NewsTribune_Saturday_110219

Page 1

We have teams still in the state title hunt

Turn your clocks back one hour when standard time returns Sunday morning

B1

www.newstrib.com | Weekend, November 2-3, 2019 | $1.50

A grave Farmers thought ‘19 couldn’t get worse. Then it snowed. diagnosis Corps reveals plans for erosion issues at Tonica cemeteries By Brett Herrmann NEWSTRIBUNE REPORTER

TONICA — Bob Folty was never short on suggestions. Late-night emails would be sent to Anthony Heddlesten, an engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers, of different bank stabilization techniques Folty found surfing the web. “He sent me YouTube videos of stuff I’d never seen before,” Heddlesten said this week during a meeting with the Tonica Cemetery Association. It’s been more than three years since the association reached out to the Army Corps of Engineers seeking assistance with erosion control issues at Fairview and Brookside cemeteries due to flooding on Bailey Creek. But now a feasibility report has been completed, which gives the Corps recommendations on how to correct the issue. And the report sized up a lot of different options for the project before recommending stone toe protection. It also comes with an estimated price tag of about $787,000 and that leaves the cemetery association with a decision. The Association will have to pick up 35% of the project cost if they decide to continue to move forward on the project. The Corps covers the other 65%. But the cemetery association also does not have a spare $275,000 lying around to cover those costs and will likely seek a grant to pay for its portion. “We’re going to have to decide if we can handle this,” Folty said. WHAT’S THE PROJECT ENTAIL? A contractor will place quarried rock at the toe of the stream bank as armor to deflect heavy currents from the bank that is slipping away. Bailey Creek has two bends that are cutting into cemetery property causing erosion. The cemetery association’s concern was that if the erosion continued, it would eventually encroach on gravesites at both cemeteries. It will be the cemetery association’s duty to secure easements onto property they do not own so the contractor will have access to the construction site. See TONICA Page A2

NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/SCOTT ANDERSON

“Merry Halloween.” That’s what farmer Bill Gray of rural Tonica had to say about the unprecedented snow fall that blanketed our fields and halted harvest. Illinois Valley farmers already were having a tough year and didn’t need the recent blast of cold and snow, which threatens a corn crop that’s less than a quarter harvested, by some estimates. Here, a tractor and till disk are blanketed by snow fall along Route 71 near Ed Hand Highway.

Regionally, most corn and soybeans still in the fields By Tom Collins NEWSTRIBUNE SENIOR REPORTER

Know any farmers who play the lottery? You can bet there’s one Pick-4 combination that isn’t a hot seller at any rural convenience store: 2-0-1-9. Some farmers had signaled that 2019 already was the worst year of their professional lives — and that was before Mother Nature dumped up to 7 inches of snow onto fields that haven’t been cleared of corn stalks and bean plants. “Christmas came early,” deadpanned David Isermann, president of La Salle County Farm Bureau. “This is not good.” Isermann said there are places in the Illinois Valley where the soybeans are at least half harvested but corn remains largely in the fields — regionally, corn is no more than 20% harvested — and this week’s snowfall means Monday will be the earliest farmers can resume.

Cloudy and cold. Weather A8

INDEX Lottery A2 Obituaries B5 Religion A7 Opinion A6

COMING MONDAY

est. 1851

for corn; but whether the corn turns a profit is another story. “The problem is everything will be so wet and there will be the added expense of drying the corn,” he said, “and that will hurt the bottom line.” Bill Gray is under less duress. He farms in the Tonica area and is in better shape than most, having finished harvest last Saturday before the rain and snow arrived. Gray said it was partly good luck and partly good planning. Back in May, when rains drenched the fields and delayed spring planting, Gray decided to hedge his bets, file insurance claims and plant just 30% of his acreage. That guaranteed him some income and left him with a crop small enough to harvest quickly. “I’m done, but I am willing to help my neighbors when they get in the field,” Gray said. See CROPS Page A2

Lower revenues lead to belt-tightening at Perry By Goldie Rapp SHAW NEWS

Established 1851 No. 215 © 2019

aged the corn and soybeans at a critical stage of growth. This week’s cold snap and snow were anything but welcome, but Stockley said his corn has reached maturity and can withstand the elements, at least for now. “The yield will definitely be sub-par, but it could be worse,” he said. “We need the weather to cooperate, but things haven’t been cooperating.” Jacob Aubry farms multiple properties including acres in rural Utica. He welcomes a forecast that includes limited precipitation — only a 20% chance of rain through Nov. 12 — but was hoping for more sun and warm temperatures (Monday will be balmiest at 46 degrees) than what’s in the cards. “An Indian summer that lasts the entire month of November would be ideal,” Aubry said, “but that’s asking for too much.” Aubry anticipates average yield for soybeans and perhaps

Three jobs eliminated, seven won’t be filled as income falls 7.9%

TONIGHT

Astrology B4 Classified B6 Comics B4 Lifestyle A8 Local A3

How bad harvest 2019 will be depends on where you go and whom you ask. Recent precipiation was highest and most relentless north of Interstate 80, meaning farmers near Mendota and Earlville are singing the blues more loudly than their peers to the south. Doug Stockley farms in Earl and Freedom townships and is among the area farmers who are well-behind schedule thanks to recent rain and snow. “I’ve got about a quarter of my corn out — the early corn I planted in April — but I’ve got zero of my late corn harvest. It’s all still in the fields,” Stockley said. “About half my soybeans are harvested, but as you move north in the county, you see more soybeans that are not harvested.” Farmers have one saving grace: The cold and frost might have come sooner. Last month, farmers fretted openly about an early frost that could have dam-

END OF THE RACE It’s the last Canal Connection as we know it.

PRINCETON — Perry Memorial Hospital’s final audit report for fiscal year 2019 has identified a $3.4 million loss from operations, which will result in the elimination of 10 positions, seven currently unfilled, along with other planned cost savings. A press release issued by the hospital Thursday states the primary contributor to the loss is the change in the percent of care provided to patients with government-funded care, such as Medicare and Medicaid, versus patients with commercial in-

surance. The secondary change is the shift from inpatient care to outpatient and observation hospital care, the release stated. Annette Schnabel, Perry’s CEO and president, said Perry provides the same care to all patients, and costs remain the same. “We do not receive the same level of reimbursement for our observation patients, in fact it is much less,” she said. The $3.4 million loss makes up 7.9% of Perry’s annual net revenue. To respond to this budget shortfall, Perry is trimming its expenses. As of this week, one clinical and two support staff

PHOTO/GOLDIE RAPP, SHAW MEDIA

Perry Memorial Hospital is located at 530 Park Ave. East in Princeton. The hospital administration announced Thursday that a decline in revenue will result in the elimination of 10 positions, seven currently unfilled, along with other planned cost savings. positions have been eliminated, and seven currently open positions will not be filled. Perry is also reviewing supply costs while establishing checks and balances in its current fiscal year. Employees were notified of the changes via email earlier this week.

15% OFF ANY SERVICE Expires December 31, 2019

Despite the job reductions, Schnabel said all patient care needs will continue to be met with remaining staff. These changes will not impact the ongoing discussions Perry is currently having with OSF See PERRY Page A4

TILE • GROUT HARDWOOD FURNITURE UPHOLSTERY FLOORING CARPET

LaSalle • 815-224-1898 • 1-800-STEEMER®


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.