TON-06-30-2017

Friday, June 30, 2017

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Schneider named Tonica superintendent

By Zachary J. Pratt news@tonicanews.com

TONICA — After a year of changes, it has come time for the Tonica School District to experience another.

At the beginning of the June 21 school board meeting, it was time for James Whitmore, interim superintendent, to relinquish the position; Principal Chuck Schneider was appointed to take on the superintendent responsibilities, effective upon board approval.

The role is added onto his responsibilities as prin-

cipal.

Schneider said he is “very grateful and honored” by the appointment.

“It is with great excitement I look forward to continuing to work with the board of education, staff, families, students and the community of Tonica,” he said.

The appointment had initially been planned to occur on July 1, but the potential changes to the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) might affect any contract dated for July 1 or later.

With a murky cloud of the unknown hanging over the state’s budget issue and the various components which could be affected in its resolution, the district decided to move Schneider’s appointment to begin June 21.

The change in position has not left Whitmore out of the school, as he was appointed to be the district’s financial consultant.

As his time serving the superintendent role came

Tonica School Page 2

Finances on Lostant School’s mind

By Zachary J. Pratt news@tonicanews.com

LOSTANT — Lostant School District’s road to selling bonds has reached a point of culmination.

“Bonds are sold. Yay,” David Pistorius of First Midstate told the board on June 21.

“We’re issuing $1,260,000,” an amount which will go into the Life-Safety fund, Pistorius said. The school will also receive a $57,350 premium to go toward the bond interest next year and lower the amount due the taxpayers.

The bulk of the money will be used to pay off projects on the health-life safety survey which the district recently received.

The numbers Pistorius provided regarding interest rates were still in flux, as changes to the equalized assessed valuation (EAV) will alter the final amounts.

Pistorius said it the EAV “popped up a little, the numbers would be even better.”

Superintendent Sandra Malahy said that she thinks the EAV has done so.

Lostant School Page 2

Transforming the Kaskaskia Hotel

Tonica News photo/Dave Cook

Thinking of Christmas?

Anna Johnson of Minonk, a waitress at Smitty’s Bar & Grill in Leonore, displays the tenderloins which were a part of a fundraiser held on June 25. Proceeds of the tenderloin and cheeseburger sales benefited Streator’s Keeping Christmas Close To Home Committee which works to provide local holiday celebrations and promote shopping locally.

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LASALLE — Historic preservation is an art, and inside the 100-year-old walls of LaSalle’s Kaskaskia Hotel, master craftsmen have been proving just that.

With care and a keen eye for detail, plasterers have begun cleaning and restoring portions of the ornamental plaster work that crowns the hotel’s grandest rooms. It’s part of a study being conducted within the hotel to determine the best way to save some of the building’s most notable features.

“The plaster details are a major part of what past hotel guests remember, and what our future guests will see, so this work will help us achieve an elegant, contemporary, yet classic personality for the renovated hotel,” says the Kaskaskia developer’s in-house architect, Peter Vidal.

The process involves finding and cleaning undamaged portions of a design feature, creating a rubber mold, and carefully installing and finishing newly-molded portions by hand.

The bulk of this work is taking place inside the Wedgewood Room, where people enjoyed elegant dinners and Sunday brunch for much of the hotel’s history. The Wedgewood Room has the most delicate plaster details in the building. Kaskaskia developers aim to have the hotel completed by 2019. Development plans include a boutique hotel and an events and conference center.

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2 • The Tonica News • Friday, June 30, 2017

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.

Lostant School From Page 1

The closing date is July 13.

With a lack of transportation funding, the Lostant School Board is mapping out consolidated pickup locations for rural families, in an attempt to minimize transportation costs.

Recently, the district has not received certain funding it is supposed to, which is meant to cover areas of service it is mandated to offer.

Transportation is one of these areas.

In an attempt to mitigate these issues, the district has mapped out consolidated pickup locations “in an effort to find out where we can save money if things get really bad,” Malahy said.

The new plans would combine six rural families into three stops, rather than making a new stop for each. These routes were the only ones deemed able to be consolidated.

Malahy said the drivers have spoken to all the families involved.

Tonica School From Page 1

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to an end, Whitmore expressed a sentiment he referred to as a “broken record,” that the board and staff had come together and saved the district from the disaster it had been hurdling toward.

“It was probably the roughest start that I’ve ever experienced in 42 years,” he said, but it all came together through the care and teamwork of those left to clean it up.

“I just want to thank the board and staff for what wound up to be quite a year: from confusion to excellence.”

Tonica could see decent representation as its board members express interest in attending the annual school board conference in November. It was mentioned that sending various representatives could help

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Also at the meeting, the state’s funding issue was discussed.

“We spent $125,000 in transportation,” Malahy said. “We’re only getting, in the levy, $62,000.”

Normally, the district should receive funding from the state for transportation, but this money has not come in; Malahy said the district should have received $92,000 in categorical money for transportation this year.

“School districts are saying somewhere between September and December, they’ll have to close down,” said board President Mike Phillips.

“I don’t know what rural schools will do,” Malahy said, noting they will have to shoulder the transportation costs in order to bring their students to school.

Malahy said it was not yet calculated how long Lostant will be able to run its transportation.

One thing was certain according to Malahy: “We’re in for a ride this year.”

Other projects impacted the district’s financial outlook as well, such as some extensive plumb-

ing projects and a $35,000 asbestos abatement bill which the district had not been expecting to be paying this year.

Furthermore, the district just paid two high school tuitions, which Malahy indicated will take the education fund into the red.

If the opportunity comes about, ball fields at Lostant Elementary School could see improvements.

Carol Stoens asked the board for permission to make improvements to the fields, following a situation where she had an opportunity for funds which could have been put to such a project, but lacked the permission.

Lacking this permission, she put the funds to another purpose but wants to be ready if the opportunity appears again.

“Anything that would improve the ball field,” Malahy said, regarding what this permission would entail.

Board member Quillard Skinner indicated such improvements would be a benefit.

the members learn faster and help steer the district away from mistakes it made in the past.

While the district stopped sending board members in years prior, as a cost savings measure, President Brian Marcinkus believes the opportunity would benefit the current board, many members of which are new.

“My first few years on the board, I went maybe two or three years in a row, and it helped me learn much faster,” Marcinkus said.

Marcinkus indicated attendance could mean more than faster learning for board members; it could mean an avoidance of past mistakes.

“I also believe that if we had better trained some of the old board members, we might have been able to avoid some of the train

wrecks that occurred,” he said.

Also at the June 21 meeting, the board learned Tonica students could be looking forward to further art education through an outside group. A representative of Young Rembrandts has asked to use the facilities after school to offer art education.

“It is an outside group wanting to use our facilities,” said Schneider.

The classes would take place after the school day and last an hour and 15 minutes.

Schneider indicated a cost of $55 for the nine sessions.

“This was found by one of the parents, whose kids attended a session in the spring,” Schneider said.

