1 Front Volume 140 No. 52

Friday, February 21, 2014

The Tonica News

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January may not be a record-breaker ... ... but not for lack of trying By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com

TONICA – How cold was January, really? The month as a whole may not set any records, but January 2014 will go into the history books as one of the coldest in Illinois history. According to Illinois Climatologist Jim Angel,

January 2014 was the eighth coldest January in Illinois history, with an average statewide temperature of 18.2 degrees. The normal temperature for the month is 26.3 degrees based on a 30-year average. Still, it was a sauna compared to January 1977, where the average

daily temperature in Illinois was 10.3 degrees. Locally, this year was actually a little below the state average. By contrast, temperatures in LaSalle County dipped to zero or below 12 days this month, with Jan. 6 spending the entire day in the negatives. The number of days temperatures were above freezing all day in Tonica was zero. Figures

from Accuweather reveal the average high temperature was 27 degrees with an average low temp of only seven. The average daily temperature in LaSalle County was a frigid 17 degrees. It’s also been a snowy year, with above-average snowfall in much of the state. Although the southern portion of Illinois received

only 1 to 6 inches in January, much of the rest of the state received snowfalls in the 10- to 20-inch range. Chicago’s infamous lake-effect snow dumped a total of 33.5 inches on the Windy City, making it Chicago’s third snowiest January on record. Most of the local area received 10-15 inches, with some locations receiving more.

So far, February is following the same frosty footprints. As of Feb. 11, temperatures had yet to rise above freezing, and seven days dipped below zero. Forecasts are calling for warmer weather with highs above freezing predicted for this week, with a possibility of a low temperature at or above freezing. That hasn’t happened since Dec. 28.

Higgins talks about the projects and $$$ By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com

Editor’s note: This is another story in a series, as the Tonica News talks with members of the boards in the Tonica area and gets their views on what is going on in their communities. TONICA – Rich Higgins didn’t run for Tonica Village Board at first. He pretty much fell into the position. “I was appointed to fill out a term after one of the fellows quit, and I did approximately two years of that,” Higgins said. “I ran for reelection last spring, and this year I’ll be finishing up the first year of my four-year term.” Higgins has been on the village board before, but that was some time ago. “I had a little bit of an idea what it was about (this time) because I had been on the town board about 35 years ago for a short period of time,” Higgins said. “I had spent 14 years on two different school boards, so I had a little experience with what you can do and the things that you think you can but you can’t do. It’s not as fixable as you think because there’s rules and regulations ... and a shortage of money which most towns big and small have today.”

Higgins tries to be fiscally responsible on the board, voting against the construction of the new maintenance building as an expense he didn’t think the village needed. He also believes the Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its bounds when it directed Tonica to build a new sewer plant, then fined them for not having one put up in what they believed to not be in a timely manner. “We really didn’t want to do this new sewer plant, but the EPA gives you no choice. They didn’t say, ‘You can fix the old one;’ they said, ‘You will put in a new one.’ They didn’t provide any money to do it or tell us how to pay for it, but you have to do it,” Higgins said. “It was a little heavy-handed I thought.” Higgins sees streets and projects in need of repair as an issue facing Tonica in the future. ‘We have a lot of streets that need work done on them, and there again there’s a shortage of money. We’ve got some major work that’s got to be done with the drainage along Minnehaha from the northwest side of town,” Higgins said. “It’s probably going to take us a few years to do that again because of the money situation. We’re going to do a bit at a time and make sure we do it right. Hopefully in three or four years we can have it done.”

Tonica News photo/Ken Schroeder

Marion Nass stands in his barber shop where he has served customers for 53 years and counting.

The short and long of it Marion Naas talks about his barber career By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com

LOSTANT — How long should a person practice his trade before he becomes an expert in his field? Does it take 10 years, 20 years? Marion Naas could easily be considered an exemplary practitioner of his craft. Naas has been

a barber for 53 years. “When I was in high school here, I wanted to be home all the time. I never cared for driving,” Naas said. “About halfway through high school, I decided on a job where I could just live out in back (of the business). So I got out of high school 53 years ago and went right to Peoria Barber College and got set up that way.”

Before plying his trade back in his hometown of Lostant, Naas worked in Peoria, Bloomington, Tiskilwa, Henry and Lombard. He said at each place, he picked up a little more knowledge and learned more about the business before returning to town. “I’ve been successful because in those days, we had a town of people,” Naas said. “We had a

See Naas Page 3

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Seeking Sources Where in the world is The Tonica News? Are you planning a vacation or holiday trip? Don’t forget to take along a copy of the The Tonica News. Once you get to your destination, have someone snap a photo of you holding the newspaper, and then send the photo to us along with pertinent information about who is in the photo and where you are. We’ll be happy to share your photo with other Tonica News readers, your friends, family and neighbors. Email your photo and information to news@ tonicanews.com. You can also drop it by our office in Tonica.

