Executive Director Tracy Cooper finds herself in a situation she hasn’t been in before.
In effect of program cuts such as Illinois Eats and a reduction in items from the USDA, the pantry has lost 15 percent of its monthly incoming food.
Some items have been excluded completely such as hamburger.
“We’re no longer receiving hamburger and can’t hand any out to our clients. The only way we can give them hamburger is if we buy it,” Cooper said.
“I’ve looked around and the best price I’ve found is around the tune of $880 per month.
“This is one of the problems we thought may happen because of the Illinois Eats program being
“We really do need help. Last year, we built our new building with the help of the community. Hopefully, we can get some additional help to make sure we can get families hamburger.”
-Tracy Cooper Mendota Food Pantry
gone. It is gone and it was my source for hamburger. We’re in a dilemma. May was the last time we were able to receive items from Illinois Eats. What we had helped us until now.”
The food pantry gives 1 pound of hamburger to every family in part of 3-5 pounds of meat per month.
See Pantry, Page A5
Federal food assistance changes threaten benefits for thousands of Illinois residents
q New requirements mandate state pay for a greater share of program
By BEN SZALINSKI
Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD –
Hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans could lose benefits from a federal food assistance program while the state will be required to cover more costs under changes passed in the latest domestic policy plan.
President Donald Trump signed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act” into law on July 4, making sweeping changes to social services programs, including Medicaid. Among the programs being revamped is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP. The bill institutes new work requirements for many people to remain eligible for benefits and shifts some costs for the program to the states.
Food stamps were first established in the 1930s during the Great Depression. Renamed to SNAP in 2008, the program provides monthly stipends for low-income Americans to purchase select foods at grocery stores. While states implement the program and pay a portion of administrative expenses,
the federal government has historically covered the cost of the benefits.
Under the law, work requirements to qualify for SNAP benefits have been expanded to include people up to age 64, along with homeless people, veterans and young adults leaving foster care. Previously, only people age 18-54 had to meet work requirements.
Those populations didn’t previously have to prove they were doing a certain amount of work, but when the changes kick in, they will have to do 80 hours of paid, unpaid or volunteer work each month to qualify for benefits, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The law continues to provide exemptions for people who
Who will wear the crown?
q Sweet Corn Festival royalty will be revealed at Aug. 8 pageant
MENDOTA – A very short time remains before the 2025 Sweet Corn Festival Queen will be chosen to reign over the festivities of Mendota’s 78th Annual Sweet Corn Festival to be held Aug. 7-10. Be sure to join Tim and Jan Phalen as they emcee the evening of suspense and entertainment.
Choosing one queen and two attendants from the 10 beautiful contestants will be a very difficult choice for the judges. The judges will be busy most of the afternoon of the pageant with the candidates’ interviews at the Pageant Tea.
Singer-guitarist Andrew Bloomquist will provide pre-pageant entertainment beginning at 6:45 p.m., and then the pageant will get underway at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8 on the First State Bank stage on Washington Street in downtown Mendota.
Bloomquist will return to the stage while the judges are deciding who will wear the crown for 2025. Here are three more contestants vying for the crown of 2025 Sweet Corn Festival Queen.
Dessa Komitas has been chosen to represent The Point Guard Club in this year’s pageant. She is the daughter of Peter and Theresa Komitas. She stands five feet, three inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes.
Komitas graduated from Mendota High School in May of 2025 where she was very active in many sports, clubs and fine arts. She was in track (captain),
band section leader, choir, madrigals, show choir, plays and musicals. She was an ILMEA district qualifier for concert choir and jazz choir. Komitas was a football and basketball cheerleader and captain her junior year. She was also named an allAmerican cheerleader. She was an honor roll student all four years earning a space in the National Honor Society. She joined the Interact Club and FCA. Komitas was also awarded numerous scholarships and awards such as BPW, DLA, BohnNielson, Coach Kilmartin and All-Conference Academic award winner.
In the fall Komitas will be attending Wisconsin
Lutheran College to seek a degree in neuroscience & psychology. She hopes to work as a pediatric neuropsychologist to help children with brain injuries and special needs. She has started taking a couple classes over the summer to help get ahead of college.
This summer you will find her working as a babysitter or pet sitter. She enjoys caring for children and animals. She also helps the families with light cleaning, cooking and walking their pets. She enjoys golfing, baking and shopping in her spare time. She also volunteers at her church.
The Rotary Club has selected Ella Martin as its candidate in this year’s pageant. She is the daughter of Jason and Lisa Martin of Mendota, and is five feet,
See Pageant, Page A5
are physically unable to work, such as for pregnancy.
The changes could leave 360,000 people in Illinois at risk of losing eligibility, according to the state.
“Trump and Republicans would rather children go hungry so their friends can receive tax cuts,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement.
“Here in Illinois, we have been working to combat food insecurity for years, and while no state can backfill these costs, the State of Illinois will continue to fight against these harmful impacts and stand up for working families.”
About 1.9 million people were using SNAP in Illinois as of March 2025, according to the USDA.
New costs for the state Illinois and most other
states will have to cover a greater portion of costs for SNAP under the law, including benefits based on the state’s error rate of over- and under-payments on benefits.
Beginning in federal fiscal year 2028, which begins in October 2027, the law requires states with an error rate greater than 10% as of at least FY25 to cover 15% of the cost of benefits. States with lower error rates would cover a smaller portion of the benefits. Illinois recorded an 11% error rate in FY24, according to the USDA. More than 1.8 million Illinoisians received $4.7 billion of SNAP benefits in FY25, according to the state. If Illinois must pay 15% of the cost of benefits, it could leave the state on the hook for $705 million — or about 1.3% of the current-year budget. Also beginning in federal fiscal year 2027, which begins in October 2026, states will have to cover 75% of administrative costs for SNAP, rather than 50%. This year’s state budget
See Food, Page A5
Two contestants competing for the title of Sweet Corn Festival Queen are Dessa Komitas, left, and Ella Martin. (Photo contributed)
LOCAL AND AREA
Mendota Sweet Corn Festival sponsors
RSG Millwright
Santana and Robert Gloria, second and third from left, represent RSG Millwright in a photo with Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce Board members, left to right, Kelly Becker, Marion Quintana and Jessica Newcomer to celebrate the millwright’s sponsorship of the Friday night beer garden entertainment on August 9 of the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival. (Photo contributed)
Sullivan’s Foods
Tons of butter is needed for the free sweet corn giveaway starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10 of the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival. There isn’t a better place to get the butter than Sullivan’s Foods as it is donating all of the butter for Illinois delicacy, corn. Representing the sponsorship are, left to right, Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce Board President Erica Henry, MACC Board member Marion Quintana, Sullivan’s Store Director Dylan Inman, Sullivan’s Candi Richey, Doris Dawnson, Darla Kleckner and Cindy Sjostrom and MACC Board members Kelly Becker and Jessica Newcomer. (Photo contributed)
Prairie Land Millwright
Once again, Prairie Land Millwright is a major sponsor of the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival. Honoring the longstanding partnership were, left to right, PLM’s Brett Chaon, Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce Board member Marion Quintana, PLM’s Curt Chaon, MACC’s Jessica Newcomer, PLM’s Duane Chaon and Trevor Chaon. (Photo contributed)
HCC, Inc.
HCC is co-sponsoring, “Magic Matt,” the magician and balloon artist otherwise known as Matthew Scherer at the 78th Annual Mendota Sweet Corn Festival August 7-10. Members of the Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce and representatives of HCC, Inc. celebrated the sponsorship. (Reporter photo by Brandon LaChance)
Black Bros. Company
Chicago’s Golden Knights Drill Team will be at the 78th Annual Mendota Sweet Corn Festival thanks to sponsorship from Black Bros. Company. Representing Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce and Black Bros. in the photo are, left to right, Marion Quintana, Vincent Schultz, Kelly Becker, Aaron Perryman, Evan Carroll, Taylor Olsen, Ricardo Carbajal, Brad Cox, Sam Setchell, Jessica Newcomer. (Reporter photo by Brandon LaChance)
Eureka Savings Bank
Andrew Bloomquist will be on stage at 6:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8 before the Mendota Sweet Corn Pageant and again during intermission. Bloomquist is sponsored by Eureka Savings Bank. Honoring the sponsorship are, left to right, Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce Board President Erica Henry, MACC Board member Kelly Becker, Eureka Savings Vice President Anna Arteaga, MACC President/CEO Sam Setchell, MACC’s Marion Quintana and Jessica Newcomer. (Photo contributed)
LOCAL AND AREA
Mendota Sweet Corn Festival sponsors
Financial Plus Credit Union
FPCU is once again a major sponsor of the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival. This year, the credit union has helped bring Friday’s performers to the beer garden stage on Friday, Aug. 8. The musicians include Los Ahijados del Barranco, Banda Nuestra Tierra and the sound services of Ruben Perales Jr. from Total Rentals Inc. In the photo are, left to right, Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce Board member Jessica Newcomer, FPCU’s Tiffanie Nanzer, Audrey Holocker, Rose Hild Bonnell, Sonia Duarte, Jamie Denault and Jennifer Truckenbrod, and MACC Board members Marion Quintana and Kelly Becker. (Photo contributed)
The insurance company located at 903 Main St. in Mendota is sponsoring the entertainment on the beer garden stage Friday, Aug. 8 including Los Ahijados del Barrranco, Banda Nuestra Tierra and the sound services of Ruben Perales Jr. from Total Rentals Inc. Celebrating the sponsorship are, left to right, Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce member Kelly Becker, Mendota Mutual’s Kimberly Cedillo, Lucia Chavez, Sonia Botello, Christina Sanchez and Chris Fandl, and MACC Board member Jessica Newcomer. (Photo contributed)
Beck’s BP
The gas station on the corner of Meriden and Rt. 251 (13th Street) is sponsoring balloon specialist Ms. Twisty Pants during the 78th Annual Mendota Sweet Corn Festival in downtown Mendota from August 7-10. Left to right, Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce Board President Erica Henry, MACC Board member Kelly Becker, Beck’s Jade Brady, Shawn Downard and Tiffany Bloomfield, and MACC Board members Marion Quintana and Jessica Newcomer. (Photo contributed)
Midland States Bank
The 78th Annual Mendota Sweet Corn Festival has numerous major sponsors including Midland States Bank. The bank located at 609 8th Ave. Suite B in Mendota has been in a long-tenured collaboration with the Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce during the Sweet Corn Fest. Members of the Midland States Bank staff and the MACC celebrated this year’s sponsorship. (Photo contributed)
IDHA
West Side Family Dentistry
Dr. Keri Sundberg, third from the left, and her team at West Side Family Dentistry are playing a major role in this year’s Mendota Sweet Corn Festival by sponsoring the billboard on Rt. 251 heading south out of Mendota. In the photo with Dr Sundberg are, left to right, Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce Board President Erica Henry, MACC Board members Jessica Newcomer, Kelly Becker, Marion Quintana and MACC President/CEO Sam Setchell. (Photo contributed)
4M creates SCF T-shirts
4M Graphix in Mendota created this year’s Mendota Sweet Corn Festival T-shirts modeled by 4M’s Maurine Marquis and Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Sam Setchell. The cotton/poly blend available in heather blue features the theme “In my Sweet Corn Era”. Youth sizes are $15 and adults (S-5X) are $20. Unisex tank tops are also available. (Photo contributed)
Mendota Mutual Insurance
4M Graphix (Maurine and Matt Marquis) in Mendota is a yearly major sponsor of the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival including this year’s 78th annual. (Photo contributed)
The City of Mendota, along with partners such as the Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce and Reimagine Mendota, are continuously hosting events and intiatives to revitalize Mendota including an Illinois Housing Development Authority training (above) with IDHA representative Kristopher Walton on Wednesday, July 23 and the first ever Mendota Night Market (right) on Monday, July 28. The IDHA training showed how to help bring in grant funding for housing by mapping structures in Mendota while the night market was designed to help local businesses and showcase downtown’s growth. (Reporter photos by Brandon LaChance)
James V. Frizol
MENDOTA – James (Jim) V. Frizol, 91, formerly of Mendota, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2025, at the Franklin Grove Nursing Home.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date, to raise a beer and say, “We will miss you Jim.”