The space would be provided through the repurposing of rooms. Schneider said he old autism classroom is becoming an art space.

Meeting minutes — Illinois Valley Community College OGLESBY — The Illinois Valley Community College board June 8 approved with regret the retirements of a counselor, administrator, program coordinator and nursing instructor.

Counselor Jane Sack retired May 31.

Emily Vescogni, director of learning technologies, has announced her retirement effective Jan. 31.

Therapeutic massage program coordinator and instructor Cherie Monterastelli will retire July 31.

Nursing instructor Linda Hanley will retire Aug. 10 after 14 years.

Trustees also approved: • A five-year maintenance agreement with Ellucian for software maintenance including $247,812 for the first year.

• Extending the contract with Daikin Applied Americas for one year of main-

tenance on three chiller air conditioning units for $33,600.

• The Prevailing Wage Resolution.

• Christopher Dunlap’s appointment as interim director of information technology services following the retirement of Diann Jabusch. A fulltime employee since 1995, Dunlap has been the associate director of network systems the past 14 years.

• Tracy Antle’s appointment as nursing instructor to fill the vacancy created

by Hogue’s promotion to director. Antle, who previously taught part-time at IVCC and was an RN at St. Margaret’s Health in Spring Valley, has 25 years nursing experience.

• Hiring nursing instructor Taylor Myers to fill an opening created by Eris Simons’ resignation.

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Myers worked previously as an emergency department nurse in Rockford.

• Transfer of nearly $90,000 from the education fund to the restricted purposes fund to complete the match for the Small Business Development Center which closed Dec. 31.

• An electricity purchasing contract with MidAmerican or Constellation Energy that could save the college up to $8,500 per year through “Day-Ahead Locational Marginal Price Rates.” Midwest Energy representative Gary Gauger presented to the board’s audit-finance committee May 23.

• Purchasing an upgrade for the Secure 32 check printing system for $16,935 from FIS AvantGard.

• Reimbursement for travel expenses for trust-

ees David Mallery, Jay McCracken, Amy Sipovic and Angela Stevenson for training in Bloomington June 2 and for student trustee Matthew Pehoski to attend the Student Leadership Institute in Bloomington June 1-2.

• Rejoining the Illinois Community College Trustees Association at a onetime, 20 percent reduced rate of $9,067.

In other business, trustees learned: • Standing-room-only crowds attended the May 20 Nurse Pinning in the Cultural Centre and the 51st annual commencement in the gymnasium.

A total of 467 graduates earned 574 degrees and certificates this spring compared to 467 graduates earning 542 degrees and certificates in spring 2016.

• A Regional Office of Education and Business Employment Skills Team work study program served 36 students at the Ottawa Center and main campus this year including 21 who later earned high school diplomas.

Corcoran said the remaining 15 are eligible to return next year to continue pursuit of diplomas.

• A record 28 student athletes earned Academic All-American honors from the NJCAA and Arrowhead Conference. (Last year IVCC had 11.) By earning a perfect 4.0, 10 were named to the first team. Overall, 51 student athletes earned conference recognition.

• Ryan Ziegler, shipping and receiving coordinator, resigned May 25 and Sheri Mitchum, audio-visual and computing specialist, resigned June 13.

Friday, June 30, 2017 • The Tonica News • 3

Rezin’s Flood Alliance approved for continuing education credits

Tonica News photo/Goldie Rapp

St. Bede students, teachers, administrators and project contractors gather for a photo during the ground blessing ceremony held Wednesday, June 14, for a new science center and student commons area.

Science center/student commons in the works at St. Bede

By Goldie Rapp news@tonicanews.com

PERU — St. Bede Academy students, faculty, administrators and board of directors held a ground blessing ceremony Wednesday, June 14, where a new 16,000-square-foot science center and student commons area will soon be built.

The project is expected to be finished for the 2018-19 school year.

The science center will feature state-of-the-art laboratories for biology, chemistry, physics and support other innovative STEM-related courses. The center will also include faculty offices, a conference room and an outdoor classroom equipped with gas, electricity, water and solar panels to conduct experiments.

The center will be heated and cooled by geothermal energy.

The commons area will feature a space for students to study independently or in small groups or to simply

take a break. The commons is intended to have a collegiate look and feel.

The academy has been working with executives from StudioGC architectural firm, Vissering Construction Co. and JB Contracting Corps. on the project.

During the ceremony, Superintendent Ted Struck said while a construction project like this has a big impact on the school when it’s in session, the academy has made the decision to bring the project into the classroom. For example, the study of geothermal energy will fit well into the physics classes.

“The teachers will be able to work with architects and contractors to bring live projects into the curriculum,” he said. “We’re looking at the building project as a learning situation, not just an imposition on the school.”

Thomas Makransky of Princeton, who will be a student in the Class of 2023 at St. Bede, participated in the ceremony. He said

the science center will be a wonderful addition to the school.

“STEM is becoming a really popular thing in our world today. It will most likely attract more people to St. Bede Academy because jobs are rising,” he said.

The science center and student commons area is Phase 2 of the academy’s Legacy Project, which includes four phases.

Phase 1 was completed in 2014 and included necessary upgrades to the fire life safety systems in the main school building and construction of the arch.

Phase 3 includes construction of a field house and renovations to the Abbot Vincent Gymnasium. Phase 4 includes renovations to classrooms, offices and other essential area of the main school building.

Donations will fund the estimated $16 million required to complete all four phases. As a result, tuition and other fees will not

be increased to support the project.

Matt McGinnis, director of the Legacy Project and a 1985 graduate of St. Bede, said alumni and friends have asked why building a new addition is the priority instead of renovating the main building.

“The answer is that the most pressing need was to modernize our science laboratories, and it was most cost effective to building the science center than to renovate,” he said. “This plans also allows us to renovate the necessary or affordable number of classrooms based on enrollment levels and/or fundraising successes. Additionally, the proximity of our science programs allows students and teachers to participate in inter-disciplinary projects where teams of students examine several aspects of a given subject or concept. This intentional, holistic approach is happening at universities today.”

Certified floodplain managers throughout the Illinois Valley can now receive their mandatory continuing education class credits by attending State Sen. Sue Rezin’s (R-Morris) quarterly Illinois Valley Flood Resiliency Alliance (IVFRA) workshops.

This spring, the Association of State Floodplain Managers recognized and credited two continuing education credits per IVFRA workshop. For example, Certified floodplain mangers who attended the last four IVFRA quarterly workshops can now receive up to eight credits.

Sixteen continuing education credits are required every two years for a certified floodplain manager to maintain certification.

“This is just another example of how our flood alliance can be used as a model for other communities and regions around the state and the country,” Rezin said. “We have come a long way since 2013 when we started this alliance.

We are better prepared and better equipped now to handle a flood threat, so our infrastructure, property, homes and businesses have a better chance of staying dry.”

As a direct result the IVFRA, there are now 24 certified floodplain managers in Rezin’s 38th Senate District.

