NORTHWEST ILLINOIS’ NEWS SOURCE • prairieadvocate.com Wednesday, August 31, 2022 Troy Taylor – ttaylor@shawmedia.com Julie Katzenberger, superintendent of West Carroll Community Unit School District 314, had to fill vacancies for more than 11% of her teaching staff, most created by retirements. A Mount Carroll native, she said there aren’t as many available candidates for openings. Search proving difficult for area school district / Page 7 © Prairie Advocate Vol. 82 • No. 15 One Section • 16 Pages STERLING,U.S.PRESORTEDECRWSSSTANDARDPOSTAGEPAIDPERMIT#440ILPostal Customer PRAIRIE ADVOCATE SHORTAGETEACHER




in money-laundering
NEWS BRIEF
Sincerely, Cynthia Munoz Postmaster
2 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie ADVOCATEPRAIRIE PRAIRIE ADVOCATE Publisher Jennifer Heintzelman Circulation ........................................................ Abbie Clark Editor Earleen Hinton Advertising Sales ............................. Jennifer Heintzelman For information on classified advertisements, display advertisements or billing please dial: 815-625-3600 Fax 815-625-9390 For editorial please dial: 815-625-3600 www.prairieadvocate.com The Prairie Advocate is published weekly by Sauk Valley Media, a division of B F Shaw Printing Co. Member of Shaw Newspapers and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. The publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of errors in adver tisements beyond the amount paid for space actually occupied by that portion of the advertisement in which the error occurred whether such error is due to the negligence of the publisher’s staff or otherwise and there shall be no liability for non-insertion of any advertisement beyond the amount paid for such advertisement For information on classified advertisements, display advertisements or billing, please call: Fax833-584-NEWS815-625-9390 For editorial, please call: www.prairieadvocate.com833-584-NEWS “A Lo ca lC om pa ny pr ov id in gs er v i ce an d asm i l e ” 218 W. Exchange St. •Freeport, IL 61032 Neighborhood Office Solutions COPIER • PRINTER • FAX Sales and Service Jeff (815) 821-5699 Steve (815) 541-7749 Email neighborhoodoffice@mchsi.com m
LETTERS
By
Mount Carroll woman dies in collision; Chadwick man cited MOUNT CARROLL – A 59-year-old Mount Carroll woman was killed Aug. 20 in a collision with a 21-year-old Chadwick man, the Carroll County Sheriff’s office said Aug. 23 in a news release. Christian R. Toms was eastbound on state Route 64, between Roberts and Dau phin roads east of Savanna, when he lost control of his vehicle and collided with a westbound vehicle driven by Kelly R. Beh rens, the release said. Behrens was taken to MercyOne Clin ton (Iowa) Medical Center, where she died. Toms also was taken to MercyOne, where he was treated for non-life-threaten ing injuries. Toms was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, improper lane use and having no insurance.
More charges are pending, the release said. Go to www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com for the obituary and to send condolences.
–KathleenA.Schultz
Guilia Wuttke is accused of launder ing money by exchanging less than $10,000 is stolen cash with other defen dants through Zelle, and conspiracy, from Feb. 1 to Sept. 13, 2021. She is charged with two counts of money laun dering, conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to commit theft and conspir acy to commit burglary. All three have preliminary hearings Sept. 8.
Gino W. Wuttke, 32, of Chatsworth Alyssa A. Slouka of Morris New Postmaster for Lanark Dear Editor, It is a great honor to serve Lanark as your new Postmaster. In my years with the United States Postal Service, I have seen firsthand the role the Postal Service plays connecting neighbors and our community to the nation. Our post offices serve as a lifeline for our small businesses to reach customers no matter where they are. Under Postmaster General Louis De Joy’s leadership and Delivering For Amer ica, the Postal Service’s 10-year plan, we are maintaining universal six-day mail delivery and expanded seven-day pack age delivery, stabilizing our workforce and spurring innovation to meet the needs of our modern customers. Just as the Postal Service continues to provide a vital service for our nation, the staff of the Lanark Post Office will proud ly continue that same public service in thisOncommunity.behalfofthe 650,000 women and men of the United States Postal Service, I thank you for continuing to support the Postal Service. Providing reliable mail delivery while strengthening the future of this treasured institution is our commitment to you.
kschultz@shawmedia.com DIXON –
Suspects ring, multicounty theft indicted in Lee County KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ Three people accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from slot machines across northern Illi nois, then laundering the money by send ing it to each other digitally and using it to buy jewelry and cars, are being prose cuted in Lee County after being indicted there by the Statewide Grand Jury. Indictments filed Aug. 12 were unsealed Aug. 24 in Lee County Court against Gino W. Wuttke, of Chatsworth, Alyssa A. Slouka of Morris, and Guilia R. Wuttke, whose age, hometown and rela tionship to Gino was not available. The 21 counties in which the crimes are said to have been committed are Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Lee, La Salle, JoDaviess, Kane, Lake, Ogle, Bureau, Champaign, Kankakee, Vermil lion, Iroquois, Stephenson, Carroll, Mason, McLean, McHenry and Will. Officials with Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office, which will prosecute the cases in Lee County, declined to provide any details beyond what is in the indict ments, including whether more peo ple are Ginoinvolved.Wuttke, 32, is charged with 44 counts – theft, two counts of money laundering and 41 counts of burglary. He is in Lee County jail on $750,000 bond. According to the indictment, between Feb. 20 and Sept. 19, 2021, he stole more than $100,000 but less than $500,000 from video gaming machine terminals in 41 businesses – including the Shamrock Pub in Dixon, the Oregon VFW and Shaw’s Express in Mount Carroll – and used the stolen money to buy jewelry, clothing and acces sories and vehicles to disguise the theft. Theft is punish able by at least 4 to 15 years in prison; the other 43 charges carry 3 to 7 years each, or 15 to 30 or 7 to 14 years if he is found eligible for an extended term. Slouka is charged with two counts of burglary, two of theft, two of money laun dering, and with conspiracy to commit theft, conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to launder money. The crimes occurred between April 3 and May 18, 2021, court records show. Slouka is accused of stealing more than $10,000 but less than $100,000 from Gold Rush Amusements, which provides slot machines to businesses in Lee County, and of entering Porky’s in Dixon, both in April 13, 2021, and of burglarizing one Bureau County business and steal ing from another April 24. She laundered less than $10,000 of the money by sending and receiving transactions with other defendants using the digital payment network Zelle, the indictment said. The first two conspiracy charges carry 2 to 5 years and the third 1 to 3 years, unless she is extended-term eligible, when the penalties increase to 5 to 10 and 3 to 6 years. Slouka is in Lee County jail on $75,000 bond.