Jim was born in September 1933 in Peru to Victor (Vic) and Thelma Frizol as the second of three, with an older sister Patricia (Pat) Bieser and a younger sister Nancy Possley. Jim attended Holy Cross Grade School in Mendota and St. Bede High School in Peru.
Jim married his first wife, Ruth Schmidt, and had seven children, Michael (Mike), Edith (Edie), Victor, Kelly, Mary (Tracy), Robert (Bob), and Edward (Ed).
Jim married his second wife Reva (Carol) Scott and had two daughters, Sara and Susan, with the added bonus of Carol’s five children from her first marriage Rosemarie (Rose), Arcie, RoxAnn, Scott (Richard), and Becki Carr. Jim had many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and greatgreat-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Vic and Thelma; his older sister, Pat; his wife, Carol; three of his sons, Victor, Ed, Mike; and his step-daughter, RoxAnn.
Jim managed Frizol’s Tavern in Mendota for years until the passing of his parents where he became owner. In 1983 he sold Frizol’s and moved his family to Mesa, Ariz. After more than 20 years, Jim and Carol moved back to Illinois to be closer to family.
Jim’s last words to his daughter were “Tell everyone I love them.”
You will be remembered as a son, brother, husband, a dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, great-great-grandpa and a friend to us all.
OBITUARIES
Daniel T. Countryman
PAW PAW – Daniel Todd Countryman, 60, of Paw Paw, passed away peacefully July 25, 2025, after a long battle with cancer.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, Aug. 2 from 2-8 p.m. at the Clayton residence, 211 Wheeler St., Paw Paw.
Born to Emily (Turcotte) and Oscar Countryman on Sept. 30,1964, in West Allis, Wis., Daniel was a graduate of Mendota High School.
Daniel is survived by his wife, Jennifer (Krantz) Countryman of Paw Paw; his two boys, Cole (Brittany) Countryman of Rochelle and Ethan (Molly Petry) Countryman of Rochelle; four grandchildren, Chase, Owen, Aurora and Elaina; brother, Randy (Esther) Countryman of Compton and their two children, Alicia and Alexis; brother, Keith (Sherri) Countryman of Ottawa and their two children, Tylar and Jordyn; sister, Sandy Stoner of Rochelle, and her three children, Dane, Kassandra and Emily.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emily and Oscar; a daughter, Erica Countryman; granddaughter, Aubrey Countryman; and niece, Amanda Countryman.
Daniel was a traveling Union Laborer of Local 393. He was extremely passionate about his job, as it afforded him the opportunity to travel the country for work and also the chance encounter to meet the love of his life Jennifer Krantz, whom he married on Feb. 21, 2024, after 13 years of courtship.
A loving husband, father, papa, brother, and uncle, and favorite nephew to many aunts and uncles, Daniel was hands down the hardest working man we all knew. He was the living embodiment of work hard, play hard. He loved all things sports, especially playing softball, he loved to throw darts and he loved to fish and could always count on him to show up to a card game with his coffee can full of quarters. But he loved nothing more than the countless good times he spent with friends and family, especially with his wife, his two boys and his grandkids.
Please visit www.tormanfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book.
DEATH NOTICES
The Mendota Reporter will print DEATH NOTICES (approximately 50 words including name, age, date of death, time/date of services) free of charge. OBITUARIES will be printed at a cost of $100 to be billed to the arranging funeral home or prepaid with cash, check or credit card. Please submit obituaries or death notices to editor@mendotareporter.com.
Kevin L. Kilanowski
MENDOTA – Kevin Lee (aka Killer) Kilanowski, 69, of Mendota, went home to meet his Lord on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, surrounded by his loving wife, wonderful children, and his constant companion, Truman.
Visitation was from 3-6 p.m. Sunday, July 27, 2025, at the Horner-Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota. The funeral service was at 2 p.m. Monday, July 28, at the First Presbyterian Church, 1003 Fifth St., Mendota, with Pastor Sheila Becker officiating. Interment followed at Troy Grove Cemetery.
Born Jan. 19, 1956, in LaSalle, to Leo and Mary Lou (Knaff) Kilanowski, he was the fourth of their six children and their first born son. He was welcomed into the family with much pride and joy. After a brief courtship, he married Sue Becker on June 29, 1988, in Las Vegas. They spent 37 very happy years, weathering life’s ups and downs together, always standing at each other’s side through it all. He was so grateful to be able to raise his three children, Allison, Joel, and Joshua John, even though they were not biologically born to him.
He will be forever missed by his wife, Sue; daughter, Allison (Jay) Witte-Booth; sons, Joel Witte (Rose Cohen), and Joshua (Stephanie) Witte. He adored his “Littles,” Dylan Layne and Jackson Walter Witte, Ryn Elizabeth and Mei Eileen Booth. Also surviving him are his siblings, David (Lori) Kilanowski and Cheryl (Steve) Kulp; brother-in-law, Bruce Hawkins;, and many nieces and nephews including his godson, David Joseph Kilanowski, Jr.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Leo and Mary Lou; brother, Kenny; sisters, Kathy Hawkins and Mary Schadel; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert, Sr. and Dorothy Becker; brothers-in-law, John Becker and Robert, Jr.; and baby Jonna Kathren, for whom he created a beautiful memory garden.
He attended St Joseph’s Catholic School until their closing, and then finished his elementary education at St. Roch’s. He attended LP High School, graduating in 1974. He was active through his grade school and high school years in baseball and football, and excelled in both. Although unable to serve in the Armed Forces, he felt a deep loyalty to his country and respected all veterans.
After graduation, he went to work for Westclox, which he immediately knew was not a good fit. On his first day of work on his lunch break, he was sitting outside when a friend passed by and asked him if he would like to come to work for the railroad. He jumped at the chance, and from there, made his life’s career for the next 29 years with the BNSF RR until he was forced to retire for disability reasons.
After retiring from the railroad, he worked for Spitz Excavating and ultimately finished his working career at the NewsTribune, for his last 15 working years. Once retired, he immensely enjoyed family time with his wife, children, and grandchildren that he had missed during the many years of his hard working.
True to his Polish heritage, he was known as a very hardworking man, never complaining about any work needing to be done no matter the time of day or weather conditions.True to his Irish heritage, he was very proud of his red hair, and his stubbornness could surface “occasionally.”
During the kids’ childhoods, he didn’t miss a BMX race, baseball game, and always made the house always open to a spur-of-the-moment sleepover, typically about 22 girls. Always very involved in his children’s lives, and as both boys played Little League baseball, he saw a need for an umpire and went to a Little League meeting to volunteer. Instead, he came home as the new League President, where he served for 23 years, setting the record of most years served for the president of any local league.
Kevin knew no strangers. He waved at everyone and greeted everyone a hello with a smile. He considered all acquaintances to be friends. He was the most loving, loyal, honest, giving, fun, generous, forgiving, and strong believer in God. Our love will never end. Until we meet again, rest in God’s peace.
Please visit www.horner-merritt.com to sign the online guest book.
Pantry
Continued from Page A1
In a month, the pantry gives 200 pounds of hamburger a month to approximately 185 families, which has increased from an average of 125 over the last few years.
Illinois Eats provided 100 pounds of hamburger a month before the program funding ended July 1. The only source of hamburger the pantry receives now are donations from clients of the Earlville Cold Storage Locker.
“This is the first time in my almost six years that I’ve had to search for hamburger. I think we’re going to have to reach out to the community and ask for help,” Cooper said. “We really do need help.
Continued from Page A1
appropriates $60 million for administrative costs for SNAP — up $20 million from last year.
The changes are part of initiatives by congressional Republicans and the Trump administration to shift more responsibility for assistance programs to states. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates changes to SNAP will reduce federal spending by $279 billion over 10 years but increase state spending on SNAP by $121 billion over the same time. The CBO predicts some states could abandon the program
LOCAL AND AREA
Last year, we built our new building with the help of the community. Hopefully, we can get some additional help to make sure we can get families hamburger.”
The Mendota Area
Christian Food Pantry is having a car show from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2 at the Mendota Moose Lodge to fundraise. The event, which is now free to enter instead of a wrist band charge, includes AMC Sound DJ Service from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., the band Side Hustle from 2-5 p.m., food stands and a silent auction. Monetary donations are preferred over food donations because the pantry’s food banks offer deals with bulk purchases. To donate, Cooper can be reached at 815-538-2211.
or choose to provide a lower level of benefits and not make up for reductions Congress made to the program.
Pritzker and 22 other governors sent a letter to Congress last month saying it’s possible states will have to leave or reduce the SNAP program because of the new cost requirements.
(Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.)
Pageant
Continued from Page A1
five inches tall with green eyes and dark brown hair.
Martin is a 2025 graduate of Mendota High School where she was a threesport athlete in volleyball, basketball and track. She was the student council and Interact president, was on the honor roll all eight semesters and was National Honor Society treasurer. In the fall she plans on attending IVCC to get a degree in nursing. This summer you can find Martin working at OSF SaintPaul
MHS freshman orientation set for Aug. 12
MENDOTA – Incoming freshmen and new students to the Mendota High School District #280 are invited to a Freshmen Orientation Open House on Tuesday, Aug. 12 from 9 a.m.-noon at the high school.
Students will receive a welcome bag, their Fall class schedule, locker assignments and locks. Current members of the Student Council
Medical Center, checking patients in, taking vitals and doing online paperwork. She will finish up with her summer classes and enjoy the rest of the summer.
In her spare time Martin enjoys hanging out with her friends, traveling, exploring, and going on walks (especially with her mom). Her other interest is mission work. She has been allowed to go on many mission trips so far and loves helping others. Plans for the future include finishing school then getting married and grow and raise a family.
will be available to give tours of the school, show incoming students their classrooms, lockers and assist with any questions or concerns. Parents are encouraged to attend with their students.