The Tonica News P.O. Box 86, Tonica, IL 61370 (USPS 633340) Published every Friday at Tonica, IL 61370 Entered at Tonica Post Office as Periodical Mail $22 In LaSalle County $25 Outside of LaSalle County

Contact Publisher Sam Fisher sfisher@tonicanews.com Editor Terri Simon tsimon@tonicanews.com

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The Tonica News encourages readers to submit news for publication in our paper. Special events, weddings, births, awards and honors, anniversaries, promotions, etc. are welcome items for the paper. Some fees may apply. Schools, businesses, organizations and groups are encouraged to send information on activities and events. If you have attended a function or event and have a photo and/or news, please submit them.

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news@tonicanews.com. Photos should be sent as an attachment. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Tonica News P.O. Box 86,Tonica, IL 61370

The high price of propane By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn has recently announced some emergency actions to help fix the shortened supply and high prices of liquefied propane gas and heating in Illinois. These actions are aimed at making it quicker to transport the fuels from other states into Illinois, yet keep safety at a top level during this process. Quinn has issued a disaster proclamation that would give licensed Illinois truckers the ability to drive through other states to obtain said fuels and bring them back to the state of Illinois without having to stop and apply for additional licenses. This declaration will also allow drivers to remain behind the wheel longer in order to pick up and deliver the fuels back to the state. It will also increase the number of drivers that would be able and available to bring propane back into the state of Illinois. Taxes that are usually levied on out-of-state trucks are being temporarily suspended by the Illinois Department of Revenue for trucks that bring in heating fuels to Illinois. The U.S. Department of Transportation has also issued emergency declarations that provided for federal regulatory relief for motor vehicles delivering LP gas and heating fuels to affected areas. The much colder than normal winter has caused a shortage in LP gas and heating fuels throughout the Midwest. This shortage has caused prices to take a hike that has placed an extreme burden on the consumer in heating costs this winter. Sarah Stockton-Brown of Airgas Co. in LaSalle talked about the current situation. “Airgas distributes propane primarily for indus-

trial use, such as forklift fuel and cutting applications. In certain parts of the country, Airgas also distributes some propane for residential use, including home heating. Overall, propane represents a relatively small portion of our total gas sales. Airgas purchases its propane from suppliers, some of whom are currently experiencing shortages in various regions of the country, including the Midwest. We are actively working with our suppliers to manage through any regional shortages and meet our customers’ needs,” Stockton-Brown said. According to a Jan. 28 article in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, the United States has larger supplies of propane, but it is in the wrong place. The Midwest has been shorted due to a wet drying season this past fall. However, southern states like Texas have not had that problem. The United States is also continuing their program of exporting propane to other countries. More than 70 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have drafted a letter asking President Barack Obama to take immediate action to ensure states in need of propane receive relief as soon as possible. Natural gas, another heating fuel that people in Illinois use has also been on the rise. In late January when the weather had seemed to ease, the natural gas prices fell sharply. Natural gas futures plunged .32 cents, or 7 percent, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch article. This drop had come since natural gas prices had achieved their highest level since September of 2011. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, weekly Illinois propane wholesale/ resale price is at $4.50 per gallon as of Jan. 31.

Tonica News photos/Trudy Heinz

Climbing the falls at Starved Rock While there’s something about using the word “fall” when one thinks of climbing, this climber didn’t seem at all unnerved, as he made his way up the waterfall at Starved Rock Park, near Utica. The frozen waterfalls have been a source of interest for climbers and photographers.

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3 Obits/Rec Friday, February 21, 2014 • The Tonica News • 3

Search is on for Illinois’ outstanding senior volunteer

Tonica News photo/Dixie Schroeder

TGS celebrates Valentine’s Day Ashlyn Ehm (left), Abby Freeman and Lauren Rundle make their sun catchers during the first grade Valentine’s Day party on Feb. 14 at Tonica Grade School.

Student organizations donate books OGLESBY — Their arrival was two years in the making, yet hundreds of textbooks collected by two, Illinois Valley Community College student organizations recently arrived in the Fundong Provence of Cameroon, West Africa. Students and faculty of IVCC’s International Club and TEACH spent more than a year collecting textbooks for middle and high school-aged students at the Fundong Government High School. The project was the brain child of faculty adviser Amanda Cook Fesperman and former IVCC students Oliver Kah and Jacquelynn Hansen. “Schools in Africa are often sorely underfunded,” said Cook Fesperman “Something as simple as textbooks we take for granted here in the United States are very hard to come by in many of these schools, especially those in the rural areas.” Students often share textbooks, or learn through rote memorization, Fesperman said. The donation will make it possible for students

Photo contributed

Upper sixth students and administrators of Government High School in Fundong, Cameroon, along with the mayor and other city officials, recently received textbooks donated by IVCC student groups. to learn a wide range of subjects and improve their reading. Kah, who is from Fundong, but who has gained permanent residency in the United States by winning the Visa Lottery, gives back to his people back home by doing projects like this. He is now studying social work at Bradley University. In 2012, when Hansen, then TEACH president, learned of the project she immediately offered to help and the two student organizations worked to collect the books, raise money to ship Serving Since 1907

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them, and, through the help of IVCC chemistry instructor Promise Yong, ensured the books would arrive safely in Fundong. In addition to sending books to Fundong, the International Club along with physics instructor Dominic Sarsah, has also been collecting and sending college textbooks to Cape Coast University in Ghana, West Africa, for almost 10 years. Recently, the organization sponsored school fees for deserving students in two villages in Cameroon and will continue to help

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provide scholarships through a foundation set up by Yong, who also hails from Cameroon. “This was such a wonderful opportunity for our students to make connections with students half way across the world, and to learn the value of education,” said Fesperman. Fesperman, a political science instructor, hoped these types of projects continue at IVCC because it offers students a chance to help others while also learning about another culture.

