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IVCC to welcome new students with revamped orientation
By BILL FRESKOS bfreskos@shawmedia.com
Illinois Valley Community College will welcome incoming students to campus Friday, Aug. 15, with Eagles Launch, a revamped orientation featuring breakout sessions, games and refreshments.
It begins in the Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg Cultural Centre at 1 p.m. and continues with optional breakout sessions on topics including financial aid, textbooks, support resources, study-abroad opportunities, online security, college culture and communication with instructors.
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Granville American Legion Post 180 to meet Aug. 12
American Legion Post 180 will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Post, 209 N. McCoy St. in Granville.
The agenda was developed with input from students and staff and modeled after events at other community colleges, IVCC’s Dean of Student Success Crystal Credi said in a news release.
“We were looking for options to be sure students have the tools to be successful in their first semester at IVCC,” Credi said. “We developed some interesting ways for students to engage and get information in a fun manner.”
Sessions are loosely structured, allowing students to attend what fits their interests, Associate Director of Retention Ashlee Fitzpatrick said.
Throughout the afternoon, students can participate in lawn games such as chess and bags, enjoy snacks and take part in a campuswide scavenger hunt. Each scavenger hunt participant will receive a coupon for a free pretzel, and food vendors, including Didoughs and Sno Cones, will be on-site.
Student government representatives will distribute student planners and promote activities such as Spirit Day.
“Eagles Launch is all about getting students prepared for the fun that is IVCC,” Credi said. “The college is more than just classes; it is a community.”
Putnam County Methodist Churches to host blood drive Aug. 11
The Putnam County Methodist Churches will host a Community Blood Drive from 1 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, at Goldasich Hall in the McNabb Fire Department, 391 N. Route 89.
PUTNAM COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT
Learn textile art Aug. 7 at Granville library
The Putnam County Public Library District invites crafters, creatives and curious beginners to a hands-on textile art workshop, Knot & Design: Textile Art, at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 7, at the Granville branch.
Participants will learn how to create a unique yarn wall hanging using lark’s head knots – a simple macramé technique perfect for all skill levels. With endless possibilities in color, shape and design, attendees can craft a piece that reflects their style, whether bold and vibrant or soft and understated.
The program is free and open to the public. For information, call 815-339-2038 or visit the Granville branch at 214 S. McCoy St.
‘Tales with Tails: Reading Dogs’ returns to Granville library
The Putnam County Public Library District welcomes back two certified reading dog teams to the Granville branch in August as part of the “Tales with Tails” program. This literacy initiative provides children with
a unique and supportive opportunity to practice reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. The calm, nonjudgmental setting helps build confidence, improve fluency and make reading a fun and rewarding experience. The program will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9; at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19; and at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26.
The “Tales with Tails” program is free and open to the public. All programs will be held at the Granville branch, 214 S. McCoy St. For information, call 815-339-2038.
Putnam County libraries win ‘micro-grant’
The Putnam County Public Library District has been selected to receive a micro-grant from WETA as part of the national engagement campaign for “The American Revolution,” the upcoming documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns. Out of more than 440 applicants nationwide, only 38 organizations were chosen to participate. The grant will support the creation of community-focused programming
Donors will receive a $15 gift card to their choice of merchants. Register and take advantage of RapidPass online at redcross.org.
– Shaw Local News Network
leading up to America250, the national celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
From fall 2025 through August 2026, the Library will host a wide range of programs designed to engage residents of all ages.
Planned events include live music performances, exhibits, genealogy workshops, culinary and fashion presentations and hands-on activities such as digital transcription of historical documents and citizen science projects.
These programs are designed to bring history to life and foster reflection on core themes including liberty, democracy, civic engagement and storytelling. As the nation prepares to commemorate this major milestone, the Putnam County Public Library District is thrilled to help its community explore the legacy and future of the American experience.
For information, call 815-339-2038 or visit putnamcountylibrary.org.