Incoming freshmen and new students to the district are required to have an incoming freshmen physical. A sports physical only does not cover the physical for freshmen. All seniors are required by the state to have an MCV4 immunization on record and any athlete participating in sports must have a current physical on file Online registration for MHS is now available for all students. If you have any questions, please contact the Business Office at (815) 539-7446 ext 523.
West Nile virus found in LaSalle County
OTTAWA – The LaSalle County Health Department received confirmation that mosquitoes from Marseilles tested positive for West Nile virus. The mosquitoes were collected on July 22 and Environmental Health staff conducted the confirmatory test on the mosquitoes at the Health Department. This is the first documented West Nile virus activity in LaSalle County this year.
According to Jennifer Arroyo, Director of Environmental Health, “This is the time of year we expect to see West Nile virus activity increase. The rain we have experienced recently could contribute to areas of standing water and mosquito breeding. It is important to wear your insect repellent, especially during the evening hours, to help prevent illness.”
West Nile virus is transmitted through the
bite of a Culex mosquito, commonly called a house mosquito, that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches. Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. Most people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms, however, in rare cases it can lead to severe illness including paralysis, meningitis or encephalitis (i.e. brain and nerve infections), or even death. People older than 60 and those with weakened immune systems are at
highest risk for severe illness.
IDPH urges the public to Fight the Bite by practicing the three “R’s” – reduce, repel, and report:
• REDUCE - Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut. Eliminate, or refresh each week, all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires, and any other containers.
• REPEL - When outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a light-colored, long-sleeved shirt, and apply an EPAregistered insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR 3535, paramenthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone according to
SCF T-shirts now available
MENDOTA – The 2025 Sweet Corn Festival T-shirts have arrived and are ready for purchase at the Mendota Chamber of Commerce office prior to the festival.
The design was created and printed by Matt Marquis of 4M Graphix in Mendota.
This year’s shirt is a cotton/poly blend and is available in Heather Blue. The 5-color screen printed design features an ear of corn on a background with bubble lettering. “In my Sweet Corn Era” is the theme of this year’s shirt. The major sponsors are printed in white ink on the
back of the shirts.
Both youth and adult sizes are available for purchase.
Youth sizes are $15.00 and are available in sizes XS –YL; Adult Shirts, S-5XL are $20.00. Deep Royle Kids Unisex Tank Tops can also be purchased. They will be Heather Gray and range in size from S –2XL.
When the Festival opens on Thursday, Aug. 7 at 6 p.m., the shirts will be for sale at the Festival Info Booth on Washington Street.
label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants.
• REPORT – Report locations where you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week such as roadside ditches, flooded yards, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. The local health department or city government may be able to add larvicide to the water, which will kill any mosquito larvae.
A complete listing of West Nile virus statistics for LaSalle County is available on the Health Department’s website at www. lasallecountyil.gov under Environmental Health/ Vector Control. A statewide listing is available at the Illinois Department of Public Health’s web site at https://dph.illinois.gov/ topics-services/diseasesand-conditions/west-nilevirus/surveillance
It’s Garage Sale time. Advertise yours in The Reporter! Call or stop by our office for details.
OPINION
Opinions expressed on this page are those of the writer or artist. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Reporter management or staff.
Letters to the editor should be typed or handprinted. They should also be brief. All letters must contain a name, address and telephone number. The editor reserves the right to publish, condense, revise or reject any submissions.
Good-bye Hulk and Hunter
At first, I was going to write about my nephew. Hulk Hogan’s passing made me think about only writing about him.
Never the Last
Chance
Then I remembered one of the first wrestling matches I ever watched with Hunter was the legendary, iconic WrestleMania III main event, when Hogan body slammed Andre the Giant and kickstarted Hulkamania. So, why not include one of the most important figures of my childhood in the same column as one of the people I love today.
By Brandon LaChance
A junior highaged kid at the time, Hunter didn’t really understand the epicness of what he was watching, but he stuck with his uncle and made sure he watched the entire match. Over the years, we’ve watched a few other matches, I’ve taken him to Dreamwave Wrestling shows in LaSalle, and I’ve whooped him in WWE video games relentlessly. Recently, we’ve dove into Mario Party on the original Nintendo Switch. I don’t know if I’m going to purchase the second version because all of my nieces and nephews are getting older and expanding their horizons; as they should.
Speaking of, Hunter is leaving for Minnesota to move with his father, his spouse and his two young brothers. Looking at the calendar, literally, he is scheduled to start his next chapter in eight days.
At first, I was sad. Who wouldn’t be? He’s a good kid who is smart and knows he wants to get into the trades, of some sort, although he is only entering his junior year of high school. Sometimes he’s a-know-it-all, sarcastic, snarky and a pain in the higher thigh, but he does a good job of not climbing any further to complete the famous cliché (a pain in the butt) I’ve said about almost everyone else in my family. With love, of course.
Then I thought outside of my selfishness. He has other family. Hunter should be able to journey, experiment, get all the different tastes of life while he can. Not trying to get dark, but we never know when our time is up, so I’m a firm believer of living for the moment and riding down all of life’s streets, boulevards, avenues and alleys.
And as fast as our world is now and how tothe-second we live in society, it doesn’t matter he is taking his driving test the day before he leaves. As soon as you can spread your wings, do it. He is, which makes me proud.
I’ll also be proud when he returns from his driving test with my car unscathed. If it isn’t, this column will self-destruct in five, four, three, two, one...
If you can still read this, let’s mingle in Hogan.
I grew up a Hulkamaniac. My mother and my uncle, on two separate occasions took me to WWE shows in Rockford when I was a little (I believe 5 and 8). Until a couple of years ago, I still had the yellow and red Hulk shirt with a 1989 copyright.
With Hunter leaving and Hogan’s passing, I’ve been once again reminded life gives us joyous moments formed into memories, wicked ways we wish wouldn’t happen, but they must, and we question the future.
However, this time around, I’m not really questioning anything. Hogan’s in a better place. Hunter is living life.
Open house at Mendota Community Hospital – 1950
(The following is from Jessica Nashold’s Backtracks & Sidetracks column reprinted from July 26, 2000.)
By Jessica Nashold
One of Mendota’s busier summers was the summer of 1950. Work at Mendota Community Hospital was progressing rapidly and Auxiliary members hosted an open house so everyone could see what had been accomplished and what remained to be done. It was held from one to five in the afternoon, July 25, 1950.
Auxiliary members, coordinated by Mrs. W.G. Van Etten, brought dozens and dozens of cookies. Dr. Charles Harris provided punch. Mrs. Elliot Faulk presided at the punch bowl.
Since guests arrived through four entrances, it was impossible to keep an accurate count, but it was estimated between 1,200 and 1,500 came that afternoon. The oldest visitor was Don P. Bowers, age 99. The oldest lady was Miss Jeanie Wylie, 89, a liberal contributor.
***
A referendum for a new Blackstone School, to cost $163,000, was passed Jan. 31, 1950, by a margin of three to one. When bids were submitted, this amount proved insufficient and a second referendum asking an additional $55,000 was voted on, on Aug. 1, 1950. As soon as it was learned the referendum had passed by a two to one majority, the board lost no time in breaking ground for new Blackstone on the morning of Aug. 8, and contracts totaling $208,329 were signed that evening.
***
Cub Scouts who would be 11 years old by Nov. 1, 1950, were eligible to attend the last camp period of the season at Camp Ki-Shau-Wau. A new swimming pool and improved boating and canoeing facilities were being enjoyed by the 1950 campers. More than 1,000 merit badges had been earned during the season.
***
In 1950, Mendota’s third annual Sweet Corn Festival was held, on Thursday, Aug. 3. On the preceding evening, a queen contest was held on a platform on Illinois Avenue, attracting a crowd of 2,000. Out-oftown judges made their selections from a field of 12 contestants,
Backtracks & Sidetracks
naming Esther Simpson the queen, with Norma Coss and Sue Yost as attendants. Lawrence Welk, who happened to be playing at Kakusha Park that evening, was loaned by management for an appearance at the contest.
On Sweet Corn Day, there was a 10:30 parade followed by serving of free sweet corn. California Packing Co. had donated eight tons of corn, which were cooked by Harry Schaller’s steam engine. Costello’s Mendota Creamery supplied melted butter. The serving committee was comprised of Melvin Schmitz, Gib Heins, D.W. Jones, Arden Campbell and Bill Austin. General chairman of the festival was Harold Larson.
Advance publicity over radio station WLS in Chicago had been given on the “We See By The Paper” program hosted by Larry McDonald.
***
On July 24, 1950, Mendota Lions Club members enjoyed a meal in the California Packing Co. cafeteria after which they were escorted through the plant by H.B. Ebbinghaus and H.C. Bischoff for a first-hand look at the pea pack then in progress. They next adjourned to a field where a viner was harvesting peas.
***
Mrs. Guy Winterrowd of Streator, the former Arlene Oliver, a 1932 graduate of Mendota High School, had a published song, “Please, Dear Moon.”
It was played over station WGN.
***
The Chicago Bears reported to camp in Rennselaer, Ind., with 24 veterans and 29 newcomers. They would be joined by four additional players after the all-star game in Chicago.
***
Richard Michel Jr., age 9, lost two teeth and suffered a cut lip when his bicycle was struck as he entered 13th Avenue from Sixth Street. He was encouraged to relate his experience
at a Cub Scout Pack picnic. Doug Gallagher and Jerome Schmidt had witnessed the accident. The offending motorist was a man from Princeton.
***
The Mendota Reporter carried pictures of new houses built by newcomers with the California Packing Co. There were three in a row on Guiles Avenue. At 1801 Guiles, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Heltness had moved into their house in September 1949. Heltness was plant superintendent. At 1803 Guiles, the Harold B. Ebbinghaus family became residents in December 1949. Ebbinghaus was farm superintendent. Dutton O. Grove, assistant to Heltness, occupied 1807 Guiles. He had come in November 1949. Another new house, at 1809 Guiles, had been built by Stuart Atherton, who had retired from farming in January 1950.
***
The Reporter also carried a view of the new Art Goslin home at 706 Third Ave. It had been built from plans published in The Mendota Reporter and was among the first in this locality to feature radiant heating in the floor.
***
In order to publish an account, including pictures, of the Aug. 2 queen contest, in its regular Thursday, Aug. 3 edition, The Reporter made use of its Fairchild engraver and most of the staff stayed at work until 4 a.m. Although accused by some of having received advanced information on the judging, it was only modern technology that enabled The Reporter staff to accomplish this feat.
***
Robert H. Hosto, son of Rev. and Mrs. Roland Hosto, was ordained July 30, 1950, in St. Paul Evangelical Church on Old Chicago Road. Hosto was ordained by his father, and his brother, the Rev. Roland. Hosto Jr., delivered the ordination sermon.