“We’ve already seen the good work the IVFRA does in flood preparations when earlier this year, after heavy rainfall, members of the alliance worked together to ensure everyone was on the same page and communicated to each community up and down stream what they were doing to handle rising waters,” Rezin said. In 2013, Rezin helped establish the IVFRA. The IVFRA brings communities, local governments and emergency personnel together to help them prepare for floods through education, communication and the purchasing of flood protection materials. The IVFRA includes LaSalle, Grundy, Bureau and Putnam counties.

• The 38th Senate District has about 130 miles worth of river frontage, one of the most in the state.

• Ottawa alone is the watershed for 12,000 square miles.

• The state of Illinois has the largest collection of inland bodies of water and rivers in the continental United States.

• 12 percent of surface in Illinois is mapped as a flood plain.

Tonica Volunteer Fire Department At 5:41 p.m. on June 21, the Tonica Volunteer Fire Department was called to Mile Marker 50 on Interstate 39 for a motor vehicle accident. Emergency personnel found a car and semi-truck had been involved in an accident. The car had rolled over multiple times and was in a field off of the interstate right-of-way.

Emergency medics treated the driver, Angela L. Devries, 56, of Amboy who was the only occupant, until it was determined she had suffered fatal injuries.

Oglesby Ambulance was called for mutual aid. The truck driver wasn’t injured and requested not to be transported to a hospital.

Tonica responded with a pumper, rescue truck and ambulance, and the state police and conservation police assisted with traffic control. The LaSalle County Coroner and accident reconstruction team investigated.

Tonica units were released from the scene in about two hours with other agencies remaining on scene.

While still working at the accident, Tonica received an emergency medical call in Tonica. Oglesby Ambulance and additional Tonica medical personnel responded to the residence in town.

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LaSalle County Sheriff On June 20, deputies arrested Robert Marionneaux, 21, of Seneca following a traffic stop on Route 18 at East 12th Road in Eagle Township. Marionneaux was arrested for unlawful possession of cannabis, more than 30 grams, less than 100 and speeding 70 mph in a 55

mph zone. He was taken to the LaSalle County Jail.

At 5:11 p.m. on June 25, deputies cited Stacy Steinquist, 40, of Joliet for speeding 75 mph in a 55 mph zone following a traffic stop on Route 251 in Eden Township.

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4 • The Tonica News • Friday, June 30, 2017

The Editorial Page The Tonica News Sam R Fisher

Terri Simon

Publisher

Editor

‘Politics of blame’ game diminishes us all I fear the 2018 election contests for governor and legislature, already underway, will be ugly, brutal affairs.

Unprecedented millions of dollars will be focused laserlike on convincing voters the opposition bears all the blame Jim Nowlan for the incredible mess the state is in, COMMENTARY with nary a sou spent on discussion of constructive, though painful, options for getting us out of our mess.

If I am right about this, we will all come out of the process feeling a little grimy and less positive about our state. All this during our bicentennial celebration.

My fears are based on three factors that will combine for a toxic brew.

First, voters are at present blaming Gov. Rauner, House Speaker Madigan and state lawmakers in roughly equal doses, from what I gather. I recently finished teaching a short-course on Illinois politics at Bradley University to 65 “mature” citizens in a lifelong learning program.

After discussing our budget problems, I asked these generally well-educated, successful folks whom they blamed for the mess. With a tad more of the blame pinned on long-serving Democratic House speaker Mike Madigan, the class members otherwise spread the blame across all the elected officials in rather equal dollops, saying in effect, “a pox on all of their houses.”

Second, rumors from good sources are swirling that Gov. Rauner will devote two to three times more than the $50 million he has already committed to winning re-election and also to flipping the state legislature from Dem to GOP majorities.

The Democrat majorities in the General Assembly gerrymandered legislative districts so favorably to their party in 2011 that I doubt all the gold at Fort Knox could turn the legislature Republican in 2018. But hey, I said all along that Trump was just a flash in the pan.

Madigan will put the muscle on his interest groups to match Rauner’s personal wealth, unsuccessfully, I’m guessing. But both sides will use their big money on vicious, personal ads to try to destroy the personas of opponents.

They will do this because such ads have worked with the public in the past.

Third, red ink is gushing across Illinois state budget spread sheets, with simple unpaid bills now amounting to $1,000 per man, woman and child in the state. [As I have written in this space, spending at present outpaces revenues by an amount equal to more than one-quarter of our general funds spending.]

To right the ship of state will require, for a few years at least, eye-popping tax increases. But the public doesn’t believe that.

During a class exercise on balancing the budget, my class members largely focused their efforts on cutting waste and corruption and reducing pension costs. This, even though I told them savings in those areas were quite limited, the latter because of court decisions saying the pension costs had to be paid.

[Gov. Rauner even sent out a public letter recently saying he hoped Illinois would solve its budget problems without a tax increase.]

As a result of all the above, neither side in the 2018 election Battle of Armageddon dares be the first to talk seriously about necessary tax increases. And so, we may go on until after the 2018 election without a real budget.

Incredible, unforgivable.

And thus, the game will be blame!

I have written that I think Gov. Rauner is largely, not wholly, to blame for the lack of a budget; after all, our state constitution directs him to present a balanced budget to the legislature every year, which he hasn’t done.

But, a newcomer to politics, Rauner sure cannot be blamed for the pension albatross that burdens us, without which we wouldn’t even have a budget problem.

For the pension mess, Rauner’s nemesis Speaker Madigan is the public face, as he has been a dominant political force across the several decades during which the problem festered.

I am afraid there is no stopping this counterproductive, hyper-focused “blame train.” It’s the way of politics today.

I am reading a biography of 18th Century English politician and political thinker Edmund Burke. You might

My oh my — how times have changed They were dreaded words in my little girl vocabulary. Always uttered by the adults in my world, the words rang in my ears and caused this little girl some of her first panic attacks ...

“It’s time to take a nap,” they’d say.

Panic! Panic! Panic! How was I going to get out of it? I didn’t want a nap; I didn’t need a nap. The last thing this little girl wanted or needed was to remove herself from the action, lie down in her bed, close her eyes and go to sleep. No! No! No! Naps were certainly not on my agenda, and I used to fight them with all the energy a 3- or 4-year-old child could muster. Tears were not out of the question.

And then I went to school.

Finally, I could remove myself from the idea of an afternoon nap. After all, there were many things to do in kindergarten, and clearly, there would be no time for a nap. Wrong! The first day of kindergarten, my teacher told us to get out the rug we had brought from home. It was on that rug we were told to lay down every day for what amounted to a power nap — about 20 or 30 minutes worth of napping right there in the kindergarten room with all your classmates. Students in my kindergarten class who actually fell asleep during nap time got a construction paper star placed on their rug — a treat to see when they finally woke up. I never got one.

Fast forward many, many, many years, my friends ...