a breath of fresh air Well,
To place an ad, call the Farm Bureau office at 815-244-3001 by 3 p.m. Thursday to get your ad in the following week’s paper.
Carroll County Farm Bureau members can place up to two free classified ads per week, with a limit of 250 characters per ad (not including spaces). Ads are limited to personal or farm items for sale/wanted to buy, or farm labor or services available or wanted. No ads for the sale or rental of real estate, garage sales or commercial businesses will be accepted.
Driver needed: Part-time farm truck or tractor driver needed for fall harvest, flexible hours. 815-499-0463.
WelchChastity AT A GLANCE
The Farm Bureau office compiles the ads and Shaw Media runs them in the Prairie Advocate as a courtesy in conjunction with the weekly column. Shaw Media is not responsible for the ads and any errors or corrections need to be made to the Farm Bureau office.
ADVOCATEPRAIRIE3 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie PROPHETSTOWN 114 West Third Street (815)GENESEO537-2348 700 US Highway 6 East (309)MORRISON944-0580 1100 East Lincolnway (815) 772-3700 www.FarmersNationalBank.bank For All Your Ag Banking Needs • Operating for Crops and Livestock • Equipment and Irrigation • Buildings, Livestock and Grain Facilities • Farm Land • Prompt and local decisions with access to as much as $10 million per farm customer 100TOP Ag Bank in the U S Farmers National Bank Ag Lenders Serving Northwest Illinois Since 1902 EXPERIENCED • RESPONSIVE • TRUSTED SM-ST2008569
Sara, our summer intern, was folks, I hate to disappoint you but I am back to writing the column. Sara is now off and getting ready to head back to college. I will be the first to admit I am really going to miss her. Sara was a breath of fresh air. While she is young, she also has a bright future ahead for her. She transitioned into our office very well. She isn’t afraid of hard work. She is efficient, and creative. We will be staying in touch. I am kicking myself that I didn’t get a picture of the two of us on her last day as we both showed up in the same shirt. What are the chances? It has happened once before. I wish her the best of the luck as she heads back to school.
For Sale: Arlo brand wired video doorbell. Brand new in box, asking $75. Call or text 563-357-8555 in Thomson.
For Sale: MTD Chipper, shredder, 5hp B&S, runs good $200. Earthquake mini tiler $70, Agri Fab lawn cart $75, 815-821-3397 leave message.
For Sale: JD 3020 LPG, not running, cracked head, 3 pt. WF, folding ROPS, good paint, $2650, Schwartz loader, 7’, snow bucket, 815-821-3397.
••• We had a busy summer here at the office this year and it flew by! I can’t believe school is in session and the days are getting shorter. With that being said, don’t forget about our freezer meal fundraiser. At $17 a meal with the current food prices and the fact you don’t have to cook, you surely can’t pass them up! Orders are due to our office by Sept. 12. You can find forms online and on our FacebookSpeakingpage.oftime flying, we just ordered 2023 calendars. They won’t be in till November, but we will blink and it will be here in no time.••• With a grant from the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Carroll and Stephenson County farm bureaus teamed up this year with Highland Community College Ag Department on a pollinator plot. Most of the work is being done by Justin Ebert. The field is out on Stephenson Street, west of Freeport. While this year it won’t be much because it needs to grow and develop, we hope that next year it will be something to see. Thank you to everyone who helped bring this project to fruition.••• Our final pedal tractor pull of the sea son is Monday, Sept. 5, at Shannon Labor Days. The pull takes place in the fire station at 1 p.m. Registration will start about 12:45 p.m. We always have a big crowd and are sure we will again. I think we had a record number of participants at the Carroll County Fair this year. I feel I have been doing this too long when I see the children of past Young Leaders pull ing. Our organization certainly comes full circle. ••• With Sara being back at school, I am again the sole person in the office. There will be times when our office will be closed if I have to be at a meeting. Looking at the calendar, I know I will not be in the office on Thursday, Sept. 1, and Tuesday, Sept. 6. I know this isn’t convenient and most of the time it will be a timing thing. We have a drop slot for you to drop off ads and payments. You also can call the office. Gener ally, calls are transferred to my cell phone or you can leave a message.



































4 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie ADVOCATEPRAIRIE InvestinginIllinois LocalInvestment.Jobs.CleanEnergy. NextEraEnergy Resources isproudtobe partofCarroll andWhiteside counties Next EraEnergyResources.com SM-ST2010551SM-ST1997279 Health Wellness& PRSRT STD U.S. Sterling,PermitPAIDPostageNo.440IL61081 August 2022 Now Available! To request your FREE copy, simply call us at (815) 632-2566 or email your requests and address to: knull@saukvalley.com Savanna Knights of Columbus step up for community SAVANNA –
Recognizing a need to help families and indi viduals with the drastic increase in the cost of food, energy and other products and services, the Knights have stepped up to help the less for tunate by supplying food to organizations that serve Savanna and Carroll counties. The plan has been to grow a large amount of vegetables, harvest, clean and bag them and deliver the fresh produce to four food suppliers through out the growing season.
The West Carroll Food Pan try, which serves the school district, now has opened up to all the school districts in Car roll County and participants in The First Step Program. The pantry is the primary distribu tion point for the Knights. They provide fresh vegetables – grown on local farms – and purchase milk, eggs and bread for these families. The food pantry is open on the first and third Monday each month, excluding when a holiday interferes; then they are open the following Mon day. Hours are 3:30 to 5 p.m. The West Carroll Food Pan try is at the Methodist Church, 2100 Chicago Ave., in Savanna. If you have children in the school system, you may regis ter for this service by calling Michelle Leigh at 815-821-2659. If you find it in your heart to help these families, please send donations by check to West Carroll Food Pantry, care of Sally Marken, 516 Iris St., Savanna, IL 61074. Put Food Pantry in the memo of yourThecheck.Savanna Community Food Pantry serves the west ern half of Carroll County and primarily receives Knights food deliveries on Tuesdays and when supplies are ade quate on Thursdays as well. The pantry is well-stocked in food from other sources as well. The pantry is open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon. It is located in the gray building across from the Dollar Store at 118 S. Fourth St. in Savanna. To apply, please go in per son during open hours on Tuesday or Thursday. To donate food, please bring to the food pantry about 8:30 a.m. or during open hours. For ques tions regarding applying or donations, call Director Barry Eady at 815-273-4332.
PhotoIkechukwu.Michaelwith(left)BarryDirectorFoodCommunitySavannaPantryEadystandsKnightprovided
The Table Restaurant/ Golden Meals have partnered to provide lunches to seniors and handicapped individuals at no charge. They suggest a $3 donation for each lunch, but it is notThemandatory.Tablealso has a restau rant that serves the less fortu nate Monday through Friday. Their mission is to feed healthy meals to people in need and offer fellowship including craft making, cooking classes and other activities. The Table is located at 411 Main St. in Savanna.Anyone interested in volun teering to help the Knights are encouraged to call John McCo nnel at 815-244-4005. Harvest ers, shoppers and drivers are needed about one to two hours once a week or once a month. You do not have to be Catholic or a Knight to volunteer. The Knights would like to thank those who have helped so far. Strawberry Fields (Mount Carroll), which donated several dozen plants and Anne’s Landscaping (Free port), which also donated sev eral dozen plants. Addition ally, McGinnis Farms and especially Nuemiller Farms for their generous food dona tions. Last but not least, John McConnel Sr., who asked those celebrating his 90th birthday to bring food donations for the West Carroll Food Pantry. Knights actively involved at this time in this ministry include Michael Ikechukwu, Umbaldo Rucobo, Bob Haffey and John McConnel Sr. “If you are Catholic and a member of St John The Baptist Church in Savanna, you may join the Knights and partici pate in this and other compas sionate ministries and good works,” John McConnel Sr said. “Our Lord instructs us numerous times in the Bible to help the unfortunate, our neighbors and even our ene mies. Feeding His children is about the best service one can give to God. We hope you will join us.”