***
Lois Weber, who had been conducting the Bend Chiropractic Clinic in Mendota, was promoted to a full partnership in the Bend Clinic in Dixon. Her place in the Mendota office was taken by Dr. Lois L. Baldwin.
Michael Douglas (a Best Actor award for “Wall Street” and another for being the producer of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”), is talking retiring at 80. At the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, he recently stated that he has no plans to act again unless “something special came up.” He explained, “I had been working pretty hard for almost 60 years, and I did not want to be one of those people who dropped dead on the set.”
In 1969, I read that Kirk Douglas’ son was making his debut in the “The Experiment,” a television play episode from the drama series “CBS Playhouse.” I waited at the Plaza Hotel in NYC, met him, and took a few pictures. He was friendly, kind, and had “movie star” written all over him.
Michael last starred in Apple TV+’s miniseries “Franklin.” “Looking Through Water,” which he shot back in 2023 with his son, Cameron Douglas, and David Morse (of “St. Elsewhere” fame), will finally open this summer.
I told Michael of our previous meeting when we met again on the set of “The Streets of San Francisco” while I was visiting his co-star, my friend Richard
ENTERTAINMENT
Celebrity Extra
By Dana Jackson
Q: Is it true that the new Mrs. Bezos used to be an actress? What has she been in? Also, did his ex-wife ever remarry? -- K.D.
A: Yes, Lauren Sanchez, who is newly wedded to Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, has an IMDb page of acting credits, but most of her roles consist of playing reporters and news anchors. Before this, she majored in communications at the University of Southern California, which is why she was probably a natural for these types of roles. Her first on-camera role as a reporter or anchor was in 1997 in the series “Babylon 5,” followed by the cult classic film “Fight Club.”
Many people probably don’t remember that she was the original host of the reality competition series “So You Think You Can Dance,” which premiered in the United States in 2005. She left after one season to have a baby and was replaced by Cat Deeley.
Bezos’ ex-wife MacKenzie Scott, who played a significant role in the early rise of Amazon, remarried in 2021 to a science teacher. Unfortunately, it didn’t last,
Hollywood
Hatch, in 1976. ***
Alec Baldwin hasn’t recovered from the backlash of what happened on the set of “Rust.” The film released in May and only grossed $26,831. The comedy/mystery/thriller “Atrabilious,” which Baldwin shot in 2022 with Whoopi Goldberg and Jeffrey Wright, was released on July 18. “Match Game,” which he formerly hosted on ABC from 2016-2021, returned on July 23 but with Martin Short as the new host.
***
The fourth “Narnia” film in the franchise will be directed by Greta Gerwig. (She directed “Barbie” to a $1.447-billion gross.) She was also an uncredited writer on “Snow White,” which only grossed $205.7 million.
In addition to directing
“The Chronicles of Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew,” Gerwig is acting in “Jay Kelly,” a coming-of-age/ comedy-drama starring George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Billy Crudup and Laura Dern. It opens in November.
***
Robert Irwin, the 21-yearold son of Steve Irwin (aka “The Crocodile Hunter” who died in 2007 after being stung by a sting ray), currently runs the Australian Zoo. When he visited the Jeffy Pavilion in Coffs Harbor on the east coast of Australia and ordered a salad for lunch, word spread that he was there, and he was besieged by fans wanting selfies and autographs.
After satisfying them all, Robert grabbed his uneaten salad and made for home. The next day, he realized that he hadn’t pay for his lunch. He called them and promised to pay, but they just laughed and requested a good review. Irwin told his fans, “Today is not the day I start my life of crime.” The restaurant was then flooded with new customers.
Robert will compete in season 34 of “Dancing with the Stars,” where his sister, Bindi Irwin, won her mirror ball in 2015. Now if only he had a crocodile as his dance partner!
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
and she filed for divorce a year later.
According to USA Today, as part of her divorce settlement from Bezos, Scott planned to donate half of her wealth to charity, and she has. The Center for Effective Philanthropy released a study in February stating that her donations have totaled $19.25 billion and have been distributed to over 2,450 nonprofit organizations. ***
Q: Will they ever reboot “Supernatural”? I know it hasn’t been off the air for that long, but I miss it. -C.E.
A: According to TV Insider, ever since the Winchester boys (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki) met on the bridge one last time in 2020, fans have been asking, “When is the ‘Supernatural’ revival?” Even after 15 seasons, viewers want more, but Padalecki isn’t sure that another 22-episode season is doable. He suggested that perhaps a limited series format would be a good compromise.
Q: Which book is the Justin Hartley series “Tracker” based on? I just found out that it was a novel or a series of novels first. -N.B.
A: For the past two seasons, “Tracker” has been consistently ranked as the No. 1 rated network series. Fresh off the hit ensemble series “This Is Us,” star Justin Hartley was chosen to star in CBS’ “Tracker,” which got a strong start by debuting in the coveted postSuper-Bowl time slot.
“Tracker” is indeed based on not just one but a series of fiction books by Jeffery Deaver, the first of which is titled “The Never Game.” Season three kicks off on Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. ET, but two familiar faces will not be part of the cast. Both Eric Graise and Abby McEnany, who play Bobby and Velma respectively, have been written out of the show.
In the meantime, Ackles recently wrapped up filming season five of “The Boys,” and you can also see him in his new show “Countdown,” both of which are on Prime Video. It’s also been reported that Padalecki and another “Supernatural” star, Misha Collins, will join Ackles in the final season of “The Boys,” which will air sometime in 2026. ***
STRANGE BUT TRUE
By Lucie Winborne
* James Doohan, beloved by Star Trek fans as “Scotty,” was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Milwaukee School of Engineering after it was discovered that half of the school’s students had been inspired to pursue engineering careers by the fictional character he portrayed.
* A boy born with only 2% of his brain defied doctors’ expectations when the organ grew to 80% of the average size.
* The first written ice cream recipe was found in a 1665 recipe book.
* Rocking chairs were used in mental facilities and hospitals to soothe and comfort patients long before their widespread adoption in homes.
* White-tailed jackrabbits are the greatest land jumpers, having been recorded leaping 21 feet vertically.
* In early 1949, Victor T. Hoeflich introduced the “Man-from-Mars Radio Hat,” featuring a
portable radio built into a pith helmet. It retailed for $7.95 and was sold across the country for a while, but lost popularity due to its technical limitations, which included losing its signal and making annoying squealing noises.
* A man was jailed for two years for cheating at poker. His method? Using infrared contact lenses to see cards pre-marked with invisible ink.
* The Finnish word “kalsarikännit” means to get
drunk alone at home in your underwear.
* In Alaska, plants can grow exceptionally large due to receiving up to 20 hours of sunlight daily, which greatly enhances their photosynthesis process.
* When Nebraska implemented a law allowing parents to leave unwanted newborns at safe havens, no age limit was specified. Within just weeks, 36 kids had been dropped off, but not one was a newborn and the oldest was 17.
Michael Douglas
POLICE BLOTTER
DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED
Kimph Johnson, 28, of 1000 Main St., upper apt., Mendota, was charged with driving while license suspended after a traffic stop at 13th Avenue and Washington Street at 2:32 p.m. July 22. The subject was released with a LaSalle County court date.
WARRANT ARREST
Anthony M. Smith, 64, of 411 Fifth St., Mendota, was arrested at 4:42 p.m. July 25 on a Cook County warrant for failure to appear/contempt of court after police officers were called to the 1300 block of Meriden Street for a motorist assist. The subject was transported to
the LaSalle County jail. WARRANT ARREST
Gabrielle A. Olsen, 26, of Amboy, was arrested at 7:39 p.m. July 28 on a Lee County warrant for failure to appear/contempt of court after a traffic stop at U.S. 34 and East Fourth Road. The subject posted bond and was released with a Lee County court date.
DRIVING WHILE LICENSE SUSPENDED
Amanda J. Kirby, 37, of 809 Indiana Ave., Mendota, was charged with driving while license suspended after a traffic stop at U.S. 34 and First Avenue at 2 a.m. July 29. The subject was released with a LaSalle County court date.
to be a tough one for Fortune Phrase players as no one guessed the phrase correctly.
The correct phrase was: Beat The Heat And Solve The Phrase For A Chance To Win.
The words were hidden in the following ads: Beat (Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce (50/50); The - El Zarape Mexican Restaurant; Heat - ARS Auto Repair; And - Mendota Farmers Market; Solve - El Torito; The - The Mendota Reporter (garage sales); Phrase - The Mendota Reporter (eEdition); For - R.P. Lumber; A - Sullivan’s Foods; Chance - Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce (Sweet Corn Festival); To - Davis Family Health; Win - T2 Enterprises.
See this week’s Reporter for Week 4 of the Fortune Phrase game.
Permission needed to put dumpster on street
MENDOTA – All dumpsters needing to be placed on Mendota city streets are required to be cleared with Nick Stremlau of the streets, parks and public property departments. Please call 815-539-7287 for approval before placing dumpsters on city streets.
LOCAL AND AREA
J. Beetz graduates from Iowa State AMES, Iowa – Nearly 4,600 graduates received degrees from Iowa State University this spring. Graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies were held May 15-17.
Among the students receiving their degrees was Jack Joseph Beetz of Mendota, Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Studies.
Area students make Marquette Dean’s List MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., has named its Dean’s List students for the 2025 spring semester.
Among the students achieving the honor are Ellyott Buettner of Mendota, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, and Bella Hagenbuch of Utica, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology.
To make the Dean’s List, students must have earned at least 12 credits for the spring 2024 semester and have no disqualifying grades. The GPA threshold varies by college — for the College of Education and the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, undergraduate students must have at least a 3.7 to be named to the Dean’s List.
The undergraduate GPA requirement is 3.5 for the following colleges: the Diederich College of Communication, the College of Business Administration, the College of Health Sciences, the Opus College of Engineering and the College of Nursing. All other programs have a 3.75 GPA minimum.
Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university that draws over 7,600 undergraduate and 3,600 graduate and professional students from nearly all states and more than 60 countries.
Area students graduate from NIU
DeKALB – More than 2,100 students received their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Northern Illinois University in May. Included among the graduates were: Theresa Stack of Earlville, Master of Public Administration in Public Administration: Strategic Public Management and Leadership; Alexa Sanchez of Leland, Bachelor of Science in Applied Management-Equity Leadership and Mentoring; Kevin Cuevas Gomez of Mendota, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science - Software Development; Allison Stewart of Mendota, Bachelor of Science in Chemistry; Harvey Vela of Mendota, Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences.
Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university with a global network of nearly 260,000 alumni. With expertise that benefits its region, the country and the world, NIU offers more than 170 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs across seven colleges.
Area students on NIU Dean’s List
DeKALB - Northern Illinois University announces its spring 2025 Dean’s List students. To earn this distinction, students must meet a minimum semester grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology or a minimum of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale in the colleges of Business, Education, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Visual and Performing Arts.
Area students achieving this honor include Josef McKee of Earlville, Educator Licensure or Prog PRQ; Maddy Dalton of Mendota, Nursing; and Sadie Matura of Mendota, Health Sciences-General.
