PCR-11-06-2013

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Record 1 Front

The Putnam County

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Putnam County’s Only Newspaper

Volume 146 No. 10

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

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Honoring our veterans Panier: ‘We were the lucky ones’ By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com

GRANVILLE — World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in France. However, fighting actually ended more than seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on

the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” What started out as Armistice Day under President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 has grown to become Veterans Day in the United States, a day to honor all veterans, no matter when and where they were stationed, fought or died.

In the Putnam County corner of the world ... Every day, the Coffee Club gathers at The Corner Store in Granville to talk politics, comment on current affairs and reminisce about their past. Among the club members are a number of veterans of World War II and Korea, and the stories they share are a reminder of what they paid for our freedom. “I figure I have about 60,000 miles on the ocean,” Harold Faletti, a

retired Merchant Marine said. “I crossed the Atlantic five times, Pacific once. I served on five different ships.” “Being a 20-year-old kid and you’re away from home for two to three years, that’s not the best world,” said Joe Panier, 65th Signal Corps. “We left in October to go overseas, and two months later, our daughter was born, so I didn’t see her for 14 months.” “I never had to go overseas,” said Rich Hay-

wood, former member of the 101st Airborne. “I was part of a strikeforce. We were part of an alert group of five battlegroups, and every sixth week, one battlegroup was packed up and ready to go anyplace in the world, 24 hours day.” Bill Tonerelli was present at a couple of distinctive moments in the history of World War II. He was on board the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay when the formal Japanese surrender was signed on

Sept. 2, 1945. Tonerelli also served aboard the carrier CV-18 the U.S.S. Wasp. “Our air group aboard ship shot down the last kamikaze pilot in the war in the air,” said Tonerelli. “Our gunners shot down the last ship-downed kamikaze pilot of the war.” While all four men were proud to serve their country, there are things they wish they could change.

See Veterans Day Page 2

Losing a friend Area residents remember Jim Goldasich By Dixie Schroeder dschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com

MCNABB — A helper to many, someone who always saw the big picture and a person who thought of others before himself. These are just some of the ways McNabb resident Jim Goldasich is being remembered. Goldasich died Oct. 27. Goldasich, a former employee of the Illinois Department of Public Health, was known throughout the area as someone who could make things happen and get things done. Jeannie Vaskie, a former member of the McNabb Ambulance Service, was someone who looked to him to guide their organization from an all-volunteer status to a paying system. “Through his previous work, he had seen a lot of departments make the transition,” Vaskie said. “I’m sure he had encountered the kind of growing pains we had been going through. So he had a good knowledge base of that transition and how to make it go smooth.” Goldasich was a starting point for many changes in emergency management improvements throughout the area, Vaskie noted he had helped in bringing the helicopters into rural areas to move critically injured patients more quickly. Dan Hartenbower, a forVol. 146 No. 10 One Section - 16 Pages The Putnam County

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mer member of the Tonica Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance group, knew Goldasich was a gem when he met him. “He was one of the original people in the EMS system with LaSalle and Peru. Carol and I were EMTs at the time,” Hartenbower said. “He was one of those dedicated guys. He was always working for it; he was always there. He was never afraid to lend a hand when you needed it.” Mike Vaskie of McNabb joined the McNabb Fire Protection Board when Goldasich was a member of that same board, and he said Goldasich always knew the answers. “He was always the detail guy,” Vaskie said. “He was my shell answer man. If I had a question or I had a problem, he is the guy I went to. He always, always, always came up with an answer.” Rick Turri of Tonica has worked many years in many capacities for the Tonica Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance service. Goldasich did a lot of training for Tonica and assisted with the department getting grants when they needed them. “He was a nice guy and always looking out for communities, not just McNabb or Putnam County, but outside of that,” Turri said. “He helped

See Goldasich Page 3

Putnam County Record photo/Dixie Schroeder

Halloween parade a spooky success The annual Granville Halloween parade was held one day late on Nov. 1. Children from Putnam County, Peru, Spring Valley and LaSalle participated in the event. After the parade, food and pictures were available for the children in the park in Granville.

Morgan to leave library district Putnam County Library director to leave at year’s end By Ken Schroeder kschroeder@putnamcountyrecord.com

HENNEPIN — Barbara “Bobbie” Morgan, director of the Putnam County District Library, has announced her intent to move on. Morgan, whose contract ends at the end of the year has accepted a position as director of the Walla Walla County Rural Library District in the state of Washington. The Putnam County Board has accepted her decision with regret

and will begin their search for a new director. “I want everyone to know how much I have enjoyed my time in Putnam County,” Morgan said. “I am in the unfortunate position of needing health insurance. I want to make very clear that the board has worked with me to try fix this situation. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t going to be able to be worked out.” Morgan was hired in January of 2013 to replace Randie Dellatori who retired from the district. She contin-

ued on with the modernization plan of the library during her tenure. Several grants have also been given to the district including an energysaving lighting grant, a grant that put over 250 children’s books on the shelves, the Capton Collection which is an interactive online book program for children and a collection of contemporary art books. New technology has been bought to the library district. This technology has included upgrading the network to meet federal guidelines

See Morgan Page 3


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