Downtown Shannon –
Since 1919, One of Illinois oldest annual Hometown Festivals. SHANNON HOMECOMING September 3, 4 and 5 Labor Day Weekend
1:00 Simply Free Cake Walk & kids activities
ADVOCATEPRAIRIE5 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie SM-ST2009593
2:30 No Worries Band At the stage 2:45 Ping Pong Registration at the Firehouse 3:00-6:00 Inspired Painting Party At the grass lot next to Teresa Hammer Photography 3:30 Ping Pong Tournament 4:30 The Good Stewards At the Stage 6:30 Introduction of the Grand Marshal Harry Schryver 7:00 Alleluia Quartet At the Stage
8:00-12:00 Pancake Breakfast at the Firehouse Sponsored by Lions and Legion 9:00-6:00 Craft Show at the Firehouse
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD
Remote Control Car Races Remote Control Truck Obstacle Course Bring your own R/C car/truck Just for fun. No Trophies. Downtown Shannon
For more information on the Celebration or details concerning the
11:00-3:00 P & C Little Rascals Petting Zoo Sponsored by the First State Bank Shannon-Polo-Lake Carroll In front of the Bank 11:00 Antique Tractor Pull At Eastland Feed & Grain 1:00 Bingo Inflatablesopensopen
2:00-5:00
8:00-dusk Auto-Truck-Tractor Show At Lions Park 4:00 Concessions open downtown Craft Show at the Firehouse all 3 days 4:00 Bingo opens 4:00 Inflatables open 5:00 Little Mr. Firefighter & Junior Mr. Firefighter Sponsored by Shannon Fire Department : At the stage 5:30 Crowning of the Shannon Homecoming Queen & Little Miss At the Stage 6:00 Prize Bingo - Prizes only while they last! Back by popular demand!
8:00-9:30 Parade Registration at Lions Park 9:00 Bingo open till 3pm Concessions open 9:00-3:00 Inflatables open 10:00 Carroll County’s Largest Parade Celebrate with us Honoring All Our Brave Veterans!
11:00-1:00 Pork Chop Dinner at the Village Park Pork Chop Sandwich, Chips, Cookie, Pop or Water 1sandwich meal $8 - Sandwich only or any addition sandwiches $4 Curbside, Drive up or Sit down at the shelter house. Drive thru enter from South Hickory to North Hickory on the East side of the Park for curbside or pickup. Reserve meals call Mary at 815.312.7469
Sponsored by Shannon Lions Club & American Legion.
Shannon Homecoming Raffle: $1 per ticket or 6 for $5 Raffle Tickets can be purchased at The First State Bank of Shannon or from Shannon Lions or Shannon Legion members.
Enjoy our food vendors: Lanark Vets Mess Hall, Young Life Ice Cream, Louisiana Snowballs, Junior class stand and those famous Shannon Lion’s and Legion Elephant Ears and Cheese Curds.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
12:00 Pretzel City Strummers At the Stage 1:00 Kiddy Tractor Pull in front of Shannon Firehouse Sponsored by the Carroll County Young Leaders
11:00 Florence Crickets 4H Petting Zoo In front of the Bank
FREE INFLATABLES ALL WEEKEND!
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Tractor
2:00 Johnny Races and Pie in the Face Contest At the stage Kid Water Fights in front of Firehouse
3:30 Lion’s & Legion Raffle Drawing
PleaseParade:call 815-864-2658 or shomecoming1919@gmail.com
6:30 Eastland Jazz Band At the Stage 7:00 Rock Valley Pub Trivia At the Stage dusk Auto-Truck-Tractor Show Light Show at dusk - Lions Park
Show please call Harry at 815-864-2313. Johnny Races please call Colleen at 815-742-5281. Pork Chop BBQ Dinner please call Mary at 815.312.7469. Auto-Truck-Tractor Show please call Mike at 815.821.1953. Remote Control Races please contact Chris at 815.541.2040. Ping Pong Tournament please contact Cassi at 815.541.1236 Shannon Homecoming Sponsored by Shannon American Legion and Lions Club No Dogs downtown except service dogs. Shannon Homecoming Labor Day Parade Labor Day Parade Entry Form Monday, September 6th•10 am CELEBRATE WITH US HONORING ALL OUR BRAVE VETERANS! One of Illinois oldest Hometown annual celebration. Starting in 1919 to welcome home WWI soldiers. Registration and lineup will be at Lion’s Park between 8:00 and 9:45 am. Pre-registration is greatly appreciated but not necessary. Name of organization: Contact person: _______________________________________________ Address: E-mailTelephone____________________________________________________number:____________________________________________address:_______________________________________________ Please mail to: Shannon Homecoming • 17228 Stanton Rd • Shannon, IL 61078 shomecoming1919@gmail.com We request you write a small paragraph of information detailing your entry as you go by the viewing stand. Hope you can make it to our great parade!

fondly remembered building fence with his grandfather. He attended the Oakville Coun try School and graduated from Mount Carroll High School with the Class of 1950. He soon met Donna Buckwalter while hanging out at Clifton’s Ice Cream Shop. Kenny and Donna were married on August 30, 1953 in Savanna. They raised three children and celebrated 66 years of marriage before Donna’s passing in 2020.Kenny was a hard worker, farming with his father and brothers. Farming was his life, but he did make time for children’s events. He loved playing cards and going to garage sales and the casino with Donna. He was a member of the Mount Carroll Masonic Lodge. Kenny was a veteran, serving during the Korean War, 1954-1955. He was proud to be part of a special group, the 73rd Engineer Combat Battalion and he and Donna enjoyed their many reunions. A highlight was going on the Honor Flight in 2013.
6 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie ADVOCATEPRAIRIE ATTENTION EXHIBITORS! 2022 SAUK VALLEY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4TH • 10AM-2PM • NORTHLAND MALL • STERLING The Premier Event For Those 55 & Better! Meet face-to-face with seniors who are eager to learn about your products and services. SPACE IS REGISTRATIONLIMITED!DEADLINESEPTEMBER23RD! For more information or to register your exhibitor space, call Kelly Null at (815) 632-2566 or email marketing@saukvalley.com Shaw Media est . 1851 est. 1851 Sponsored By Kenneth wherebrothersfamilygrowing(Campbell)KennethTownship,Aprilhome.AugustpassedofSchneider,“Kenny”age90MountCarroll,ILawayFriday,19,2022athisKennywasborn3,1932inSalemthesonofandGladysSchneider,uponthefarmwithsevenandsisters,healways
BONNIE ROSE MADER
Born: April 3, 1932 Died: August 19, 2022
KENNETH ‘KENNY’
OBITUARIES Please Recycle Your Newspaper
Born: February 3, 1930 in Freeport, IL Died: August 22, 2022 in Freeport, IL Kelly R. Behrens, 59, of Mount Carroll, Illinois, passed on August 20, 2022. Arrangements entrusted to Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna, Illinois. Additional information: 815-273-2264. KELLY R. BEHRENS
Kenneth will be dearly missed by his daugh ter, Cindy (Bart) Ottens of Chadwick, his twin sons, Kenneth III and Kurt, both of Bradenton FL, two granddaughters, Kelly (Kurt) Francis of Milledgeville and Kari (Jason) Fisher of Chicago ; and six great-grandchildren, Kyson, Kamden and Kendall Francis, and Olivia, Grant and Nora Fisher. He is preceded in death by his three brothers and four sisters. A private family service will be held with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mount Carroll. Memorials may be made to the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities at the following Kenny’sgift.https://honorflightqc.org/donations/make-link,Familyandfriendsareinvitedtoshareinlifeatlawjonesfuneralhome.com.
SCHNEIDER
Bonnie Rose Mader, 92, of Lanark, IL, passed away on August 22, 2022. She was born February 3, 1930 in HospitalDeaconessinFreeport, IL, the daughter of Glenn and Esther (Finifrock) Mader. She lived in the Lanark area until the family moved to a farm in the Loran Pearl City area in 1939, where she lived until moving into Lanark in 1989. She attended country schools. Became a member of the Yellow Creek Church of the Brethren in 1942. She later attended Berreman Church of God for 29 years. Since moving to Lanark has attended different area churches.Shewas preceded in death by her moth er on September 13, 1980, her father on September 4, 1986, and brother Harry on May 18,Survivors2008. include one nephew William Koester, three great nieces: Misty, Danyell, and Kelly; one great, great niece Arianna, and one great, great nephew Ryan, a special cousin Ellis Applegate of Shelbyville, special second cousins: Linda Loxterman of Porter, Texas and Rita Davis of Clifton, Texas. Funeral service will be held on Monday Au gust 29, 2022 at 10 AM, at the Russell-Frank Funeral Home in Lanark, IL. Friends may call















