose carefully
53. Magnum was one
54. One who combines
56. Nursemaids
58. Partner to Pa
59. Notable river
60. Officially honors
63. Colorless compound
64. A fancy chair
65. Email function
DOWN
1. The central area in a building
2. Religion of Japan
3. Leggings
4. Officially distributes
5. Arabian Sea seaport
6. Spanish doctors
7. It cools your house
8. Currency of Poland
9. Slowly moves into
10. Days (Spanish)
13. Unit of volume
14. Emit
15. With two replaceable hydrogens
20. Title for a man
21. Equally
22. Scarlett’s home
23. One-time tech titan
27. Subway dwellers
29. One-tenth of a liter
30. Central European river
31. Distress signal
32. Expression of sympathy
33. The bill in a restaurant
34. Football equipment
35. Dance music
36. Russian river
37. Cosmetics giant Mary
38. Gym class
40. Automobiles
41. Roman honorific
42. Losses in sports
44. Skin tone in summer
45. Distant planet
46. Critical humor
47. Illegally obtained
48. Go back over
50. Home appliance brand
51. Unit of radioactivity
52. Home of the Flyers
54. Short official note
55. Emit coherent radiation
57. Anno Domini (in the year of Our Lord)
61. Most common noble gas (abbr.)
62. Toward
DAVID JORDAL
Born: January 25, 1939 in Rochelle Died: November 17, 2025
David LaVern Jordal, age 86, passed away peacefully at Liberty Village in Rochelle on November 17, 2025. Dave was born in Rochelle on January 25, 1939, the son of Milo and Edith (Berg) Jordal. He grew up on a farm near Lee with his siblings; Marlin, Lois (Jordal) Hopwood and Edwin. Dave attended a one room country school through 7t grade then finished at Lee Grade School. He graduated from Shabbona High School before attending Northern Illinois University, attaining his bachelor’s
and master’s degrees in science education. His lifelong career was as a high school science teacher first at Mendota High and retiring from LaSalle/Peru High. He was quoted to say that teaching kids was a privilege not a job. Summers found him with a paintbrush. Dave was an active participant in many community and church activities. He enjoyed woodworking, being treasurer of the Mendota Food Pantry and teaching High School Sunday School. Dave married his high school sweetheart, Carol Janaan Trumpour, in 1959. They had two children:
Loreen (Don) White and Mark Jordal. Along the way they added two of Carol’s siblings to their family, Donna (Trumpour) Krenz and Kelly Trumpour. Carol passed away on October 26, 1995. On November 24, 2000 Dave married a lifelong friend Linda (Sanderson) Hinkston. In their retirement years together they enjoyed
their families, traveling and sharing life in Door County.
Surviving Dave are his wife, Linda, and children Loreen White and Mark Jordal. Grandchildren are Traci White and Bryant (Desire) White. Great grands include Sawyer, Dash, Bo and Dawson White and Hattie and Milo Holtke. Also surviving are sister-in-law Donna Krenz and her children, Danielle (Collin) Stoddard, Stephanie (Wes) Webendorfer and Nick (Danielle) Krenz. Their children are Arthur Stoddard and Anne and Emma Webendorfer. Stepchildren of Dave are Lauren (John) Hintzsche and Brent (Laura) Hinkston. Step grandchildren include Michael (Patti), Riley and Brice (Dalaney Vickery) Hintzsche, Jacob (Trudy) and Ben Hinkston.
Dave was predeceased by his parents, Milo and Edith, and siblings Marlin, Lois and infant Edwin.
Also predeceased by his wife Carol, brotherin-law Kelly, and brother-in-law, Mark Krenz. Dave will be remembered for his kind and gentle manner, his quick wit, his devotion to family, his enduring faith and his influence as an educator. His wish is for everyone to share their God given talents with humanity to help make this world a better place.
The funeral service will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church, Lee, Illinois on November 22, 2025 with Pastor Jeff Johnson officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. prior to the celebration of life at 11. Burial will be immediately after the service at Union Cemetery with lunch following at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Calvary Lutheran Church, the food pantry of your choice or the Alzheimer’s Association. Guestbook at www.UngerHorner.com
CLASSIFIED
Tracts 1 & 2 are located 2 miles south, and Tract 3 is located on the southwest corner of LaMoille IL, which is 8 miles west of Mendota, IL or 17 miles northwest of Peru, IL. The land is further described as being located in Sections 25 & 36, T18N-R10E, La Moille Township, Bureau County, Illinois.