Today there are days when I would nearly give my right arm just for a simple nap. That’s right. I totally take back all those

Terri Simon COMMENTARY

youthful moments when I fought nap-taking time. I’m sorry about the tears, the screaming, the pleading, the pouting. I’m sorry about stomping up the stairs to my bedroom. I’m sorry about all the mischief I got into while I was supposed to be taking my nap, and I’m sorry I never got one of those construction paper stars.

I don’t know about you, but to me, there are not many things better than the opportunity to take a Saturday or Sunday afternoon nap. Snatching a pillow off my bed, I just love to curl up on the couch; turn the TV on with the volume on low; cover up with a down-filled throw; and drift off to sleep for an hour or two. If I can keep the phone from ringing, I’ll wake up in an hour or so and feel completely refreshed for the rest of the day.

For me, naps never happen very often, which is why they are somewhat sacred in my book of things I love. Every weekend I have good intentions, and I try to plan a nap.

But all too often, something else gets in the way. That’s OK, I guess.

There’s always next weekend.

My favorite weekend naps come on Sunday afternoon, when there’s a golf tournament on TV. My friend, Clare, told me napping during golf is perfect because the announcers of the golf tournament whisper. She’s right. For someone who seldom turns on the

TV during the day, especially on the weekend, those golf tournaments are something I truly look forward to, though I don’t get to see much golfing.

While I know there are people in this world who would like me to feel guilty about laying down in the middle of the afternoon and stealing a few minutes of sleep, I find those people give me even more reason to turn out the lights and savor each and every moment. That’s right! Those precious and valuable afternoon naps afford me the opportunity to tune out the chaos and the naysayers, and drift off into a land that speaks of stolen moments reserved just for myself. In a place and time when I find my days and actions usually focused on others, I am the sole (and soul) beneficiary of my naps. Selfishly, I like that.

There is a host of information out there spewing facts about the benefits of napping, but it’s all really irrelevant to me. What’s important to me is that napping feels like floating on a cloud, peacefully, a love affair of sorts, truly something that brings me comfort as I escape from the woes of the world.

What I wouldn’t give now for someone to say, “Hey, Terri, it’s time to take a nap!” There would be no pleading, no tears, no screaming, no pouting, no stomping up the stairs to my bedroom and no mischief. And while there obviously would be no construction paper stars, it would be a small price to pay for an hour or two of unadulterated bliss.

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

TO Letter THE Editor

Requiring a life insurance company to keep its promise To the Editor, Today, there are life insurance companies that have kept death benefits even when they knew, or should have known, the person who purchased the policy had passed away.

Some companies do so because paying these benefits would reduce their profit margins, according to federal documents and published reports.

To defend their decision, they say no law technically requires them to pay if a family does not apply for death benefits.

However, this thinking implies everyone is prepared for the inevitable.

We know that is not the case. Each of us knows a family whose breadwinner died without telling their spouse about a life insurance policy purchased at work, or the young child left orphaned following a tragic accident, or the elderly matriarch ravaged by Alzheimer’s.

If a company must hang its authority upon the word ‘technically,’ than its actions cannot be considered

morally right.

That is why we asked lawmakers to remove any ambiguity with regard to paying life insurance benefits.

The House and Senate agreed and sent to the governor HB 302 - The Life Insurance Reform Act. The legislation would require life insurance companies to review their records from the year 2000 to present and confirm the companies are not holding onto life insurance benefits that should have been paid.

To be clear, most life insurance companies cooperate fully with our request to confirm they do not hold life insurance benefits that should have been paid.

Sadly, not all companies share that same responsibility. We pursued a legislative change only when the last argument left on the table was couched with the word “technically.”

I hope the governor agrees, and I ask him to sign The Life Insurance Reform Act into law.

Michael W. Frerichs, Illinois State Treasurer Springfield

Letters policy 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.

call Burke the grandfather of both modern conservatism as well as of political parties.

Burke would be appalled by the politics of blame, I think. He favored a balance of powers — and responsibilities — among the King, Lords and Commons. To justify their wealth and favored position, the aristocracy had a duty to serve and lead.

I always thought of leadership as the drawing together

of people in pursuit of common objectives, rather than of polarizing us.

There may be a time to come when such leaders will arise. I think they would be widely welcomed.

Jim Nowlan of Toulon served two terms in the Illinois House and worked under three governors. He co-wrote “Fixing Illinois: Politics and Policy in the Prairie State.”

Contact Nowlan at jnowlan3@gmail.com.

Friday, June 30, 2017 • The Tonica News • 5

Protect yourself this mosquito season IDPH offers tips to guard against mosquito bites SPRINGFIELD – As we enter mosquito season, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reminding Illinoisans of the best ways to avoid being bitten.

Different types of mosquitoes can carry different types of diseases, like West Nile virus and Zika virus, but steps you can take to protect yourself from mosquito bites are essentially the same. “Each year since 2002 when we saw the first human cases of West Nile virus in Illinois, we’ve seen the virus circulate across the state,� said IDPH Director Nirav D. Shah, M.D. J.D. “Now, for the second summer, we’re monitoring for Zika virus in Illinois. While Zika is also primarily transmitted through the bite of a mosquito, the main type of mosquito that carries Zika virus is rarely found in Illinois. However, taking some simple precautions can help you avoid mosquito bites, regardless of the type of mosquito or the diseases they carry.�

West Nile virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected Culex pipiens, “house� mosquito. Mild cases of West Nile virus infections may cause a slight fever or headache. More severe infections are marked by a rapid onset of a high fever with head and body aches, disorientation, tremors,

convulsions, and in the most severe cases, paralysis or death. Symptoms usually occur from three to 14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. However, four out of five people infected with West Nile virus will not show any symptoms. People older than 50 are at higher risk for severe illness from West Nile virus.

Zika virus is primarily transmitted through the bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito, a mosquito that rarely has been found in Illinois. Unlike West Nile virus, Zika virus can be passed from person to person through sex, so it’s important to wear a condom if you or your partner may have been exposed to Zika. Many people infected with Zika virus won’t have symptoms or will have only mild symptoms and might not realize they have been infected. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis (red eyes), and typically last several days to a week. However, Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a serious birth defect called microcephaly, as well as other severe fetal brain defects.

Since December 2015, 116 cases of Zika virus have been reported in Illinois; 115 cases are travel-related and one case occurred through sex with someone who

traveled to an area with Zika virus. More information about Zika virus can be found on the IDPH website.

Predicting how bad the mosquito season will be is like predicting the weather; it can change week to week. The key factors in determining high or low levels of mosquito activity are temperature and rainfall.

Although people usually notice mosquitoes during rainy conditions, those mosquitoes are commonly called floodwater or nuisance mosquitoes (Aedes vexans) and typically do not carry disease.

In hot, dry weather, mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus breed in stagnant water, like street catch basins and ditches, and multiply rapidly. Similarly, the type of mosquito that carries Zika virus also breeds in stagnant water like empty flower pots, tires and any container that holds water that is not changed weekly. There are two other types of mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus and Aedes triseriatus) found in Illinois that can also carry disease and breed in water-collecting containers.