LaMoille students achieve honors at Iowa
IOWA CITY, Iowa – More than 8,000 students at the University of Iowa were named to the Dean’s List for the 2025 spring semester.
Among the students achieving the honor are McKenna Klein and Jaelyn Weber, both of LaMoille.
Klein was also among the more than 1,250 undergraduate students named to the president’s list for the 2025 spring semester. The president’s list was established in the fall of
E. Massey graduates from UW-Madison MADISON, Wis. – A total of 9,424 students received degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison on May 9-10.
Among the graduates was Ella Massey of Mendota, School of Human Ecology, Bachelor of Science-Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies, Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies
There were two live Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies, one for undergraduates at Camp Randall and one for all graduate degree candidates at the Kohl Center. The keynote speaker was celebrated sports columnist Jason Gay, who encouraged the graduates to embrace joy in their lives.
EDUCATION BRIEFS
1983 to recognize academic excellence.
University of Iowa undergraduates who achieve a grade point average (GPA; 4.0 is an A) of 4.0 in 12 semester hours or more of UI graded coursework and who have no “I” marks (incompletes) or “O” marks (no grade reported) on their records for two consecutive semesters (excluding summer session) are recognized by inclusion on the president’s list.
J. Beetz named to Iowa State Dean’s List
AMES, Iowa – More than 11,300 Iowa State University students have been recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being named to the 2025 spring semester Dean’s List.
Among the students achieving the honor was Jack Joseph Beetz of Mendota, Agricultural Studies, B.S.
Students named to the Dean’s List must earn a grade point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.00 scale while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours of graded course work.
Area students on Aurora U. Dean’s List
AURORA – Aurora University has named students to the Dean’s List for the spring 2025 semester. The Dean’s List recognizes full-time undergraduate students who have earned a 3.6 grade-point average or higher.
Among the students achieving the honor are Megan Davis, Social Work, and Jodee Edwards, Health Science, both of Earlville; and Lizbeth Quintana, Social Work, of Mendota.
Founded in 1893, Aurora University is a four-year, private, nonprofit, accredited higher education institution located on a 39-acre campus in Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois.
D. Farrell named to EIU Dean’s List
CHARLESTON – Drew Farrell of Earlville has been named to Eastern Illinois University’s Spring 2025 Dean’s List in recognition of academic excellence.
Majoring in Sports Media Relations, Farrell is among fewer than 900 students named to the Spring 2025 Dean’s List.
Eastern Illinois University is proud to recognize academic excellence by naming high achieving students to the Dean’s List. This honor recognizes students who have achieved a GPA of 3.8 or higher and is a testament to these Panthers’ dedication to academic excellence.
J. Buchanan achieves academic honors
BISMARCK, N.D. – John Buchanan of Mendota has been named to the Bismarck State College President’s Honor Roll for the Spring 2025 semester.
Students must maintain at least a 3.50 grade point on a 4.00 scale while enrolled in at least 12 semester hours of classes to qualify for the BSC President’s Honor Roll.
Bismarck State College (BSC) is North Dakota’s Polytechnic Institution, offering high-quality, affordable education with more than 100 career pathways, including two-year associate degrees, four-year bachelor’s degrees, and short-term program certificates.
Mendotan on St. Olaf Dean’s List
NORTHFIELD, Minn. –St. Olaf College has named its Spring 2025 Dean’s List students. The Dean’s List is a scholarly award for students who demonstrate academic excellence and have earned a GPA of 3.75 or above and completed at least three credits for that semester.
Among the students achieving the honor is Anna Rothfusz of Mendota, a Biology major. She is the daughter of John and Elise Rothfusz.
Located on 300 acres in Northfield, Minn., St. Olaf College is a residential liberal arts institution with an enrollment of more than 3,000 students offering over 85 undergraduate majors, concentrations, and pre-professional tracks.
Approved megabill provides tax certainty for farmers
By TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek
The recently signed federal budget reconciliation bill includes key safety net and tax provisions that help farmers, but the legislation doesn’t replace a comprehensive five-year farm bill.
President Donald Trump signed the nearly 900-page bill into law on July 4.
Hundreds of provisions are included in the legislation, including updates to key commodity risk management programs.
The funding for farm bill programs is good news for farmers, however, ag groups, including Illinois Farm Bureau, have stressed the inclusion does not replace a five-year farm bill. The ag industry continues to operate under the 2018 farm bill, which has been extended multiple times by Congress.
“This bill addresses key Illinois Farm Bureau priorities, including permanent tax provisions and updates to parts of the farm bill — both critically important to Illinois farm families who’ve been navigating a tough ag economy for several years,”
IFB President Brian Duncan said. “There’s still work to be done. Several key items could not be included in the reconciliation budget bill due to the Senate rules. We will continue to work with our delegation in Washington to see these items are addressed in follow-up legislation.”
Hard lines were drawn between the two parties, specifically concerning cuts to Medicaid and an overhaul of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which entails pushing some costs onto states for the first time.
Farm provisions
The bill includes enhancements to the farm
safety net with up to $66 billion provided over 10 years.
These provisions include raising reference prices and commodity loan rates to better reflect today’s higher production costs and market conditions.
Crop insurance programs would see about $6.3 billion in increased spending over 10 years, with higher subsidies for some supplemental areabased plans and other improvements to premium support. Beginning farmers also will receive additional premium assistance. The bill also updates the federal crop insurance program to allow farmers to purchase the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) while enrolled in Agricultural Risk Coverage. Historically, SCO was available to only those enrolled in Price Loss
Coverage, limiting coverage options.
Payment limits would increase from $125,000 to $155,000 for individuals, and then the payment limit would increase based on an inflation index. The bill also removes income caps for farmers or entities that draw 75% or more of their income from agriculture or forestry.
The bill also has provisions that would allow USDA to enroll up to 30 million new base acres for farmers based on the production history of that ground. Base acres were established in the 2002 farm bill and, up until the 2014 farm bill, mostly reflected planted acreage from 1998 to 2001.
In conservation, the bill takes back as much as $16 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and
rolls those funds into the 10-year budgets for USDA’s main conservation programs.
Other provisions in agriculture would double funding for USDA trade promotion programs as well.
Many farm bill programs could not be included in reconciliation because they are policy, not budgetary. Those updates and extensions will have to be addressed in what many are dubbing a “skinny farm bill.”
Tax provisions
The 45Z credit was one of the few IRA incentives spared in the reconciliation bill, which terminates or phases out many of the IRA’s credits established under the Biden administration.
The bill extends the 45Z, or clean fuel production
credit, from 2027 to 2029 and prevents the use of foreign feedstocks outside of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The emissions rate also will be adjusted as necessary to exclude any emissions attributed to indirect land use change.
However, the bill lowers the value of the tax credit for sustainable aviation fuels.
In relation to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), farmers and rural businesses will continue to receive tax parity to their corporate counterparts through a permanent Section 199A deduction.
The bill makes permanent a 20% deduction for qualified business income for smaller businesses.
In addition to payment limitation increases, the bill creates new exemptions from the
limitations to any qualified pass-through entities, including limited liability companies (LLCs), general partnerships, S corporations and partnerships.
For the nearly 98% of family farms that operate as sole proprietorships, partnerships or S corporations, USDA’s Economic Research Service estimates that 199A is the single-most impactful tax provision for farm businesses when evaluated separately from other TCJA provisions.
The legislation also reinstates 100% bonus depreciation from 20252030 and also increases the Section 179 deduction for smaller businesses to $2.5 million.
The bill increases the estate tax exemption to $15 million for single tax filers and $30 million for married couples starting in 2026 and the exemption would be indexed for inflation, preventing the Death Tax from hitting more than 2 million family farms that otherwise would have seen their exemption cut in half.
For individuals, the bill also increases the standard income deduction as well as the child tax credit for couples and exempts taxes on tips for people through 2028. For the state and local tax deduction, the bill caps itemized deductions for state and local taxes at $40,000 per household with an annual increase, then reverts to $10,000 in 2030. The current cap was set to expire next year.
(This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow. com.)
The recently signed federal budget reconciliation bill includes key safety net and tax provisions that help farmers, but the legislation doesn’t replace a comprehensive five-year farm bill. (Photo by Catrina Rawson of FarmWeek)
THE FARMER’S REPORT
Tim Harris, AFM, executive manager with Capital Ag Property Services, Inc., based in Princeton, left, receives a plaque designating his induction into the Hall of Fame for the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. Presenting the award is Russ Hiatt, AFM, ARA, immediate-past president of the Chapter. The presentation was at the organization’s recent annual meeting in Peoria.
Princeton’s Harris inducted into ISPFMRA Hall of Fame
PEORIA – Tim Harris, AFM, executive manager with Capital Ag Property Services, Inc., based in Princeton, was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers during the recent annual meeting of the organization in Peoria.
The Hall of Fame is an honorary designation given to active members who have shown service to and for the chapter “above and beyond.” The program was initiated in 1980 and is presented annually.
In the announcement of Harris’ induction at the Chapter’s Annual Meeting on Feb. 6, Hiatt noted, “(Tim) has given much to this chapter both behind the scenes for many years and then as one of our outstanding leaders.”
He then cited a background on Harris:
• Associate of Arts and
Science degree from Illinois Valley Community College and Agribusiness;
• Illinois-designated managing broker, Iowa real estate broker, Illinois licensed auctioneer, Minnesota real estate broker;
• Became an accredited Farm Manager in 2001;
• Member of the class of 2000 Illinois Ag Leadership Program and served as president of the alumni board from 2006 to 2012;
• Graduate of the Farm Bureau Agricultural Leadership of Tomorrow, leadership program;
• 2021 president of the Illinois Chapter;
• Past co-chair of the Land Values Conference;
• Took on the leadership role of guiding Chapter officers through an extensive strategic plan, which has been the roadmap guiding the direction of the board since 2022.
Illinois must stop undervaluing conservation before it’s too late
By ELIOT CLAY Executive Director, Association of Illinois
Soil
&
Water Conservation
Districts
For the second year in a row, the State of Illinois has chosen to underfund the backbone of its conservation infrastructure. This year’s state budget once again provides only $4.5 million in operational funding for the state’s 97 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) — comparable to levels from the 1990s. It represents a 48 percent cut from Fiscal Year 2024 and leaves each district with just enough to scrape together one staff salary and benefits, if that.
This isn’t just a budget issue. It’s a public health, environmental, and economic crisis in the making.
SWCDs are boots-on-the-ground conservation partners in every corner of Illinois. Our mission is to connect farmers and landowners with the tools, science, and technical assistance needed to protect soil health and water quality while maintaining productive agriculture. These aren’t abstract goals. Our staff help farmers plant cover crops that prevent erosion, implement no-till practices that improve carbon retention, and design conservation systems that reduce nutrient runoff into our rivers.