Farmers & investors, take advantage of this offering of high quality, productive soils, with future development possibilities!
PETERSON FAMILY FARM
Representing Attorney: Nick Balestri | Bernabei, Balestri & Fiocchi 149 Gooding St, LaSalle, IL 61301 | 815-223-6600
Auction Managers: Isaac Taber (309) 335-8081 & Kevin Haas (309) 264-7767
The Bruce Huffaker farm is located approximately 2.5 miles Northwest of Ladd, IL along County Rd 1800 N and is further described as being located in Section 32, T17N-R11E, Westfield Township, Bureau County, Illinois.
The Bruce Huffaker farm represents 100% tillable farmland with Class A soil in Bureau County, IL. Don't miss this great opportunity!
BRUCE HUFFAKER
Representing Attorney: John Balestri | Bernabei, Balestri & Fiocchi Law Offices 329 W. Dakota Street, Spring Valley, IL 61362 | (815) 664-2358
Auction Managers: Isaac Taber (309) 335-8081& Dan Sullivan
ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION School Business Services 217-785-8779
ANNUAL STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS FISCAL YEAR ENDING June 30, 2025
SCHOOL DISTRICT/JOINT AGREEMENT NAME: Mendota Township High School District 280 DISTRICT TYPE RCDT NUMBER: 35-050-2800-17 Elementary
ADDRESS: 2300 W Main St Mendota , IL 61342 High School X COUNTY: LaSalle Unit
NAME OF NEWSPAPER WHERE PUBLISHED: Mendota Twp HSD 280 Joint Agreement
ASSURANCE
The Annual Statement of Affairs has been posted on the district’s website and published in accordance with Section 10-17 of the School Code no later than December 1. (Put “X” in blue box if yes.)
SIZE OF DISTRICT IN SQUARE MILES 196 NUMBER OF ATTENDANCE CENTERS 1
NUMBER OF CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES
southwest corner of Peru, IL. The land Moille Township, high quality, possibilities!
Yes X
The ASA must be posted on the school district’s website and published in a newspaper of general circulation no later than December 1, 2025. Refer to Section 10-17 and Section 1020.44 of the School Code.
Data previously included in the Annual Statement of Affairs can be found at: Payments to certified personnel Posted on district website per 105 ILCS 5/10-20.47 Student Counts Included in district’s report card
Financial Data
Included in district’s Annual Financial Report posted on ISBE’s Cerberus Server
SALARY SCHEDULE OF GROSS PAYMENTS FOR NON-CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL
Salary Range: Less Than $39.999; CELI ARTEAGA; SELENIA ARTEAGA; MARCO BALCAZAR; MATTHEW BAUER; SANDY BAUER; SHELDON BAUER; PATRICIA BLUMHORST; BRENDA CASAS; MARISELA CERVANTES; STACY CHANDLER; MATTHEW CHISM; MELISSA CLARKMACDONALD; SOFIA CORREA; JANET DELONG; DAWN DIETER; ZONDRA EITEN; CAELEB ENSOR; UVALDO ESCATEL; AGUSTINA ESPINOZA; ROCIO FIGUEROA; JAELYN FITZGERALD; JUDY FORNEY; JOHN GINGER; ROBERT GUERRERO JR; Enrique Guzman; CATHERINE HALL; KENNETH HAUN SR; JOANNE HEINZEROTH;
KAREN HERBERT; LUCIA HERRERA; KEEGAN HILL; ELLEN HOPKINS; JARRED JOHNSON; VICKI JOHNSON; GARY KETTLEBOROUGH; LUCILLE KNUTH; TERESA LEFFELMAN; JODI MANNING; WENDY MAU; SHERI MCCONVILLE; HEIDI MCKEE; LAURA MCNALLY; MATTHEW MEYER; DALE MEYERS; GERI MILLER; MICHAEL MUHLSTADT; JOHN MYERS; JANICE NOWLIN; JARED ORTEGA; DEBRA PHALEN; CHRISTOPHER SALAZAR; DEMETRIO SALAZAR; DANNY SARVER; REBECCA SARVER; MARY SCHALLHORN; TAYLOR SCHNEIDER; LISA SCHROEDER; ARTURO SERRANO; JEFFREY SIMONTON; ALEXIS SOTO;