Here are some simple precautions you can take to reduce the number of mosquitoes around your home and protect yourself from being bitten. Precautions include

practicing the three “Rsâ€? – reduce, repel and report. • REDUCE — make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens. Repair or replace screens that have tears or other openings. Try to keep doors and windows shut.

Eliminate, or refresh each week, all sources of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, including water in bird baths, ponds, flowerpots, wading pools, old tires and any other containers. • REPEL — when outdoors, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and apply insect repellent that contains DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR 3535, according to label instructions. Consult a physician before using repellents on infants. • REPORT — report locations where you see water sitting stagnant for more than a week such as roadside ditches, flooded yards, and similar locations that may produce mosquitoes. The local health department or city government may be able to add larvicide to the water, which will kill any mosquito eggs.

Additional information about West Nile virus can be found on the IDPH website.

Employees now own Morton Buildings Inc. MORTON — Morton Buildings Inc., the industry leader in post-frame manufacturing and construction with an office in Streator, announced 100 percent of the company is now owned by its employees.

Prior owners sold their

shares to the employees’ Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Trust, giving current and future employees full ownership of the company. As an employee-owned company, Morton Buildings will continue to operate under

its existing business model and management structure.

Morton’s ESOP is a qualified retirement plan that can generate significant retirement benefits for Morton Buildings’ 1,700 employee owners.

Consignments Wanted For 12th Annual Putnam County FFA Alumni Consignment Sale

Since its inception in 1903 as the Interlocking Fence Co., the company built its reputation by serving customers and empowering its employees. In 1963, when Henry A. Getz became president, the business grew dramat-

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Farm machinery and related items, lawn mowers, trucks, cars, garage items, antiques, and miscellaneous.

Sponsored by the Putnam County FFA Alumni Proceeding benefits to go towards Putnam County FFA Chapter Consignments are now being accepted for listing and advertising by calling alumni members listed below or, e-mailing pc_ffa_alumni@hotmail.com, or faxing 815-3392217. Items must be listed by July 15 for final sale bill to be properly advertised.

No items will be accepted for consignment on Saturday (sale day). All items must be salable and will be accepted by the discretion of an alumni committee person. Firearms or hazardous materials will not be accepted.

1 Piece or a Full Line of farm equipment will be accepted.

Any donated items will also be welcome and greatly appreciated.

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Getz changed the name to Morton Buildings in 1965 and continued to lead the company until he retired in 2002.

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6 • The Tonica News • Friday, June 30, 2017

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Annual celebration benefits SRRC PERU — On June 4, thousands gathered at Skydive Chicago for the Starved Rock Regional Center for Therapy and Child Development’s third annual celebration.

The event featured the second annual Car Show for the Kids presented by The Auto Inspector with close to 100 cars on display at the event. Several awards were given out to attendees, including Kid’s Choice, Most Attended Car Club, Auto Inspector’s Choice and more. Each car show participant received a collectable aluminum Car Show for the Kids dash plaque.

The event also featured beer, as well as food provided by Bula Food Truck, Country Girl Food Services, Mickey’s Massive Burritos and Twinkels Ice Cream.

Also at the event were games for kids, including bounce houses and a mini golf course donated in part

by Event Specialists.

There was a trackless train courtesy of Norman and Jean Strow and face painting donated in part

by Samantha Brown. Spider Vette gave of his time to make the kids smile

and brought along many other fun characters such as a Minion and some Paw Patrol friends. And capturing the fun was Rhonda Johnson Photography.

Musical entertainment included 3 on the Tree who donated their time and 3 Mile High who greatly discounted their services.

The event DJ for the second year was Center Stage Sound Company whose services were donated in part. Stages for the music were provided by Rhode Construction, who also gave of their time helping set up for the event.

New in 2017, there were planes on display and airplane rides available to guests as well as some aerobatics performed by Peru’s Peter Limberger.

Several raffle prizes were awarded at the event including airplane rides, car alignments, Cub’s tickets and bowling packages. The biggest prize of the event though was the 50/50 raffle which awarded $3,600 to the winner, Jessica Stafford.

“We are so grateful for the support of our community and families,” said Tracy Beattie, president

& CEO for Starved Rock Regional Center for Therapy & Child Development.

“We don’t take a single effort for granted. Attendees, those who shared Facebook posts, volunteers, those who loaned equipment or help setup or clean up and every single dollar given is what allows SRRC to continue to provide services to local children.”

To date the event and celebration campaign has raised over $43,000 which is up from last year. But you can still be a part of the event; SRRC is still accepting donations and hoping to reach their goal of $45,000 to provide vital services to children in the community. One hundred percent of donations remain in LaSalle and Bureau counties.

For more information on this event, contact Jennifer Kirkman at 815434-0857 or email jenniferk@starvedrockcenter. org. To make a donation, visit www.starvedrockcenter.org or mail to SRRC at 1013 Adams St., Ottawa, IL 61350. Any donations sent to a P.O. box in Ottawa do not benefit SRRC.

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Friends and family of radiologist Merle Piacenti, MD, (second from right) honored him with a retirement reception on June 20 at Senica’s Oak Ridge. Dr. Piacenti is retiring after 37 years of medical practice in the Illinois Valley. During his career, he became wellknown locally as an advocate of mammography as a mean of detecting breast cancer in women in its early stages. He and his physician group, Hospital Radiology Services, work at St. Margaret’s Hospital in Spring Valley, where he joined the medical staff in 1980; Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru, where he joined the medical staff in 1993; and at OSF Saint Paul Medical Center in Mendota. Fellow radiologists wishing Dr. Piacenti a happy retirement are Dr. Steve Lukancic (from left), Dr. Steven Coventry and Dr. Paul Kim.

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Friday, June 30, 2017 • The Tonica News • 7

IVCC announces spring graduates, honor lists Illinois Valley Community College has released the names of its spring graduates and area students honored for academic honors

Academic honors

OGLESBY — Illinois Valley Community College has released the names of students recognized for academic honors during its spring 2017 semester. Area students who earned a grade point average of 3.25 to 3.74 in six or more semester hours, were: Cedar Point — George Bond, Gary Olson and Mara Penrod.

Lostant — Kayte Bernardoni and Nolan Severson.

Tonica — Ian Ellis, Kathleen Heinz, Rachel Huska, Samantha Milton, Marlee Theisinger, Nicole VanDerheide, Bridget Ward and Mark Zimmer.

Presidential honors OGLESBY — Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby has released its spring 2017 semester presidential honors list. Students who earned a grade point average of 3.75 to 4.0 in 12 or more semester hours were included on the list. Area students were: Lostant — Elizabeth Kammer, Taylor Kreiser and Lidia Templeton.

Tonica — Matthew Blackowski, Jonathan Siemers and Kalli Steele.

Spring graduates OGLESBY — A total of 466 students graduated this spring at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby. Area graduates were: Cedar Point — Katie Korte.

