TON-05-22-2015

Volume 141 No. 24

Friday, May 22, 2015

Single Copy Cost 50¢

Burglaries in Tonica Several residences, businesses involved

By Goldie Currie news@tonicanews.com

TONICA — The Tonica Police Department is investigating numerous burglaries that occurred at several residences and businesses, as well as at the preschool during the late hours of Thursday, May 14, and earlier morning hours of Friday, May 15.

Tonica Police Chief Dave Woolford gave a report on the incidents at the Tonica Village Board meeting on Monday, May 18.

Woolford said police got their first call around 11:15 p.m. Thursday in reference to a resident at the Tonica Manor Apartments, who stated someone had made

entry into her apartment and shined a flashlight in her face. Woolford said the resident threw a book at the intruder, and he ran out the door without taking any items.

“Nothing was missing.

No threats were made.

Nothing was said; he just left,” Woolford said.

The resident described the intruder as being about 5 feet, 9 inches, or 5 feet and 10 inches tall.

“He was larger built. He was dressed in black and had something covering his face,” Woolford said.

When Woolford arrived on scene at the Tonica Manor Apartments, he noticed about five doors that were propped open

Tonica Page 2

Felton found guilty of attempted murder

By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com

OTTAWA — Richard Felton has been found guilty by Judge Cynthia Raccuglia during a bench trial on charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery. That decision was handed down in LaSalle County Court Tuesday, May 12.

Felton was charged with the Aug. 18, 2013, shooting of a Grand Ridge man.

Felton, 29, of Tonica — also listed as Chicago — was accused of shooting 28-year-old Jeremy Wade of Grand Ridge on a bridge over the Vermilion River near Leonore. The bullet struck Wade in the face, knocking him off the bridge where he fell 40 feet into the mostly dry river.

Wade crawled to a nearby farmhouse for assistance.

Felton has already been convicted for his part in the home invasion and robbery of a 92-year-old Ottawa woman, which occurred before the

shooting. The trial for the break-in was held before the murder trial out of concern for the woman’s age.

Raccuglia told Felton the centerpiece of her decision was the 911 call placed by Wade from the nearby farmhouse he crawled to after the shooting. In the call, Wade said, “Merch did it” and “I know too much.” Those words were said when Wade was unsure if he would live or die, thereby entering under the legal definition of “excited utterance.”

Under the Federal Rules of Evidence, such words are admissible to court as an exception to the hearsay law.

Raccuglia also cited the fact Felton had not been implicated in the home invasion case at the time of the shooting. She added had it not been for the shooting, no one would have known exactly what happened the night of the robbery.

During closing remarks,

Felton Page 2

Vol. 141 No. 24 One Section - 12 Pages

lus

P © The Tonica News

Tonica News photo/Joann Bowman

Celebrating green thumbs and like minds The Illinois Valley Herb Guild hosted its annual garden fair and plant sale Saturday, May 9, at St. Bede Academy.

Looking for answers in school funding

By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com

Last year, Senate Bill 16 was proposed by state Sen. Andy Manar (Bunker Hill-D). The bill was intended to create more equity in the funding of school districts by directing state funding away from wealthier school dis-

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The legislation passed the Senate but faced opposition in the House. The bill died at the end of the 98th General Assembly.

With the beginning of the 99th General Assembly, Manar refiled the bill on Jan. 15 as Senate Bill 1. The bill has been rewritten slightly with changes to the proposed

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school funding formula to increase its chances of passage.

Among the changes to the bill is a provision which would take into account higher costs of living in some districts.

That means some of the wealthier districts would lose less money than they would have under the previous bill.

Gov. Bruce Rauner and other Republicans had concerns about several of the directives in the previous legislation. Manar said the revised bill is the result of many months of work.

Illinois’ school funding formula hasn’t changed since 1997.

Funding Page 2

2 Local 2 • The Tonica News • Friday, May 22, 2015

Funding From Page 1

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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.

(USPS 633340) Published every Friday 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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students, plus we have the two-section — probably soon, a three-section autism program.

That will have a tremendous effect on us and leaves students without services. Cutting special education funding is just a bad idea.”

Schools and teachers recently received good news when the Illinois Supreme Court declared the Pension Reform Bill of 2014 unconstitutional. The legislation would have reduced teacher pensions and shifted the funding of matching contributions from the state to schools.

“School administrators have worked hard to stay within our means and be fiscally responsible,” Suarez said. “That bill would have penalized us for what the government had done.

We’ve worked hard to do a community service with education. We’re not the ones who were playing ‘Monopoly’ with taxpayers’ money.”

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Estimates of the new legislation’s impact on districts haven’t been released, but numbers for the previous bill indicated a negative impact on local school districts.

“My problem with this is currently there’s no equality in state funding. I don’t think this bill really addresses that,” Tonica School Superintendent John Suarez said. “I think this bill creates clear winners and clear losers and that’s not good for anybody. I believe it’s really going to create a kind of class war.”

While the redistribution of state funding is a problem for Suarez, his biggest concern with the legislation runs much deeper.

“What really digs at me is the special education funding is going to drop,” he said. “Tonica has special education

Photo contributed

Northern Partners, Land O’ Lakes donate $3,000 Northern Partners Cooperative and Land O’ Lakes donated $3,000 to the LaSalle County Junior Fair Association. The donation will go toward construction of bathrooms and offices on the fairgrounds. Pictured are Vaughn Kiner (left), president of the LaSalle County Junior Fair Association; Adam Day, Northern Partners account manager; and Kayla Hinrichs, LaSalle County Farm Bureau manager. Northern Partners is an active member of the Land O’ Lakes match program.

IVCC Board announces reorganization OGLESBY — Melissa Olivero of Peru was re-elected chair at a special re-organizational meeting of the Illinois Valley Community College board Tuesday, May 5.

Olivero was first elected to the board in April

2009 and appointed vice chair in May 2011. She was re-elected to a full, fouryear term in April.

Trustees also re-elected Mike Driscoll of Ottawa, vice chair, and Larry Huffman of Peru, secretary.

Board attorney Walter J.

Zukowski, treasurer Cheryl Roelfsema and secretary to the board Jeanne Hayden were all reappointed.

Olivero made the following committee appointments: David Mallery of Hennepin as the Illinois

Community College Trustees Association representative and Laurie Bonucci of Princeton as the alternate; closed session minutes: Everett Solon of Streator, chair, Driscoll and Mallery; facilities: Mallery chair, Huffman and

Bonucci; audit finance: Huffman chair, Solon and Jane Goetz of Ottawa; and planning: Driscoll chair, Goetz and Bonucci.

Finally, the board voted to meet at 6:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month.

Felton

actual physical evidence found to prove his client was on the Sandy Ford bridge.

During closing rebuttal, LaSalle County State’s Attorney Brian Towne said although no physical evidence tied Felton directly to the shooting, the testimony of three eyewitnesses and the cir-

cumstances of the shooting were enough to find Felton guilty.

“The only way Wade could have been the mastermind behind all of this is if he were clairvoyant and got together with the other eyewitnesses and planned together to implicate Felton,” Towne said. “He would

have predicted he would be shot, that he would fall off the bridge, that he would survive the 40-foot fall into a mostly dry riverbed, that he would be able to make it to the farmhouse, and still be alive to tell the 911 operator, ‘Merch did it.’

