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www.newstrib.com | Tuesday, October 22, 2019 | 75 cents
Pollution cleanup in the heart of Mendota Nicor unveils cleanup plan from century-old gas plant
to a major soil-pollution cleanup that will start next month in Mendota. Officials from Nicor Gas, ComEd and two environmental firms alerted Mendota City By Craig Sterrett Council on Monday about a twoNEWS EDITOR year cleanup project that will take place on the Black Bros. MENDOTA — Hardly anyone manufacturing property just a alive now knows the polluters block or two south of the police whose actions and inactions led station and council chambers.
And, they emphasized the pollution did not come from Black Bros., the coating and laminating machinery manufacturer. The pollution comes from tar and chemicals left over from the days of gaslights in homes and when a coal-gasification plant was in operation from 1875 until 1940, said cleanup project manager Linda Josupait in a presentation to the council.
“The plants were a big deal; they brought industry to town,” Josupait said, adding that sometimes there was competition among the gas producers. Mendota actually had another gas-maker (for only five years), and a couple of years ago, a site cleanup quickly and quietly took place near the railroad tracks, north of the Breaking the Prairie Museum and south of the for-
mer Motor Wheel plant, said Alderman John Pierson. This cleanup isn’t likely to be as quiet as that one, at least at first. Josupait said before the soil-pollution cleanup can begin, contractors for Nicor will need to demolish a small brick shed and some small warehouses on part of the Black Bros. property. See CLEANUP Page A5
Split over marijuana Princeton officials not anywhere close to agreeing on cannabis sales
High school students Zoe Bush (left) and Brianna Garcia play with Vivian and Lincoln Harris during the Edu-Care program that gives high schoolers the opportunity to learn about early childhood education. The preschool program accepts children ages 2-5.
By Goldie Rapp SHAW MEDIA
PRINCETON — Princeton Plan Commission will have to make a new zoning recommendation for a marijuana dispensary to the city council next month. On Monday, the council voted down the commission’s proposal to allow a dispensary north of Interstate 80 in manufacturing M-2 zoned districts with a special use permit. Mayor Joel Quiram, along with council members Ray Mabry, Hector Gomez and Jerry Neumann voted no, while council member Ray Swanson voted yes. Mabry and Gomez both voted against the recommendation solely on their stance of being against recreational marijuana sold in Princeton. Gomez is director of the Bureau, Putnam, Marshall County Health Department and said he just signed a document from the federal government saying the health department would not purchase, prescribe or provide marijuana treatment or else it would jeopardize the department’s $125,000 for mental health services. Swanson, the lone “yes” vote, stands behind the plan commission’s recommendation, which he said could be amended in the future if ever need be. Quiram has been a proponent of a marijuana dispensary in Princeton for the sole purpose of bringing tax revenue to the city. He said on Monday, initial sale projections for a company interested in a dispensary in Princeton is $2 million a year. “We will receive on the gross sale of the product 1.5% sales tax in addition to the 3% tax for a total of 4.5% tax. A projection shows that’s $90,000 a year to the city’s general fund,” he said. Quiram added that problems See PRINCETON Page A2
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Great to be a kid again High schoolers get hands-on experience in early childhood education By Ali Braboy
NEWSTRIBUNE REPORTER
Brooks Knutson shaped a purple Play-Doh formation as he sat next to two other daycare children. “These are the big naughty snakes,” he said, holding the purple, skinny and smooth PlayDoh so that the others could see. “He made a snake, and that is his snail,” explained high schooler Isabel Castro, 18, of DePue. (The toddler told her that the snake can eat the snail). Castro is one of about 28 high school students gaining experience from a child care preschool program. The program, called EduCare, is offered through the Area Career Center at La Salle-Peru Township High School. The three toddlers swiftly and unannounced left the table to find something else. “It’s fine, they come and go,” Castro said, laughing. “And then
a new group comes.” The annual program started up again last week. High school students interested in working in early childhood get the opportunity to work with children ages 2-to-5-years old. The number of students typically varies by day, but can be as high as 20 children per session; numbers tend to be lower in the afternoon (the program is looking for more children in the afternoon). “My students are interested in early childhood,” said Barb Rutkowski, ACC child care instructor. “They’re all very, very good with the children.” On the other side of the room was Chloe Carroll, 16, of Arlington:. “I’ve always been good with kids, and I have a 2-year-old niece — I love her to death,” she said. “I feel like so many kids don’t seem to get people to pay attention to them, so I figure it would help if I did,” she said as she smiled while hammering a toy nail into a board with Lia Bray, who’s turning 4 years old. Lia walked away from the nail board, and toddler Hayden Maltas came over. He tried communicating with Carroll, and if she listened closely, she could hear him say something close to “goggles.”
NEWSTRIBUNE PHOTO/SCOTT ANDERSON
Chloe Carroll, 16, of Arlington plays with Lia Bray, who is turning 4 years old. The cost of Edu-Care is $5 per child per week. He left for a minute and came back wearing laboratory goggles, staring at her in a quizzical sort of way. “It’s fun that we get to actually interact with the kids, a lot of schools don’t get to do that. They just do lesson plans and stuff,” Carroll said. She hopes to become a preschool or daycare teacher. The children get to experience group time, art, science, music, language and more. “The kids love it. I think they See PRESCHOOL Page A2
Need child care?
The Area Career Center Edu-Care program is in need of children ages 2-5 years old from 1-2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Dolan Building at La Salle-Peru Township High School. This program costs $5 per week per child, which is helpful for purchasing some materials and snacks. This program is intended to give experience to students interested in early childhood education. For more information, call (815) 223-2454 Ext. 11.
NCAT to continue Saturday route, Peoria trips despite low turnout By Brent Bader SHAW MEDIA
North Central Area Transit officials haven’t seen much of an increase with the Saturday routes and Peoria trips but
they’ll keep them up for now. They’re also encouraged by noticing more people are becoming aware of the service and may add extended hours during the week. The bus service also partners with Illinois Valley
Community Hospital in Peru Zimmerman said NCAT started and travels in the La Salle-Peru offering Saturday routes through area. Ottawa from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through a partnership with SATURDAY ROUTE the Community Food Basket of AND PEORIA TRIPS Ottawa. Executive director Kim See NCAT Page A2