Leonore — Samantha Burns.

Lostant — Kayte Bernardoni, Doneida Larsen and Sydney Rothchild.

Tonica — Rachel Huska, Roger Konczak, Rachael Lock, Nicole VanDerheide, Lexi-Anna Verda and Mark Zimmer.

Menus Putnam County Community Center July 3 — Pork roast and gravy, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, raspberries, dessert.

July 4 — Center closed.

July 5 — Lemon pepper chicken, baked potatoes, green beans, blueberries.

July 6 — Lasagna, salad with toppings, garlic bread, pineapple tidbits, dessert.

July 7 — BLT on wheat, Navy bean soup, apricots.

Bread, butter, fruit juice and 2% milk are available with meals. 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.

LaSalle County 4-H Show and Junior Fair OTTAWA — It’s “Back to the Basics” for this year’s LaSalle County 4-H Show and Junior Fair.

The fair kicks off Wednesday, July 12, with the Broken Horn Rodeo beginning at 7 p.m. at the LaSalle County fairgrounds on the south side of Ottawa. 4-H clubs are busy completing projects and cleaning up the fairgrounds in preparation of putting on a great exhibit show. The “Back to the Basics” fair theme will reflect the traditions and meaning behind the four H’s of 4-H: Head, Heart, Hands and Health. Many new

events and activities can be enjoyed.

Thursday, July 13 — judging starts on non-livestock projects. This includes everything from aerospace to zucchini!

There is also cake decorating, cat show, dog show and a style review of the 4-H’ers clothing projects.

Friday, July 14 — the swine, horse, poultry and dairy shows begin in the morning.

Following the dairy show the sheep venue will begin. The goat show will begin at 2 p.m. The public speaking contest; “Speak Out for 4-H,” will be at 1 p.m. in the exhibit

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

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

- 200 Employment 232 • Business Opportunities ********** 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

PROMOTE JOB OPENINGS We can help get your business fully staffed.

Call 815-875-4461

- 400 Merchandise 448 • Pets & Livestock FREE TO GOOD HOMES: Lots of Kittens, 8 weeks old. Very friendly. Call Karen at 815-376-2253

450 • Under $1000 1986 Ford ¾ ton aluminum tool bed, $900.

Call 815-993-7417 2 fancy end tables, $150; Black & Decker counter top oven, works, $40; wheelchair, $75.

Call 815-488-2934 5hp Troy Bilt trimmer mower, like new, excellent condition. $75 Call 815-643-2158 Pressure washer, $150; new grinder, $35; new metal car signs, $6 each.

Call 815-875-2637 Sprint DR trimmer/mower, 3.5 hp motor, manual start, good condition, extra cutting cord, $100.

Call 815-866-7488 Steel spiral staircase, complete, excellent condition. $350.

Call 815 876-0751 Strong Arm 4-1/2 angle grinder $20; 6.5' Douglas Fir Xmas tree, $35; 39” Pine upholstered bench $42. 815-454-2219 Two dual 15" Yamaha sub cabs $600; dual 15" sub cabs, new EV EFX150A drivers $600 each.

Call 815-663-7823 ************ 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!

460 • Garage Sales PRINCETON 12873 2050 E Street (2 miles South of Princeton on Euclid).

Thursday, June 29, 4pm7pm; Friday, June 30, 8am-12pm.

Antiques, collectibles, clocks, home goods, etc.

PRINCETON 12989 IL Hwy 26 (southeast of Princeton, 1 mile on the right). Friday June 30, 7:30am-3pm; Saturday July 1, 7:30am- noon.

MULTI-FAMILY. INSIDE A METAL SHED Antiques, furniture, 2 sewing machines, pictures, kitchenware, vanity top, and much more PRINCETON 404 Fox Creek Lane. Thursday, June 29, 12pm-5pm; Friday, June 30, 9am-1pm; Saturday, July 1, 9am12pm. 2 FAMILY SALE. Lots of kids stuff. Clothes: girls size 5-10, lots of dresses, boys size youth L -XL, (brand names include Under Armour, Abercrombie, Mustard Pie, Mitilda Jane, Tea, Hanna, Andersson, Jelly The Pug, Gapp, Gymboree, Naartjie, etc).

Some items new with tags. Kids shoes, toys, DVDs, books, lawn roller & misc. household items.

Smoke free, pet free home

- 700 Real Estate For Sale 767 • Mobile Home Sales DO YOU HAVE A PLACE TO SELL? The Tonica News Classified can help you find the right person to move in.

999 • Legal Notices LEGAL PUBLICATION At the June 19, 2017, regular meeting of the Village of Tonica, Ordinance #597 was passed regulating wages pursuant to “An Act Regulating Wages of Laborers, Mechanics, and Other Workers Employed in any Public Works.” The general prevailing rate of wages

hall. Starting at 7 p.m., the Illini Pullers Association tractor pull will kick-off.

Saturday, July 15 — the rabbit show begins at 8:30 a.m. and beef showmanship begins at 9:30 a.m. followed by the purebred heifer classes. The steer classes will begin following the heifer show. The evening will offer a fair auction at 4:30 p.m. in the show arena, with numerous items for sale and proceeds benefiting LaSalle County programming and junior fair. Entertainment will be the demolition derby at 7 p.m.

Sunday, July 16 — the horse show begins

at 9 a.m. The ADM Master Showman contest will also begin at 11 a.m. in the show barn. The Parade of Excellence at 2 p.m. will provide 4-H members a chance to showcase their outstanding projects one last time before a crowd. At the close of the fair the projects are released at about 4 p.m.

For questions about 4-H, contact the University of Illinois – LaSalle County Extension at 815-433-0707. For information regarding entry and night events, call the junior fair at 815-200-3913.

999 • Legal Notices

999 • Legal Notices

999 • Legal Notices

999 • Legal Notices

under the jurisdiction of the Library District is the same as determined by the Department of Labor of the State of Illinois for the County of LaSalle as of June, 2016.

A copy of the full resolution and the Department of Labor Determination is available for inspection at Village Hall, Tonica, IL. Heather Sherman, Village Clerk Village of Tonica Published in the Tonica News June 30, 2017.

tenance) projects, to be the same as those in LaSalle County as determined by the Illinois Department of Labor.

Anyone wishing to inspect the Ordinance may do so at the office of Lostant CUSD 425,

315 West 3rd Street, Lostant, IL 61334 by calling 815-368-3392 for an appointment.

Mike Phillips, School Board President, Lostant CUSD 425.

Published in the Tonica News June 30, 2017.

Circuit Clerk LaSalle County Courthouse 119 W. Madison St. Ottawa, Illinois 61350 Published in the Tonica News June 30, July 7 and 14, 2017.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of Education of School District Number 425 in the County of LaSalle, State of Illinois, that the proposed budget for said School District for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017, will be on file and conveniently available to public inspection at the District Office, 315 W. 3rd St., Lostant, Illinois, from and after 8 o’clock a.m. on the 22nd day of June 2017.