– Shaw Local News Network
Cancer survivor, Great Loop traveler takes a breather in Illinois Valley
Robert Youens, 71: ‘I want to be sliding into home base when my time comes’
By BILL FRESKOS bfreskos@shawmedia.com
After surviving a long battle with thyroid cancer, 71-year-old Robert Youens gained a new perspective on life – one that’s fueling his journey across the country aboard a small jon boat fittingly named “The Ageless Wanderer.”
Youens is navigating the Great Loop - a 6,000-mile network of rivers, lakes, coastal waterways and the Gulf of Mexico that forms a continuous route around the eastern U.S.
When asked what inspired him to take on the journey, Youens explained the decision didn’t come overnight but was influenced by a combination of factors.
Six years ago, facing a cancer diagnosis gave him a new sense of urgency to live fully, but his lifelong passion for boats made the adventure feel like the natural thing to do.
“Even as a kid, I’ve always loved jon boats and I worked for boat manufacturers before retiring from Briggs & Stratton,” Youens said.
After three rounds of chemo and radiation, he survived.
“But now every day I wake up wondering if it’ll come back. Until that day, I want to live my life to the fullest – sliding into home base when
Scott Anderson
Jake Krancic of Oglesby, talks with 71 year old adventurer and thyroid cancer survivor Robert Youens, while locking at the Starved Rock Lock and Dam on Monday, July 28, 2025 near Utica. Krancic did the Great Loop in 2016 and took him a
it.
Starved Rock trail upgrades coming late 2025, 2026
IDNR planning riverside services near Jonesville
By TOM COLLINS tcollins@shawmedia.com
There’s an outside chance it’ll get done this winter, but workers will make trail improvements at Starved Rock State Park in 2026.
At a Monday roundtable in Utica, where regional officials primarily discuss safety concerns, park superintendent Monty Bernardoni alerted authorities to intermittent trail closures as workers make improvements.
“We’re going to have plenty of signage out there warning people that there will be construction going on,” Bernardoni said.
State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, launched the roundtable years ago to open lines of communication between the agencies that are affected by and directly or indirectly are responsible for the safety of the nearly 3 million visitors to Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks.
Rezin said Monday that one of her long-standing goals is to have trails and facilities that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. She hopes to see that goal realized as acres annexed into both parks are cleared for public access.
“We have several areas that make sense,” Rezin said of the recently-acquired parcels, “but we need to have leadership that acknowledges that this is an incredibly important topic and we need to prioritize the area to be ADA-accessible.”
Natalie Phelps Finnie, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, was in attendance Monday and said the state is seeking “universal access,” whereby people with any sort of disability would be able to access IDNR offerings.
It’s a lofty goal and Starved Rock presents challenges due to its topography, she allowed, “but Matthiessen seems to have some flatter areas” that could be rendered ADA-compliant.
Even if no immediate improvements are made under the ADA heading, Bernardoni said work is expected “soon” in
WHAT’S YOUR GAME PLAN THIS FALL?
Oglesby, as well. Bernardoni said one of the first phases of the multi-year expansion includes opening a parking lot and increasing river access near Jonesville.
Bernardoni and Utica Fire Chief Ben Brown acknowledged that safety hasn’t been much of an issue lately. While park staff and Utica first-responders deal with on-trail accidents (twisted ankles, for example), serious injuries and fatalities are less frequent at Starved Rock than in previous years.
Several panelists remarked that emergency response times are outstanding and have improved over time.
Oglesby Fire Chief Steve Maltas said a similar phenomenon is happening at Matthiessen, where his crews have responded once in the past year.
Maltas observed that improving safety is a byproduct of the park’s popularity. Matthiessen has toppled attendance records and the brisk crowds force visitors to keep moving and away from cliff faces, reducing the opportunities for reckless conduct.
Traffic in and out of the park has improved thanks to the roundabout that replaced the red light at U.S. 6 and Route
178. Lt. Jason Quinn of the Utica Police Department termed the roundabout “a success” and said it has alleviated backup on Interstate 80 during peak travel times such as the Burgoo Festival.
“That’s been very, very helpful,” Quinn said,
Bernardoni said Starved Rock will undergo less visible improvements besides the trails. August is the target start date for repairs at the sanitary-wastewater treatment plant.
Farther down the road will be water improvements that include new restrooms in the campgrounds and parking lots.