If Wade were that clairvoyant, he would have

been somewhere else that night and not on the Sandy Ford bridge.”

Raccuglia set a hearing date of 1 p.m. Friday, June 26, for post-trial motions for both the home invasion and the attempted murder trials.

Sentencing is scheduled to take place at 1 p.m.

Friday, July 10.

ments that has been reported,” Woolford confirmed.

After investigating the matter, Woolford said he stayed in the area until around 12:30 a.m., when the midnight shift officer went on duty.

The following morning, Woolford received a call from the officer who said several businesses

and the school had been broken into including the Tonica Lumber Yard, Tonica Nursery and Tonica preschool.

Woolford said at the businesses, there had been forced entry, but nothing was reported stolen.

At the school, one of the windows at been broken out, and entry was made.

Woolford said the office door was tampered with and attempts were made to open a fireproof filing cabinet.

“At this time we’re not really documenting anything out of the ordinary missing from there,” he said.

There were also two residences that were broken into from the back door.

A couple purses were taken from the residences, Woolford said.

There was also a report of one vehicle that was broken into and money taken from the property.

Right now the burglaries are still under investigation by the Tonica Police Department and LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office.

From Page 1 defense attorney Jim Reilly said Wade was the “mastermind” behind the home invasion, and his testimony was an attempt to receive lesser sentencing. Reilly also pointed out there was no

Tonica From Page 1 with door plungers.

He said there was another resident across the street whose door was wide open, and she was indoors sleeping and said she heard nothing.

“Nothing was missing from the Manor Apart-

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3 Obit Records Friday, May 22, 2015 • The Tonica News • 3

USDA to survey pork producers for inventories, farrowing intentions SPRINGFIELD — Beginning in late May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact pork producers and contractors nationwide for the June Hogs and Pigs Survey. The agency will survey pork producers for detailed information on market hog and breeding stock inventories as well as farrowing intentions.

“Through the quarterly Hogs and Pigs Surveys, NASS measures and

reports conditions and trends in the U.S. pork industry over the course of the year,” Illinois State Statistician Mark Schleusener said. “This second survey, in late spring, will help gauge the condition of the industry at midyear.”

Producers who receive the survey questionnaire in the mail can respond via the Internet, mail or fax. Producers who don’t respond in one of those ways will have the opportunity for a telephone or

personal interview.

As is the case with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only state and national level data, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.

“By responding to the June Hogs and Pigs Survey, producers make sure that NASS can provide timely, accurate and objective

data that all sectors of the U.S. pork industry, including producers themselves, depend on to help make sound business decisions,” Schleusener said.

Survey results are published in NASS’ Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report, scheduled to be released June 26. These and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda. gov. For more information, call the NASS Heartland Regional Field Office at 800-551-1014.

TVFD meeting minutes TONICA — The Tonica Volunteer Fire Department responded to nine calls during April. Firefighters reviewed the emergency calls during its May meeting. There were two fire calls, five ambulance and two weather watch alerts.

No accident calls were reported. The number of emergency calls this year through April 30 is 34.

According to meeting minutes, there were several monthly fire and rescue training sessions attended by firefighters.

Firefighter Steven Ebener completed three National Incident Management System training classes, including Introduction to NIMS, Intro to Incident Command System and ICS for single resource and initial action incidents.

A training covering knots and rope rescue was given.

The knots that were covered were bowline, half hitch, clove hitch, beck-

et, Figure 8, Figure 8 follow-through, Figure 8 on a bite, double Figure-8 on a bite, barrel, butterfly and handcuff. Firefighters also reviewed gin pole setup, incline ascent and descent, ladder cantilever stokes basket rescue, and “Z” rigging and pulley systems.

Situational emergencies that required a person to be lowered from a roof or lifted from a collapsed area were covered.

Blood-borne pathogens and on-scene rehabilitation make-up training was completed by three members. Thirty-four members have now completed the mandatory training.

Members also reviewed pending and approved standard operating guidelines.

Lt. Dan Francisco completed injury prevention, emergency driving, firefighter survival and search large-wide area training.

He also completed Emer-

gency Medical Services training, covering trauma emergencies which included chest and abdominal injuries, anatomy and physiology and splinting patient assessments.

Drawdown fundraising tickets for June 13 are available at a cost of $60 per couple.

Tonica Fest Cruise-In 50/50 drawing tickets are available from all department members.

A letter of resignation was received from Kaitlin Prettyman.

Various legislation pertaining to fire and EMS were reviewed. The bills pertained to dissolving and merging of existing fire districts, potential 911 fee increase, tax rate increase for fire districts, a special tax rate for ambulance service, a special tax rate for rescue crews and equipment and increases in the penalties for aggravated assault of an on-duty

police officer, firefighter or EMT. Donations of $100 or more were received during April from Jim and Karen Steele, Alice Arkels, Coletta Durdan, Robert Shawback, Ron and Deanna Carlson, Josh Scott and Jon Janz.

A thank you was received from the Standard Fire Department for Tonica’s assistance at a recent house fire.

Chief Al Stremlau and Training Officer Rick Turri presented a review of both the Standard and Oglesby Mutual Aid structure fire incidents.

Woody Olson reported on the success of the recent TVFD garage sale.

Stremlau reminded the members TVFD radio protocols must be adhered to at all times, and reviewed the procedures to activate the tornado siren and the importance of monthly truck and equipment checks.

Mautino legislation cracks down on crimes against first responders SPRING VALLEY — Criminals convicted of committing violent acts against first responders could face up to three years in prison under a measure backed by state Rep. Frank Mautino that is making its way through the Illinois House.

“Emergency responders take incredible personal risks to keep our communities safe,” Mautino said.

“It’s their job to save lives on a daily basis, and our laws should reflect their

sacrifices and prioritize their safety.”

House Bill 3184, co-sponsored by Mautino, increases the category of the aggravated assault of an on-duty police officer, firefighter or emergency medical technician to a Class 4 felony, punishable by up to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Under current law, the aggravated assault of these emergency responders is a misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of no more than

364 days in prison and a $2,500 fine, a punishment Mautino thinks is not severe enough, especially considering that assaulting other correctional officers is already a felony.

“Deliberately assaulting a first responder could result in local residents in distress not getting immediate medical care or the help they need from police or firefighters. These can be life or death situations, so criminals who put first responders at risk

need to be held accountable,” Mautino added. “By strengthening the laws to better protect those who protect us, we honor the work they do.”

House Bill 3184 passed the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee unanimously and awaits consideration by the full House.

Mautino represents the 76th District, which includes all or portions of Bureau, LaSalle, Livingston and Putnam counties.

USDA Rural Development launches new website Visitors to Illinois site find enhanced user experience at www.rd.usda.gov/il CHAMPAIGN — USDA Rural Development has launched a new website to enhance program accessibility and customer service.

The new website features quicker and more intuitive access to programs, simplified site navigation, and information about services and staff contacts in every state office. The site also provides easily accessible resources for loan and grant applications, eligibil-

ity information and program descriptions. Illinois Rural Development offices and information can be accessed at www.rd.usda. gov/il.

