1 Front Volume 140 No. 51
Friday, February 14, 2014
The Tonica News Out of jail; into the work force By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
OTTAWA — Gov. Pat Quinn announced 31 Illinois counties will receive a total of nearly $7 million to divert non-violent offenders from prison into more effective communitybased services. The investments are through Adult Redeploy Illinois, a proven, successful program aimed at reducing crime and improving public safety. “Community-based programs are more costeffective and produce better results in rehabilitating non-violent offenders,” Quinn said. “Everyone benefits when we can help offenders turn their lives around and become productive members of society without filling up our prisons.” Adult Redeploy Illinois will award 18 grants covering 34 counties, including LaSalle County, where the 13th Judicial Circuit Probation and Court Services will receive $281,263. “What we are targeting is Class 3 and Class 4 felons who would otherwise be sentenced to the Department of Corrections,” said William Pfalzgraf, director of Court Services for LaSalle County. “These people are will be in jail locally, but when it comes time for their sentencing, instead of the Department of Corrections, they’re going to be placed on intensive probation supervision. “What our grant is paying for primarily is two new probation officers, and they will be out in the evenings and weekends checking people. The participants are going to be much heavier supervised,” Pfalzgraf said. “Each person will
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Bullhead’s to take the jump? Former restaurant owner looks at options By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
LOSTANT – There may be good news ahead in Lostant’s financial picture. Long-time popular nightspot Bullhead’s may be re-opening. Former owner Carol Hetrick came before the board expressing an interest in reviving the restaurant and ascertaining the availability of a liquor license. Hetrick also asked if there was any financial assistance available, since the business would be located in the village’s TIF district. Village President Fred Hartenbower said actual financial assistance from the town was
unlikely given its current financial conditions and obligations, but there might be some tax breaks provided by the TIF itself. He said he would contact the TIF managers and get in touch with Hetrick to work on possible solutions. “If nothing else, we should be able to get something through the Small Business Administration,” Hartenbower said. Previously, at its peak, Hetrick said she had 32 people working at the restaurant. Although she is very interested in getting underway, Hetrick was emphatic the restaurant’s reopening is “not in cement.” Harlan “Lucky” Strode also came before the
board, thanking the public works department for cleaning the streets of snow so quickly and well this winter. Strode presented Hartenbower with a donation to the village in gratitude. Hartenbower also praised the department, adding board members Chris Dose and Andy Forrest were also involved in the removal when two separate vehicles broke down on two consecutive days during the latest cleanup. In other business, the board: • Voted to retain Carol Stoens for mowing the Lostant ball diamond. • Set the date for the next open discussion of the village’s continuing water problem along Second Street for Feb. 25. • Officially retired police canine Ory.
Tonica Grade School students honored
Tonica News photos/Dixie Schroeder
Above, Tonica Grade School student Camille Carlson (left) receives a certificate from Superintendent/Principal John Suarez at the Honor Roll Breakfast held Feb. 7. At right, Tonica Grade School seventh-grader Joshua Sensiba (left) and his mother, Nancy Sensiba, visit during the Honor Roll Breakfast. Students had to achieve Honor Roll for both first and second nine weeks to attend the breakfast with a guest.
‘Teaching the right thing’ TGS students rewarded for improvements By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
TONICA — Students at Tonica Grade School were treated to a spectacle on Jan. 31 as a reward for improved behavior. “This is a PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Support) reward; an all school award,” Tonica Grade School Superintendent John Suarez said. “We try to set goals and have something to celebrate. The number of referrals that were written for dis-
cipline, both major and minor, went from 60-something to 30-something. “The idea of PBIS is reward the positive and reteach. It’s not just the negative,” Suarez said. “Kids are not intrinsically motivated like they used to be, and we need to adapt to that. We’re fortunate that we have good kids here that do a lot of the right things. Rather than when kids misbehave, that gets the attention. Why don’t we reward the positive?” Teams of students from each class got the
Inside Seattle Sutton donates $10,000 to IVCC Nursing Program
honor of pushing volunteering teachers on a scooter through a course back and forth across the gym. Students cheered on their classmates and other classes in the race around the pylons. Suarez addressed the students before the races expressing his gratitude for the behavior of the students and reminding them it was their work which made the day possible. “My theory is if a kid needs to learn how to read, we teach him how to read. If a kid needs to learn math, we teach him math. If a kid misbehaves, we need to teach him the right thing,” Suarez said.
New 4-H, Youth Development program coordinators See Page 4