Troy Taylor – ttaylor@shawmedia.com
Thosereplacement.finalhires were approved by the school board the same day students returned to school. Janell Hartman is a sixth-grade teacher at West Carroll Middle and when the school year started, she walked a familiar path, escorting stu dents through the hallway to her class room.She plans to retire after a long career. She’s done her part to encour age the next generation of educators: Five teachers in the district were once students in her classroom. She knows filling her position likely will be “Whendifficult.Istarted 34 years ago, there were 80 to 100 applicants for a job,” she said. “Now we beg to get them.”
ADVOCATEPRAIRIE7 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie SM-ST2010892 Tory CancerCalderonBenefitSeptember3-5 9/3: 11am-5pm 9/4: 11am-5pm 9/5: 11am-2pm Shannon Cafe Come together as a community, and join us as we raise money for this brave mother of two. mahaffeylawoffice . com (815) 400-9496 AreAs of PrActice • WILLS/POA’S • ESTATE PLANNING • TRAFFIC/DUI • PERSONAL INJURY • WORKERS COMPENSATION 409 N. Cherry St. • Morrison, IL 61270 Mahaffey Law Office SM-ST2005942 Search for teachers proving more difficult for area school districts By TROY E. TAYLOR ttaylor@shawmedia.com MOUNT CARROLL – Teaching vacancies aren’t unusual. Finding replacements, however, isn’t easy. “It’s been really hard to find good, quality candidates,” West Carroll Com munity Unit School District 314 Super intendent Julie Katzenberger said. Katzenberger is a career educator of 30 years, the last 17 as an administra tor. She’s a Mount Carroll native.
See TEACHER SHORTAGE, page 8
“When I first started, the field used to be flooded,” she said. “The last three years, it’s just not many certified peo ple out Althoughthere.”the teacher candidate shortage isn’t unique, northwest Illi nois schools largely had been spared this nationwide problem until recently.
About West Carroll The district serves nearly 900 stu dents who come from across the west ern third of Carroll County, an area close to 150 square miles. The high school and primary schools are in Savanna, the latter campus just a brisk walk from picturesque Spring Lake, a meander of the Mississippi River, while the middle school and dis trict offices reside in the county seat, which is notable for its downtown of historically significant buildings. Stu dents also come from Thomson. Katzenberger said the time frame for filling vacancies keeps getting extended. She used to have spots filled by the end of May, at the latest, June. West Carroll went into this summer with seven vacancies – most were retir ees – which accounts for more than 11% of the staff. The search took all sum mer, Katzenberger sometimes seeking out candidates directly for in-demand specialties.“We’vehad a hard time filling Span ish,” she said. Even after securing one Span ish-language instructor, Katzenberger was informed the day of staff orienta tion that the candidate was going else where. Only at the last minute did she find a
Across the Sauk Valley West Carroll wasn’t the only district in the region with a number of teacher openings. According to the IASA Illinois Education Job Bank, listings in late July showed four openings each at Amboy, Stillman Valley Meridian and Byron. Meanwhile, East Coloma in Rock Falls, Ashton-Franklin, Paw Paw and Forrestville each had three teacher openings.
Janell Hartman accompanies her sixth grade students through the hallways during a bell-change at West Carroll Middle School in Mount Carroll.









Larger districts serving towns in the Sauk Valley also have observed the change.Sterling Public Schools Superinten dent Tad Everett said some job postings solicit only a handful of inquiries. He hearkens back to 2007, his last year as the district’s human resources director. “So let me give you a crazy stat,” he said. “We had four elementary open ings. I still remember the number. We had 1,107 applicants. You fast-forward 15 years, and this year for elementary openings, we have less than 20 to work from.”Sterling had a complete teaching roster to present at August’s board meeting, although it required filling two spots after resignations the week before. Everett commended the build ing principals, human resources and Assistant Superintendent Sara Dail, for securing replacements. Dixon Public Schools had several late resignations, too, but “we’ve been very lucky,” Superintendent Margo Empen said. If there has been a pattern to the recent spate of resignations, Empen said it’s because some teachers aren’t as willing to drive as they once were. High gas prices are only part of the equation.
with
Scope of the problem School officials identified a teacher shortage as a nationwide problem a decade ago, mostly in states with grow ing populations. The rigors of remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic have since depleted the ranks, usually by accelerating the pace of retirements.
941 sq. ft., 4 BR, 1.5 Baths, 0.14 Acre Lot, 2 Car Garage, Call Aime
special
TOLL FREE (866) 493-2300 110 W Carroll, Lanark 815-493-2323 24490 Payne, Shannon 815-864-2390 Amy Barnes, Designated www.BarnesRealtyInc.comBroker
grade
West
after being
students.
CHADWICK - $65,000 - $79,900 815-291-8256 Johnson, a teacher 29 first year as a sixth instructor at Carroll Middle School a education specialist last year. education
Managing
In recent years, Illinois teaching vacancies generally have gone up, too. For instance, in 2017 the Illinois State Board of Education reported 2,006 teach ing vacancies across the state. It’s more than doubled since. In 2020, there were 4,462 vacancies and in 2021, there were 4,120. The 2022 survey still is being compiled, but the vacancy total had climbed to 5,301 at last check.According to the 2020 survey, which grouped vacancies by geographic area, more than 1,800 vacancies were in Chi cago and some 1,600 were in the remain der of the northeast region. The northwest region had far fewer vacancies – 376. However, even a single vacancy in a small rural district can determine whether a class is even taught, whereas large suburban dis tricts can absorb a vacancy in a given department or grade-level. Some contend the vacancy problem is inflated by an expansion of the teach ingAnranks.Aug. 9 report by The Center Square, a conservative news site of the Franklin News Foundation, said Illi nois’ teacher employment has increased as student enrollment has decreased. Illinois had 132,354 teachers in 2021, growing the ranks by 5,116 since 2018. For the same period, student enrollment declined from 2 million to 1.89 million. However, that’s not the case in the four counties of the Sauk Valley, where teacher employment has declined in the past 10 years, largely matching enroll ment decreases, according to the Illinois Report Card. Lee County schools had 270 teachers in 2021, 23 fewer than in 2012. Whiteside County was at 590 teachers, 27 fewer than a decade earlier. Ogle County was down 59 teachers to 596 in that stretch while Carroll County was at 145 – a drop of 35Inpositions.fact,West Carroll CUSD 314 expe rienced one of the steepest reductions, going from 92 teachers in 2012 to 61 teachers in 2021.
years of experience, is in her
8 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie ADVOCATEPRAIRIE
SHANNON - $93,900 1491 sq. ft., 3 BR, 1 Bath, 0.23 Acre Lot, 2 Car Garage, Call Amy 815-238-8360 MT. CARROLL - $69,900 2300 sq. ft., 3 BR, 2 Baths, 0.17 Acre Lot, Open Staircase, Call Aime 815-291-8256 SHANNON - $119,900 1422 sq. ft., 3 BR, 1 Bath, 0.16 Acre Lot, 2 Car Garage, Call Aime 815-291-8256 SAVANNA - $69,900 1104 sq. ft., 2 BR, 1 Bath, 0.13 Acre Lot, 2 Car Garage, Call Aime 815-291-8256 SAVANNA - $169,900 1618 sq. ft., 3 BR, 1.5 Baths, 0.41 Acre Lot, 4 Car Garage, Call Trish 815-541-7138 STOCKTON - $69,000 1248 sq. ft., 3 BR, 1 Bath, 0.18 Acre Lot, Large Back Yard, Call Trish 815-541-7138 SAVANNA - $100,000 2675 sq. ft., 2 Units, Downtown Commercial, 0.07 Acre Lot, Call Amy 815-238-8360 PRICE REDUCED PRICE REDUCED NEW LISTING SM-ST2009011 • TEACHER SHORTAGE Continued from page 7 See TEACHER SHORTAGE, page 10 Troy Taylor – ttaylor@shawmedia.com Jennifer
1658 sq. ft., 3 BR, 2 Baths, 0.20 Acre, 2 Car Garage, Call Amy 815-238-8360 SAVANNA
“I think that we’re finding it is possi bly COVID-related, but people realize that they want jobs closer to home,” she said. “They want to spend a little bit more time with family instead of having to drive so far to commute.” Rock Falls High School filled its last two open positions at its July meeting.
The room’s lighting is tinted to accommodate special












Skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes are often mistaken as the same thing, but that’s not necessarily accurate. According to AARP Medicare Plans, the difference between a skilled nursing facility and a nursing home comes down to the type of care each provides. Care at skilled nursing facilities is provided by trained registered nurses in a medical setting under the supervision of a doctor. AARP Medicare Plans describes this level of care as on par with the level of care patients would receive in a hospital. Nursing home care is provided largely by licensed practical nurses and nurse aids under the supervision of a registered nurse. Nursing home care tends to focus on custodial care, which emphasizes helping residents perform daily tasks like dressing, bathing and eating. Some facilities may offer both skilled nursing care as well as nursing home care. They may separate patients who need such types of care by designating certain floors or sections of the facility for patients with different needs. Marketplace
9PRAIRIEADVOCATE 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie AMonroeClinicLifestyleInitiative Luxuriousamenitiesandservices offeringeach residenttheir own blendofindependenceand assistance. Within YourMeans. Beyond YourExpectations. 1545 S.Forest Road, Freeport,IL (815)656-4800|info@winnprairie.com|winnprairie.com SM-ST1998390 SM-ST1999552 Did you know?
Senior






















“I didn’t walk into an empty class room,” she said. “It’s not grim. I’m very satisfied with this district. As for teach ing materials and supplies, they have it.”
Enrollment, planning, mentoring
The Illinois Association of School Boards and other partners devoted six years to a survey and analysis of the problem. It issued a report authored by former Belleville Superintendent Jim Rosborg in 2021 that identified the under lying causes for diminished interest in the teaching profession. It said the Test of Academic Profi ciency was the biggest barrier to entry into the workforce. The test was removed in 2019, once it was shown that, over seven years, between 17% and 24% of candidates passed it annually. The workforce, however, has not yet recovered from the culling of potential educators. The Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools continues to survey districts. It found that in addition to the shortage of teach ers, the ranks of administrators also are smaller.About three-fourths of respondents said finding substitutes is a major prob lem. In 2021, 257 classes were canceled for lack of teachers.
In small districts, early registration has become an essential tool in hiring. Knowing how many students it has for some classes, especially at the high school level, can determine staffing.
10 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie ADVOCATEPRAIRIE SM-ST1997228 PRSRT STD U.S. Sterling,PermitPAIDPostageNo.440IL61081 CHANGEREQUESTEDSERVICE A FREE PUBL CAT ON OF SHAW MED A Now Available To request your FREE copy, simply call us at (815) 632-2566 or email your requests and address to: knull@saukvalley.com SEP 30 - OCT 1, 2022 MECUM.COM | 262-275-5050 70 TRACTORS AND TRUCKS • 400 ROAD ART & RELICS • 1,000 TOYS AND DOLLS 22719 South 80th Avenue Frankfort, IL 60423 AUCTION SCHEDULE SEP 29 Preview 1-5pm George’s Collector Appreciation Pig Roast 2-5pm SEP 30 Farm Toys & The June Schaaf Doll Collection 10am OCT 1 Road Art & Relics 10am Tractors & Trucks 1:30 pm SM-ST2011317 LABOR DAY ONE DAY ONLY MONDAY SEPTEMBER 5TH 8:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. THOMSON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1901 IL Rt 84, Thomson, IL MENU: Sausage, Pancakes, French Toast, Hash Browns, Scrambled Eggs, Biscuits & Gravy, Cinnamon Rolls Fresh Melon CARRY OUT AVAILBLE ADULTS $10�00 KINDERGARTEN-5th ����������������������������� $5�00 PRESCHOOL ������������������������������������������� FREE
• TEACHER SHORTAGE Continued from page 8
‘Getting out there’ Filling vacancies requires diligence, Katzenberger said. First, the district presents itself as an entry point, hoping to attract recent graduates. Katzenberger attended job fairs at Illinois State University the past two years and the University of Illi nois-Eastern Illinois University job fair the previous year. She also goes to a hir ing opportunity in Sterling. She then made use of the state’s return-to-work program, which allows retirees to re-enter the teaching ranks without jeopardizing their pension. This provision lets retirees work through June 2024 if their subject matter or specialization is designated by the regional office of education as a shortage area. Two of West Carroll’s hires fall into thisThecategory.district also sweetened the salary pot with benefits to attract new teachers. It offers Blue Cross Blue Shield at 100% single coverage for support staff and teachers.Itsigned an agreement with ISU to accept student teachers. It will get a social work intern through a deal with Southern Illinois University-Carbon dale.Jennifer Johnson has been a teacher for 29 years, the last few in special educa tion. This year, she is taking on sixth grade in a full capacity at West Carroll. In fact, when she was starting out, it was Illinois’ once-highly competitive job market that prompted her to pull up roots and go to Texas, where she taught in Houston for two decades. She fears rural districts get a bad rap. She said a few years ago, when she returned to Illinois, others in the profes sion discouraged her from applying at West Carroll, saying that the small dis trict wouldn’t provide support.
Underlying causes
“We looked at our schedule,” Katzen berger said. “If we have a class under 10 students … we look at offering it every otherWestyear.”Carroll has done everything to encourage advance registration, includ ing setting Aug. 7 as a deadline and pro moting its online portal, which parents could access throughout the summer. Katzenberg sent out reminders. The last notice was ahead of the final week end of summer break. Several teachers said the availability of nearby day care was important. One of the biggest problems across northwest Illinois, however, is available housing. The last U.S. Census showed occupancy of existing homes was above 90% in many areas of the region. Carroll County was closer to 80%, although the county had 278 fewer homes than in 2010. To that end, Katzenberger serves on a community board that tries to address the problem of available housing – both for prospective teachers or newly hired employees at the federal penitentiary in Thompson.Thedistrict joined a coaching and mentoring program offered by the Illi nois Education Association to provide new teachers with coaches and mentors – the in-house mentor is paid a stipend while the association provides a one-onone virtual coach. A new year Tracy Siegner is a new teacher at West Carroll. She had been a paraprofes sional in nearby Eastland before decid ing to get her degree. For family reasons, she wanted to stay in northwest Illinois. She could cast her line anywhere with her special edu cation certification. She said she some day hopes to teach abroad. When she introduced herself to her new class on the first day of school, she asked students what their goals were. One child said they just wanted to be a better reader, to which the other stu dents broke out in applause. Siegner briefly was caught off guard, but she beamed at his response and praised the students for supporting their classmate.Timewill test her, but in that moment she had a connection – one that would not have been made had the position been left empty.



