“The new website is part of a continuing effort to make information about Rural Development programs easier to access for anyone interested in the future of rural communities,” Colleen Callahan, Illinois Rural Development director, said. “Reflect-

ing how mobile we’ve all become, the site can now be easily accessed on Smartphones and tablets.”

Other website features include: • A listing of all programs at http://www.rd.usda. gov/programs-services/ all-programs.

• Access to program regulations and guidelines at http://www.rd.usda. gov/publications/regulations-guidelines.

• Prominent housing lender notices on state websites.

• A directory of state offices at http://www.

rd.usda.gov/browse-state.

Future enhancements to the site will include Spanish language descriptions of programs.

Obituary Peter Yanush Sr. SARDIS, Tenn. — Peter Paul Yanush Sr., 82, of Sardis, Tenn., passed away peacefully Friday, May 15, 2015, surrounded by his family at his daughter’s home in Spring Valley after a battle with cancer.

He was born June 29, 1932, in Eden Township to William and Stella (Mozaik) Yanush. He married Barbara Gumuski on Nov. 17, 1951, at the home of Barbara’s parents. They were married for 63 years. Barbara passed away in March 2015.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and Air Force.

Together with his wife, Barbara, they farmed in Tonica for 50 years before retiring to Tennessee in 2005. He was also a semi-truck driver and drove a school bus for Tonica schools for many years. He was a loving husband and father. He enjoyed attending auctions and flea markets, playing card games with his wife Barbara and doing jigsaw puzzles. He loved listening to country music, watching RFD-TV and tinkering in the shed with his “treasures”. He attended St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Spring Valley.

Yanush Survivors include six children, Steve Yanush of Saltillo, Tenn., Peggy (Jim) Bryan of Palmer, Alaska, Pete (Julie) Yanush Jr. of Oglesby, Nancy (Cary) Hogan of Tucson, Ariz., and Sierra Vista, Ariz., Lisa Yanush of Princeton and Amy Yanush of Spring Valley; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Annie Zubowski of LaSalle; and his dog, Sophie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Barbara; two children, Joseph and Mary; three grandchildren, April, Amy and Adam; one sister, Stella Chapman; one brother, John Yanush; three stepbrothers; and his beloved dogs, Spud and Freckles.

According to his wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral services. Cremation rites have been accorded.

Private burial of cremains will be in Fairview Cemetery in Tonica at a later date. Peter’s children will plan a celebration of life for their parents for close family and friends.

Arrangements are entrusted to Prey-Mueller Funeral Home in Oglesby. The online guestbook may be viewed and remembrances shared at www.MuellerFH. com.

Tonica postmaster offers tips for mailbox maintenance

TONICA — With the spring season well under way, the U.S. Postal Service is asking all Tonica area homeowners to inspect and repair their mailboxes.

“Repairing suburban and rural mailboxes improves the appearance of our community and makes delivering and receiving mail safer for our carriers and customers,” said Tonica Postmaster Kathy Newhalfen.

The Postal Service makes this annual request because of the wear and tear that occurs to mailboxes every year. “This is especially important after the effects of last winter,” Newhalfen said.

Some of the typical activities that may need to be done include: • Replacing loose hinges on a mailbox door.

• Repainting a mailbox that may have rusted or started peeling.

• Remounting a mailbox post if loosened.

• Replacing or adding

house numbers.

“If a homeowner plans to install a new mailbox or replace a worn one, he or she must use only Postal Service-approved traditional, contemporary or locking full/limited service mailboxes,” Newhalfen said. “Customers should be careful when purchasing curbside mail receptacles because the use of unapproved boxes is prohibited. Customers may use a custom-built mailbox, but they must consult with my office to ensure it conforms to guidelines applying to flag, size, strength and quality of construction.

For more information on the use of names or numbers on mailboxes or answers to any other questions, contact Newhalfen at 815-442-8220.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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4 Perspective 4 • The Tonica News • Friday, May 22, 2015

The Editorial Page The Tonica News Sam R Fisher

Terri Simon

Publisher

Editor

In the middle ...

Being raised the daughter of the town’s public defender was bound to have its consequences. I may have been the only kindergartner in the history of St. Louis School to have been obsessed with the concept of psychopaths and how the criminal behavior of crazy individuals was, in truth, not their fault.

As a child, the idea that people were good barring uncontrollable circumstances grabbed a hold of me in a way nothing else could. I loved this philosophy which allowed me to have sympathy for a murderer rather than hatred. In COMMENTARY all honesty, it simplified things.

It was much easier to understand a murderer had gone crazy due to voices he or she was hearing in his or her own head than it was to grasp the fact that person would kill by choice.

In college, I studied the psychology and chemical structuring of the brain. My senior thesis paper focused on the absence of free will in all but perception and attitude. I studied the construct of mentality which revealed every action and decision is made 30 seconds prior to the actual decision to act is mentally realized.

I questioned the concept of free will entirely as Sam Harris does in his book, “Free Will.”

In the end, however, I argued that people can control their own lives, if only through the gradual development and manipulation of their own perception and attitude toward their environment. The simplicity of this ideological structuring allows people to maintain control over their worlds, while still harboring an understanding of predetermined conditions.

It is not the criminal’s fault he or she was exposed to the harsh life situations which led them to their miscreant behavior. Whether or not these concepts ring true has become irrelevant to me. The compassion it grants me toward those who may need compassion most is worth any misconception I may have.

Through this ideological view I can simultaneously hold others accountable while understanding their circumstances to a degree. I have not lived their lives.

I have not experienced their hardships. So how could I understand their mistakes?

I understand the tragic loss of one’s own life when he or she may be facing a life-long sentence for some dumb mistake. I can empathize with the individual who was never taught how to walk the right path and suffers the consequence for it. To me, many of the men and women bound in the chains of our system are not all that different from myself.

With the destruction and near civil war many are facing in Baltimore and similar areas, I try to remember my philosophy. However, my compassion toward those given a rough route in life does not extend to the knowing disregard of fellow human beings. I feel torn between those individuals who feel they are rioting to fight for their freedom; and the police officers’ who feel a need to protect and stand up for their rights as deputies of the law.

I understand that when an officer walks into an unknown and possibly hostile situation there must be an instinctual need for self preservation. I understand that every suspect being placed in custody may ask for medical attention in an attempt to escape their cuffs for the time being. However, is it the officer’s right to deny these requests?

In the midst of what is publicized as a two-sided, black and white issue, there are underlying details which, to me, scream for attention.

The tragedy, to me, in the midst of all the circumstantial confusion surrounding the death of Freddie Gray was the denial of medical assistance to a person who desperately needed help. If it’s so easily accepted, then how often are these mistakes made?

I am torn between the two sides of the issue because I feel for the men and women fighting the hardships of their day-to-day lives.

I do not side with either, but instead I’m partial to the opinion of progress toward a more productive future. Needless destruction in the claimed pursuit of a cause, to me, is counterproductive and cruel. The insensitive denial of medical attention by officers of the law, to me, was a neglect of duty.

Every man and woman fighting on either side of the Freddie Gray cause is a complete individual with a history and a life. To me, every individual fighting for their cause is not all that different from myself.

Shaw Media Staff Writer Zita Henneberry can be reached at zhenneberry@bcrnews.com.

Zita Henneberry

Birds of a feather She was kind of scraggly — at least as robins go. With a much paler breast than her male counterpart, Robin Red Breast didn’t really fit her very well — it was more like Robin Pale Pink Breast.