Notice is further hereby given that a public hearing on said amended budget will be held at 6:00 p.m. on the 26th day of July, 2017, in the School District No. 425 Board Room.

Board of Education School District Number 425, County of LaSalle, State of Illinois.

Sandra Malahy Recording Secretary June 22, 2017 Published in the Tonica News June 30, 2017.

NOTICE OF PREVAILING WAGE ORDINANCE Lostant CUSD 425 passed an ordinance on June 21, 2017 establishing prevailing wage rates for workers on new construction or improvement (not main-

STATE OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT COUNTY OF LASALLE In the Matter of the Estate of ) CHARLES LAUGAL, Deceased ) No. 17-P-129 In Probate NOTICE TO HEIRS OF CHARLES LAUGAL WHOSE NAMES OR ADDRESSES ARE UNKNOWN AND CLAIM NOTICE YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that CHARLES LAUGAL died on June 10, 2017 and that TERRY THOMPSON, P.O. Box 22, McNabb, IL 61335, (the “Representative”) was appointed Independent Executor of the Estate of CHARLES LAUGAL, Deceased on June 20, 2017. The Attorney of Record for the Representative is John L. Cantlin, of The Cantlin Law Firm, 760 E. Etna Road, Ottawa, Illinois.

NOTICE IS GIVEN to any heirs or legatees of CHARLES LAUGLA who names or addresses are not stated in the Petition for Probate of Will and for Letters Testamentary, that an Order was entered by the Circuit Court of LaSalle County, Illinois on June 20, 2017 appointing TERRY THOMPSON as Independent Executor of the Estate of CHARLES LAUGAL, Deceased.

Within 42 days after the effective date or the original Order Admitting Will to Probate and Appointing Representative, any heir or legatee may file a Petition with the Court to require proof of the Will by filing a Petition with the Court to require proof of the Will by testimony of the witnesses to the Will in open Court or other evidence, as provided in Section 6-21 of the Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/6-21).

You also have rights under Section 8-1 of the Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/8-1) to contest the validity of the Will by filing a Petition with the Court within six months after admission of the Will to Probate.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the Office of the Circuit Clerk, Probate Division, LaSalle County Courthouse, 119 W. Madison St., Ottawa, Illinois 61350, or with the representative or both, within 6 months from the date of first publication of this Notice. If claim notice is personally mailed or delivered to a creditor of the above estate, then claim must be filed in the above entitled cause within three months from the date of mailing or delivery, whichever is later. Any claims not filed within the above periods are 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.

Filings are to be made with: Greg Vaccaro

PERONA, PETERLIN, ANDREONI & BROLLEY, LLC IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LASALLE COUNTY, ILLINOIS IN THE MATTER OF: ) THE ESTATE OF ) BARBARA PETERLIN, Deceased ) No: 17-P-130 CLAIM NOTICE Notice is given of the death of BARBARA PETERLIN of Oglesby, Illinois, who died on November 23, 2015.

Letters of office were issued on June 21, 2017 to Ronald E. Peterlin, 2 Deer Park Ln. Oglesby, IL 61348, whose attorney is Gary L. Peterlin, 170 E. Walnut Street, Oglesby, Illinois 61348.

Notice is given to any heir or legatee whose names or addresses are not stated in the petition for letters of office, that an order was entered by the Court on June 21, 2017, admitting the decedent’s Will to probate. Within 42 days after the date of the order of admission you may file a petition with the Court to require proof of the Will by testimony of the witnesses to the Will in open court or other evidence, as provided in Section 6-21 of the Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/6-21). You also have the right under Section 8-1 of the Probate Act of 1975 (755 ILCS 5/8-1) to contest the validity of the Will by filing a petition with the Court within 6 months after admission of the Will to probate.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the Office of the Circuit Clerk, Probate Division, Downtown Courthouse, Ottawa, Illinois 61350, or with the representative, or both, on or before January 1, 2018. If a claim notice is mailed or delivered personally to a creditor of the decedent, the creditor’s claim may be filed on or before the date stated in that notice, if later than the date shown above. Any claim not filed within the time allowed is barred.

Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the Representative and to the Attorney within ten days after it has been filed.

Perona, Peterlin, Andreoni & Brolley, LLC 170 E. Walnut St., PO Box 35 Oglesby, IL 61348 Tel: 815-883-4102 Published in the Tonica News June 30, July 7 and 14, 2017.

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8 • The Tonica News • Friday, June 30, 2017

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20 ideas for a frugal (not cheap) wedding on a budget 1. Avoid guest list bloat.

gift. Then, after the ceremony, provide high-quality digital images of everything.

Although you might be tempted to throw everyone you know on your guest list, that isn’t always a great idea. With each addition you make, you’re adding additional costs while also making your wedding less intimate. To save as much as you can, try inviting fewer people and making the event more intimate. Start by whittling your list down by 20 percent, then another 20 percent. Then see if you’re happy with it.

2. Ask for wedding help instead of wedding gifts.

Asking family and friends to offer help or services that align with their talents in lieu of a gift is a great way to keep your wedding on a budget. Maybe a close friend who’s is an extremely skilled amateur photographer, and is willing to photograph the ceremony as a wedding

3. Hold the ceremony at home, or outdoors.

Renting a building or function hall for your ceremony and reception can be very expensive. Instead, consider using your own home (or the home of a parent) for your ceremony, or perhaps a public park with a beautiful view. In each case, you can also have your reception outdoors, creating a picturesque, memorable ceremony while eliminating the cost of renting a venue.

If you go the outdoor route, however, it’s best to have a back-up plan in case of bad weather; you don’t want to get married in a downpour that leaves all your friends and family soaked. That might mean renting a sturdy tent if rain is forecast, or a few industrial fans if it’s an extremely hot day — or simply stuffing

everyone inside the house to wait out a storm.

4. Do the catering yourself, or hire a family-owned restaurant.

If this isn’t your forte, look around your community for a family-owned restaurant and ask the owners directly to cater your wedding. Family-owned restaurants are always the first place to check — they will almost always go the extra mile to make your wedding special and are generally more understanding of your particular budget needs.

5. Go minimal with the flowers.

Instead of spending boatloads of money on flowers that will die shortly after the reception, keep it simple but elegant — for instance, a single rose for each bridesmaid and a very small bouquet for the

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10 • The Tonica News • Friday, June 30, 2017 bride. If you know someone with a rose bush, you can actually make your own bouquets the day before the ceremony by cutting the roses yourself and trimming away the thorns.

Another cheap wedding idea — go with fake flowers instead. It’s likely that no one will even notice, and you could save a bundle by making the arrangements yourself well ahead of time.

6. Skip the groomsmen and bridesmaid gifts.

While it’s considered customary to give gifts to your groomsmen and bridesmaids in some circles, it isn’t always necessary.