MARY STEPHENITCH; SABRINA STEWART; DAVID STILES; TAMORA STUEPFERT; BENJAMIN SUMNER; BRIAN TONDI; KIMBERLY TYLER; JASON VALDEZ; CALMAR WATSON; JENNIFER WATSON; SHEILA WEILER; ANTONIA ZIMMERMAN
Salary Range: $55,000 - $74,999 ANDREW KNOWLTON; RAYMOND LIPE; GUADALUPE PEREZ; WESLEY SIMS
PAYMENTS TO PERSON, FIRM, OR CORPORATION OVER $2,500 EXCLUDING WAGES AND SALARIES
4M GRAPHIX 7,542; A & M PRODUCTS COMPANY 3,402; AED SUPERSTORE 3,558; ALPHA CONTROLS & SERVICES LLC 2,725; AMALGAMATED BANK OF CHICAGO 173,400; AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICE 26,082; AMERICAN BUILDING SERVICES 9,590; AMERICAN CAPITAL FINANCIAL SERVICES INC 34,015; AREA CAREER CENTER 88,500; ARNESON OIL COMPANY 110,816; BELL TECHLOGIX INC 4,225; BLICK ART MATERIALS 4,112; BREEDLOVES SPORTING GOODS 8,558; BSN SPORTS LLC 32,699; BUSHUE HR, INC. 2,675; BUSRIGHT INC. 5,300; CAMELOT THERAPEUTIC SCHOOLS LLC 4,776; CARQUEST OF MENDOTA 4,713; CARRIAGE HOUSE ELECTRIC 3,727; CARRIER CORPORATION 4,629; CENGAGE LEARNING INC 4,754; CENTRAL STATES BUS SALES INC 152,014; CINTAS 6,734; CIT TRUCKS_PERU 2650 5,596; CITY OF MENDOTA 9,324; COLLEGE BOARD (THE) 3,040; COMCAST BUSINESS 3,144; COMED 6,334; COMMON GOAL SYSTEM INC. 21,215; CONSTELLATION NEW ENERGY - GAS DIVISION LLC 49,693; CONSTELLATION NEWENERGY, INC 63,256; CORRECT DIGITAL DISPLAYS INC 28,996; COSGROVE DISTRIBUTIONS, INC. 5,853; CROWN GYM MATS INC 3,100; DAVIS FAMILY HEALTH LLC 3,315; DEARBORN NATIONAL LIFE INS CO 5,845; DIVERSIFIED BENEFIT SERVICES INC 21,754; DYNEGY ENERGY SERVICES 149,383; EARLVILLE COLD STORAGE LOCKER, LLC 2,511; EASON HORTICULTURAL RESOURCES 4,504; EDMENTUM 4,950; EMS LINQ INC 9,620; FIRST STATE BANK 35,017;
FIRST TO THE FINISH 8,806; FLASH TIMING 3,540; FLINN SCIENTIFIC INC. 2,639; FLORIDA FRUIT ASSOCIATION 6,510; FRONTLINE TECHNOLOGIES GROUP LLC 9,823; FSB- VISA STUDENT FUND 8,759; FSB-VISA 65,681; FURARS BODY SHOP 4,798; GALLAGHER RMS INC, ARTHUR J. 3,633; GETZ FIRE EQUIPMENT 3,947; GLOBAL WATER TECHNOLOGY INC 7,882; GORENZ AND ASSOCIATES LTD. 19,400; GRAINCO FS INC 3,248; GREAT LAKES COCACOLA DISTRIBUTION LLC 26,353; HAGENBUCH, KATE J. 25,531; H-D SUPPLY FORMERLY HOME DEPOT PRO 22,108; HEALTHCARE SERVICE CORPORATION 487,732; HOLLAND COMPUTERS, INC. 2,627; HOME DEPOT CREDIT SERVICES 6,861; HUDL 4,299; IASB 11,640; IHSA 6,266; IL DEPARTMENT EMPLOYMENT SECURITY 9,485; ILLINOIS DEPT. OF REVENUE 10,565; ILLINOIS VALLEY SUPER BOWL 3,273; INTERQUEST DETECTION CANINES OF CHICAGOLAND 3,905; IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY 3,800; JOHNS SERVICE & SALES 8,054; JOHNSON CONTROLS FIRE PROTECTION LP 8,132; KOHL WHOLESALE 165,938; KOSKOTAS, KYRA 7,095; L.E.A.S.E. 105,201; LASALLE PERU TWP HIGH SCHOOL 15,667; LASALLE PUBLISHING COMPANY 4,940; LIGHTED WAY ASSOCIATION 94,456; LOCKER ROOM 13,240; MAJORCLARITY BY PAPER INC. 3,500; MARCO TECHNOLOGIES LLC 25,974; MENARDS 3,605; MENDOTA BOOSTER CLUB 2,844; MENDOTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 7,638; MENDOTA ELKS LODGE 4,400; MENDOTA GOLF CLUB 2,638; MENDOTA POLICE
