NewsTribune_Monday_092319

Page 1

Spring Valley savors its heritage A3

A local veteran is honored with this flight

A7

SERVING READERS OF THE ILLINOIS VALLEY

www.newstrib.com | Monday, September 23, 2019 | 75 cents

Flooding on the Fox: 2-plus inches has sparked a warning

The hole in the middle is shrinking

By the NewsTribune staff

Get a lot of yard work done this weekend? Most of us got in a little watering, but that’s about it. Parts of North Central Illinois were in drought-like conditions late last week but dry soil likely is a distant memory after weekend storms alternated between drizzling and dumping on us in sheets. Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru reported eight-tenths of an inch on Sunday alone, bringing the seven-day total to nearly 2.2 inches, a recording that sounded a little low to administrative assistant Linda Kozel. “That doesn’t feel quite right to me with as much rain as we’ve gotten,” Kozel said. Forecasts had flash flood warnings in place for much of Saturday night and into Sunday, but some of the lengthy downpours that were forecast did not materialize in the La Salle-Peru area. Utica officials certainly are breathing easy. They were braced for big trouble along flood-prone Clark’s Run, but fire chief Ben Brown said the creek decided to behave this time around. “We were prepared for flooding,” Brown said, “but we didn’t get as much as I thought we would.” Some wine-lovers might disagree. The festival at Matthiessen State Park stranded a few motorists, but otherwise Senica Interstate Towing reported only nominal calls for weather-related accidents and spinouts. The Fox River will be worth keeping an eye on as a spotty forecast could usher in more rain. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for the Fox River at Dayton, or from Millington downstream to confluence with the Illinois River, through Tuesday afternoon. Only minor flooding is expected and the Illinois River is in no immediate danger of flooding. The Illinois did climb a foot in just 24 hours at Starved Rock See RAIN Page A2

TONIGHT

NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/SCOTT ANDERSON

See how the north and south bridge spans have gradually closed? Dry, sunny weather helped contractors make up for lost time on the Illinois River bridge in Utica. An engineer with Illinois Department of Transportation said the missing center span should be in place by the end of October.

IDOT overcomes weather delay in Utica bridge construction By Tom Collins NEWSTRIBUNE SENIOR REPORTER

Utica’s mayor is beginning to get excited. David Stewart can drive south down Route 178, look to his left and see just a few car lengths of steel missing from the otherwise-completed span. The span will be finished in a few weeks and then there will be progress on two all-important projects for Utica: A shared-used path for walkers and cyclists to cross the river and a sewer line extending service south of downtown. “There’s been a noticeable change the last few weeks,” Stewart said approvingly. “The construction workers have definitely gotten a lot done and you can see the structure take shape.” Farmers may have good reason to be unhappy with the

weather this year — droughtlike conditions are, however, beginning to recede — but for construction crews the weeks of extended sunshine and little rain were heaven-sent. After floods got construction off to a perilously slow start, construction teams are making visible strides in Utica. “People should see the span completed some time in October,” said Kyle Videgar, construction engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation. “After the spring floods, I’d say the weather has been pretty favorable.” That’s a significant reversal from June, when Videgar reported Utica’s new bridge was two weeks behind schedule. Videgar remarked at the time the flooding was worse than he could remember in 17 years with IDOT.

NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/SCOTT ANDERSON

They’re making real progress in Utica. Construction crews are making up for weather-related lost time at the Route 178 bridge project, which at one point had crews two weeks behind schedule. Now, the missing middle in the new bridge span is down to a few car lengths. Now, however, teams are producing tangible results and village officials are eager to see the fruits of their investment. While the bridge replacement was funded largely from state

coffers, Utica asked IDOT to include a walking/cycling path and sewer extension and agreed to pay for both. Utica’s share See BRIDGE Page A2

Low 55. Weather A8

INDEX Astrology B6 Business B5 Classified B8 Comics B6 Lifestyle A7

Established 1851 No. 186 © 2019 est. 1851

Local A3 Lottery A2 Obituaries B7 Opinion A6

Days of vine and rosé

Illinois winemakers show their pride at Vintage Illinois

COMING TOMORROW

By Tom Henson

RAISE A READER Tips for helping your kids love a good book

Illinois of course is known for corn and soybeans. Don’t look now, but grapes are making a move. At least, that’s the impression one gets from attending the annual Vintage Illinois Wine Festival at Matthiessen State Park.

FOR THE NEWSTRIBUNE

The rain wasn’t enough to dampen spirits on Saturday as nearly 30 wineries from across the state set up tents and offered pours for an eager crowd. (The event was canceled Sunday due to muddy conditions). Following Saturday’s afternoon rains, a classic-rock band accompanied the festivities, as

mud-pocked pathways wound past tents featuring such names as Galena Cellars, Spirit Knob, and, of course, local winery August Hill. Seventeen-year-old Spirit Knob, from the Mississippi River bluffs near Quincy, has earned more than 180 medals in its lifetime. Matt Schulte says he comes to the annual celebration

20th Annual Pumpkin Harvest Craft Show SAT SEPT 28 • 8AM-6PM • SUN SEPT 29 • 8AM-5PM Over 200 Crafters | Family Fun Activities | Food | Live Music

$

at Matthiessen State Park because of its location and “great demographics,” as the visitors come from all corners of the state, especially Chicago’s suburbs. “To come in to a setting like this, enjoying a glass of wine and listening to good music, is See VINTAGE Page A5

Person Entrance Fee r e P 5

rchard & Produce

Route 71 just ¼ mile W of Granville | Call for directions 815-339-2245 or Check us out boggiosorchardandproduce.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
NewsTribune_Monday_092319 by Shaw Media - Issuu