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Volume 141 No. 17
Friday, June 20, 2014
The Tonica News
Single Copy Cost 50¢
Concerts for a Cause picks LGS Proceeds will go toward books and school supplies By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
LOSTANT — In times of tight money, schools can use all the help they can get. This year, Lostant Grade
School is going to get a bit of assistance from music fans throughout the Illinois Valley as Merry Noonan of Lou’s LaGrotto named LGS the beneficiary of the first of this year’s annual Concerts for a Cause.
“The application was written by (administrative assistant) Jen Tooley and (reading specialist) Angela Wenskunas; then I just added a few tidbits,” school Superintendent Sandra Malahy said. “Merry told us she chose us because of the books. She was very impressed when we said we wanted to buy books for the students.”
“The school board had stated it would like us to write a letter to be considered,” Tooley said. “When I was trying to figure out what to write about, I know in the past people had asked for playground equipment and money for air conditioning. But seeing kids coming in and out of the office, what they ask for and what they
want; they could all use books and school supplies. “I had written the majority of the letter, and Angela had been to a conference on reading and learning the statistics of what they lose over the summer when they’re not reading,” Tooley said. “We included that information.” “Part of the money will
also be going to school supplies,” Malahy said. “There are students who can’t afford their own supplies, and we’ll have them in the office.” Nearly half of the students served by Lostant Grade School are at or below the poverty level.
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What’s the future of the Lostant Post Office? Meeting set for July 17
By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
LOSTANT — The U.S. Postal Service will be holding a meeting at the Lostant Post Office on July 17 regarding the POST Plan and its effect on the post office. Surveys are being sent to residents in the Lostant zip code and the post office box customers. If a resident does not receive a survey by June 26, they are available at the office counter. The results of the surveys will be discussed at the meeting with a final decision on the office
being made after the meeting. That will allow postal officials to obtain input from the surveys and public opinion expressed at the meeting before making their final decision. Four options are being discussed at the meeting and appear on the surveys. The first option would keep the office open based on actual office workload. In the village of Lostant, the office hours would be cut from eight hours each weekday to four. Saturday hours would not change, and access to post office boxes would not be affected.
Post Office Page 2
Golf carts soon to be allowed in Tonica By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
TONICA — Before the Tonica Village Board meeting, there was a lengthy discussion on the proposed golf cart ordinance, which has become a hot topic for several residents. The main question at issue is which vehicles would be allowed under the ordinance, with some of the residents asking for golf carts and side-by-sides to be joined by single rider ATVs. “I think we’re asking for trouble with four-wheelers,” board member Dennis Ford said.
Village Police Chief David Woolford said, “I don’t know of any community that allows four wheelers. I think there’s probably a reason for that.” An informal poll of the board members found allowing golf carts was a unanimous decision with a majority of board members supporting side-bysides and no support for ATVs. Village Attorney Bob Steele noted that it would be easier to add a vehicle to the allowable vehicle list than remove it. Woolford was able to provide the board with the
Golf carts Page 4
Tonica News photo/Ken Schroeder
Play ball! Amos Vincent digs in at the plate during the Instructional League game in which his team (Lostant) played the team from Magnolia on June 14. Magnolia’s team won the contest 1-0.
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