Every day, Illinois senior volunteers generously give their time and service to help others. Here’s your chance to give back by nominating a deserving older adult in your community for his or her outstanding service through the Salute to Senior Service program. Sponsored by Home Instead Inc., the franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network, Salute to Senior Service recognizes the invaluable contributions of adults age 65 and older who give at least 15 hours a month of volunteer service to their favorite causes. “Seniors have so much to give and make a positive impact on our communities daily,” said Christine Schouten, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving LaSalle, Bureau, Putnam and Grundy counties. “Senior volunteerism not only benefits others, but also helps seniors stay active and socially engaged in their communities – important elements of healthy aging.” Members of the community are asked to nominate and vote for these everyday heroes up until March 1, at SalutetoSeniorService.com. State

winners will be determined by popular vote. A panel of senior care experts will then select a national Salute to Senior Service winner from among the state honorees. Home Instead Inc. will donate $500 to each of the state winners designated and approved nonprofit organizations, and their personal stories will be shared online on the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame. In addition, $5,000 will be donated to the national winners designated and approved nonprofit charity. To complete and submit an online nomination form for a senior age 65 or older who volunteers at least 15 hours a month, and to view the contest’s official rules, visit SalutetoSeniorService.com. Completed nomination forms can alternatively be mailed to Salute to Senior Service, P.O. Box 285, Bellevue, NE 68005. For more information about Salute to Senior Service or the Home Instead Senior Care network’s services, call your local Home Instead Senior Care at 815-223-7970.

Naas

people you think are your friends, but as you go on life you make new friends.” Over the years, Naas has seen people come into his shop from outside the area who were friends or relatives of people from Lostant. “You meet interesting people who have come to see family members here from around the United States. I’ve had people in here from the East Coast, a couple from here and there all the way to California,” Naas said. “It makes it interesting.” Naas does not see a full retirement in his future. “I like to keep up with my friends. If I were to quit and sit out back in my other easy chair, there would be nobody to come see me.”

From Page 1 grocery stores; we had a couple coffee shops. In all the small towns, that’s all over with today.” Naas’ shop at 306 S. Main in Lostant is like many old barber shops with the barber pole out front and an eclectic collection of memorabilia and knickknacks which make the shop feel homey. A handmade scale model of a paddlewheel riverboat rests above the mirrors, and a handcarved bust that he made of himself sits next to the door. Naas is an amateur woodcarver and used to supplement his income doing woodwork and roofing. “Now, I’m semi-retired. I just work until noon, and my customers are my friends,” Naas said. “People come to see you. When you start out in life, you’ve got

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4 Bus/Ag 4 • The Tonica News • Friday, February 21, 2014

Comedy duo will perform Feb. 26 at IVCC OGLESBY — As part of the Black History Month celebration, Illinois Valley Community College’s Diversity team will present the comedy duo “CoMeTRy” at noon Feb. 26 in the Cultural Centre. CoMeTRy is an exciting, energetic new art form blending performance poetry and standup comedy into clean, clever, observational entertainment. Each performance is designed to highlight the similarities, habits and traits we all share, but often go unnoticed. Each piece or “coem” does a few things: Tells a story, raises awareness or delivers an inspirational message, all while making you laugh. CoMeTRy is the unique pairing of an African American poet, Ignatius “Iggy” Mwela, and Caucasian American stand-up comedian Chad Songy. From struggling as a homeless teen to excelling as a college graduate and successful performance artist, Mwela did not experience an average adolescence. He has a way with words and a flair for flirting with language.

Photo contributed

CEO students Nathan Ward of Putnam County High School (from left), Austin Berberich of Henry High School, and Blake Billig, David Bartley and Justin Taylor, all of LaSalle-Peru High School, meet with CEO instructor Marty Makransky in IVCC’s MIMIC lab.