DEPARTMENT 55,588; MENDOTA REPORTER 3,149; MENDOTA TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL 11,198; MEYER, MATT 6,447; MIDWEST LINEMEN’S CLUB 5,100; MLR CONSULTING 17,528; MONA’S/BERNARDI’S CATERING 5,232; NATIONAL FFA ORGANIZATION 3,248; NICOR GAS 3,932; NOREDINK CORP 4,500; OPTERRA ENERGY SERVICES 1,570,932; OSF MEDICAL GROUP 27,045; OSF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH 6,724; PAPER 101 4,241; PERMABOUND 2,917; PRAIRIE FARMS ROCKFORD 8,407; PRAIRIE STATE INSURANCE COOPERATIVE 202,083; PRESCOTT BROTHERS 59,377; PRINCETON HIGH SCHOOL 3,180; PROVANTAGE PAVING INC 21,745; QUADIENT FINANCE USA INC 5,181; R.C. SERVICE 4,084; REALITYWORKS 3,148; REGIONAL OFFICE OF ED #35 7,971; REMIND101 INC 2,745; RENAISSANCE LEARNING INC 3,523; REPUBLIC SERVICES #766 15,131; RESONANT EDUCATION INC 5,600; SADLER POWER TRAIN 5,825; SAPP BROS 4,771; SCHIMMER INC. 19,230; SCHOOL DATEBOOKS 3,760; SHOOT A WAY, INC 3,977; SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES 100,390; STEPHENS, MELISSA 2,996; SULLIVANS FOODS 12,014; TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM-STATE OF IL 18,161; THE MUSIC SHOPPE INC 10,130; T-MOBILE 3,091; TOP YOUTH SPEAKERS 3,500; TURNITIN LLC 4,386; VARSITY SPIRIT 3,380; VARSITY YEARBOOK 2,598; VETERANS FLOORS INC 3,150; WALLACE CCSD 195 7,394; WORLD’S FINEST CHOCOLATE 2,710; YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU 9,713; ZUKOWSKI LAW OFFICES 24,488
PAYMENTS TO PERSON, FIRM, OR CORPORATION OF $1,000 TO $2,500 EXCLUDING WAGES AND SALARIES
3RD Millennium Classrooms 2,500 ; ACE HARDWAREMENDOTA 1,392 ; AIR FILTER SOLUTIONS 2,177 ; AMBOY HIGH SCHOOL 1,400 ; AMERICAN FIDELITY ASSURANCE CO (FLEX) 1,708 ; Anthony Kelson 1,000 ; ASHLEE KITTILSON 1,300 ; AUTO-JET MUFFLER CORP 1,966 ; AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER LLC 1,214 ; Barefoot Campus Outfitter 1,988 ; BFG Supply Company 1,103 ; BLUMHORST, PATRICIA 1,217 ; Bradley-Bourbonnais High School 1,545 ; Carroll University 1,284 ; CASH 1,010 ; Century Resources 1,646 ; Certor Sports Distribution Center 2,307 ; COLLINS SPORTS MEDICINE 1,790 ; CRESCENT ELECTRIC SUPPLY
CO 1,795 ; DECKER INC. 1,895 ; DENISE BILLHORN 1,071 ; DIFFIT Inc. 1,360 ; DOORS UNLIMITED 1,417 ; EBSCO INFORMATION SERVICES 1,104 ; EL REY DEL TACO MENDOTA 1,345 ; Ella Martin 2,000 ; Enny Acre Design, LLC 1,328 ; EUREKA SAVINGS BANK 1,000 ; FIRM SYSTEMS 1,323 ; FOLLETT CONTENT SOLUTIONS LLC 1,981 ; FOLLETT SCHOOL SOLUTIONS, LLC 1,272 ; GREEN RIVER LINES 2,400 ; GUARD911 LLC 1,188 ; HALMS MOTOR SVC INC 2,365 ; HEISS WELDING, INC. 1,060 ; HILL, KEEGAN 2,136 ; I.A.S.A. 1,165 ; IL Music Education Association 1,866 ; Illinois Foundation FFA 1,000 ; Illinois Association FFA 1,047 ; ILLINOIS PRINCIPALS ASSOC 2,099 ; Illinois Valley Community College 1,700 ; IVSA 2,400 ; JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD 1,167 ; Kansas Wesleyan University 1,000 ; Kate Biers 2,000 ; Kendall Biers 2,000 ; KENDRICK PEST CONTROL 1,080 ; KEWANEE HIGH SCHOOL 1,447 ; KOOLMASTER CO INC 1,169 ; Krispy Kreme 2,132 ; LANTER DISTRIBUTION, LLC 1,274 ; LEARNING SOLUTIONS INC 1,053 ; LEARNWELL LLC 1,325 ; Lily Bokus 2,000 ; MCMASTER-CARR SUPPLY CO. 1,055 ; Medco Sport Medicine & School First Aid 1,297 ; MENDOTA HIGH SCHOOL -STD FUND 2,053 ; Mendota High School-Operating Fund 1,930 ; NEFF COMPANY 1,476