SPORTS ROUNDUPSeeROUNDUP, Page 12 Kyle
Savanna council to pursue ITEP grant
Fluhr also told the council that the roadway project will begin on Pike Street with the storm sewer and alley work in preparation for paving. He said the DCEO grant for the water main project was being pushed back, which he said was good news in that it gave MSA more time to final ize plans and obtain permits. Public Works Superintendent Brent Corey said the response to the lead water service pipe replacement has been slow, with currently only a 16.8% response rate. Mayor Val Gunnarsson asked how this low rate would affect the city’s chances of qualifying for the program and Fluhr said it would affect negatively on the scoring when the report is submitted , hope fully at the end of September and it could mean the city would get less than 100 percent forgiveness for the funding.Gunnarsson emphasized the importance of participation and get ting the word out about this free pro gram. In other action, the council: • Approved recommendations from the Contract and Lease Com mittee, including a contract with the West Carroll School District for use of the Pinnacle Place Tower, at a rate of $1 per year, for one year, as opposed to the five-year contract they had previously operated under.
The Savanna City Council voted unanimously Aug. 23 to submit an application for an ITEP (Illinois Transportation Enhancement Pro gram) grant which, if obtained, would fund the rehabilitation of the Chicago Avenue sidewalk area, as well as the roadway curve and retaining wall between Pike Street and the stoplights. The grant has a cap of $3 Savannamillion.hasapplied, unsuccess fully, for this grant twice in the past, once to fund the trail head project in 2016 and once to fund the streets cape project in 2020. These projects also were up for potential submission this year but MSA’s Jared Fluhr told the council he felt the Chicago Avenue project was most in line with what the state was looking for this time.
state-line area, serving our
“I think the city’s best chance, as far as scoring goes, would be Chi cago Avenue, “ Fluhr said. The cost of the grant application and conceptual engineering was estimated at $7,800, Fluhr said.
MilledgevilleFootball 46, Orangeville 8: Milledgeville senior Kacen Johnson scored three special teams touchdowns. His first came on the opening kickoff as he scooped up a squib kick and took it back for a 70-yard score. That play gave Milledgeville a 6-0 lead 11 seconds into the game. His second touchdown, which put the Missiles up 30-0, was a 56-yard punt return with 3:37 to go in the first quarter. The third touchdown – a punt return of 80 yards – put Milledgeville ahead 46-0 and came when 7:34 remained in the first half.
“After the first [return touchdown], I was pretty excited,” Johnson said. “It felt pretty good, Reidelbaugh for Shaw Local News Network
• Approved resolutions authoriz ing the temporary road closure of Main Street from Division to Chi cago Avenue for the annual West Carroll Homecoming parade on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 6 to 7 p.m., and closing the same area on Sunday, Oct. 30, for the annual Hal loween parade between 4 and 4:30 p.m. Trick or treat hours were set for 5 to 7 p.m. after the parade.
Stateline Solar is proudly locally owned & operated by the Fiene In addition, team members are from right here in the neighbors, friends family with solarHilary
11PRAIRIEADVOCATE 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie Do you drive a hybrid or EV?Do you drive a hybrid or EV? Stateline Solar installs EV charging stations for homes & businesses. These charging stations can be installed alone or paired with a solar array. *Loans subject to approval. Offer subject to change without notice. See a German American State Bank representative for details. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. LOCAL SOLARLOCAL SOLAR FINANCING AVAILABLE Locally Owned & Operated!Locally Owned & Operated! statelinesolar.net815-580-3011310WMainStLena,IL61048 $$00DOWN
• Approved a contract with Vise rion Grain for the use of the old fire station building as office space for a two-year period, with the first year being at a rate of $900 and the second year at a rate of $925.
• Approved intersection solicitors licences for the Illinois State Knights of Columbus Charities Inc. for the statewide Intellectual Disabilities Fund Sept. 16, 17 and 18 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and also for the VFW for its annual statewide fundraising poppy donations event on Sept. 2 and Sept. 3, both all-day events.
all
&
Milledgeville’s Kacen Johnson returns a punt return for a touchdown against Orangeville.
our
and renewable services!Ethan &
By MICHAEL MILLER For Shaw Local News Network
family.
Fiene
• Approved a bid from Miller Excavating for $5,360 for the fire department’s surplus tanker.















“It was a great day for him, and special teams had a huge impact on the game.”
DurandVolleyballdef.
12 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie ADVOCATEPRAIRIE AaronNEWHubbard,OWNER HOME • FARM • COMMERCIAL (815) 493-2711 SHANNON (815) 864-2111 POLO (815) 946-2777 LAKE CARROLL (815) fsbshannon-polo.com864-2125 JD’s AUTOMOTIVE 201 E. LOCUST ST. LANARK 815/493-2029 Hrs.: 8AM - 5PM Mon-Fri JOHN DAEHLER Owner Clark InsuranceCarrollAgency,Inc.201W.MarketSt.Mt.Carroll,IL61053(815)244-1570—OR—106NorthBroadSt.Lanark,IL61046(815)493-8892 HELP SCHOOLYOURSUPPORTLOCALSPORTFUNCTIONSAdvertiseHere!Call815-625-3600 BROTHERS INN FAMILYLANARKRESTAURANT Jcts. Rt.73 & Hwy 52 @ Rt. 64 815-493-2555 Open Daily 6:00 am - 9:00 pm We are ready to serve you after games! Store Hours: 6 am-10 pm daily • Lottery • Rug Doctor • Postage Stamps • Garbage Stickers • Fax Service • Dry Cleaning • LP Tank Exchange • Gift Cards • Digital Photo Developing 848 S. Jackson, Mt. Carroll (815) 244-8625 Farm Equipment Lawn & Garden MachineAppliancesEquipmentWork 428 N. Main, 815-225-7155Milledgeville POLHILL’SINC. SHANNON (815) 864-2111 POLO (815) 946-2777 LAKE CARROLL 815) fsbshannon-polo.com864-2125 14273 IL Rt 73 Lanark, IL 61046 (844) 493 6787 www.eandsequipment.com Holiday Gift Certificates Available! Stay in the know! Check out our website prairieadvocate.com Eastland’s Lydia Coatney Eastland’s Erin Henze PEARL CITY GUTTERSSEAMLESSINC. 5 & 6 Inch Seamless Gutters, Downspouts & Gutter Guards Stay in the know! Check out our website prairieadvocate.com Advertise Here! Call for 815-632-2560details. Savanna 815-273-2261 Thomson 815-259-2455 Mt. Carroll www.stsb4U.com815-244-2261 451 N. Main Ave. P.O. Box 789 Milledgeville, IL 61051 (815) 225-7171 Savanna-Thomson State “Y hometown friend THOMSON (815) 259-2455 (815) 244-2261 .stsb4U.com services are still available 5:00 p.m. Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ONE Bank... Three Convenient Locations JD’s AUTOMOTIVE 201 E. LOCUST ST. LANARK 815/493-2029 Hrs.: 8AM - 5PM Mon-Fri JOHN DAEHLER Owner Your Business could be here for $18 / week Reserve your space now to get this low price! JD’s AUTOMOTIVE 201 E. LOCUST ST. LANARK 815/493-2029 Hrs.: 8AM - 5PM Mon-Fri JOHN DAEHLER Owner Clark InsuranceCarrollAgency,Inc.201W.MarketSt.Mt.Carroll,IL61053(815)244-1570—OR—106NorthBroadSt.Lanark,IL61046(815)493-8892 HELP SCHOOLYOURSUPPORTLOCALSPORTFUNCTIONSAdvertiseHere!Call815-625-3600 HOME & CENTERBUILDING • Lumber • Paint • Plumbing • Electrical • Hardware CARROLLLOCKERCOUNTY 122 E. CARROLL STREET RETAILPROCESSINGPACKINGMEATS Sales • Service Service on most models & makes 405 Meyers Ave. SHANNON (815) 864-2111 POLO (815) 946-2777 LAKE CARROLL (815) fsbshannon-polo.com864-2125 14273 IL Rt 73 Lanark, IL 61046 (844) 493 �6787 www.eandsequipment.com $18 / week yourReservespacenow to get this low price! NORTHWEST ILLINOIS’ NEWS SOURCE prairieadvocate.com WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017 Prairie advocateSOUTHSIDE S ERVICE OIL CHANGES, REPAIRS, TIRES & ALIGNMENTS Stay in the know! Check out our website prairieadvocate.com Help Show Support to Your Local School Sports www.milledgevillebank.comAdvertiseTeamsHere!(815)632-2560 Choice Realty 718 W Stephenson St Freeport, Il 61032 Office 815-235-2111 Cell 815-541-0057 www.choicerealtyfreeport.commarkcurtis815@gmail.com Curtis,MarkBroker Advertise Here! Call for 815-632-2560details. 815-291-6449 • ContinuedROUNDUPfrom Page 11 because I got injured last season, so getting to be back on the field was just a good feeling.”Milledgeville coach Jason Wroble said he hadn’t seen a special teams performance like Johnson’s in quite a while.
Lucas Nelson found paydirt twice on carries of 10 and 13 yards, and accumulated 76 rushing yards, and McKeon Crase added 66 rushing yards and a touchdown for the Cardinals.
Toms-Smith was the leading Missiles receiver, snaring one pass for a 47-yard touchdown.CodyWirth completed 3 of 4 passes for 63 yards to lead the Broncos through the air. Maisen Pfeiffer added 49 rushing yards on 15 carries for Orangeville.
Johnny Kobler rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns to lead Forreston on the ground, while Kaleb Sanders added 87 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Durand-Pecatonica 53, West Carroll 6:
Polo 25-17, 25-23: The Marcos lost an NUIC road match, as Lindee Poper and Courtney Grobe both spiked four kills. Grobe also had 13 digs, and Poper added five digs, two blocks and an ace for Polo. Teah Almasy had seven assists and two kills, and Ellie Wells chipped in six digs, two kills and two assists. Fulton def. Riverdale 25-17, 25-8: The Steamers rolled to their first win of the season in their home opener. Brooklyn Brennan had five kills, six assists, four digs and a block for Fulton, and Miraya Pessman added three kills, eight assists, four digs and an ace. Annaka Hackett and Ava Bowen each had four kills, with Hackett adding three digs and two aces, and Bowen chipping in five digs and an ace. Reese Dykstra finished with three kills, a block and an ace, and Resse Germann had 11 digs, five aces and two assists.
Girls Galenagolf213, West Carroll 241: Brianna Jensen tied for runner-up individually with a 54, but the Thunder lost an NUIC dual at Galena Golf Club. Victoria Reiland fired a 55, Karissa Andrews shot a 57, and Corrine Krontz added a 75 for West Carroll. Boys Fultongolf172, Morrison 231: The Steamers cruised past the rival Mustangs at Deer Valley, notching the six low scores in the nonconference dual. Landon Meyers was medalist with a 2-over-par 37 for Fulton. Reed Owen shot a 44, Dawson Price fired a 45, and Brady Reed added a 46 for the Steamers, while Jacob Voss finished with a 47 and Chase Dykstra chipped in a 49. Adam Tichler paced Morrison with a 50, Austin Boonstra fired a 57, and Jordan Luhrsen had a 59. Zaiden Boonstra (65), Blake Huizenga (79) and Sarah Wetzel (79) also played. Galena 165, West Carroll 240: The Pirates rolled past the Thunder in a NUIC dual at Galena Golf Club, led by medalist Ryan Stoffregen’s round of 38. Dillon Hill led West Carroll, shooting a 48. Thomas Krontz had a 57, Alex Hardin had a 62, and Erik Kice added a 73. Tanner Diestelmeier also played, tallying an 84.
After being limited to six points in the first quarter, the Rivermen exploded for 27 in the second on their way to a lopsided win over theAJThunder.Boardman connected with Aaron Becker on a 28-yard pass for West Carroll’s lone touchdown in the fourth quarter. Boardman compiled 79 rushing yards on 18 attempts, and passed for 90 yards. Becker hauled in four passes for 65 yards as the leading receiver.
Johnson finished the day with 206 total return yards and three touchdowns.
Erie-Prophetstown 54, Mendota 34: Jase Grunder scored five touchdowns, all after Justus Hough opened the scoring for E-P. Grunder’s third TD gave the Panthers a 26-6 halftime lead, and his fifth made it 40-12 in the final minute of the third quarter.
“One of the things we hang our hats on in Milledgeville is good special teams, and we seem to always have a kid that can return the ball like that. It’s been a while to have three special teams touchdowns like that, but Kacen, he’s an electric player,” he said. “He missed a lot of the last season with a broken leg, so I think he’s not on a lot of schools’ radars, but he picks that ball up and he’s got speed. It’s deceiving because it doesn’t look like he’s working very hard, but he’s really fast.
Lena-Winslow 60, Eastland-Pearl City 6: The Panthers built a 24-6 first-quarter lead, then pitched three shutout quarters to put away the Wildcatz. Carsen Heeren found Brady Sweitzer on a 55-yard pass for EPC’s lone score in the first quarter.Sweitzer finished the night with three receptions for 74 yards. Heeren went 6-for-11 with 94 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception. Jackson Corbin was the leading Wildcatz rusher, totaling 23 yards on three carries.
Forreston 44, Stockton 14: The Cardinals jumped out to a 30-0 halftime lead and held steady in the second half to earn a sea son-opening win against the Blackhawks.






