It’s still “Starved Rock,” by the way.
Asked about the dormant talks of renaming the state park, Phelps Finnie reiterated the state’s position that Native Americans with ancestral ties to Starved Rock need to have a say in the park’s name.
“But again, nothing will be decided without all stakeholders at the table,” she said, “and that would be years down the road to come, but lots of discussions before them.”
Scott Anderson
Jeff Van Autreve, (fourth from left) founder of Second Story Teen Center, poses with volunteers and clients during the Shoes and Socks Giveaway on Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Second Story Teen Center in Princeton. The drive collected 1,250 socks and 420 pairs of shoes from size 4-14 for kids. Half of the donations came from Another Child Foundation and Christ Community Church in Princeton. The other remaining supplies were donated from people in the community.
Second Story Teen Center donates 400+ pairs of shoes in Princeton
By SCOTT ANDERSON sanderson@shawmedia.com
Hundreds of kids and teens visited the Second Story Teen Center during the Shoes and Socks Giveaway on Saturday, Aug. 2, in Princeton. The drive distributed 1,250 socks and 420 pairs of
shoes, ranging from size 4 to 14, for kids just in time for the upcoming school year.
Half of the donations came from Another Child Foundation and Christ Community Church in Princeton. The other remaining supplies were donated by the community.
Wilbur M. Anderson
January 14, 1928 -June 14, 2025
97 years and 6 months
The family of Bill Anderson is deeply grateful to the nurses and CNAs as well as Dr. Saheed at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Peru, and the nurses and CNAs at Allure in Peru as well as the Hospice Comfort Care nurse, Mayra, and CNA Jennie.
Profound thanks also to PTAK Funeral Home for their respectful and kind care. These caring professionals made all the difference at this difficult time.
Say Goodbye to Monthly Bills
1107 31st St. •
www.simplythefinest.net
Come to PCCC to talk to Lori Angus, a member of Alternatives who has worked in Eldercare of 30 Years, she brings expertise from Minnesota where she helped develop the first Caregiver Coaching program in the nation. Lori knows firsthand what it means to be a caregiver. In 2013 her mother was diagnosed with Frontal Lobe Dementia (FTD). Because she held her mother’s POA, she faced the tough decisions that many of you are facing. She knows the sacrifice it takes to be a caregiver, having left her full-time position after twenty-six years so that a parttime job would allow her to spend every weekend in the Quad Cities. Lori grew up in the QC and returned last year. She looks forward to meeting caregivers and helping them care for their loved ones.
She is at PCCC on August 12, 2025 from 10:30 am – 11:00 am
Continued from page 3
my time comes, giving it everything I’ve got. I just figured this was the right thing to do.”
Youens first set off from Pensacola, Florida, on July 12 and passed through the Illinois Valley on Monday morning, stopping at the Starved Rock Lock and Dam near Utica, where a crowd had gathered to welcome him.
Among those who greeted Youens at the dam was Jake Krancic, an Oglesby native who completed The Great Loop back in 2016.
Notably, Krancic completed the journey on a sailboat, taking about a year, significantly longer than Youens’ expected 19-day trip. Krancic’s inspiration?
A lifelong connection to the Illinois River and a retirement dream.
“I grew up on this river and always thought it’d be great to take a canoe or a boat to New Orleans,” Krancic said. However, the adventure wasn’t without challenges.
Krancic said he started the trip with little knowledge of navigation hazards like wing dams on the Mississippi River.
“The thing about the Loop that’s so unique is it’s made up of so many different waterways – from canals, to the ocean, to the Gulf, to rivers, to the Great Lakes,” he said. “Everything is different in the way you approach it and the way you get across. By the end of it, I knew what I was doing. At the beginning? Not so much.”
Youens echoed the sentiment, recalling his toughest moment battling rough waters off the coast of Florida earlier this month.
“I left Cape Canaveral planning to cross to Bald Head Island, North Carolina, but a low-pressure system kicked up with 6- to 10-foot waves and a strong north wind in the Gulf Stream,” Youens said. “It was like running into a wall every time. I fought it for an hour, then had to turn toward Jacksonville to find safer waters.”
