“PRSRT STD.” US Postage Paid No. 486 SHAW MEDIA
Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 147 No. 48
POSTAL PATRON LOCAL R.R. BOXHOLDER CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Flooding sinks summer fun
Record rainfall’s impact on area boating and fishing By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
For many people, boating and fishing is a big part of life in the Illinois River Valley. With this
summer’s record rainfall and the slowly receding flood levels, there hasn’t been much opportunity to do either, and it’s had an impact on area anglers, boaters and the businesses that support them.
“It’s been bad. Business is down about 75 percent from normal. Everything at Starved Rock is under water,” said Darrell Culjan, owner of Utica’s Cajun Bait and Tackle. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website, the Starved Rock Visitor Center, it’s main parking lot, picnic area and loading ramp are closed
until further notice. While discussing the summer’s bait sales at Princeton’s Beck’s West, manager Woody Partain shared his thoughts on the weather’s impact. “It’s been really slow, and our bait supplier said it’s been slow across the board,” said Partain. Tom Yourek of Wyanet’s Canal Area Tackle Shop
was the only bait shop contacted who said business was about normal. “Water levels don’t affect us too much near the canal,” said Yourek. Michelle Storm-Leverich of Storm’s Bait and Tackle in Tiskilwa said, “It’s not been good at all. We shut down earlier this summer for safety reasons, but we’re open now.
We felt it was too dangerous for kids to be out near the water when it was so high.” Dave Meyer, sales manager of Spring Valley boat dealership Illinois Valley Outdoor and also a 29-year member of the Spring Valley Boat Club, described the summer from both
Flooding Page 3
Putnam County welcomes new principal July meeting shows school district in good fiscal shape By Dave Cook
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
GRANVILLE — During its meeting Monday, July 20, the Putnam County School Board welcomed Courtney Balestri as the new elementary school principal. Balestri, an Oglesby resident, was previously the co-coordinator with LEASE (LaSalle/Putnam County Educational Alliance for Special Education). “I give a great and hearty welcome to Courtney. We’re very excited about having you join our administrative team and school family. We believe it’s going to be a great thing for all of us. Courtney has a tremendous background in special education. You can’t get better recommendations than the ones Courtney received,” said Superintendent Jay McCracken. The board accepted the resignation of junior high band and chorus teacher David Lombardo. They also began preparations for the search for a new superintendent who will replace McCracken after he retires next year on June 30. McCracken showed why many school districts would envy Putnam County during a presentation on the end-of-year fiscal update. The total ending fund balances were a deficit $183,595. However, if the amount owed by the state at the end of the fiscal year ($187,377.73) is added to the deficit, there would not have been any total deficit spending. The total balVol. 147 No. 48 Two Sections - 28 Pages
© The Putnam County Record
Courtney Balestri ance would actually have increased by $3,782.83. “We have consistently, in the last seven years, had over $2 million in the working cash fund, which is very healthy for a district of our size,” said McCracken. The transportation fund, like in many Illinois school districts, is one of the biggest budget issues. The budgeted fund balance is $223,652. The actual fund balance is a deficit of $40,051 resulting from money owed by the state and increased expenditures in transportation costs. McCracken said he has an upcoming meeting scheduled with the transportation company in order to look for cost-saving measures. The education, maintenance/operations and IMRF funds all showed positive growth, and the working cash, tort and life safety funds all showed minimal differences to the budgeted balances. The district is gearing up for the beginning of the school year — teachers will begin their school year Aug. 13-14 and students will begin their new year on Aug. 17.
PCR photo/Dave Cook
Lather, rinse, repeat Bobbi Toepper, 18, of Magnolia, bathes Clark, her crossbred steer, in preparation for the show ring during the Marshall-Putnam Counties 4-H fair which was held July 14-17. Toepper has been a member of 4-H for 10 years. The fair saw 150 members from nine clubs enter more than 800 projects animals for judging.
Lyme bites Lyme disease becoming more prevalent across the nation By Eric Engel
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series on Lyme disease. According to a new government study published Wednesday, July 15, Lyme disease danger zones in the United States have doubled in the last
decade. Lyme disease is a tickborne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Deer ticks carry the bacterium and relay it to humans and animals they’ve latched onto. According to the study, there are 260 counties in the nation where the number of Lyme disease cases is double of
what’s expected in relation to each county’s population, compared to 130 cases a decade ago. The Northeast and upper Midwest remain the most concentrated areas, but the study reports Lyme disease is spreading in all directions. Those who contract Lyme disease often times will notice a red bump at the site of the tick bite that develops into a rash in a bulls-eye pattern after a few days, surrounded by a red outer
ring. Flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and headaches, accompany the rash. If left untreated, Lyme disease can result in joint pain and swelling, most notably in the knees, after just a few weeks. Some cases have developed neurological problems including numbness and weakness in the limbs and impaired muscle movement, even years down the road.
Lyme Page 3