Photo courtesy of CoMeTRy

“CoMeTRy,” a comedy/poetry duo, will perform at noon Feb. 26 in IVCC’s Cultural Center. After being named 2009 Grand Slam Champion, he sealed his membership on Chicago’s Mental Graffiti poetry team and excelled alongside Chicago’s finest authors, poets and performers. Songy, co-founder of the Laughs 4 Kids Charity Comedy Show in Jackson, Miss., has a gift for creating and sharing laughter. Laughs 4 Kids has raised thousand’s to benefit Mississippi Families for Kids, a non-profit organization

dedicated to finding permanent homes for children in the child welfare system. Songy, who started doing stand-up at 17, provides audiences a clever, observational style of comedy all can enjoy as he presents ironic and trivial aspects of human behavior. He has brought laughter and inspiration to more than 40,000 students across the nation. IVCC is the last stop on the duo’s month-long tour

of Illinois and Wisconsin colleges and universities. “We are excited to have this group on campus,” said IVCC diversity team chairwoman Amanda Cook Fesperman. “We hope people throughout the community come to the performance. They will be entertained as well as enlightened.” The event is free and open to the public. For information, contact Cook Fesperman at 815224-0203.

Extension offers economic development webinar The University of Illinois Extension will hold a webinar from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 25 aimed at local elected and appointed officials through their eInstitute online learning program. This webinar will feature an important economic development impact tool developed by the Tri-County Region Planning Agency and Teska Associ-

ates. Speakers from both organizations will discuss the reason for developing the tool, the data that goes into making it work and how other regions of the state might develop a similar tool to help elected officials asses the positive fiscal impacts and possible infrastructure costs of either a new development or a redevelopment project. This information will

be especially important to officials interested in using data to drive their decision making process. Participation in the webinar is free and all anyone needs to do is follow this link: https:// sas.elluminate.com/m. jnlp?sid=407&passwor d=M.77E299B06ECEE F23A664F0B0353C5B. If you are unable to attend but would like to hear a recording of

the presentation following, go to the University of Illinois Extension’s Local Government Information and Education Network (LGIEN) website at http://web. extension.illinois.edu/ lgien/. If you have questions or need more information, call University of Illinois Extension, Bureau-LaSalle-Marshall-Putnam Unit at 309-364-2356.

LaSalle County Sheriff reports TONICA/LOSTANT — There were two separate reports issued by the LaSalle County Sheriff’s office regarding accidents they had responded to on Feb. 14 and 16. LaSalle County deputies investigated a single-vehicle accident in the area of East 325th and North 34th roads in Dimmick Township on Feb. 14. Tracy Lange, 46, of Tonica was charged with improper lane usage, operation of an uninsured motor vehicle, driving with an expired license and driving under the influence of alcohol. Lange was taken to the LaSalle County Jail. On Feb. 16, LaSalle County deputies investigated a two-vehicle accident at 307 Grant St. in Lostant. Monte Ricci, 68,

of Lostant was turning onto Grant Street from Pond Street when he slid

on the ice and struck an unoccupied, parked vehicle owned by Heidi

Gallup, 41, of Lostant. There were no citations and no injuries reported.

Thank You

IVCC entrepreneur program deemed nontraditional OGLESBY — Illinois Valley Community College’s new MIMIC lab has served as one of the nontraditional classrooms for the Area Career Center’s Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) class. The mission of the class is to teach students to think critically, problem solve and learn to communicate effectively as they learn to be an entrepreneur. The CEO class has met at other local businesses such as LKCS and the NewsTribune and toured Maze Nails, the Illinois Valley Regional Airport, Black Brothers, Black Lab and Fairmount Minerals where the students got to see how businesses were run firsthand. Marty Makransky is the instructor of the

CEO class. He said, “the students get to experience a college atmosphere close to home and have a sense of comfort if they decide to attend IVCC in the future.” Austin Berberich, a CEO student from Henry High School, recommends the program to all high school students, especially if they are interested in a career in business or if they don’t know what field they want to go into. This is Makransky’s third year teaching the CEO class and IVCC’s second year hosting it on its Oglesby campus. IVCC President Jerry Corcoran said, “I’m delighted the CEO program is housed on the IVCC campus this semester — especially the first year of our new Peter Miller Community Center.”

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From the Family of Rita Janusick The family of Rita Janusick would like to thank all of the many friends and relatives who shared in our grief and helped us celebrate her life. Your sympathy and thoughtfulness is deeply appreciated and will always be remembered. Special thanks to Pastor Mark and the Tonica United Methodist Church Women’s group who did so much to comfort us during this difficult time.

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5 Perspective Friday, February 21, 2014 • The Tonica News • 5