; NOLTE CONCRETE 1,993 ; Northern Illinios University 1,150 ; ODP Business Solutions, LLC 2,143 ; OREGON HIGH SCHOOL 2,200 ; OREILLY AUTOMOTIVE INC 1,422 ; Ottawa High School 1,000 ; PIONEER PAINT COMPANY 2,406 ; Pizza by Marchelloni 1,080 ; Plano High School 1,000 ; Purdue
University 2,000 ; QUADIENT LEASING USA INC 1,752 ; Relevant Speakers Network 1,250 ; Rite Bite Fundraising 1,995 ; ROSS, DAVID 2,319 ; SAINT BEDE ACADEMY 1,063 ; SAVVAS LEARNING CO LLC 2,146 ; SCHUTT SPORTS, LLC 2,192 ; SHI 2,399 ; SIMMER, DEANA 2,000 ; SPORTS N STUFF MENDOTA 1,217 ; SRAVTE 1,694 ; STEWART, ALISA 1,051 ; THRUSH SANITATION 1,925 ; TROY SIMPLIFIED TECHNOLOGIES INC 1,032 ; UNITED LABORATORIES 1,001 ; University of Iowa 1,300 ; Valley Athletics 2,153 ; ZAHOUREK SYSTEMS INC 1,841 ; ZIGGIES 1,990 REPORT ON CONTRACTS EXCEEDING $25,000 AWARDED DURING FY2025
In conformity with sub-section (c) of Section 10-20.44 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/10-20.44], the following information is required to be submitted in conjunction with publication of the Annual Statement of Affairs [105 ILCS 5/10-17].
1. Total number of all contracts awarded by the school district: 15
2. Total value of all contracts awarded: $3,072,117.00
3. Total
businesses:
*If there are no contracts of this nature, please enter “0” in box to the right.
4. Total value
businesses:
*If there are no contracts of this nature, please enter “0” in box to the right.
Jackson, Ogbongbemiga step up for Bears’ injury-depleted defense
By MICHAL DWOJAK mdwojak@shawmedia.com
D’Marco Jackson couldn’t help but let a smile slip through as he stood in front of his locker inside the Chicago Bears locker room at Soldier Field on Sunday afternoon. He stood there, pridefully, and answered questions from reporters as if he’d waited years to talk.
Amen Ogbongbemiga couldn’t hold back his emotions, too, as he answered questions. He’d lower his voice at times as he tried to find the right words to sum up what he felt at the moment.
Neither was supposed to make a major impact this season. Much wasn’t expected out of Ogbongbemiga as Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off. But as both stood at their lockers after the Bears’ 31-28 win, there was little doubt how important their roles were that day.
The duo led the defense in total tackles as each had stepped up when their teammates needed them the most to help the Bears improve to 8-3.
“It was just special because every single guy, there wasn’t any jealousy or anything like that,” Jackson said Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field. “It was just everyone just wanted to get that win, that 1-0 feeling. Just to be out there and in the game, on defense and just feel that support and love for everybody, from coaches to the players to the support staff and everybody. It was special.”