That work is now at risk of disappearing, especially in rural communities where SWCDs are often one of the only technical resources available for land and water management. Some districts might be forced to lay off staff or shut down entirely. Others will reduce services, turning away farmers who are eager to meet environmental goals but can’t do it alone.
In the past month alone, we’ve seen stark reminders of what happens when conservation is neglected. In late May, communities south of Chicago were warned not to give tap water to infants due to high nitrate levels — likely the result of fertilizer runoff into the Kankakee River. Just weeks earlier, Chicago experienced its worst dust storm in nearly a century, shutting down major highways and endangering
lives. These are not isolated events; they are signs of a fragile ecological system under strain.
In response to last year’s devastating budget cuts, AISWCD launched a grassroots petition campaign to demonstrate public support for our work. Volunteers gathered thousands of signatures from farmers, families, and local leaders who understand the importance of what we do. We also introduced Senate Bill 2387, a bipartisan, tax-neutral proposal that would have created a dedicated revenue stream for SWCDs without costing Illinois taxpayers a dime. By the end of May, more than half the Senate had signed on as co-sponsors, with strong support from both Democrats and Republicans.
Despite that momentum, the Legislature adjourned without acting. It’s disappointing, not just because of what it means for our organization, but because of what it signals about the state’s long-term vision. Illinois cannot afford to treat conservation as optional, especially at a time when climate volatility, rising input costs, and new federal standards are making sustainable farming both harder and
more essential.
We often say that Illinois’ greatest natural asset is its soil. That’s not just rhetoric — it’s reality. Our soil feeds families, fuels industry, and anchors an entire economy. But soil doesn’t protect itself. Without adequate conservation infrastructure, we risk losing the foundation of everything that makes Illinois strong.
AISWCD remains committed to finding a path forward. We will continue to work with the General Assembly, state agencies, and the governor’s office to create sustainable funding models that ensure every community has access to the tools they need to protect their land and water. But we can’t do it alone.
We call on state leaders to listen to their constituents, revisit SWCD funding during the next legislative session, and recommit to investing in the long-term health of Illinois. Conservation isn’t just about protecting nature — it’s about protecting our people, our economy, and our future.
(Eliot Clay is executive director of the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts. Learn more at https://aiswcd.org.)
THE FARMER’S REPORT
Thousands of barges face retirement cliff
By TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek
The U.S. barge market is facing a retirement cliff, which could impact ag transportation logistics, one analyst warned.
Ken Eriksen, managing member and strategic adviser at Polaris Analytics & Consulting, provided an overview of the evolving landscape of agriculture and barge transport during a recent FreightWeekSTL panel session hosted by the St. Louis Regional Freightway.
The analyst talked with RFD Radio Network’s DeLoss Jahnke about the outlook for commodities and the barge industry. Here are four takeaways from the conversation:
1. Barge retirement cliff
“Where we are today with the barge market is rather fascinating, and we’re facing a retirement cliff in the dry, covered barge market. They average roughly 25- to 30-some years, and there’s a huge spike of barges ... within that 25-to-30-year age right now. Out of a 13,200-barge fleet, we’re seeing about 2,000 barges that are coming to the end of their useful life, and there could be some tightness, and we only have a couple major builders in the United States anymore. We’ve got to be very diligent in how we prepare for that retirement
cliff if people retire them en masse.”
2. Infrastructure needs
The lock and dam system has not aged gracefully, but the infrastructure has lasted well beyond its designed and engineered lifespan.
“There’s a lot of work to be done. And now within the Waterways Resources Development Act, there’s been a lot of positive reinforcement of revenues to come in, and the industry’s done well working with Congress to see this shift in the amount of fuel tax revenue that is paid for projects; the cost share is now 75% by the federal government, 25% from the industry. Except that when you have problems elsewhere in the system, and we’ve seen this on the Tennessee River and a few other places where projects that have major cost overruns, or there’s a major impediment or something failed, they’ve got to siphon the money off and direct it someplace else.
“So now you just get further behind, and you’re still trying to play catchup. So being able to have full funding for projects like locks and dams is important if we want to maintain our resiliency with our infrastructure.”
3. Future of coal river shipments
On the open barge side, coal production has
dropped by more than half since 2015, from 1.2 billion tons to below 600 million tons, with a corresponding drop in barge loadings. As a result, there isn’t as much coal in the St. Louis region’s river system. This could change given the new administration’s support of the use of coal, creating both challenges and opportunities as it relates to multimodal options and multi-commodity services.
“So if you do get a bit more of a push on or at least stable coal movements, now you’re going to find a stability with the amount of towboats you need, and the same time with
grain exports and grain production from one year to next, we could see massive shifts, because at the end of the day, unlike any other commodity, grain has one chance to be planted, one chance to be treated, one chance to be harvested. And none of that’s guaranteed.
“If we lose some volume, like we did through 2023 and we had low water, we saw a diversion of cargo go off through other port ranges. And that’s the reliability and resilience of the U.S. ag system. There are still market outlets for us, or ways to get out of the country with our grain, but the same time, you bring
Cback another 15 million tons of grain to the river, which is wholly possible, and if we have decent water in the Mississippi River system, we could really see some good shift back to the river, and that could put some tightness in the system that’s out there. So, we could see some exciting times as we go forward here.”
4. ‘Hub of America’ “Indiana likes to be called the ‘Crossroads of America,’ but maybe Illinois is the ‘Hub of America.’ You look at the ability to hit the three major rivers ... and the great one that is the Great Lakes, and that gives
you multiple avenues. And that’s part of that reliability. You get multiple outlets to the world market. Secondly, you’ve got a strong crush industry, strong grind industry and perhaps a growing feeding industry within Illinois that’s very attractive, but you got all the modes with rail, barge, truck, container, that’s very attractive. So there’s a positive opportunity there.”
(This story was distributed through a cooperative project between Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Association. For more food and farming news, visit FarmWeekNow.com.)
About 2,000 barges are coming to the end of their useful life in the U.S., according to an industry expert. (Illinois Farm Bureau photo)
SPORTS
Earlville’s Cook earns
honors as a member of Kish soccer
MALTA – Kishwaukee College had a Collegerecord 57 student-athletes nominated for Arrowhead Conference or National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) academic awards during the 2024-2025 athletic season.
“The past athletic year showcased incredible competition, and we are proud of our studentathletes who have not only excelled in their sports but also achieved academic honors. Their commitment to their studies is remarkable, and it is inspiring to see so many stepping up as positive role models for our College and community,” said Scott Kawall, Director of Student Involvement, Athletic Director.
Arrowhead Conference All-Academic Excellence Team Student-athletes receive Arrowhead Conference All-Academic Excellence Team recognition by completing at least 12 credits per semester while achieving a 3.00 or higher cumulative grade-point average (GPA) for the academic year. The following Kish studentathletes were nominated:
Men’s Soccer — Garett Cook of Earlville.
MENDOTA – The Mendota Trojans and Spikers open another exciting football and volleyball season soon.
Season tickets will be available at a savings to you. Adult season ticket price for football is $16 and volleyball is $44 (each $4 per game). This is a dollar less than buying tickets at the gate. Tournaments are not included. Children K-12 and senior citizens (65+) are $12 for football and $33 for volleyball (each $3 per game).
Adult tickets will cost $5 per game at the gate. Children and senior citizens will cost $4 per game at the gate.
Also available is an all-season athletic ticket, which is good for admission to all regular non-tournament home scheduled athletic events for the entire 2025-26 school year. The ticket price is $60 for adults and $45 for children or senior citizens.
Per IHSA by-laws, season and allseason athletic tickets do not include admission to any IHSA regional or sectional games that are hosted by MHS.
Season tickets are on sale in the high school business office. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Mail orders for previous ticket holders will be accepted.
Prescott wins Illinois Valley Men’s Golf title
By BRANDON LaCHANCE Staff writer
MENDOTA – Since 1949, local golfers have anxiously anticipated the Illinois Valley Men’s Golf Championship every summer.
And for the first time in 76 summers, the winner’s list includes the name Jon Prescott as the Mendota native shot a 3-under par over two rounds at Senica’s Oak Ridge Golf Club in LaSalle on Saturday, July 26 and at Spring Creek Golf Course in Spring Valley on Sunday, July 27 to claim the Championship Division title.
“It was pretty cool. I’ve had a lot of Top 5 finishes. This is a tournament I’ve always wanted to win because my dad, Tom Prescott, never did. It’s
always nice to do something your dad hasn’t, especially when your dad has done everything I have. Now, I have one up on him.
“After having knee surgery in early March and I have seven stitches in my meniscus right now, they didn’t even know if I’d be able to golf at all this year. I’ve only been golfing for three or four weeks now, so I didn’t have a lot of expectations going into the weekend.”
Three holes-in-one at MGC
There have been three holes-in-one at the Mendota Golf Club so far this season. Ashtyn Stamberger, sophomore at Mendota High School, hit the first of his young career and the first of the course’s 2025 campaign on May 6. He then aced his second, the course’s third, two months later on July 7. “It means a lot. It’s pretty crazy. I put in a lot of work and it shows off by hitting hole-in-ones. I’m at the golf course almost every day. I play a lot more golf than most people do,” said Stamberger, who made both of his holes-in-one on Hole No.7. The first was with an 8-iron and the second with a pitching wedge. In between the first and third, Lynne Bonnell, 77, from Cherry, above, hit her first hole-in-one, the course’s second of the season. She’s been a MGC member since 1995. Before she accomplished the hole-in-one on Hole No. 16, her previous three meetings with the third-to-last hole were par, par and birdie. Bonnell would usually use a 5-wood, but the wind gave her the idea to use a 3-wood. She saw her ball hit the fringe, but didn’t see it roll in. “I’ve played for more than 30 years and have never been able to hit a hole-in-one,” Bonnell said. “It’s fun to say, ‘I did it.’” (Photo contributed)
Decisions, Decisions!
One of the greatest gifts the Lord has given us is the power to choose. In fact, every day we are faced with literally hundreds of choices. The question is, are we making the right ones?
Think about your own life for a moment. When you have a decision to make, do you normally go with the flow, doing whatever feels right…or do you pray for wisdom and ask the Lord for insight?
I love Proverbs 3:5-6. It says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (NIV).
If you are anything like me, you know how easy it is to lean “on your own understanding.” However, just because something might sound good, feel good, and look like the right thing to do, it doesn’t mean it’s God’s best for you or necessarily the
right direction to take. Let me give you an example. Early in my ministry, I had the idea to do a local TV talk show in St. Louis. We got a group of ladies together who were well educated in the Bible, and we rented some studio space at a local TV station to do the taping.
I was trying to do an interview show, but every time I asked a question, I’d answer it myself! I just couldn’t quiet down long enough to let anybody else respond.
Obviously, this didn’t work because it was my plan, not God’s. In six months, we received only one piece of mail!
A few years later, the Lord directed us to go on TV, and we didn’t have a clue what we were doing. We rented a banquet room where the ceiling was too low and some of the tiles were caving in. We placed a podium on a
RELIGION
stage, and for a backdrop we took this blue thing that looked like a shower curtain and strung it up on a pole behind me.