For the sake of this story, I’m just going to refer to her as “Pinky.”

To say Pinky looked tired is an understatement. Her feathers were ruffled in the truest sense of the word, and as she Terri Simon hopped around my backyard deck and the trees and shrubs around it, she clearly made her presence known with a loud chirp every now and then.

The fact that it was one of those very windy, rainy and chilly days — well, it didn’t seem to have much of an effect on this feathered friend. She was on a mission — and a little wind, a little rain and a little cold weather wasn’t going to stop her. I stood on my deck, leaning on the railing with a cup of coffee in my hand, and watched her antics.

Pinky was attempting to build a nest.

Her first attempt on a brick ledge on my garden garage failed miserably. The wind was just too strong, and every piece of nesting material (grasses, leaves, dried weeds, etc.) blew off the ledge almost as quickly as she deposited the items and left them to retrieve another. By the time she got back to the ledge with another piece of grass or dried up weed, the items she had left

a few minutes previous were on the ground.

It was time for Pinky to regroup ...

Pinky then chose the brick ledge on the back of my house. It was at this time I began talking out loud to her, actually warning her that any nest she attempted to make on my house might meet its demise with a broom, since I really didn’t want bird droppings gracing the dark reddish/brown brick.

She didn’t heed my warnings though.

Her attempts to keep building her nest were undaunted by my words.

In this new location, the ledge was a bit more sheltered than the one on the garage. Pinky’s nest was coming together. She’d gather a few strands of this and that and then situate herself in the early stages of her new home. Back in the house, I’d sneak a look or two out the window every so often, only to see the nest coming together. Ugh! My heart said leave her alone; my head was telling me to get rid of it before she put any more time or energy into it.

Thankfully, the decision was not mine to make. I glanced out the window at just the right time to see a gust of wind take Pinky’s almost-finished nest sailing onto the ground. The next thing I saw was Pinky sitting on the vacant brick ledge, looking down at the conglomeration of items that were once the start of her new home and I’m assuming a safe haven for a new family.

So what happened next? Pinky found

a safe place to build in one of our pine trees not far from the house. After working all morning on the first two nests, she set her beady little sights on the pine, where her work came to fruition. I can barely see the nest through the boughs and pine needles, but that’s good. I know in a few weeks I’ll be hearing the chirping of baby birds coming from that direction.

So what’s my point? Birds build nests every year; I know that. And likewise, I know these nests come plummeting to the ground in storms, windy weather, etc. But as I watched Pinky, I couldn’t help but think of her resiliency. I mean really. She lost two potential homes in a couple hours, only to set out to build another and succeed. I think there’s a lesson there somewhere ...

So often it seems life blows into our world and destroys our hopes, our dreams, seemingly our future. We tend to want to throw in the towel because the idea of rebuilding our lives seems somewhat futile, if not impossible. We all go through it, and it’s not fun.

But perhaps we should take a lesson from Pinky — a scraggly feathered friend who took life in stride and kept moving forward. I always believe there are lessons to be learned all around us, if we just take the time to notice. Pinky reminded me never to give up, even when life blows in and throws you a curve ball.

Tonica New Editor Terri Simon can be reached at tsimon@tonicanews.com.

Reorganization should help promote history and tourism When new leaders take charge, things are bound to change.

Supporters of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency are concerned about a change proposed by first-year Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Rauner supports the abolition of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

At first glance, his proposal seems drastic.

Illinois has a remarkable history, after all, and the Historic Preservation Agency plays an important role in safeguarding that heritage.

Some people have gone so far as to call the proposal “devastating.”

We’ve read the legislation, House Bill 574, and believe the alarmist talk is overblown.

It’s true that the bill would abolish the Historic Preservation Agency.

However, all the agency’s “powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities,” with one exception, would simply be transferred to a new Historic Sites Division within the Department

of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The exception would be the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. The bill would allow that state-owned facility to operate on its own, governed by a board of directors.

The belief is that the 10-year-old Lincoln Library and Museum could become more efficient in its mission “to promote tourism and educate Illinois residents on Lincoln’s legacy and impact.”

Back to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. If it is rolled into the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and becomes the Historic Sites Division, its duties would still be taken care of.

The state’s dozens of historic sites, museums and monuments would still be operated.

People would still be able to conduct historical research.

Efforts to preserve Illinois’ history would still be undertaken.

Volunteers would still be solicited to assist at various historic sites.

In our immediate region the agency oversees Bishop Hill in Henry County and the Wild Bill Hickok Memorial in Troy Grove. Other notable sites include the U.S. Grant Home in Galena, Carl Sandberg Historic Site in Galesburg, Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, and the Lincoln Tomb and Old State Capitol in Springfield.

Why the change, then? A new Historic Sites Division should benefit from better marketing and promotion within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Those people are all about business, and tourism is important to businesses in Illinois.

History buffs fearful of the proposed changes should take a longer historical view.

With reorganization can come rejuvenation. We believe that would be good news for Illinois’ historic sites and the Lincoln Presidential Museum.

The Tonica News

TO Letter THE Editor

Public safety is a priority To the Editor, Years of law enforcement experience have taught us we can’t arrest and prosecute our way out of society’s problems with crime. We need to prevent, as well as respond: Not only locking-up lawbreakers but doing our best to helping young people avoid ever turning to crime in the first place.

Right now, Springfield policymakers face an important opportunity to boost such prevention efforts — the chance to improve preschool access and quality after years of deep cuts that have displaced more than 20,000 Illinois youngsters from prekindergarten classrooms.

Research shows high-quality early learning programs can greatly improve children’s chances of success in school and beyond. For example, kids benefiting from such services have proven less

likely to become involved in criminal activity as young adults.

For those reasons, we support proposals to return to investing in young children’s learning, beginning to restore harmful cuts while also drawing down new, federal resources to further bolster our early childhood efforts.

Unfortunately, other crime-prevention strategies are facing a tough time in Springfield. Right now, state leaders are weighing whether to eliminate the Teen REACH after-school program and reduce child care assistance for working families.

The loss of Teen REACH would take structured, positive activities — from homework assistance to mentoring — from 14,000 youth across the state.

These young people would be left instead to the streets and the lure of alcohol, drugs, sex and other juvenile mischief.

Child care assistance helps ensure

about 150,000 Illinois youngsters have safe reliable places to stay and learn while their parents are on the job. But proposals to cut assistance, such as phasing-out care for kids as young as age 6, will actively work against kids’ safety.

If we truly want to cut-down on crime and violence, we must avoid cutting-back on valuable efforts such as child care and Teen REACH. Instead, we should invest in these and other programs — such as preschool — that can help prevent crime.

A priority as important as public safety calls for every effective tool in our toolbox. That’s why we, in turn, call for state leaders to avoid taking or breaking those tools — and instead, to strengthen them.

Chief Douglas Bernabei, Peru Police Department Chief Robert Uranich, LaSalle Police Department

5 Life Friday, May 22, 2015 • The Tonica News • 5

Community Silent auction planned LOSTANT — Lostant School will hold a silent auction from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 6, in the school gym.

Last bids are taken at noon. All items must be removed from the school by 2 p.m.

This is a cash only event.