Both Jackson and Ogbongbemiga made the most of their opportunities after the Bears played Sunday’s game without any of their starting linebackers. Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards and Noah Sewell were each ruled out ahead Friday ahead of Sunday’s kickoff. The team placed Edmunds on injured reserve on Saturday.
Jackson knew he’d be making his first career start at middle linebacker for Edmunds once the team officially ruled him out. But he had worked all week to be ready for the moment, which included being the Bears defender who received the play call in his helmet from Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
Sunday was just the second time in his career Jackson had called out the play calls. He practiced calling them out throughout the week at practices and checked in with his teammates
after to make sure they understood and liked the way he communicated.
It seemed to work well. The Bears created two turnovers and Jackson led the team with 15 total tackles. He made the most of his moment he’d waited a long time to come.
“You never hope guys go down,” Jackson said. “But at the same time, like being a backup for so long, you never know when you’re when your time is gonna come. So honestly, just preparing even like weeks ahead, like weeks before this happened. Preparing like, ‘Hey, you can be that next guy up.’ So preparing just the same way, never changing or wavering with what’s going on.”
Ogbongbemiga was frustrated at the start of Sunday’s game. After missing the first eight games because of injury, Ogbongbemiga felt he had proven enough to earn a start Sunday. But Rookie Ruben Hyppolite earned the start over him at weakside linebacker.
Despite the frustrations, Ogbongbemiga didn’t have to wait long to make an impact. Hyppolite exited the game with a shoulder injury in the first quar-
ter and Ogbongbemiga stepped in instantly.
Ogbongbemiga made some tackles during a Steelers drive in the second quarter that halted the momentum they had built. No play was bigger than when he and cornerback Nahshon Wright came together to stop the Steelers from executing a tush push on fourth down.
Ogbongbemiga finished the game with 14 tackles.
“I’m a competitor, so I was expecting to play,” Ogbongbemiga said. “And you know, when I was told I wasn’t going to be with the first team, that bothered me. I stayed down, stayed with my process and just kept going.”
Bears head coach Ben Johnson and his coaching staff were confident that different players would step up despite the team’s injury troubles. It did take some defensive adjustments to pull off.
Chicago was forced to play a bunch of dime Sunday, when the defense used six defensive backs. Safeties Jaquan Brisker and C.J. Gardner-Johnson played on the line of scrimmage at times and were forced to play like line-
backers. But the Bears were confident they could make those adjustments based on what they saw at practice during the week.
“You’ve got different guys stepping up and answering that bell,” Johnson said. “That’s why the week of preparation is so important for us, too. These young players get a chance to instill confidence from the coaching staff.”
Sunday’s win was another check on how much the players believe in Johnson’s culture. The Bears were without six defensive starters in their secondary and linebacking corps, but different players stepped up to help the team win its eight games out of its last nine.
It’s that top-to-bottom strong culture that Johnson has built up that’s gotten the Bears to this point. It’s allowed anyone to make an impact, no matter the odds.
“Man, we don’t blink, no matter who’s getting thrown into the fire,” Ogbongbemiga said. “You know you’re expected to hold a high standard, and every single time you’re expected to go out there and put out your best. That’s exactly what we did.”
Mark Busch
Chicago Bears linebacker D’Marco Jackson celebrates after stopping the Pittsburgh Steelers offense late in the fourth quarter sealing the win Sunday, in their game at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Amboy tops Polo for 3rd straight I8FA title
Clippers scored 30 straight points to become first 3-time I8FA champion
By DRAKE LANSMAN dlansman@shawmedia.com
Adversity hit two-time defending Illinois 8-Man Football Association champion Amboy-La Moille-Ohio early in Friday’s championship game in Monmouth.
Down two scores to Polo after the first quarter, the Clippers were unfazed. Amboy scored 30 straight points en route to a 30-20 win at Monmouth College’s April Zorn Memorial Stadium.
The defense dug in, and Jose Lopez ran for 292 yards and three touchdowns as Amboy (12-1) became the first threetime state champion in the I8FA.
“It feel great, but I’ve got to give thanks to my O-line,” Lopez said. “They opened up the holes – it was open, and I just had to make the cuts.”
In a battle of two teams with a pair of I8FA state titles, Amboy remains the league’s team to beat after an unprecedented three-peat.
“We have a great coach that pushes us through everything, and that’s all you really need,” Lopez said. “You need a strong head coach who can keep pushing, who has the right game plan. We have a strong line, and that’s what keeps us going.”