It looked ridiculous, but the very first day my program aired, we received 125 calls! That was the beginning of our television ministry, which continued to expand and now airs throughout two-thirds of the world.
Proverbs 3:7 says, “Do not be wise in your own eyes….” I believe God is telling us, “Don’t think you can run your life and do a good job without My help and direction.”
Sure, we can come up with some good ideas on
our own, but many times we settle for good when God wants to give us great.
It seems many Christians struggle with making decisions because they’re afraid they won’t hear from God. However, the Lord longs to give us direction, and He desires to speak to us in so many ways…
First and foremost, He has given us His Word. The Bible tells us that God’s Word is alive, active and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). In fact, John 1:14 says this about Jesus, “The Word became flesh.”
So, when we read and study the Bible, we’re not just reading a good book; we are actually spending time
with God Himself. And the Bible is our instruction book for life!
The Lord can also speak to us through our conscience, other people, and even the world around us. But one of the main ways the Lord will direct us is through peace.
Colossians 3:15 (AMPC) says, “And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].”
This is saying that just as the umpire in a ball game decides if the ball or player is “in” or “out,” similarly, peace is the umpire that decides if something in our lives should be in or out.
There have been times when I have been invited to speak at a conference or special event, and I have
really wanted to accept. However, I didn’t have peace about doing it, so I decided to decline.
Now, I may not always know why I shouldn’t go, but I have learned (sometimes the hard way) that God knows things I don’t.
I encourage you to let the peace in your heart decide with finality every question that arises in your mind. If you are getting ready to make a major decision, ask the Lord for His guidance. Remember, when you acknowledge Him in all your ways, He will direct your path (Proverbs 3:6).
If you aren’t used to praying about decisions, it may seem awkward at first. But the more you seek the Lord and ask for help, the easier it gets…and the more sensitive you will become to His presence and direction.
Don’t settle for “good enough.” God has a great plan for your future, and as you seek Him for guidance, He will be faithful to lead you in every single decision you make.
For more on this topic, order Joyce’s four-part teaching resource Unleashing God’s Wisdom. You can also contact us to receive our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting www.joycemeyer.org
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•Back issues available
•Identical in format to paper edition– Flip each page with a single click!
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E-mail jgriffith@mendotareporter.com or call 815-539-9396 for your password today. You can also register online by visiting our website.
MENDOTA
ROMAN CATHOLIC MASS
Rev. Greg Nelson, Pastor Fr. Joseph Domfe, Parochial Vicar Ray Fischer, Jose Lopez, and Hector Diaz, Deacons
HOLY CROSS, MENDOTA Weekday Mass
M - 6 p.m., Tu - 8 a.m., W - 8:10 a.m., Th - 8 a.m., F - 7 a.m. Weekend Mass
STS. PETER AND PAUL, PETERSTOWN Weekend Mass Sun - 9 a.m. Confession
ST. THERESA, EARLVILLE
Weekday Mass Wed 7 a.m., Fri. 8 a.m. Weekend Mass Sat 5 p.m. Sun 8 a.m.
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
100 E. Sixth St. (815) 538-5587
Rev. Mary Bohall, Pastor
SUNDAY SCHEDULE:
9 a.m. Coffee Fellowship
9 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Worship
In-person & on Facebook at:
Mendota First United Methodist Church Aug. 2 - 10 a.m. DAR in Welker Hall
ZION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
808 Jefferson St.
Pastor Jeff Brace jbrace8459@gmail.com
Church office (815) 538-2186
Facebook: Mendota Zion United Methodist Church
SUNDAY SCHEDULE: Sunday Worship 9 a.m.
Sunday School for Preschool - 6th grade in fellowship hall during worship service (Parking lot worship available on 90.9 FM during Sunday services)
TUESDAY - Prayer group 7 p.m.
If I Can
By William Arthur Ward
If I can write one verse of truth today Or give my fellow man a song to sing; If I can push one needless cloud away And help men live as children of the King:
If I can lend someone a helping hand Or warm a place where friendship needs to be; If I can build a bridge where fences stand And light a lamp that other men might see; If I can open doors of hope this day By letting someone know that others care;
If I can speak in words that seem to say: I know the heavy burdens that you bear.
If I can guide a pilgrim on his way Or pause to bid him stay for food and rest;
If I can do these, Father, this I pray: “O let me do them with my very best.”
The Merchants on this page urge you to attend a house of worship this week.
UNITED PENTECOSTAL CHURCH
4401 State Route 251 (815) 538-3444
Rev. Charles Yeakel, Pastor E-mail: mendotaupc@yahoo.com www.mendotaupc.org
SUNDAY: Christian Education-10 a.m. Worship - 11:30 a.m.
WEDNESDAY: Midweek Bible Study - 7 p.m.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1003 5th St. (815) 538-5603
Website: fpcmendota.com Accessible
Pastor Laurie Walker Fellowship 9:45 a.m. Children’s Sunday School following children’s message Worship 10:30 a.m.
LA MOILLE
ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
LaMoille (Clarion)
4 miles west of Mendota on Rt. 34
Pastor Sarah (Churness) Floyd (815) 539-7820
Sunday Worship 9 a.m. Sunday School 10:15 a.m. Accessible
VICTORY BAPTIST CHURCH
“Faithful & Effective” 505 W. 7th Ave. (815) 539-9081
COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH La Moille (815) 638-2348
Available on Facebook Live Facebook page www.facebook.com/fpcmendota July 31 - 10 a.m. “Fill My Cup” Aug. 1 - 12:30 p.m. HOH pickup; 3 p.m. Unload & stock HOH foods Aug. 3 - 10:30 a.m. Communion
Pastor David Jungnickel E-mail: lamoillecumc@gmail.com
Pastor Steve Breedlove SUNDAY Sunday school Worship
“Living in God’s Grace as a Neighbor to the World” SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE
8:30 a.m. Worship at Immanuel 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship at First
Online “devotional service” videos continue every Sunday at facebook.com/ilccompton and YouTube. Check our website and Facebook page for more information.
TROY GROVE
1. Is the book of Daniel (KJV) in the Old or New Testament or neither?
2. Which book’s first verse is, “The elder unto the well-beloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth”? Ephesians, 3 John, Titus, 2 Peter
3. From Exodus 25, what was the cover on the Ark of the Covenant called? Mercy seat, Mordecai, Mina seat, Myrrhan
4. Which prophet was famous for his vision of the dry bones? Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Nathan
5. From Judges 4:4, who was the first female Israelite leader? Deborah, Esther, Ruth, Miriam
6. What is/was the first sin called? The Exodus, Eucharist, The Fall, Ephah
ANSWERS: 1) Old, 2) 3 John, 3) Mercy Seat, 4) Ezekiel, 5) Deborah, 6) The Fall
MARKETPLACE
Classified FREE!
BUY OR SELL
MENDOTA
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION No: 2023-JA-45
TO: Amber Flack, other interested parties, and to All Whom It May
Concern:
Take notice that on the 10th day of July, 2025, a petition to terminate your parental rights was filed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 by David A. Greer, in the Circuit Court of LaSalle County entitled ‘In the interest of Andrew Taliani, a minor’, and that in the Criminal Justice Center Courtroom 210 at Ottawa on the 15th day of October, 2025, at the hour of 1:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as this cause may be heard, a Termination Hearing will be held upon the petition to have the child declared a ward of the court under that Act. The Court has authority in this proceeding to take from you the custody and guardianship of the minor, to terminate your parental rights and to appoint a guardian with power to consent to adoption. You may lose all parental rights to your child. If the petition requests the termination of your parental rights and the appointment of a guardian with power to consent to adoption, you may lose all parental rights to the child. You are entitled to have an attorney represent you at all stages of these proceedings. If you are financially unable to afford a private attorney, the court will appoint an attorney for you. Unless you appear you will not be entitled to further written notices or publication notices of the proceedings in this case, including the filing of an amended petition or a motion to terminate parental rights.
Now, unless you appear at the hearing and show cause against the petition, the allegations of the petition may stand admitted as against you and an order or judgement entered.
TO: John Taliani, Unknown Fathers, other interested parties, and to All Whom It May Concern: Take notice that on the 10th day of July, 2025, a petition to terminate your parental rights was filed under the Juvenile
Court Act of 1987 by David A. Greer, in the Circuit Court of LaSalle County entitled ‘In the interest of Andrew Taliani, a minor’, and that in the Criminal Justice Center Courtroom 210 at Ottawa on the 15th day of October, 2025, at the hour of 1:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as this cause may be heard, a Termination Hearing will be held upon the petition to have the child declared a ward of the court under that Act. The Court has authority in this proceeding to take from you the custody and guardianship of the minor, to terminate your parental rights and to appoint a guardian with power to consent to adoption. You may lose all parental rights to your child. If the petition requests the termination of your parental rights and the appointment of a guardian with power to consent to adoption, you may lose all parental rights to the child.
You are entitled to have an attorney represent you at all stages of these proceedings. If you are financially unable to afford a private attorney, the court will appoint an attorney for you.
Unless you appear you will not be entitled to further written notices or publication notices of the proceedings in this case, including the filing of an amended petition or a motion to terminate parental rights.
Now, unless you appear at the hearing and show cause against the petition, the allegations of the petition may stand admitted as against you and an order or judgment entered.
Dated July 10, 2025 Greg Vaccaro, Clerk No. 0705 (July 16, 23 and 30, 2025)
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION No: 2022-JA-50
TO: Robert Kitterman, Unknown Fathers, other interested parties, and to All Whom It May
Concern: Take notice that on the 17th day of July, 2025, a petition to terminate your parental rights was filed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 by Vicki L. Denny, in the Circuit Court of LaSalle County entitled ‘In the interest of Anya Pyles, a minor’, and that in the Criminal Justice Center Courtroom 223 at Ottawa on the 24th day of September, 2025, at the hour of 11:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as this cause may be heard, a Termination Hearing will be held upon the petition to have the child declared a ward of the
court under that Act. The Court has authority in this proceeding to take from you the custody and guardianship of the minor, to terminate your parental rights and to appoint a guardian with power to consent to adoption. You may lose all parental rights to your child. If the petition requests the termination of your parental rights and the appointment of a guardian with power to consent to adoption, you may lose all parental rights to the child. You are entitled to have an attorney represent you at all stages of these proceedings. If you are financially unable to afford a private attorney, the court will appoint an attorney for you. Unless you appear you will not be entitled to further written notices or publication notices of the proceedings in this case, including the filing of an amended petition or a motion to terminate parental rights. Now, unless you appear at the hearing and show cause against the petition, the allegations of the petition may stand admitted as against you and an order or judgement entered.