Despite the tough conditions, Youens found ways to adapt and keep moving forward, often relying on careful planning
Wilbur M. Anderson
January 14, 1928 -June 14, 2025
97 years and 6 months
The family of Bill Anderson is deeply grateful to the nurses and CNAs as well as Dr. Saheed at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Peru, and the nurses and CNAs at Allure in Peru as well as the Hospice Comfort Care nurse, Mayra, and CNA Jennie. Profound thanks also to PTAK Funeral Home for their respectful and kind care. These caring professionals made all the difference at this difficult time.
Scott Anderson
71-year-old adventurer and thyroid cancer survivor Robert Youens passes through the Starved Rock Lock and Dam on Monday, July 28, near Utica. Youens is making the Great Loop, a 6,000-mile journey on his jon boat.
and a team of experts who help guide him.
“I don’t make any decisions alone,” he said. “I have a 100-ton licensed captain helping me with weather routing and strategists guiding me through tricky stretches. It’s serious business out here.”
However, what keeps Youens going through those challenges is the connections he’s made along the way.
“Enthusiasm from people is what really fuels me,” Youens said. “Being out on the water helps my head, but all the people I’ve met along the way - now that helps my heart ... I’ve met so many good people out here. It gives me faith there’s still a lot of America left that can just ignore politics and our differences.”
Although they took on the Great Loop nearly a decade apart, both Youens and Krancic said they feel a connection to anyone who attempts the journey.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun,” Krancic said. “You see places and meet people you’d never otherwise come across. I’d do it all over again if I could.”
Youens echoed that sentiment, adding a deeper sense of purpose to the journey.
“Every day’s a gift,” he said. “And out here, whether you’re just starting or finishing the Loop, you feel alive. That’s what matters in this life.”
You can follow Youens’ journey by visiting his Garmin tracking site and subscribing to his YouTube channel.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
1992: Wrestler Bruce Baumgartner becomes the first American to win in three straight Olympics, capturing the gold in the 286-pound freestyle division in Barcelona. 2006: Tiger Woods, 30, becomes the youngest player to compile 50 PGA Tour wins.
DePUE BOAT RACES
Dustin Pearson dies from injuries suffered in DePue races
By KEVIN CHLUM kchlum@shawmedia.com
Dustin Pearson has died of injuries he suffered during an accident July 25 at the Lake DePue Pro National Championship Boat Races.
Pearson’s boat flipped during the final heat of the 500 Runabout. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance. He died Friday.
“Our hearts are with the Pearsons and all of our racing family,” the DePue Men’s Club, a sponsor of the races, said in a Facebook post. “Such a terrible tragedy. It’s been a tough few weeks for the boat racing community as a whole.”
Pearson, who is from Michigan, was inducted into the American Power Boat Association Hall of Champions in 2023.
“Rest easy, Dustin Pearson,” the APBA said in a Facebook post. “A true friend, a devoted husband and father and one of the best racers to ever hit the water.”
Extra photos: Lake DePue Pro National Championship Boat Races
Scott Anderson
Racers watch the 125cc runabout race during the US Title Series Pro National Championship Boat Races on July 25 in DePue.
Photos by Mike Vaughn for Shaw Local News Network
ABOVE: Joseph Perez of Spring Valley races Saturday during the APBA Pro National Boat Races in DePue. LEFT: DePue native Paul Bosnich III (front) races alongside Mike Werner of Dunnville, Ontario, on Saturday during the APBA Pro National Boat Races in DePue.
PROSPECT LEAGUE: LUMBERKINGS 3, PISTOL SHRIMP 2
Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp fall just short of playoff berth
By KEVIN CHLUM kchlum@shawmedia.com
Entering the final week of the Prospect League regular season, the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp and Burlington Bees were neck and neck for the Northwest Division second-half title and playoff berth.
The teams were scheduled to play each other in a crucial doubleheader Wednesday in Iowa, but it was canceled because of inclement weather.
That left the Shrimp trailing the Bees by half a game entering the final day of the regular season Thursday, meaning Illinois Valley had to beat the Clinton LumberKings and Burlington had to lose to the Quincy Doggy Paddlers for the Shrimp to earn a playoff berth. Neither thing happened.