Lostant townwide garage sales planned for June 6 LOSTANT — The village of Lostant is preparing for the annual townwide garage sales to be held on Saturday, June 6, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Anyone in the Lostant area is welcome to join in this event.

All sale sites are asked to donate $5 toward the advertising costs. Contact Dianna Ioerger at 815-2573590 or Linda Decker with this needed money before Saturday, May 23. Rain or shine, all sales shall be open for business.

Tractor and engine show seeks vendors SANDWICH — The Sandwich Early Day Engine Club is looking for flea marketers and craft show vendors for its 44th annual tractor and engine show.

The event will be at the DeKalb County Fairgrounds in Sandwich on Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28. The show will be open both days from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Flea market items can be sold with a fee of $25 per space for one day or $30 per space for both

days. Contact Scott Larsen at 815-795-7355 for more information or to register.

People interested in bringing craft items must call Nancy Quantock at 815-695-1472. The cost is $10 per space for one day or $20 per space for both days. Craft sales can set up inside or outside.

The features for the tractor and engine show this year are Ford tractors and equipment and International Harvester gas engines. Other brands will also be represented.

IVCC sponsors instructor job fair OGLESBY — Illinois Valley Community College’s Office of Human Resources will sponsor a part-time instructor job fair from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 17, in CTC 124.

“Aspire to do something great …” is the theme, and participants will meet deans and program coordinators, hear from current part-time instructors, attend an online course demonstration, and learn about IVCC’s pay scale.

Glenna Jones, director of human resources said, “This job fair is geared to degreed professionals as well as individuals with industry experience. Some disciplines we’re seeking are art, health and wellness, history and Spanish. We’re also seeking instructors for our community education courses.”

Preregister at www.ivcc.edu/teach. For information, contact human resources at 815-224-0426.

Alzheimer’s support meeting PERU — The Alzheimer’s Caring Friends support group for caregivers, family and friends will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the Red Cross office, located at 1530 Fourth St. in Peru.

Compassionate Friends meeting PERU — The next meeting of the Compassionate Friends support group will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 28, in the special procedures conference room located near the West Street lobby at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru. This self-help support organization offers friendship, understanding and hope to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. For more information, call Rita Studzinski at 815-223-7663.

Kayte Bernardoni signs with IVCC GRANVILLE — Kayte Bernardoni will be honing her already considerable volleyball skills locally. The Putnam County senior signed her letter of intent on Thursday, April 30, to attend Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby. The Lostant native said this was not a hard choice.

“I wanted to play volleyball and three of my cousins went there,” Bernardoni said. “I really didn’t want to go away from home the first year.”

“I heavily recruited Kayte,” IVCC volleyball coach Erin Polte said. “(PC volleyball coach) Amy (Kreiser) and I have been friends for quite a while because we work together in camps and coach traveling volleyball teams together. I started watching her and I thought, ‘Wow, she’s really athletic.’ She’s tall, she can play all the way around, she has a great block and a great swing.

“At one point, Kayte was kind of on the fence because she didn’t know if she just wanted to go to school or add volleyball to that schedule,” Polte said. “I said, ‘No, if you’re coming to IV, I need you.

I can’t see you walking around.’ My team is very excited to have her, she adds a little more height to the

team and she’s really athletic. Not to mention she’s a wonderful student, so that’s going to be a great addition to the volleyball team and

the college as a whole.”

When she’s not on the court, Bernardoni intends to study pre-law and major in English.

PC basketball camp registration open GRANVILLE — The annual Putnam County basketball camp will be held June 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9.

Registration is now open for the camp.

There will be three sessions for the camp. For first through third grade, the camp is from 8 to 9 a.m.

Fourth to sixth grade will attend from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. The third session for seventh through ninth grade is from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

The head coach of the Panther basketball program and leader of

the camp is Josh Nauman.

“The primary emphasis will be on developing basic basketball fundamentals. Each day will feature group fundamentals, skills competitions, games and stations that will develop shooting, ball handling and defensive skills,” Nauman said. “The camp is designed to improve each camper’s basketball skills and provide a fun week of basketball. Both boys and girls are welcome to attend the camp.”

Coaches in the Putnam County basketball program will help out along with many of the high school varsity and former players.

Each camper will receive a camp T-shirt, and prizes are awarded for contest and game winners.

Registration is $50 per camper and $40 per camper if there is more than one child from the same family. For more information or to register, contact Nauman at Putnam County High School at 815-882-2800, option 4.

IVCC to hold youth volleyball camps OGLESBY — Illinois Valley Community College youth volleyball camps are scheduled for June in the IVCC gymnasium.

A beginner camp will meet from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 11, and from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 12.

Session 1 of the High School Prep Camp will meet 1 to 4 p.m. Monday June 8 and Tuesday, June 9, and 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 10. Session 2 meets 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday June 10 and Thursday, June 11, and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, June 12.

The camp focuses on player experience rather than a grade-based approach. Beginner camp covers

basic skills such as serving, passing, setting, hitting, blocking, digging, serve receive, and game strategies.

The camp is an introduction to volleyball and is recommended for ages 8-12 and for those from basic middle school programs.

The high school camp is designed for players with a higher level of experience regardless of age with multiple years of club or from advanced middle school programs.

Focus will be on refining individual skills, running quick offenses and multiple defenses.

Camps are led by head coach Erin Polte and assisted by the IVCC volleyball team. Coach Polte has two

years of personal coaching experience working with various ages and skill levels. Polte grew up in a volleyball environment, watching her mother coach her entire life.

She played competitively from the age 12 to 22.

The camps are open to girls and boys age 8-15. The $55 registration includes 7.5 hours of instruction, tee-shirt and certificate. Registration forms are available at www. ivcc.edu/athletics and are due by May 30 to ensure T-shirt sizing. Late registration is accepted.

Contact Polte at 815-224-0344 or erin_polte@ivcc.edu for more information.

IVCC hosts Little Eagles basketball camp OGLESBY — The Illinois Valley Community College men’s basketball team will host the Little Eagles Basketball Camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, June 15, through Thursday, June 18, in the gym.

The camp is for boys in fifth to eighth grade.

Head coach Chris Herman and

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current players will work with participants on dribbling, shooting, passing, rebounding, defense and team play.

Pre-registration is required and will be limited to the first 100 registrants. Registration will be taken through June 10.

Cost of the camp is $65 per player

and includes a camp T-shirt. All players should bring a sack lunch or they may purchase lunch in the IVCC cafeteria. Campers are encouraged to bring their own basketball.

To register, contact coach Herman at 815-224-0593 or the athletic department at 815-224-0472.

Items for the Community section can be emailed to news@tonicanews.com.

Do you have the coverage you need?

Are you sure?

Matthew Hostetter Granville 815-339-6136 matt.hostetter@ countryfinancial.com

Tonica News photo/Ken Schroeder

Kayte Bernardoni (front center) signs her letter of intent to attend Illinois Valley Community College, flanked by Putnam County High School volleyball coach Amy Kreiser (left) and IVCC volleyball coach Erin Polte. Her sister, Lauren Bernardoni (back left), and parents Mike and Patti Bernardoni were also there.

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6 Life 6 • The Tonica News • Friday, May 22, 2015

Menus and Activities May 29 — Chef choice (TBA).