The Editorial Page The Tonica News Sam R Fisher

Terri Simon

Publisher

Editor

The painted lady The media jumped on it with both feet ... Philip Seymour Hoffman died Feb. 2 of an apparent heroin overdose. The American actor/director — who was an Academy Award winner and who also received three Best Supporting Actor nominations and three Tony Award nominations in his career — was 47 years old. While I understand there are consequences involved with fame and fortune, it’s one aspect of the media I struggle with a lot. Yes, we must report the news; I understand that. But must we make a spectacle of a man’s untimely death? News articles, TV features, radio spots, Facebook and Twitter ran amok. This Terri well-known actor, who appeared to have Simon it all going for him, died with a needle hanging out his arm, and we — the general public — wanted to see, hear and know all we could. Some who touted the message offered Hoffman’s untimely death would surely help the many who also are “brave” (or weak) enough to stick a needle in their own arm and escape reality. A role model for many in acting careers, Hoffman could now become a role model in death to those who travel this path of addiction. I think those sentiments are crap. No addict who lives every day for the drug that will soothe his soul and steal away the demons will think twice about Philip Seymour Hoffman’s overdose. For them, it’s too late for that. You see, heroin is a painted lady who initially looks radiant, but only for the first time. After only one appearance (use), the paint begins to run quickly, leaving only a haggard and potentially deadly “friend,” who is out to ransack, pillage, cheat and hold you for ransom. After that first time, there’s noting pretty or charming about her — rather a repulsive, ever-invasive enemy who has tricked you into needing her far more than she’ll ever need you. One poor choice ... and she’s your friend for life. Growing up in the ‘70s, the picture of heroin in our heads was of junkies in the big cities, laying in the gutter with needles dangling from their arms. Today, that picture has transcended to people like you and me — some who can function in our everyday society ... as long as the heroin doesn’t desert them. While it used to be a rich man’s high, it isn’t any longer. Heroin is cheap, and the bigger the addiction, the cheaper survival becomes. Some are saying, “Well, that’s what Hollywood does to a person.” Again, I shake my head in disbelief. You see I believe that aside from all of Hoffman’s wonderful accomplishments — many of those related to his Hollywood lifestyle — and aside from all his loving friends and family who probably would have done anything for this very talented man, the mind of an addict obliterates all common sense, all levelheadedness, all practicality and all wisdom. Hoffman was a slave in a real-life movie, and the chain around his proverbial neck was heroin. The addiction is stronger than any non-user will ever comprehend because, basically, that painted lady wants you to die, whether you realize it or not. It’s as simple and as complicated as that. Some of us know heroin addicts, and we’ve all read the reports in this newspaper or seen the latest heroin bust on TV. It rattles us, but we avert our eyes — glad it’s not us and happy that as far as we know, our own friends and family are not involved. But the truth to the matter is the number of heroin addicts is growing at an alarming rate. Those addicts may not make movies and win Academy Awards, but they are important to those who have watched their loved ones walk away arm-in-arm with that painted lady. Addiction is a disease we need to embrace, rather than ignore. It’s not going away ... and neither is that damn painted lady. Putnam County Record/Tonica News Editor Terri Simon can be reached at tsimon@putnamcountyrecord.com or tsimon@tonicanews.com.

Letters to the Editor should not be more than 500 words in length. Only one person can sign a Letter to the Editor. The author of the letter must include his/her name, hometown and telephone number. The author’s name and hometown will be published, however, the telephone number is only used to verify the authenticity of the author’s signature and will not be published. Unsigned letters are never read or published. No letter will be published until The Tonica News contacts the author of the letter to verify the signature. The Tonica News reserves the right to edit or refuse any Letter to the Editor.

On the street

What is your favorite thing(s) you like in school? (These answers are from Tonica Grade School second-graders)

“I like to have spelling tests. Sometimes I get bad grades, and sometimes I get a good ones. I like the birthday parties.” Avery Anderson

“I like recess, reading and spelling. It is a lot of fun. We played the Hokey Pokey today in recess.” A.J. Coons

“I like spelling and vocabulary, but I don’t talk a lot. We use our reading book. My favorite book is ‘Zipping, Zapping, Zooming Bats.’ We read Dr. Seuss too.” Liam Zielinski

“I like every time when we go to recess. Me, Adrianne and some other friends, we always do some gymnastics. I like reading, spelling tests and candy too.” Desiree Sluder

“I like math and reading. I like reading because it’s really fun. We do tests in math. I do good on them.” Maddie Kolczaski

Making it through the winter OK, I admit it, there are some winters which are easier to like than others. This winter has been one of the harder ones to enjoy, at least for me. I like snow and cold as much as the next person, but then again, maybe not. It seems like this winter has lasted a lot longer than its allotted time. However, there have been some positive results that have come with this winter, in spite of its repeated snowfalls and/or frigid temperatures. For instance, I have done a lot more reading for pleasure this winter, and I now have a new favorite author. About three weeks ago, on a Friday afternoon, I stopped at the library on my way home from work to pick up a couple books to read because another snowy weekend was forecast. I chose a mystery by Irene Hannon, which turned out to be almost like a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup to me … I couldn’t stop until I finished it. I love those can’t-put-down books. I went back to the library the following Friday afternoon and picked up a couple more books