Instead of buying gifts they may not even want or enjoy, consider writing them a special note to say “thanks” instead. If your friends know that you’re trying to have a frugal wedding, they will understand.

7. Make your own invitations.

With a quality home printer and some time, you can make very classy invitations on your own. Sites like VistaPrint. com also offer cheap wedding invitations you can order from the comfort of your home. Their options aren’t fancy, but they will do the trick.

8. Borrow stereo equipment or use yours from home.

Rather than hiring a DJ, just use your own home stereo equipment, or equipment you borrow from a friend. Put speakers around the dance floor area — there’s no need to spread them around the reception room. Create a playlist on your iPod that features a few hours worth of your favorite songs — or see if you have a friend who might want to make a playlist for you. Choosing your own songs is a great way to personalize your entire experience.

9. Stock the bar yourself.

Alcohol is a big expense when it comes to a lot of weddings, and it’s also a big variable you can play around with to cut costs. Instead of opting for a full open bar, for instance, you can save money offering just beer and wine, or a free cocktail hour followed by a cash bar.

If you do rent a function hall, ask if they’ll let you supply your own alcohol instead of using the venue’s, which can be a big money-saver. Look for a discount liquor

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store in your area, and stock up on the basics: red and white wine and a few types of beer at the very least. If you want to offer a full bar, pick up the standard liquors like vodka, gin, rum and whiskey, plus a few mixers and soft drinks like sodas and juice.

Keep in mind that while it’s more cost-efficient to buy a keg of beer instead of cases, any leftover beer will go to waste, whereas you can store excess bottles for months. And that’s helpful, since it’s a good idea to overestimate — you don’t want to run out drinks halfway through the reception.

10. Display ‘vendor cards’ in exchange for reduced rates.

If you’re hiring people to provide services for your reception (musicians, a DJ, florists, caterers, photographers, etc.), offer to advertise for them in exchange for reduced rates.

At the reception, put a small card by each person’s place setting that lists the businesses responsible for each service at the wedding, along with their contact information. Since this tends to be very effective advertising, many businesses will happily provide services at reduced rates in exchange for this opportunity.

11. Contact the local university.

If you’d like live musical accompaniment for the ceremony (and perhaps for the reception), one place to look for lower-cost musicians is your local university’s music department.

Contact them and ask if there are any students who are studying a particular instrument or vocal work and see if they’re available to provide music for a wedding. It can help them develop their resume and save you on this typically pricey part of your wedding.

This goes for photographers as well — if there’s an art school or photography program at your local college, see if there are any talented students or recent grads who would be willing to photograph your wedding at a discount for the portfolio-building experience and exposure they’d receive.

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Friday, June 30, 2017 • The Tonica News • 11 until it goes on sale and “pounce” when the time is right. Meanwhile, you can also consider buying used centerpieces and decorations. Recent brides often sell their decorations on sites like craigslist. org, and you can save a bundle of money — and effort — going that route.

13. If you’re getting married in your own church, ask the ladies’ auxiliary for help.

Most churches have a women’s organization that is very happy to help with wedding preparation in exchange for a small donation. Get them involved — they can take a lot of worry off your shoulders for a relatively low price.

14. Buy dresses off the rack — and on sale.

If you want to save on bridesmaid dresses, try to avoid ordering custom dresses altogether. Instead, head to a few stores with dresses on sale and see if you can all find something “off the rack.”

This works best if your colors are chosen ahead of time and if the store you’re shopping at carries plenty of sizes. To minimize spats within your wedding party, you can also shop ahead of time and only have them try on dresses you already approve of.

Another cheap wedding idea: Instead of buying new dresses, have every bridesmaid wear a particular color dress they already own.

16. Plan a simple honeymoon, not an ostentatious one.

A huge, over-the-top honeymoon might sound fun, but it’s far, far cheaper (and often more enjoyable) to stay closer to home. Instead of planning a big, expensive trip, focus on what matters: Unwinding after those hectic weeks leading up to your wedding, and savoring some time alone with your new spouse. An 18-hour flight across the world with multiple connections isn’t going to help in that regard.

You could even just hop in the car and spend a week or two seeing all of the local sights you’ve never had time to see until now. Whatever you do, just enjoy this time together.

17. Involve your closest friends and family in the preparations.

As you’re brainstorming cheap wedding ideas, you should get your closest friends and family involved with the details. Quite often, they’ll have surprisingly good ideas that can save you money and effort.

For example, they might know a vendor that would offer you a deal, or have something you could borrow for your special day. Good friends and family are always there to help, and they’ll be especially happy to contribute to such a joyful occasion — so you might as well take advantage of their generosity.

15. Rent tuxedos as a group.

18. Try not to mention the ‘w-word’ at first when hiring a vendor.

Unless you have a specific reason for owning a tuxedo (and few people do), you should rent one. It’s often useful to rent the tuxedos as a group through the same business, as you’ll often get a group rate.

If you don’t want to go the tuxedo route, you can also have all of your groomsmen wear a black suit from home or other matching formal wear.

Many florists, bakeries, photographers and musicians mark up their services — sometimes by a lot — just for weddings.

Formal gowns are often far more expensive in white. The same cover band that plays at a bar downtown on a Saturday night for $1,000 might charge $5,000 for a wedding. This is partly because of the added pressure and preparation that a

wedding involves, but it’s also partly just because they can.

When shopping around, try and get straightforward quotes for the services you need — without mentioning the wedding part at first. You need a tasteful cake for 100 people. (It could be a corporate event or retirement party.) You need someone to photograph an outdoor event for about five hours. (What would they charge to take photos of a high school track meet?)

At some point, you’ll need to come clean and explain that it’s for your wedding, especially before signing a contract.

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List everything you can think of and walk through these items step by step.

The earlier you get started — and the more things you think about early on — the less “last-minute stress” you’ll have,

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12 • The Tonica News • Friday, June 30, 2017 and the more time you’ll have to find sales and discounts and research other good ideas.

20. Don’t stress.

Something will probably go wrong at the last minute — a little detail of some sort won’t work out. Don’t worry about it. Just assume something little is going to go wrong and avoid the urge to throw money at the problem. Most likely, no one will even notice the little issue, and quite often someone in your wedding party (or someone helping out) will come up with a pretty good solution to fix things.

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Centerpieces on a budget A wedding centerpiece makes the table. It costs a pretty penny to include an elaborate floral display for each table however, especially if you’re having a large wedding. How can you get around the cost and still have a stunning display?

Instead of visiting the florist, try this: visit your local garden or home center and purchase several flats of annuals or perennials in colors matching that of your wedding party. Purchase enough small plastic or terra cotta pots for each plant. Spray paint the pots in gold or silver, or wrap in elegant, metallic foil.

Each pot gets a plant or two.

This can also be done with tree seedlings.

Group potted blooms together at each table to make a wedding centerpiece. You may need to play around to find a suitable design. If you purchase enough so that each couple can take one home, you’ll have favors as well.

Or just simply take fresh flowers and place them in mason jars.

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