Lostant Grade School Activities

Breakfast May 25 — Memorial Day, no school.

May 26 — Donut, cereal, yogurt, fruit, juice and milk.

May 27 — Pancakes, cereal, yogurt, fruit, juice and milk.

May 28 — Uncrustable, cereal, yogurt, fruit, juice and milk.

May 29 — French toast sticks, cereal, yogurt, fruit, juice and milk.

Lunch May 25 — Memorial Day, no school.

May 26 — Mandarin orange chicken, rice, broccoli, applesauce, milk.

May 27 — Sloppy Joe, carrots and peas, side kick, milk.

May 28 — Pepperoni pizza, salad with French and Ranch dressing, Mandarin oranges, milk.

May 29 — Au gratin potatoes with ham, corn, pudding, milk.

Activities May 25 — Memorial Day, no school.

June 2 — Field day.

June 3 — 8:45 a.m. awards assembly, 10 a.m. graduation practice, 1:30 p.m. dismissal for last day of school, 6:30 p.m. graduation.

Tonica Grade School Breakfast May 25 — Memorial Day, no school.

May 26 — Teacher Institute.

May 27 — Chef choice (TBA), cereal, yogurt or toast, granola, fruit, juice, milk.

May 28 — Chef choice (TBA), cereal, yogurt or toast, granola, fruit, juice, milk.

May 29 — Chef choice (TBA), cereal, yogurt or toast, granola, fruit, juice, milk.

Lunch May 25 — Memorial Day, no school.

May 26 — Teacher Institute, no school.

May 27 — Chef choice (TBA).

May 28 — Chef choice (TBA).

May 22 — 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., first-grade field trip, Miller Park Zoo; 7 p.m., graduation.

June 1 — Regular attendance day.

June 2 — 11:45 a.m. dismissal, last day of school, report cards.

Putnam County Community Center May 25 — Memorial Day, PCCC closed.

May 26 — Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, bread and butter, dessert.

May 27— Vegetable lasagna, steamed spinach, fresh cantaloupe, French bread, juice.

May 28— Lasagna, tossed salad, fruit, bread and butter, dessert.

May 29 — Egg salad on wheat bread, roasted diced potatoes, peas, watermelon.

For reservations, call 800-757-4579 24 hours in advance of the day’s meal. The menu is subject to change. Meals are available to senior citizens 60-plus at no cost, but donations are appreciated. The meal program is partly funded by donations, so they have a suggested donation of $5 per meal. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m.

Photo contributed

Lostant students go on field trip On Monday, May 4, the fourth- and fifth-grade class from Lostant School went on a field trip. They visited Starved Rock and the I & M Lock and Dam. Angela Walgenbach and Jill Newbold accompanied them on the trip and their tour guide was Mark Walczynski.

The kids had a great time.

Bridges Senior Center May 25 — Closed for Memorial Day. May 26 — 9 a.m., Forever Fit; 10 a.m., Soldiers’ Angels; 10:15 a.m., Eating Smart, Being Active.

May 27 — 9 a.m., Forever Fit; 10:15 a.m., beginner computer class.

May 28 — 9 a.m., Tai Chi; 12:45 p.m., Bingo; 1:30 p.m., open cards.

May 29 — 9 a.m., Forever Fit; 1 p.m., open Wii bowling.

Photo contributed Photo contributed

Lostant PTO holds annual egg hunt On April 2, the Lostant PTO held its annual egg hunt at Lostant School. Kindergarten through fourth-grade participated in the hunt and grades fifth through eighth received small bags of candy. The children had a great time hunting eggs on the playground.

Thank you to all who donated candy to stuff the eggs this year. Pictured are kindergarten students who participated. For more photos of the event, visit www.lostantcomets.org.

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Lostant students plant trees The Lostant seventh-grade class recently took a field trip to Starved Rock. Patty Bernardoni and Marjorie Archdale accompanied the students to the park. The students spent the day planting trees for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Pictured (front row, from left) are Chelsie Craps and Alyssa Fluech; and (back row) Samantha Curry, Jacob Wiesbrock, Keegan Taylor and Brianna Gorges. To see more photos from the event, visit www.lostantcomets.org.

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7 LPHS/PCHS/St. Bede Grad Friday, May 22, 2015 • The Tonica News • 7

LaSalle-Peru High School

Addison Barnes

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The smart move: choose IVCC first.

IVCC recently announced winners of its most prestigious academic honor: the Thomas J. McCormack Scholar award.

McCormack Scholars Tiernan Ebener, left, Kaleb Pytel, Carly Haywood and Lauren Urbanowski gathered at the recent IVCC academic banquet. Danae Ross was unavailable for the photo.

They are Tiernan Ebener of Peru, Kaleb Pytel of La Salle, Carly Haywood of Ottawa, Lauren Urbanowski of Peru and Danae Ross of rural Princeton.

McCormack Scholar Danae Ross.

Next fall, Ebener will transfer to the University of Illinois to major in chemical engineering, Pytel will study physical therapy at Northern Illinois University, Haywood will major in zoology at Southern Illinois University, Urbanowski will study animal science at the U of I and Ross will major in exercise science at Olivet Nazarene University.

Over the past seven years, 69 valedictorians, salutatorians and students finishing in the top two percent of their class have chosen IVCC to begin their college careers.

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SUMMER & FALL REGISTRATION UNDERWAY

8 Tonica Grade School 8 • The Tonica News • Friday, May 22, 2015

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9 Lostant Grade School Friday, May 22, 2015 • The Tonica News • 9

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10 • The Tonica News • Friday, May 22, 2015

–––– Classifieds –––– General Terms and Policies

232 • Business Opportunities

The Tonica News reserves the right to classify correctly, edit, reject or cancel any advertisement at any time in accordance with its policy. All ads must be checked for errors by the advertiser, on the first day of publication. We will be responsible for the first incorrect insertion, and its liabilities shall be limited to the price on one insertion.

********** THE CLASSIFIED Advertising Department of the Tonica News Does not have the opportunity to fully investigate the credibility of each advertiser appearing within these columns. If an offer sounds “too good to be true” it probably is.

Proceed with caution if you are asked to send money or to give a credit card number.

Proceed with caution in calling 900 phone numbers. All phone numbers prefixed by”900” are charged to the CALLER. Charges may be assessed on a “per minute” basis rather than a “per call” basis.

The Tonica News Classifieds makes every effort to qualify these charges for the reader.

If you have a concern about an advertiser, please contact: Better Business Bureau 330 North Wabash Chicago, IL 60611 312 832-0500

CLASSIFIED LINE AD & LEGAL DEADLINES: • Friday Paper deadline Friday before by 3pm We Accept Call 815-875-4461 classified@bcrnews.com

- 200 Employment 228 • Help Wanted Lostant School is hiring for the position of NIGHTTIME CUSTODIAN. Hours are flexible and include 23 hours per night, 5 days a week during the school year. Please send a letter of interest to: Mrs. Malahy, 315 West 3rd Street, Lostant, IL 61334

- 400 Merchandise

815-875-4461

LAKE THUNDERBIRD 2 miles North of Putnam & 2 miles West of Rt. 29.

Friday, Saturday, May 22, 23; 8am–4:30pm.

