PCR-07-31-2013

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Record The Putnam County

Volume 145 No. 47

Single Copy Cost 50¢

Putnam County’s Only Newspaper

“PRSRT STD.” US Postage Paid No. 486 SHAW MEDIA POSTAL PATRON LOCAL R.R. BOXHOLDER CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Speed limit increase? Does an extra 5 mph really make a difference? By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com

HENNEPIN — Get ready to push the accelerator a little further. The Illinois General Assembly has passed Senate Bill 2356 to Gov. Pat Quinn’s desk, which would increase speed limits on Illinois’ rural freeways and certain highways from 65 miles per hour to 70 miles per hour.

According to the Illinois General Assembly website, the bill would provide the maximum speed limit outside an urban district for any vehicle to be 70 miles per hour on any interstate highway, as well as on all or part of other highways designated by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The affected highways would need to have at least four

lanes of traffic and have a separation between the roadways moving in opposite directions. The proposed law does have an opt-out ordinance option for urban counties. Not everyone thinks this is a good idea. “Seventy is just too fast for semis,” said Kent Zellmer of Zellmer Trucking in Cedar Point. “For cars it might be fine, but it’s just too fast for semis. If anything goes wrong at that speed, it’s a real safety issue.”

The Illinois State Police and the Illinois Department of Transportation are opposed to the idea, and Quinn is also concerned about safety factors. However, the bill passed with more than enough votes to override a veto if Quinn does not sign the legislation. The Illinois House approved the speed limit increase bill with an 85 to 30 vote. The Senate approved the bill on a 41 to 6 vote. Voting in favor of the bill was Rep. Frank Mautino (D-76th) of Spring Valley.

Mautino said he voted in favor of the bill because it would help bring Illinois into line with surrounding states that have 70 mph speed limits on their interstates. The increased speed limit in Illinois would help conform speed limits when crossing state lines. The change to increased speed limits would affect only the rural interstate areas and exclude the urban areas, he said. One possible side effect is loss of revenue

at a time when Illinois needs all the money it can get. Last year, Indiana raised its speed limit on a stretch of the Indiana Toll Road from 55 to 70 mph, and the result was a more than 50 percent drop in tickets issued, according to the Indiana State Police. Illinois joins 18 other states with a 70 mph speed limit. The highest limit still belongs to Texas, who recently raised its limits on nonurban interstates to 85 mph.

Getting to know Magnolia Library district presents next program in 75th anniversary series By Dixie Schroeder dschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com

MAGNOLIA — The Putnam County Library 75th Anniversary series of presentations moves to Magnolia on Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m. for an in-depth look at the history of Magnolia. Presenters for this program are Sandra Woest and Lonna Nauman. Nauman’s family settled in the Magnolia area in the 1870s outside of town. Her part of the presentation will be on the history of Magnolia through family stories and pictures she has heard and seen growing up throughout the years. Nauman’s maiden name was Johnson. “I like that this is an old town,” she said. “I think that we were the first settlement between Chicago and Peoria way back when.” According to Nauman, Captain Haws was the person who really started Magnolia. “In 1824, he was on his way to Galena as he was thinking of becoming a lead miner,” she said. “He stopped when he saw this area as he thought it was the most beautiful area he had ever seen.” Haws supposedly then carved his initials on a tree so he would know where to come back. In 1826, he

built his cabin. In 1827 he sent for more men who came, built their cabins and sent for their families. Several different businesses before that were stage coach stops. During that same era there were rumors there were nine doctors in the town back then. Nauman’s great-grandmother also worked for a family in Magnolia who had a unique visitor: Abraham Lincoln. As it was traditional, when lawyers rode the circuit, they often stayed in stranger’s homes. Lincoln apparently paid this family a visit, and Nauman’s greatgrandmother heard of the story. Sandy Woest will be speaking in her part of the presentation on the history of the schools in Magnolia and Putnam County. Woest has a very unique connection to the first school in Magnolia. “Talk about a strange connection; it began where I lived,” she said. When Woest was recently remodeling, she was stripping down the walls and found hand hewn walnut wood with the square headed nails. She then realized her home was more than likely the first school.

See Magnolia Page 2

Putnam County Record photo/Dixie Schroeder

Gettin’ spiffy for Granville Days Charlie Jones of Granville polishes his 1948 Ford convertible that will be in the Granville Days Car Cruise on Aug. 2. Jones purchased the wrecked car in 1958 from a junk yard. He estimates there are less than 1,200 of this model ever made. Granville Days is Aug. 1-2.

Fun and entertainment at Granville Days By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com

GRANVILLE – Granville Days are just around the corner, and there’s something for everyone at this year’s celebration. The weekend kicks off with a movie in the park on Aug. 1. The movie will be family fare, and there will be a conces-

sion stand. Admission is free. The seventh annual Granville Cruise Night kicks off at 5 p.m. Aug. 2. Several of the local taverns will be serving food outside, as well as Casey’s and the Taco Wagon. The Putnam County cheerleaders will be selling lemon shake-ups. The night will

include a 50/50 drawing and a street dance with music by Road Angel after the cruise until midnight. For the children, there will be a petting zoo and pony rides. The Balloon Man will also be there making balloon sculptures for the youngsters. The Cruise-in has a registration fee of $5

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Vol. 145 No. 47 One Section - 16 Pages The Putnam County

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with the first 100 entries receiving dash plaques. There will be raffles for prizes for the registrants as well. Throughout Aug. 3 and 4, there will be the annual city-wide garage sale. Anyone who wants to register for the garage sale can stop by the Putnam County Record office to get on the list.


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