Dated July 17, 2025 Greg Vaccaro, Clerk No. 0707 (July 23, 30 and Aug. 6, 2025)
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION No: 2022-JA-50
TO: Brandi Pyles, other interested parties, and to All Whom It May Concern:
Take notice that on the 17th day of July, 2025, a petition to terminate your parental rights was filed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 by Vicki L. Denny, in the Circuit Court of LaSalle County entitled ‘In the interest of Anya Pyles, a minor’, and that in the Criminal Justice Center Courtroom 223 at Ottawa on the 24th day of September, 2025, at the hour of 11:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as this cause may be heard, a Termination Hearing will be held upon the petition to have the child declared a ward of the court under that Act. The Court has authority in this proceeding to take from you the custody and guardianship of the minor, to terminate your parental rights and to appoint a guardian with power to consent to adoption. You may lose all parental rights to your child. If the petition requests the termination of your parental rights and the appointment of a guardian with power to consent to adoption, you may lose all parental rights to the
child. You are entitled to have an attorney represent you at all stages of these proceedings. If you are financially unable to afford a private attorney, the court will appoint an attorney for you. Unless you appear you will not be entitled to further written notices or publication notices of the proceedings in this case, including the filing of an amended petition or a motion to terminate parental rights. Now, unless you appear at the hearing and show cause against the petition, the allegations of the petition may stand admitted as against you and an order or judgement entered.
Dated July 17, 2025
Greg Vaccaro, Clerk No. 0708 (July 23, 30 and Aug. 6, 2025)
NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE of Property Owned by the City of Mendota and Invitation to Bid Thereon
PLEASE TAKE NO-
TICE THAT the City Council of the City of Mendota will receive sealed bids for the purchase, under the successful bid, of the fee simple interest in the following real property: LOT 3 IN THE REPLAT OF A PART OF BLOCK 80 AND A PART OF BLOCK 75 OF THE ORIGINAL TOWN OF MENDOTA, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 1 PAGE 87 IN LASALLE COUNTY ILLINOIS. which property is generally located at 205205 ½ Orchard Avenue, Mendota, IL and is currently devoted to a vacant residentially zoned lot.
Bids for the purchase of the aforesaid interest in the above-described property are hereby invited and will be received by the city clerk at 800 Washington Street, Mendota, IL 61342 between the hours of 7am until 4pm on August 29, 2025, the date for the opening of bids. Said proposals shall be addressed to: City Council of the City of Mendota c/o City Clerk 800 Washington Street Mendota, Illinois 61342 and shall bear the legend “PROPOSAL –SALE OF 205-205 ½ ORCHARD AVENUE” and the name, address and phone number of the bidder. All bids received will be publicly opened and read aloud at the regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Mendota at 5:30pm on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025.
A contract may be awarded to the highest bidder whose bid is found to be in the best interests of the City of Mendota. The City of Mendota reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informalities or irregularities in the bidding. The City of Mendota further reserves the right to review and study any and all bids and to make a contract award within 30 days after the bids have been opened and publicly read. Copies and bidding documents may be obtained at the office of the City Clerk.
Emily McConville Mendota City Clerk No. 0709 (July 23, 30 and Aug. 6, 2025)
NOTICE
TO: Doroteo Rodriguez; Luis Rodriguez Flores; Emily McConville, as Clerk for the City of Mendota; Occupant at 1415 E. Main Street, Mendota, IL 61342; LaSalle County Treasurer, for LaSalle Co as Trustee; Illinois Department of Revenue, c/o Illinois Attorney General (Regarding Lien ID 11308423); Illinois Department of Revenue, c/o Director of Revenue (Regarding Lien ID 11308423); Illinois Attorney General (Regarding Lien ID 11308423); Illinois Department of Revenue, Lien Unit (Regarding Lien ID 11308423); Jennifer Ebner, County Clerk of LaSalle County; their spouses, heirs, devisees, successors or assigns, if any; persons in occupancy or actual possession and unknown owners or parties interested in the above described real estate.
TAX DEED NO. 2025TX000045 FILED: May 22, 2025
TAKE NOTICE
County of LaSalle
Date Premises Sold: November 15, 2022
Certificate No.: 202200007 Sold for General Taxes of (year): 2021
Sold for Special Assessment of (Municipality) and special assessment number: N/A Warrant No.: N/A Inst. No.: N/A
THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN SOLD FOR DELINQUENT TAXES
Property located at: 14415 E. Main Street, Mendota, Illinois
Legal Description or
Property Index No.: 0128-311-009
This notice is to advise you that the above property has been sold for delinquent taxes and that the period of redemption from the sale will expire on November 13, 2025.
The amount to redeem is subject to increase at 6 month intervals from the date of sale and may be further increased if the purchaser at the tax sale or his or her assignee pays any subsequently accruing taxes or special assessments to redeem the property from subsequent forfeitures or tax sales. Check with the county clerk as to the exact amount you owe before redeeming. This notice is also to advise you that a petition has been filed for a tax deed which will transfer title and the right to possession of this property if redemption is not made on or before November 13, 2025. This matter is set for hearing in the Circuit Court of this county in Ottawa, Illinois (119 W. Madison Street) on November 25, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. in Room 305. You may be present at this hearing but your right to redeem will already have expired at that time. YOU ARE URGED TO REDEEM IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT LOSS OF PROPERTY
Redemption can be made at any time on or before November 13, 2025 by applying to the County Clerk of LaSalle County, Illinois at the Office of the County Clerk in LaSalle County, Illinois (707 East Etna Road, Ottawa, IL). For further information contact the County Clerk
ADDRESS: 707 East Etna Road, Ottawa, IL
61350-1047
TELEPHONE: (815) 434-8202
KZ&R Investments, LLC
Purchaser or Assignee
Dated: July 17, 2025
Zoom Information: https://lasallecounty. com/courtroom-livestream No. 0710 (July 23, 30 and Aug. 6, 2025) NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LA SALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
City of Mendota, a municipal corporation, Plaintiff, v. North Illinois Investments, LLC, and 1095 Investments, LLC, Defendants No. 2024 GC 000001 Public Notice
Public Notice is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on February 28, 2025 in the above entitled cause, that the property described herein shall be sold to the highest bidder.
The name and contact information regarding
the sale is Emily McConville, 800 Washington Street, Mendota, Illinois, telephone number 815-539-7459.
The common address is 1205 Jefferson Street, Mendota, Illinois 61342
The legal description is LOT 5 IN BLOCK SEVEN IN WEST’S ADDITION TO THE CITY OF MENDOTA, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Permanent Index Number: 01-33-130-008.
The real estate if vacant land and subject to visual inspection. The time and place of sale are: September 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office/Lobby, 707 E. Etna Road, Ottawa, Illinois 61350.
The terms of the sale are 10% down to be paid in certified funds on the date of sale; the balance, in certified funds is due within twenty-four (24) hours of sale.
The Sale is subject to confirmation by the Court. If the sale is set aside for any reason, Purchaser shall be entitled only to the return of the monies paid and shall have no recourse against City of Mendota or its attorney. Property is sold “AS IS”.
Title will be conveyed subject to all real estate taxes which are a lien on the premises and easements and restrictions of record.
Greg Vaccaro, Clerk of the Circuit Court of LaSalle County Michael S. Guilfoyle, Guilfoyle & Stevenson LLP, 1316 Meriden St. Mendota, Illinois 61342. Telephone 815-5396711. No. 0711
(July 30, Aug. 6 and 13, 2025)
NOTICE
Public Notice is hereby given that on July 23, 2025 a certificate was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of LaSalle County, Illinois, setting forth the names and post-office addresses of all persons owning, conducting and transacting the business known as The Painting Authority located at 815 Sycamore Street Ottawa, IL. 61350. Dated: July 23, 2025. Nicholas Majchrzak Applicant. No. 0712
(July 30, Aug. 6 and 13, 2025)
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION No: 2025-JA-29
TO: Unknown Fathers, other interested parties, and to All Whom It May Concern: Take notice that on the 28th day of July, 2025 a petition was filed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 by Vicki L. Denny, in the Circuit
Court of LaSalle County entitled ‘In the interest of Nolan Oberholtzer, a minor’, and that in the Criminal Justice Center Courtroom 223 at Ottawa on the 10th day of September, 2025, at the hour of 8:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as this cause may be heard, an Adjudicatory Hearing will be held upon the petition to have the child declared a ward of the court under that Act. The Court has authority in this proceeding to take from you the custody and guardianship of the minor, to terminate your parental rights and to appoint a guardian with power to consent to adoption. You may lose all parental rights to your child. If the petition requests the termination of your parental rights and the appointment of a guardian with power to consent to adoption, you may lose all parental rights to the child.
You are entitled to have an attorney represent you at ·all stages of these proceedings. If you are financially unable to afford a private attorney, the court will appoint an attorney for you. Unless you appear you will not be entitled to further written notices or publication notices of the proceedings in this case, including the filing of an amended petition or a motion to terminate parental rights. Now, unless you appear at the hearing and show cause against the petition, the allegations of the petition may stand admitted as against you and an order or judgement entered.
TO: Haleigh Handzus, other interested parties, and to All Whom It May Concern: Take notice that on the 28th day of July, 2025 a petition was filed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 by Vicki L. Denny, in the Circuit Court of LaSalle County entitled ‘In the interest of Enzo Pinedo, a minor’ , and that in the Criminal Justice Center Courtroom 210 at Ottawa on the 3rd day of September, 2025, at the hour of 8:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as this cause may be heard, an Adjudicatory Hearing will be held upon the petition to have the child declared a ward of the court under that Act. The Court has authority in this proceeding to take from you the custody and guardianship of the minor, to terminate
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your parental rights and to appoint a guardian with power to consent to adoption. You may lose all parental rights to your child. If the petition requests the termination of your parental rights and the appointment of a guardian with power to consent to adoption, you may lose all parental rights to the child. You are entitled to have an attorney represent you at all stages of these proceedings. If you are financially unable to afford a private attorney, the court will appoint an attorney for you. Unless you appear you will not be entitled to further written notices or publication notices of the proceedings in this· ·case, including the filing of an amended petition or a motion to terminate parental rights. Now, unless you appear at the hearing and• show cause against the petition, the allegations of the petition may stand admitted as against you and an order or judgement entered.
This publication does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.
“This publication does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.”
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119 ANNOUNCEMENTS
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“This publication does not knowingly accept fraudulent or deceptive advertising. Readers are cautioned to thoroughly investigate all ads, especially those asking for money in advance.” 201
IT’S EASY: All you have to do is read every ad on this page carefully. When you come to a word that is obviously out of place in an ad, write it down so you’ll remember it. After you have read all the ads, you should have a list of words that can be arranged to fill out the mystery phrase. Completely write the phrase out on a piece of paper, along with your name, address and phone number and mail it to: THE MENDOTA REPORTER, P.O. BOX 300, MENDOTA, IL 61342 or drop it off at the Mendota Reporter office at 703 Illinois
Don’t delay, though, because this week’s answer must be received no later than 12:00 Noon on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. Answer and name of winner will appear in Aug. 6th edition of The Mendota Reporter. In the event that more than one correct answer is received, we will have a drawing to determine the winner. The winner will be notified and will receive this week’s give-away. All employees of The