Donna Barker COMMENTARY by Hannon, her first two books in a three-part mystery series. This past Saturday, I picked up the final book in the series. On Sunday afternoon, as I was sitting in my living room with my Hannon book in hand, I couldn’t help but think how long it had been since I’d read a mystery series, actually how long it had been since I read any three books in a two-week period. I’d missed reading for just the fun of it. The winter seems to have brought back to life the reader in me, which is a very good thing. Thanks to the winter weather, I’ve also been reading my cookbooks a lot more and trying out some new, healthier recipes, filled with vegetables, which I haven’t done in a long time. Another nice thing about this winter has been the fact that I only had to drive 35 miles per hour once on my way to work from Wyanet to Princeton. (As

before, I apologize to any drivers who were behind me.) There’s been a lot more challenging driving days for me in previous years. Or maybe, I’m just getting braver. But one of the best parts of this winter for me is the fact that I now have bragging rights over my daughters when it comes to difficult winters. It has become a Sunday morning tradition for me to take photos or videos on my phone of our front yard and neighborhood and send them to our daughters in Salt Lake City, Seattle and Mahomet. For once, they don’t outshine us when it comes to challenging winter days. All things considering, life has slowed down this winter for me, not so much by choice but because I was too often intimidated by the snow and cold. And, that’s been a good thing. Maybe there is a small silver lining behind every snow pile. But still, I think the best charm of this winter will, no doubt, be that day, that week, when we tell winter good-bye and welcome spring. Shaw Media Staff Writer Donna Barker can be reached at dbarker@bcrnews.com.

First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Constitution of the United States, 1789

6 Life 6 • The Tonica News • Friday, February 21, 2014

Community Bridges will host Medicare class OTTAWA – Bridges Senior Center will host a New to Medicare program at 6 p.m. March 11. This program is designed for those who will be new to Medicare or anyone else who would like to learn more about Medicare. It will help consumers understand what Medicare is and

what it covers. Discussion will include the different parts of Medicare, how Medicare works with other insurance and what consumers need to do before and after they start Medicare. The program is free. To reserve a spot for this program, call Bridges at 815431-8034 by March 7.

Gardening seminar set for March 8 at IVCC OGLESBY — People interested in gardening can attend the Spring Garden Seminar on March 8 at Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) in Oglesby. Paul Barrett will help anyone interested in learning more about gardening with garden-related seminars, co-sponsored by University of Illinois Extension and IVCC. The Spring Garden Seminar will have four sessions with four to five classes available in each session. Checkin is at 8 a.m. with the first class starting at 8:30 a.m. Classes are one hour and 15 minutes long, with 15-minute

breaks between classes. The last class ends at 3:15 p.m. There will be several vendors to visit during breaks and lunch. A continental breakfast, cold drinks and snacks between classes, lunch and an afternoon snack are all included in the registration fee. There will also be door prizes awarded throughout the day. Advance registration is required by March 1 to the LaSalle County Extension Office. To sign up for the course and get fee information, go to http://web.extension.illinois.edu/blmp/ or call the LaSalle County Extension Office at 815433-0707.

IVCIL’s trivia night fundraiser March 15 MENDOTA — The Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living (IVCIL) will sponsor a trivia night fundraiser on March 15 at the Mendota Civic Center. Attendants can use their trivia knowledge for an evening of fun while supporting IVCIL, a nonprofit agency serving peo-

ple with disabilities. Doors open at 5 p.m. for food service and cash bar. Trivia begins at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 per person and cash prizes will be awarded. For more information of for tickets, call IVCIL at 1-815-2243126 (V or TTY). IVCIL is a United Way agency.

Pie toss at Lostant School LOSTANT — Lostant School held its pie toss again this year. All students who sold pies in the Fall Market Day Pie Sale were able to attend the pie toss and their names were entered into a drawing to throw a pie at a teacher/staff member. Any student who did not sell pies and still wanted to attend were able to pay $1 to attend the event. Melissa Einhaus, Patty Bernardoni and Stephanie Zeil, teachers at the school, and Nicole Larson, the head cook, volunteered to have the pies thrown at them. When a

student’s name was drawn, they were able to pick which teacher/staff member they wanted to throw a pie at. Jimmy Smith was drawn first and chose to throw his whipped cream pie at Einhaus. Next was Meleah Mertes, who picked Zeil. Zeil had to endure a second pie because she was also chosen by Sarah Daugherty when her name was drawn third. Jacob Wiesbrock’s name was drawn next and he threw his at Bernardoni. The last name drawn was Chase Kreiser who threw his pie at Larson.

Prizes were also awarded during the event. Sarah and Will Daugherty tied and won first and second place for selling the most pies. Sarah chose the prize of a plug and sing karaoke toy. Will chose a flying ring shooter for his prize. Dylan and Jaden Busch tied for third place and shared an air guitar as their prize. All the kids who sold pies were also put into a drawing for a free pie, which was won by Mason Kreiser. To view a slide show of the event, visit www.lostantcomets. org.

Photo contributed

Pie toss/sale winners were (front row, from left) Dylan Busch, Jacob Wiesbrock, Jaden Busch and Jimmy Smith; and (back row) Mason Kreiser, Sarah Photo contributed Daugherty, Meleah Mertes, Chase Kreiser and Will Jimmy Smith throws his whipped cream pie at Daugherty. Melissa Einhaus.

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IVCC Irish Night planned for March 1 SENICA — IVCC’s Irish Night will be March 1 at Senica’s Oak Ridge, featuring Chicago’s Larkin & Moran Brothers band. Doors will open at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the band from 7 to 11 p.m. The cost is $50 per person, which

includes an Irish buffet of corned beef and cabbage and another entrée. The event is sponsored by Hometown National Bank in LaSalle. The 10th annual event also features raffles and auctions. For more information, call 815-224-0551.