Last year’s Amboy team was led heavily by its seniors. This year, a number of new players needed to step up to get it done again.
“They were always there for us,” Lopez said of last year’s seniors. “They did a really good job at passing the torch, and we knew that we had big shoes to fill. Every single one of us did just that.”
Polo’s Mercer Mumford had a huge first quarter to give the Marcos the early advantage. He ran for two touchdowns as Polo (11-2) forged a 14-0 lead.
Lopez got rolling in the second quarter with a 29-yard TD, and Cody Winn caught a 9-yard score from Tanner Welch just 10 seconds before halftime to help tie the game and give the Clippers momentum.
Winn said the play shifted the game in Amboy’s favor. It was Welch’s only completion of the game in five passes.
“I think it was a big momentum shift,
the work. Us coaches, we just tell them what to do, obviously in the weight room and the running, and they’re the ones that go through and they do it. And they push themselves, and they don’t question us in anything.
“They deserve all the credit in the world, because this is their accomplishment for their hard work since last March.”
Amboy junior Evan Flanagan said it took grit.
“The ‘A’ on our helmets, they mean a lot to us,” he said. “We had to be more physical than the other team.”
Amboy senior Rylan McNinch said this year’s junior class was a big factor in the repeat. McNinch tipped a pass which he intercepted in the win.
“The juniors were a big help,” he said. “The majority of our offense and defense are juniors or sophomores, so they’ll definitely be back next year.”
Despite the loss, Polo battled in its first state appearance since winning it all in 2021.
Mumford was injured in the third quarter and was unable to return. He finished with 162 yards and two scores. Stephenson threw for 131 yards and a touchdown on his final pass. Polo’s twopoint conversion failed, and Amboy recovered the ensuing onside kick before icing the game.
“They started running it down our throats, really, and we didn’t give up,” Stephenson said. “We kept playing. You can’t be mad about that, we just kept going.”
and it got us ready to roll,” he said. “It took us into halftime with a good mentality.”
Polo was putting together a strong drive to start the second half, but turned it over on downs at the 6. Amboy held Polo until Jordan Reed caught a 14-yard TD from JT Stephenson with 1:12 to play.
Amboy coach Scott Payne said it showed a lot for his team to respond after getting down 14-0. Polo also took advantage of a high snap on an Amboy punt for good field position.
“I told the kids before the game, adversity is going to hit throughout this game. It depends on if you flinch or not,” he said. “They bounced back. We got down 14-nothing, didn’t play very well in the first quarter, and they came back in that second quarter and tied it up.
“It just says a lot about these kids and how they just never give up and they just keep fighting.”
One of the biggest catalysts for Amboy this postseason has been Lopez, and he came through again in the biggest game of the season.
“He played great against Milledgeville, and this week I think he played even better,” Payne said. “Nobody really knew about him throughout the season, and then all of a sudden in the playoffs, he started ripping off some really good games.
“Jose played great today, and our offensive line after that first quarter really stepped up and started opening up the holes for him.”
Payne is proud of the three-peat, but directs all the credit to his players.
“The kids are the ones that put in all
Stephenson said Amboy made some changes on defense after the hot start.
“They’re tough players,” he said. “We shouldn’t be disappointed in ourselves. We made it all the way.”
Polo coach Ted Alston said Amboy’s size and physicality eventually took control of the line of scrimmage in the second quarter.
“Our kids played their hearts out against a really good team,” he said. “They were just a little bit too much for us up front.”
The Marcos were still a play or two away from potentially a different outcome.
“We needed to make a couples here or there that would have really changed things,” Alston said. “It’s a great experience for the kids. I know it’s disappointing for them right now, but I’m glad they got to experience it.”
Scott Anderson
Amboy/LaMoille/Ohio’s Cody Winn, is thrown in the air by teammate Trevor Stenzel, after scoring a touchdown during the 8-man I8FA championship game on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 at April Zorn Memorial Stadium in Monmouth.
SPORTS
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1975: Boston Red Sox center fielder Fred Lynn becomes the first rookie ever to be named American League MVP
1995: Dan Marino sets NFL record with 343rd touchdown pass.
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Members of the Amboy/LaMoille/ Ohio football team hoist the 8-man I8FA championship trophy after defeating Polo 30-20 on Friday at April Zorn Memorial Stadium in Monmouth.
THREE-PEAT
Amboy defeats polo for third straight I8FA title / 23