The Bees defeated the Doggy Paddlers 12-2, while the Shrimp lost to the LumberKings 7-4, leaving the defending league champions out of the playoffs.
Illinois Valley fell behind 3-0 after giving up three runs in the top of the fifth inning, but the Shrimp responded with two of their own in the bottom of the frame.
The LumberKings, who won the Northwest Division in the first half,
scored two runs in the sixth and tacked on two more in the eighth.
The Shrimp, meanwhile, could muster only single tallies in the sixth and eighth innings.
Tino Bethancourt went 2 for 2 and launched a solo home run in the sixth. Tyler Dorsch had the Shrimp’s only other hit and drove in a run, while Kyle Gibson and Pambos Nicoloudes had an RBI each.
Lucas Smith, D’Andre Gaines, Colin Horneman and Bethancourt each scored a run for the Shrimp.
Starter Bryce Loeger suffered the loss, allowing three runs on six hits with three strikeouts and one walk in five innings.
The Pistol Shrimp finished the second half 20-9 and won seven of their final 10 games. The Bees won the second half with a 21-7 mark, including a 9-1 record in their last 10 games.
Illinois Valley went 31-23 overall.
The Prospect League playoffs begin Friday with the divisional championship games pitting the first-half winner against the second-half winner.
The conference title games are Sunday with the best-of-three championship series Aug. 5-8.
Photos by MaKade Rios for Shaw Local News Network
TOP LEFT: D’Andre Gaines (left) of the Pistol Shrimp is embraced by teammate Pambos Nicoloudes on Thursday after the final game of the 2025 season at Schweickert Stadium in Peru. TOP RIGHT: Emcee Anne Krull (left) holds a microphone as Presley Morgan yells “Play ball” to start the final game of the 2025 season on Thursday at Schweickert Stadium in Peru. ABOVE: The Pistol Shrimp’s Bryce Loeger pitches Thursday in the final game of the season against the Clinton LumberKings at Schweickert Stadium in Peru.
CLASSIFIED
PUBLIC NOTICE
PU TNAM COUNTY CUSD #535
400 E. Silverspoon Ave. Granville, IL 613 26 LE GAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PU BLIC H EARING NOTICE IS HEREBY
or an inte ntion,
make any such preference , limita tion or discrimination .” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 livin g with parents or le gal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of child ren under 18. This newspaper will not know in gly ac cept any advertising for real estat e which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call, HUD toll-free at 800- 669-9777.
org
The toll-free telephone numbe r for the he aring impaired is 800-927-9275
GIVEN by the School board of School District Number 535 in the counties of LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam , State of Illinois, that a tentative budget for said School District for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, will be on file and conveniently avail able to public inspection at the District Office in the Primary School Building 400 E Silverspoon Avenue, Granville, Illinois in this School District from and after 8:00 a.m. on the 15th day of August, 2025.
Putnam County Record Cl assi fi ed 833- 584-NEWS Buying? Selling? Renti ng? Hiring?
Notice is further hereby given that a public hearing on said budget will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the 16th day of September , 2025, at the Primary School Building 400 E Silverspoon Avenue, Granville, Illinois in the School District Number 535, in the C ounties of LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam , State of Illinois.
Board of Education of School District No 535 in the counties of LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam , State of Illinois.
(Published in Putnam C ounty Record August 6, 13, 2025) 2257164
Call 833- 584- NEWS to pl ace your ad
Putnam County Record Cl assi fi ed
REAL ESTATE AUCTIO N
The
REAL ESTATE AUCTIO N
The Following R eal Estate will be Offered at Public Auction located at 102 N No rth St., Bureau, IL SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 2025 TIME : 1:00 PM View Listing & Photos on website: www.tumblesonauction.com
Estate Open Hous e: Sunday, August 10 from 3:00-5:00 PM**
One and Half Story 2-Bedroom Home w/ Unattached Si ngle Car Garage & Util ity
on Double Corner
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Our Family Whole Cashews 8.5oz ........................2/$9
