TON-05-26-2017

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Volume 143 No. 25

Friday, May 26, 2017

Single Copy Cost 50¢

Keep your eyes open May is Motorcycle Awareness Month By Dave Cook

news@tonicanews.com

TONICA — Nice weather always brings more motorcycles out onto the road, but unfortunately too many motorists don’t see them. To help raise awareness of their presence, May has been proclaimed Motorcycle Awareness Month for the 34th year. Motorcycle riders and safety advocates have

kick-started the riding season by launching the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) annual “Start Seeing Motorcycles” campaign. Gov. Bruce Rauner proclaimed May as Motorcycle Awareness Month to promote the need for all drivers to be vigilant. “As someone who loves traveling our great state by motorcycle, I know firsthand the importance of sharing the road. Illinois has

within the state during 2016, and 154 of those deaths were motorcyclists, eight more than in 2015. Unlike the common image of the reckless young rider, the average age of motorcycle fatalities during 2015 was 42, and the 23 deaths in the 50-54 age group placed it first among all ages. During the riding season, “Start Seeing Motorcycles” banners and signs will be displayed throughout the state to remind drivers to stay alert for the presence of

a long history of supporting motorcycle safety, and I’m honored to continue that tradition. I urge everyone on the roads to travel with care and to be aware,” Rauner said. While motorcycles represent approximately 3 percent of vehicle registrations in the state, they account for roughly 15 percent of traffic fatalities. According to IDOT information there were 1,078 traffic fatalities

motorcycles. In the Tonica area, the new four-way stop at the intersection of Route 251 and Lambert Road was identified by Tonica Police Chief Dave Woolford as a risky area for all motorists and particularly motorcyclists. “We’ve had a lot of people running the stop signs at that intersection because they’re not used to it, especially the northbound traffic on Route 251; they kind of zone out as they travel through Tonica,” Woolford said.

He recommended riders wear the appropriate safety gear along with brightly colored clothing that’s easily visible. He also gave advice to help keep motorists from becoming involved in a motorcycle-related accident. “Be vigilant and understand motorcycles are out there; always be watchful,” Woolford said. Riders are also urged to take other precautions by

Motorcycle Page 3

Talking dollars at Tonica Grade School

Board looks at budget amendments, life-safety work By Zachary J. Pratt news@tonicanews.com

Tonica News photo/Mike Vaughn

Up, up and away ... Despite a rainy day on Saturday, the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru didn’t let a little (or a lot) of rain spoil the second annual TBM Avenger Reunion. This event, a Salute to Veterans, was set to feature several TBM Avengers. A host of other aircraft, an exciting airshow, helicopter rides, food and beverages were also available. Thanks to the generosity of Marquis Energy, the event was free to the public.

TONICA — The time of year has arrived in which schools have to amend their budget, and Tonica Grade School has provided a quick look into the happenings with its budget. “The theory is everything that’s $1 over budget is supposed to be corrected,” Superintendent James Whitmore said at the board meeting May 17. Different funds were affected by a myriad sources of stress, such as asbestos and boiler work. Some were supposed to receive more revenue but have not at this point. Some funds were adversely affected by the lack of funds from the state, such as transportation. “We have not received state funding for this, but on the projection, it would be working out a bit better,” Whitmore said, continuing further to say the issues with transportation funding indicate the effect of the state’s lack of payments. The lack of expected revenue for these funds will not be reflected in the budget. “When I called the state and said, ‘Can’t we amend the budget to show the state revenue that we didn’t receive?’ They said, ‘No, there’s no need to do that,’” Whitmore said. While he might not expect revenue from the state to

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Lostant + two counties = headache news@tonicanews.com

LOSTANT — Being situated in two counties is causing the Lostant School District some headache when numbers come in. Discussed at the May 22 meeting, the Lostant School District occupies both LaSalle and Marshall counties, and the processes between the two do not always match up. When net taxable numbers come in, Marshall County is able to act faster, leaving LaSalle to provide an estimate until it has more concrete numbers. When numbers do become concrete, the change from Vol. 143 No. 25 One Section - 8 Pages

estimates can cause a shortfall to the district. “What’s happening is that Marshall County has their numbers about two weeks before LaSalle County,” Superintendent Sandra Malahy said. The time difference causes reports from the two counties to lack synchronicity. “They do not want to hold up their process for one school district, and LaSalle County cannot push the process for one school district,” she said. This is not a problem that will affect every district, as it stems from a particular situation. “It’s happening to us because we’re in two counties,” Malahy said.

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© The Tonica News

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Lostant Page 3

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Board President Mike Phillips indicated a small portion of the district is located in Marshall County. Malahy said she has requested the county try to find a solution, but noted that she is not hopeful the request will be successful. In related discussion, the district has bumped up some pay by 10 percent, but this increase covers an additional cost which has been moved to the staff. “Basically, it’s not really a bump because we used to pay TRS, and now they’re (staff) paying it,” Phillips said.

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By Zachary J. Pratt


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