ANNUAL GARAGE & BAKE SALE. Maps, Bake Sale & additional garage sales at the club house PRINCETON 21 South Dallas Street. Friday, May 22, 7:30am-1:30pm; Saturday, May 23, 8am12pm.

MULTI-FAMILY SALE. Clothes, dining room table, bedding, curtains, other household items, rototiller PRINCETON 664 East Central Avenue. Thursday, May 21, 4pm-7pm; Friday, May 22, 8am-5pm; Saturday, May 23, 8am-12pm.

Group Garage Sale.

Some furniture, shelves, glassware, pictures, clothing. Too much to list!

PRINCETON 704 & 709 Eastmor Drive. Friday, May 22, 8am-5pm; Saturday, May 23, 8am-Noon.

Rain date: May 29 & 30

- 700 Real Estate For Sale 767 • Mobile Home Sales

450 • Under $1000

Promote Your Job Openings Right Here!

The Tonica News Classifieds

460 • Garage Sales

************ HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? Put your ad in for FREE Items $1,000 or less can run FREE for 1 time. Limit of 5 lines.

Up to 3 items with price and price totaling under $1,000. 1 ad per household per week.

No commercial ads, firearms or animal sales.

E-mail information to: classified@ bcrnews.com (include your name, address & phone number) No Phone Calls!

ADVERTISE YOUR VEHICLE SALE HERE! In the Classified. Just call 815-875-4461.

999 • Legal Notices

999 • Legal Notices

999 • Legal Notices

999 • Legal Notices

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Tentative Budget and Appropriation Ordinance for DEER PARK TOWNSHIP, LaSalle County, IL for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2015 and ending the last day of March, 2016 is on file and available for public inspection at the Town Hall, 2346 East 1025th Road, Ottawa, IL. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a Public Hearing on said Tentative Budget and Appropriation Ordinance will be held at 7:00 p.m., on June 24, 2015 at the Town Hall, 2346 East 1025th Road, Ottawa, IL and final action on the Budget and Appropriation Ordinance will be taken by the Township Trustees at a meeting to be held at that time and place.

Dated: May 13, 2015 By: Lisa Grubar, Township Supervisor Published in the Tonica News May 22, 2015.

119 W. Madison St., Ottawa, Illinois, or with the representative, or both, within six (6) months from the date of issuance of letters. Any claim not filed within that period is barred.

Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed.

ANDREW F. SKOOG Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary L. Gearhart GEARHART LAW OFFICE Attorney for Plaintiff 951 Fifth Street LaSalle, IL 61301 Phone: (815 ) 223 -8009 FAX: (815) 223-8003 Published in the Tonica News May 22, 29 and June 5, 2015.

2016 is on file and available for public inspection at the Town Hall, 2346 East 1025th Road, Ottawa, IL. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a Public Hearing on said Tentative Budget and Appropriation Ordinance will be held at 7:00 p.m., on June 24, 2015 at the Town Hall, 2346 East 1025th Road, Ottawa, IL and final action on the Budget and Appropriation Ordinance will be taken by the Township Trustees at a meeting to be held at that time and place.

Dated: May 13, 2015 By: Lisa Grubar, Township Supervisor Published in the Tonica News May 22, 2015.

CORNER OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SAID SECTION 27; THENCE SOUTH 00 DEGREES 14 MINUTES 22 SECONDS EAST 1529.58 FEET ALONG THE WEST LINE OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SAID SECTION 27 TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE SOUTH 89 DEGREES 44 MINUTES 47 SECONDS EAST 308.86 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 01 DEGREES 58 MINUTES 40 SECONDS WEST 222.94 FEET; THENCE NORTH 89 DEGREES 47 MINUTES 36 SECONDS WEST 300.24 FEET TO A POINT ON THE WEST LINE OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SAID SECTION 27; THENCE NORTH 00 DEGREES 14 MINUTES 22 SECONDS WEST 223.10 FEET ALONG SAID WEST LINE TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING CONTAINING 1.559 ACRES MORE OR LESS AND ALL SITUATED IN THE TOWNSHIP OF EDEN, LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. COMMONLY KNOWN AS: 1968 E. 3rd Road, Tonica, IL 61370 and which said Mortgage was made by: Zakary Gallik the Mortgagor(s), to First Federal Savings Bank, as Mortgagee, and recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds of LaSalle County, Illinois, as Document No. 2009-11315; and for other relief; that summons was duly issued out of said Court against you as provided by law and that the said suit is now pending.

NOW, THEREFORE, UNLESS YOU file your answer or otherwise file your appearance in this case in the Office of the Clerk of this Court, Andrew F. Skoog Clerk of the Circuit Court LaSalle County Courthouse 119 W. Madison Street, Suite 201 Ottawa, IL 61350-0617 on or before June 8, 2015, A DEFAULT MAY BE ENTERED AGAINST YOU AT ANY TIME AFTER THAT DAY AND A JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRAYER OF SAID COMPLAINT. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Attorneys for Plaintiff 15W030 North Frontage Road, Suite 100 Burr Ridge, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 DuPage # 15170 Winnebago # 531 Our File No. 14-15-02466 NOTE: This law firm is deemed to be a debt collector.

I655688 Published in the Tonica News May 8, 15 and 22, 2015.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LA SALLE COUNTY OTTAWA, ILLINOIS IN RE: ) THE ESTATE OF ) SHIRLEY J. LOWERY,) DECEASED. ) NO.2015-P-90 CLAIM NOTICE Notice is hereby given of the death of Shirley J. Lowery, late of Utica, Illinois. Letters of office were issued on May 11, 2015, to Pamela Lowery, whose attorney is Gary Gearhart, GEARHART LAW OFFICE, 951 Fifth Street, LaSalle, Illinois 61301.

Claims against the Estate may be filed with the office of the Circuit Clerk, Probate Division, Downtown Courthouse,

**************** PUBLISHER'S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.”

Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate 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 tollfree at 800 669-9777.

The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 800 927-9275

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Tentative Budget and Appropriation Ordinance for the DEER PARK TOWNSHIP ROAD DISTRICT, LaSalle County, IL for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2015 and ending the last day of March,

SILENT AUCTION Lostant School will hold a silent auction on June 6th in the school gym. Silent auction hours are 7:00am – noon. Last bids are taken at noon. All items must be removed from the school by 2:00pm.

Cash only.

Published in the Tonica News May 22 and 29, 2015.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE 13TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LA SALLE COUNTY - OTTAWA, ILLINOIS JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association PLAINTIFF Vs. Zakary Gallik; Unknown Owners and Nonrecord Claimants DEFENDANTS 15 CH 00039 NOTICE BY PUBLICATION NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU: Zakary Gallik Unknown Owners and Nonrecord Claimants That this case has been commenced in this Court against you and other defendants, praying for the foreclosure of a certain Mortgage conveying the premises described as follows, to-wit: THAT PART OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 32 NORTH, RANGE 1 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT THE NORTHWEST

PROMOTE YOUR GARAGE SALES! Call 815-875-4461

Business Directory Marketplace

BRIAN SPELICH

COMPLETE CAR AND TRUCK CARE 24 HOUR TOWING SERVICE Rt. 89, McNabb, IL • Jack Bima, Owner

GENERAL CONTRACTING

Top Quality • 100% Union Labor • Fully Insured • Free Estimates

Specializing in High-Quality New Construction & Remodeling with over 35 Years of Experiance

815-883-8681 815-488-9830 835 Clark St. Oglesby, IL 61348

JODY TALIANI Mon-Fri 8AM - 5PM Owner

202 W Harper Ave PO Box 326

Granville, IL 61326 PH:

815-339-9181 FAX: 815-399-9182

ROUTE

71

124 S. Peru St. • Downtown Tonica

Repair and Fabrication Steel, Stainless, Cast, Iron, Aluminum, etc.