Don Kolowski Auctions Hall 1704 Peoria Street, Peru, IL

Sunday, February 23rd - 10am Premium Estate Auction of 99 year old from Lostant, IL has been moved to our Hall! Premium Items!! Furniture, Household Accents, Glass, Collectibles, Out building of some farm collectibles and etc. Old costume jewelry, amazingly clean sale! NO Reserves!!! See photos auctionzip.com id # 18755

www.putnamcountyrecord.com www.tonicanews.com

The Tonica News

7 Life/Classifieds Friday, February 21, 2014 • The Tonica News • 7

IV Dolphins swim over Dixon

Starved Rock plans wine, beer tasting UTICA — Starved Rock Lodge at Starved Rock State Park will host Between the Canyons wine and beer tasting event beginning at 7 p.m. March 7 in the Lodge’s Great Hall. This is the second year Staved Rock Lodge welcomes wineries from throughout Illinois for an evening of selected wines, craft beers, food pairings and entertainment.

Tickets for Between the Canyons are $25 per person and must be purchased in advance. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend. An overnight package is also available the evening of the event. For more information about Between the Canyons wine & beer tasting, call 815-220-7386 or visit the Lodge’s website at www. starvedrocklodge.com.

By Dixie Schroeder news@tonicanews.com

PERU — The Illinois Valley Dolphins took on the Dixon YMCA Dolphins at home on Feb. 15 and beat them. Local swimmers participating in the meet included Wenona’s Americus Berg, 9, who earned an eighth place finish in the 50 yard breaststroke, (1:20.19.) Berg also swam in the 100 yard freestyle and 50 yard freestyle events. Brother Xavier Berg, 8, earned two seventh place finishes in the 25 yard freestyle event, (33.39)

Raffle winners announced GRANVILLE – Although the weather ended up canceling the Putnam County/Hall Wrestling Co-op annual Super Dual Meet in early February, the raffle was held. The winners for this year’s raffle were Doug

Drake, first place, $150; Lisa Savitch, second place, $100; and Dave Savitch, third place, $50. Head Coach Jerry Kriewald thanks all parents and supporters of the wrestling program this year.

Young Performers Concert OTTAWA — The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra will hold its annual Young Performers Concert at 4 p.m. March 1 in the Ottawa High School Auditorium. This concert will feature solo performances by Joannah Cisneros, flute, Telemann Suite in A Minor 1, and Simon Tiffin, piano, Mozart Concerto No. 20 in D Minor 1st movement. Joannah and Simon were the winners of the 2014 Young Perform-

ers Competition. The concert also includes Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture, Bizet: Carmen Suites, and Saint-Saens: Bacchanale from Samson & Delilah. The concert is sponsored by Miller Charitable Trust, WCMY/WRKX Radio and season sponsor Central Radio Group. Admission is $12 for adults, $5 for students K-12 with ID; and season subscribers. Tickets are also available online at www.ivso.org.

Quilters Guild will meet PRINCETON – The Covered Bridge Quilters Guild will meet at 7 p.m. March 7 at the Christ Community Church on 1719 Euclid Ave. The program will be given by Chris Lynd Kirsch. It is titled “My Journey with a Compass.” Guests are welcome to attend for a

fee of $5. There will also be a workshop at the church from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 8. “Compass Capers” will be taught by Chris Lynd Kirsch. For workshop and program information, call 815-872-0534 and ask for Terry Johnson.

Annual photo contest UTICA — Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center at Starved Rock State Park in Utica will host its annual photo contest and show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Lodge’s historic Great Hall. This year’s theme is Nature in Focus and will highlight photographs

taken at Starved Rock State Park by photographers of all ages. The photo show is open to the public and is free of charge. For more information, call 815-220-7386 or visit the Lodge’s website at www.starvedrocklodge. com.

and the 25 yard backstroke event, (35.04). Xavier also took 10th place in the 50 yard freestyle, (1:20.19.) Completing Wenona’s efforts were Cody Smith, 12. Smith earned a second place finish in the 50 yard freestyle, (28.47). Smith also took home two first place finishes in the 50 yard butterfly, (35.24) and the 50 yard backstroke event, (34.42.) Smith has qualified for state in the 50 yard freestyle and the 50 yard backstroke events due to his superior times in these events. From Lostant, the sister duo of

Menus/Activities Lostant Grade School Breakfast Feb. 24 — Donuts, cereal, milk, juice, yogurt, toast. Feb. 25 — Sausage biscuit, cereal, milk, juice, yogurt, toast. Feb. 26 — Eggs and bacon, cereal, milk, juice, yogurt, toast. Feb. 27 — Omelet, cereal, milk, juice, yogurt, toast. Feb. 28 — Breakfast pizza, cereal, milk, juice, yogurt, toast. Lunch Feb. 24 — Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, corn, pineapple, bread and butter. Feb. 25 — Mac and cheese, ham sandwich, green beans, pears. Feb. 26 — Sloppy joes, chips, veggies an dip, apples. Feb. 27 — Pasta, lettuce salad, corn, peaches, bread and butter. Feb. 28 — Pizza, lettuce salad, mixed fruit, carrots. Activities Feb. 24 — 4 p.m., Scholastic Bowl; 6 p.m., Volleyball. Feb. 25 — Winter sports pictures; 6 p.m., Volleyball. Feb. 27 — 6 p.m., Volleyball.