13PRAIRIEADVOCATE 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie Prairie Advocate Classifieds Call: 833-584-NEWS (6397) or E-mail: classified@shawsuburban.com S easonal O ppor tunities Apply ONLINE at www.wyffels.com/jobs Complete the application under Production Seasonal Opportunities Candidates can also apply in person at: Wyffels Hybrids 740 E Henry St., Atkinson, IL. We offer the oppor tunity for seasonal employment on two shifts, working approximately 40 hours per week, during har vest at our Atkinson facility. Positions available are: Condit ioning Personnel Dr ying Assist ants Moisture Testers Sc ale Operators Sheller Assist ants Plow-of f Operators These positions are for 6-8 weeks and are expected to begin mid-August. You should be willing to work in a fast-paced, sometimes physically demanding work environment. All applicants must have proof of identity and employment eligibility We offer competitive wages. SM-ST2011297 EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT COOK NIU Lorado Taft seeking Culinary Wor ker III Full time, Tues-Sat, 11am-7pm Full benefit package Apply at: https://employment.niu.edu/postings/65756 EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANT DIRECTO R Rock River Center, Inc is seeking an Assistant Director Responsibilities include assisting with program and service development, identifying fundraising opportunities, and assisting older adults and their caregivers to provide information regarding appropriate resources related to their circumstan ces. Qualifications include excellent communication and computer skills and ability to multitask. Approximately 35 hours per week Full time, Monday to Friday, flexible schedule, paid time off. Please submit a resume in person at: 810 S. 10th St., Oregon, or via email to executivedirector@rockrivercenter.org EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT SM-ST2003904 EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT FARM HELP JoNEEDEDbsavailabletostartASAP. Looking for full time positions, no requexperienceiredDriverslicenserequired.CDLlicensenotrequired Competitive pay Bonu s available. If TrFa815-441-3464interestedcontactPartTimermTruckand/oractorDrivers needed for Fal l Harvest Flexible hours. Experience req. 815-499-0463






EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT
STREET MAINTENANCE WORKER
Callad?anustoday 833-584-NEWClassifiedItworksS
The City of Sterling is an Equal Opportunity Employer
EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT Need
14 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie ADVOCATEPRAIRIE GUN, KNIFE & WOODWORKING AUCTION SATURDAY SEPT 10, 2022 10:00 AM See pics @ www.DavidDamhoff.com Location: Garden Plain Township Garage Parking Lot 5909 Garden Plain Road Fulton, IL 61252 NOTE: All Guns, Equipment & Tools will Arrive Saturday Morning. GUNS: Remington: 12 Ga Dbl Barrel, Nylon 66 22 Cal w/Scope, Model 40X SN0035 Bench Target Rifle Bull Barrell Redfield Olympic Site/EXC COND, Model 1903 30/06 Steven: Crack Shot 22 Cal, Sing Shot 22 Cal Mossberg 20 Ga, Mauser: 1893 7 X 57 Cal, Random K98 8MM, Grey Eagle Over/Under 12 Ga, Winchester Model 97 12 Ga Pump, Ward Hercules #1 SD10B 12 Ga, Savage Arm Over/Under 22/40, Ruger 10/22 w/Scope, Sheridan Air Rifle 55MM, Smith Corona Model 1903 30/06, Danzig Mauser Gew 8MM, Schmidt Ruben (Swiss) 7.5 X 15 Cal, Arisa Japanese Imperial Rifle w/Original Sling, Enfield: Mark II 303 Cal, Jungle Carbine 303 Cal, Springfield Model 1878 45/70 Cal, Navy Arms: 69 Charleville Musket, M Pistol, Thompson Hawken Center: 50 Cal Flint & 50 Cal Cap, Hopkin Allen Heritage 36 Cal, T. Davidson Model 1846 36 Cal, Thompson Hawken Center Pistol Action w/ 44 Mag 30 Cal Herrett 222 Remington Barrel w/Scope, Colt 45 Commemorative Model 1911, German Luger P08, Ruger Sing Six 22 Cal 9 Buntline w/22 Long & Winchester 22 Rim Fire Mag, Navy Arms 69 Charleville M Pistol, (2) EIG Navy 36 Cal SN 885 & 886, Colt 38 Special, Dbl Barrel Precision Harrington & Richardson 38 Cal, Beretta Model 950 22 Cal, KNIVES: US Military: Bayonet Craig 1898 Vietnam Era K Bar Cattaraugus WWII Calvary Sword Jungle Blade, Roman Style Knife, Kukri, German Bayonet, Bowie, British Candor, Scottish Dirk, 2 Handed Sword, Tomahawks, Many Hand Pounded Knives & More, Cross Bow w/6 Arrows, Browning Bow 80 lb, Daisy BB Gun, 2 Starting Pistols, WOOD WORKING & CARVING EQUIPMENT: Rad Arm Saw Table Saw w/Ext, 36” & 18” Wood Lathe w/Attach, Shopsmith w/Jointer Table Band Saw & 48” Lathe, ½ Floor Drill Press, Delta 12 Planer, Delta Oc Sander, 20” & 25” Scroll Saw, 60 Gal Air Comp, Wet/Dry Grinder, Buffer, 8” Belt 9” Disk Sander, Panel Saw 12’ X 5’, MANY MORE CARVING KNIVES & TOOLS, JD 135 Auto Land Mower 42” Deck 1888 Hr Hydro w/46” Front Blade, Champion 3” Chipper 224 CC, Several Cement Lawn Art Pcs, Approx. 3 Hayracks of Hand Tools & Supplies. Dave’s Note: Some Really Unusual Guns, Knives, Wood Working Tools & Equipment. Questions on Guns & Knives, please contact Lonnie @ 815-954-1058 Terms: Cash or Good Check, Credit Card (5% Surcharge) Picture I.D. Required. Not Responsible for Accidents or Thefts. Announcements Made the Day of Sale Take Precedence Over Written Material. Everything is Sold “As Is”, “Where Is”. Internet and Live Bidding, Internet Auction will be on HIBID, Go to HIBID to register and see the sale order of the Guns and Knives. All Regulations Regarding Gun Sales will be Enforced. FOID Cards Required. Sale Order: Guns, Knives, Large Woodworking Equipment. DAVID DAMHOFF AUCTION AND APPRAISAL SERVICE 18661 Holly Road, Morrison, IL 61270 Cell: 815-535-4470DavidAuctioneerDamoff IL Licensed Auctioneer #440-000345 Clerks: D.A.S.AuctionComputerizedService AUCTIONS AUCTIONS AUCTIONS EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT BUILDING & GROUNDS NIU Lorado Taft seeking Maintenance Repair Worker Full time, Wed-Sun, 3-11pm Full benefit pac kage Apply at: https://employment.niu.edu/postings/65751 HOUSEKEEPINGWANTEDP.T. Must pass background check Apply at: Heritage Square 620 N. Ottawa Ave Dixon, IL 61021 EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT Stop pounding the pavement in search of a new job and start checking the classified job listings. You’ll zero in on the right opportunities in no time. Jobs.ShawLocal.com ANNOUNCEMENTS GALT CLOTHING MISCELLANE OUS FOR SALE CELEBRATERECOVERY! A program based on the Bible Weekly MeetingEvery Friday from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at York IL.Church,CommunityThomson,Contact:RobertHeath@815-2593550. Nice 2 BR apt. Country Setting $650/mo. Single occup. No 815-213-469cats3 Bird and Small Animal Swap Outdoor Event Saturday September 10 7-11am, Jackson County agAdFairgrounds,Maquoketa,Iowamission$5es12andup.VendorswelcomeinformationLaurie563-212-9435orChuck563-689-6743RIP -N- TEAR: Sewing RepairsBlue Jeans, Work Clothes & Zippe rs Replaced In Thomson area 815-541-3178 SM-ST2011112 AUCTION SAT., SEPT. 3 9:30 AM NANCY FREEMAN MT. CARROLL FARM BUREAU 811 S. CLAY ST., MT. CARROLL Located just N. of Jct. 64/78 HOUSEHOLD: Acorn stair lift-needs battery; grandfather clock; Flexsteel sofa; usual household: ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES: youth rocker; washstand; cedar chest; sleds;1876 IL Atlas; scrapbooks; Saidel prints; Horseman doll-IOB; adv. Card table; violin; deer head; Xmas. village; 2 crock jugs; Grim Dairy box; costume jewelry; Lakeside Arms 12ga. 81031; MANY MORE SM. TERMS:ITEMSCASH OR CHECK MUST HAVE PHOTO ID TO REGISTER JIM CALHOUN, AUCTIONEER IL LIC.440000333 MT. CARROLL 815-244-9660 FOR FULL LISTING & www.calhounauction.comPICTURES AUCTIONS AUCTIONS VI LLAGE CLERK and OFFICE MANAGER POSITION Village of Milledgeville The Village of Milledgeville, IL is advertising for an immedia te opening as the full time Village Clerk and Office Manager position The applicant must have a good knowledge of bookkeeping practices, excellent knowledge of computer skills and the ability to work well with the public in a fast paced environment Family insurance, retirement plan and ten paid holidays are included. Salary is commensurate with experience Please submit a letter of application, a resume of past work experience and three letters of reference with their contact information to: Galen Wirth, Village President Milledge ville Village Hall P.O. Box 639 344 N. Main Ave. Milledgeville, IL 61051 Application are due by 4:00PM on Wednesda y, September 7, 2022 at the Village Hall.
EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT STREETS & ALLE YS EMP LOYEE WATER & SEWER EMPLOYEE
The Village of Franklin Grove is seeking candidates for the following may send resume to the following address by 9-5-22: Village of Franklin Grove P.O. Box 105 Franklin Grove, IL 61031 E-Mail address: franklingrov e@wireless.essex1.com Or call to request an 815-456-2131application: to place
full-time positions: 1. St reets & Alleys Employee Snow Remov al/Backhoe Experience CDL w/air brakes General Equipment Skills 2. Water & Sewer Employee Wastewater 3 License Class C Water License InCDL-desiredterestedcandidates
The City of Ster ling, Illin ois is seeking applicants to fill Street Mainten ance Worker position . Responsibilities include manual work, operating light/heavy equipment, repairing streets, sidewalks, curb/gutters, snow/ice removal, carpentry, s ewer repair, and general maintenance Applicant must have a valid driver's license, a Class A CDL is preferred, but m ust able to acquire a Class A CDL with tanker endorsement; within 90 days of being employed. The City of Ster ling offers an excellent work env ironment, fringe benefits, and IMRF pension Resumes or applications and at least three (3) work related references should be addressed to: City of Sterling, Public Works, 212 Third Avenue, Sterling, IL 61081, faxed to (815) 625-1940, for more information and/or an application visit; www.sterling-il.gov and email to mfarmer @sterling-il.gov by no later than 5:00 PM, September 16, 2022. Questions concerning this position may be directed to Brad Schrader at (815) 6326657, or emailed to bschrader@sterling-il.gov







15PRAIRIEADVOCATE 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie searchtheofstartclassifiedzerotime. Jobs.ShawLocal.com Your granted.wisheskitchen Custom storage solutions for your new or existing cabinets makes space for everything, so you can spend your time making memories. Call for Your FREE Design Consultation (855) 560-6975 12 NO INTEREST NO PAYMENTS *On Approved Credit* MONTH 50% OFF INSTALL! *Limit one offer per household. Must purchase 5+ Classic/Designer Shelves. EXP 12/31/22 Independently owned and operated franchise. © 2022 ShelfGenie SPV LLC. All rights Reserved.











16 202231,AugWednesday,•ShawLocal.com/AdvocatePrairie ADVOCATEPRAIRIE Wally's is the PLAYce to be! Try our signature drink “The Filthy StopMarilyn”by Route 40 Cafe to try one of your new favorites! 6 S Washington St (815)Milledgeville225-5565 FREE ONION RING APPETIZER & $5PLAYMATCH Must be 21 or older to game. No purchase necessary. One coupon per person. Management reserves all rights. Redeem this coupon to receive a free onion ring appetizer and $5 Match Play ay Wally’s Playce. Match Play must be played in video gaming terminals. Onion ring appetizer and Match Play are offered and provided exclusively by Wally’s Playce. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). Expires 10/31/22 SM-ST2008776


















