Friday, January 12, 2018
Volume 144 No. 6
Single Copy Cost 50¢
TONICA
$50 to change the world Duane Foote accepted a challenge and improved the community with Closet of Hope BY DAVE COOK news@tonicanews.com TONICA — “Who wants to go to work?” the pastor asked as he waved 10 small envelopes. Duane Foote raised his hand on that day, and approximately two years later, the fruits of his labors can be seen not only throughout his church, but throughout the Illinois Valley. Pastor Mark Nowakowski, of Tonica’s United Methodist Church, had based his sermon that fateful day on the Gospel of
Matthew and the Parable of the Talents. For those unaware of the finer details of the parable, talents were a unit of currency in biblical times. It’s a story of three servants left in stewardship of their master’s finances while he was away for an extended period. When the master returns, two of the servants had put the money to work and gave the master their profits and were Tonica News photo/Dave Cook rewarded. The servant In just a little more than two years, Lois and Duane Foote have transformed their idea for a free clothing ministry from a few simple who buried the money and items into a full-sized selection of clothing, furniture, household goods and more. They’re also encouraging those from other commu-
See HOPE, Page 3
nities and churches to visit the Closet of Hope if they are in need.
ILLINOIS VALLEY
LOSTANT
Heroin arrests on the increase
Board sets strategy for buying new plow
BY LYLE GANTHER news@tonicanews.com Tri-County Drug Enforcement Narcotics Team (Tri-DENT) agents seized millions of dollars of illegal narcotics in 2017 in Bureau, LaSalle and Putnam counties. Tom Smith, chief of the Mendota Police Department and chairman of TriDENT’s advisory board, said, “Tri-DENT is working very hard and has been very busy the last several years.” “Heroin still seems to be a problem in the Illinois Valley as well as the nation, and the increase of fentanyl included in the heroin has caused even a greater problem for our communities,” said the Tri-DENT commander, who doesn’t want his name released due to his undercover work. “In 2017, Tri-DENT has seen a steady increase in fentanyl-laced heroin, at the street level, in many of our controlled heroin purchases,” the commander added. “Tri-DENT has also seen an increase of fentanyl being trafficked on the interstate.”
Vol. 144 No. 6 One Section - 8 Pages
Due to the increase in fentanyl being mixed with heroin, Tri-DENT agents have had to use respirators and special latex gloves handling contraband seized during arrests due to the toxicity of fentanyl that can damage those who touch it with their bare hands or breathe it in, the commander said. When large seizures of illegal narcotics are made, samples are sent to the Illinois State Police for testing instead of agents handling the packages themselves, he said. Two arrests made during 2017 in Bureau County on Interstate 80 illustrate the commander’s point about the increase usage of fentanyl being included in heroin. Agents stopped a 2017 Nissan Altima with California registration for speeding and a lane violation on I-80 in Bureau County near mile marker 71 at 2:03 p.m. Oct. 18. After the Tri-DENT K9 alerted narcotic odors coming Tonica News photo/Lyle Ganther from inside the vehicle, a search located seven kilos Tom Smith, chief of the Mendota Police Department and of purported heroin (15.4 chairman of the Tri-DENT advisory board, displays some of the
See DRUGS, Page 2
seized heroin and fentanyl pills that Tri-DENT agents seized on Oct. 18, 2017, on Interstate 80 in Bureau County.
KETTMAN
© The Tonica News
SM-PR1491477
HEATING & PLUMBING, INC.
Look for the man in the Orange & White Van!
Delaying purchase a few months will help with payments BY ZACHARY J. PRATT news@tonicanews.com LOSTANT — The village of Lostant is closing in on a new snowplow truck purchase, but has decided to wait a couple of months before finalizing the deal. The board has looked at prices and determined that the village will be able to better set aside payments if it is given a couple of additional months. Some current payments being made by the village are set to expire next year, which Village President Jack Immel said would cover costs of the plow truck if diverted once the funds are made available. The board determined it made sense to push the purchase back so payments would better coincide with these funds being made available.
Call to get your furnace cleaned & checked now! 24 Hour 815-339-6124 Service
Because of its lower price point, courtesy of holding the state of Illinois bid, Landmark Ford in Springfield was the obvious choice to supply the truck. “It’s pretty hard to beat that state of Illinois bid,” said public works employee Mitch McCaw. Given the state rate, it was determined that the dealer’s prices are unlikely to change before Lostant places its order.
In other discussion:
• Work on ditching for Second Street required borrowing another $11,077.98, which Immel noted was “the cost of the culverts and labor and gravel.” • Immel commended the Ladies’ League for its Christmas event in the park. “That was like an old-time Christmas,” he said. “Santa was there, the carriage, the lighting.”
LIC. #058-111758
107 East Harrison St. • Granville, IL • www.kettmanheating.com • 815-339-6124