Tonica Grade School Breakfast Feb. 24 — Sausage, egg and cheese biscuit, cereal, yogurt or

toast, fruit, juice and milk. Feb. 25 — Pancakes, cereal, yogurt or toast, fruit, juice and milk. Feb. 26 — Scrambled eggs, cereal, yogurt or toast, fruit, juice and milk. Feb. 27 — Waffle, cereal, yogurt or toast, fruit, juice and milk. Feb. 28 — Muffin, cereal, yogurt or toast, fruit, juice and milk. Lunch Feb. 24 — Meatball subs, spaghetti sauce, bun, mozzarella cheese cup, lettuce, apple sauce, Teddy Grahams, salad dressings, milk. Feb. 25 — Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, peaches, margarine, barbeque sauce, milk. Feb. 26 — Cheese Bosco sticks, marinara sauce, steamed broccoli, carrots, pears, graham crackers, ranch, milk. Feb. 27 — TGS lunchables or Make It a Chef salad, ham, cheese, crackers, celery, carrots, romaine lettuce, banana, chocolate sauce, salad dressing, milk. Feb. 28 — Taco in bag, taco meat, shredded cheese, refried beans, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, onions, salsa, sour cream, nacho corn chips, pear salad, dressing, milk.

228 • Help Wanted WANTED Village of Tonica is seeking a part-time, yearround METER READER for the water meter billing department. Applicants should be flexible and have knowledge of Tonica. To apply send an email to: village01@tonicacom.net to request an application. Equal Opportunity Employer

Activities Feb. 24 — 5 p.m., Volleyball vs. Peru Parkside. Feb. 25 — 4 p.m. Scholastic Bowl, bus leaves 3 p.m. Feb. 26 — 5:30 p.m., Volleyball, bus leave 4:30 p.m. Feb. 27 — 3:45 p.m., Scholastic Bowl, bus leaves at 3:30 p.m.

Putnam County Community Center Feb. 24 — Beef patty, fries, broccoli and cauliflower, fruited yogurt, ketchup, mustard, hamburger bun. Feb. 25 — Tuna casserole, salad, rolls and butter, dessert Feb. 26 — Chili with beans, corn on the cob, pineapple chunks, fruit juice, cornbread. Feb. 27 — Chicken salad on bun, macaroni salad, fruit cocktail, dessert. Feb. 28 – Beef stroganoff with rotini noodles, brussel sprouts, diced pears, fruit juice, what bread. To make a lunch reservation, call the Putnam County Community Center at 815-339-2711 or 800-757-4579 by noon the day before. Menus are subject to change. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. Suggested donation is $3.

Library Corner LaSalle — Feb. 25 — Storytime Express is an interactive mix of stories complemented with a variety of engaging activities like crafts, flannel boards, rhymes, songs and puppets. It is formatted to introduce children to the library and early literacy skills. The shorter, 30-minute length and fast pace make it perfect for active children with shorter attention spans, and the express is a great way for busy parents to share special times with their children. Time will be

set aside to help families find just the right books to checkout. Fun and educational, Storytime Express is a free program, open to the public. Storytime Express will be offered from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays. For more information, call 815-223-2341. Tail-Waggers is an opportunity to read with therapy dogs and will be hosted at 6 p.m. Feb. 27. Bring your favorite adult and book to read with the

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Sadie Kiersnowski, 6, and Keira Kiersnowski, 7, had a strong day in the pool on Feb. 15. Keira took a third-place finish in the 25 yard backstroke event (24.95) and finished first in the 50 yard freestyle event, (43.84). Both of these times are district qualifying. Sadie earned two third-place finishes in the 25 yard freestyle (39.23) and the 25 yard backstroke event (37.91). She also brought home a fourth place in the 50 yard freestyle, (1:24.63.) The next meet for the IV Dolphins will be Feb. 22 when the team will host the Belvidere YMCA.

We’re Taking Free Classified Advertising

• Up to 5 lines of copy • 3 items maximum in ad • 1 ad per week, per household • Private party sales only for all items valued under $1,000! • Excludes services, firearms & animal sales

E-mail items for sale to: classified@ bcrnews.com

l a c i t c a T 1 1 n9

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therapy dog. Lostant — Feb. 25 — Families First, a state-funded early childhood grant, is a program for families with children ages birth to 3. It is sponsored by the Oglesby Early Childhood Programs. Children will read stories, sing songs, learn finger plays, do an easy art project and have a snack. The program also includes field trips and parent education meetings. Families First meets from 10 to 10:45 a.m. every Tuesday

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8 Spotlight 8 • The Tonica News • Friday, February 21, 2014

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