Mig, tig, Stick welding Complete Fab shop and Mobile Repair Small Jobs – Heavy Equipment Fast and Affordable

815-830-3100

• Business Cards • Envelopes • Booklets • Forms • Pamphlets • Letterheads For all your printing solutions call

875-4461

AUTO BODY

route71autobody@frontier.com

JACK’S GAS & SERVICE

882-2191 Monday-Saturday 882-2250 Evenings & Sundayss

Sieg Tire & u e R

23 Hour Roadside Assistance

Mark, IL 61340

Interstate Battery Sales

Johnny Sieg

Cars, Trucks, Trailer, Motorcycles, ATVs, & Lawn Mowers also Bicycles

Owner/Operator

815-878-7367 800 Ace Road PO Box 340 Princeton, IL 61356 815-875-4461 fax 815-875-1235

air Sh p

Selling & Repairing all makes of tires Open 7 days/week 8-5pm 112 S. St. Paul St.

e e l

s

Mounting, Balancing, Rotating, Patches, Plugs and p Y u all tire repairs plus Small Implement Farm Tires

Rollin!

To add your lisTing To This page conTacT ashley aT (815) 875-4461, exT. 6345

Friday, May 22, 2015 • The Tonica News • 11

FREE

Classified Advertising

for all items valued under $1,000!

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

Business Directory Marketplace

Class Schedule

PASSINI PLUMBING & HEATING David Passini

M 9:20am, 4:20pm, 5:30pm* T 5:30am*, 4:20pm, 5:30pm W 9:20am, 4:20pm, 5:30pm* TH 5:30am*, 4:20pm, 5:30pm F 9:20am | SA 8:45am * Express 30 minute classes

Licensed-Bonded-Insured 116 South 2nd St. Standard, IL 61363

815-339-4108 815-481-2639

2901 N. Peoria St. Peru

815.878.5965

PEACH CONSTRUCTION CO. Since 1981 Ron Des Laurier • Putnam, IL 61560

Office: 815-437-9026 • Cell: 630-569-0734

SPECIALIST IN PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL & CARPENTRY Kitchens - Baths - Windows - Siding - Roofs - Basements

red CArpet ServiCe For the World’s Best People

Our Customers

Al Cioni Ford inC.

504 S. McCoy Granville, IL

815-339-2511

No baloney with Al Cioni!

TKO Tire and Service Auto Repair and Tire Service

Auto, LT, Implement and Specialty Tires

14049 IL HWY 18, Magnolia, IL

815-869-4249

Tonica Telephone Co. Toncom Long Distance

For A Peach Of A Deal Call Full Service Home Improvement

Tire Brands Toyo General Continental GT BKT Carlisle Kumho

McCONVILLE INSURANCE Frank McConville - Agent 200 South Peru Street • Tonica, IL 61342 (815) 442-3116

(309) 857-2056

LESTER LAWN & LANDSCAPE

1108 Second Street, Henry, IL Nathan Lester: Owner/ Operator

• Residential & Commercial Mowing • Free Estimates • Senior Discounts • Light Landscaping • Seeding • Fertilizing • Aerating

Now offering new Higher Speeds up to 9 Megabytes 815-442-9901 • www.tonicacom.net Now with Mobile Banking

The One and Only Bank You’ll Ever Need!

Tonica 815-442-8211

Lostant 815-368-3333

Oglesby 815-883-8400

www.illinistatebank.com

MEMBER

Quality Pre-Owned Vehicles

PLUMBING & HEATING, INC. 815-882-2111 • 815-875-2540 www.grassersplumbingheating.com 404 W. Main, FREE McNabb,IL (State ID No. 58-100249)

Estimates

Auto Body Specialists Truck Toppers & Accessories

Towing Available

Since 1919

Plumbing • Heating • Electrical

TONICA HARDWARE 24 Hrs. Service • 815-442-3415 Get Your Tools Repaired For All Your Honey-do Projects!

“You bend ‘em, we mend ‘em”

FOLEY MOTORS Inc.

Sales & Service

Rt. 29, Henry, IL 309-364-4711 www.foleymotorsinc.com

BOB’S DRYW YWALL, PAINT, ETC

Authorized

Mike Supan Jr. ∙ Linda Supan ∙ Michele Straughn

Repair Center

325 North 25th Rd, Route 251 South of Peru

815-224-1506

EMERGENCY: 815-252-0032 Vegetables • Annuals • Herbs • Perennials • Grasses • Shrubs

From the Old Fashioned to the New.....

“F 244 year growing for YOU!” For Hours & Driving Directions Call or Visit us Online!

Re15722Barn Nursery 645 E. St., Sheffield, IL 815-454-2294 www.redbarnnursery.com

815-780-8677

421 5th St., Route 6, Peru, IL

GRANVILLE Floor & Wall We Have A Great Selection Of Floor Coverings To Meet Your Every Need

Granville, IL

339-2345

Mon-Wed 9-5 • Thurs 9-2 • Fri 9-5 • Sat 9-12

Full Service Store

Bob Cmolik

• Drywall • Paint • Texturing • Bathrooms • Plaster Repair • Remodeling • Tiling 19 Aztec Circle, Putnam, IL 815-342-1385 bcmolik@yahoo.com

B&M CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION 9341 Taylor Rd., Magnolia, IL 61336

Mark 815-488-7210 ALL TYPES OF CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Driveways • Sidewalks • Pole Barns • Curbs • Parking Lots

FULLY INSURED • FREE ESTIMATES

To add your lisTing To This page conTacT ashley aT (815) 875-4461, exT. 6345

12 12 • The Tonica News • Friday, May 22, 2015

STEINBERG’S WEEKEND

56 MONTHS

INTEREST

FREE OR

WE PAY YOUR SALES TAX! *

No sales tax offer valid on purchases paid-in-full at time of sale. See details below.

On Route 6 at the West Edge of Peru

815-223-6598

www.steinbergsfurniture.com SALE HOURS: Friday, May 22 • 10 am to 7pm Saturday, May 23 • 10 am to 5 pm Monday, Memorial Day • 12 noon to 4 pm Closed Sunday, May 24 to be with family

Special terms of 60 months apply to qualifying purchases of $999 or more charged with approved credit to your Steinberg’s Furniture Card, issued by Wells-Fargo Financial National Bank. The monthly payment for this purchase will be the amount that will pay for the purchase in full in equal payments during the promotional 56 month period. The APR for Purchases will apply to certain fees such as a late payment fee or if you use the card for other transactions. For newly opened accounts, the APR for Purchases is 27.99%. In accordance with state law, sales tax will be added to all invoices, Purchases paid in full at the time of sale will receive an extra 7 1/2% discount, the equivalent of paying no sales tax. Offer expires 6-01-2015.