Volume 141 No. 34
Friday, July 31, 2015
Single Copy Cost 50¢
Flooding sinks summer fun
Record rainfall’s impact on area boating and fishing By Dave Cook
news@tonicanews.com
For many people, boating and fishing is a big part of life in the Illinois River Valley. With this
summer’s record rainfall and the slowly receding flood levels, there hasn’t been much opportunity to do either, and it’s had an impact on area anglers, boaters and the businesses that support them.
“It’s been bad. Business is down about 75 percent from normal. Everything at Starved Rock is under water,” said Darrell Culjan, owner of Utica’s Cajun Bait and Tackle. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website, the Starved Rock Visitor Center, it’s main parking lot, picnic area and loading ramp are closed
until further notice. While discussing the summer’s bait sales at Princeton’s Beck’s West, manager Woody Partain shared his thoughts on the weather’s impact. “It’s been really slow, and our bait supplier said it’s been slow across the board,” said Partain. Tom Yourek of Wyanet’s Canal Area Tackle Shop
was the only bait shop contacted who said business was about normal. “Water levels don’t affect us too much near the canal,” said Yourek. Michelle Storm-Leverich of Storm’s Bait and Tackle in Tiskilwa said, “It’s not been good at all. We shut down earlier this summer for safety reasons, but we’re open now.
We felt it was too dangerous for kids to be out near the water when it was so high.” Dave Meyer, sales manager of Spring Valley boat dealership Illinois Valley Outdoor and also a 29-year member of the Spring Valley Boat Club, described the summer from both
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Lostant School Board faces changes Legislation on carbon monoxide alarms, student discipline and immunizations discussed By Zachary Pratt news@tonicanews.com
LOSTANT — The Lostant School Board meeting on Wednesday, July 22, presented an update on legislation which will likely affect the school. The first piece of legislation discussed provides new requirements regarding carbon monoxide alarms. The legislation mandates alarms be placed within certain distances from carbon monoxide sources. Two areas mentioned at the meeting, to which this legislation would pertain, are the kitchen and boiler room. When the garage was mentioned as a source, because buses produce the gas, Mike Phillips clarified, “You mean in the hall. I thought you meant outside.” The second point of interest was legislation pertaining to student discipline. The ruling would make it more difficult to suspend students, because it would require that a student is first either a threat to fellow students and staff or severely disruptive of the school’s operation. The last legislative update would change immunization exemption. It now requires that parents wishing to exempt their students state a specific objection. In other news, it was pointed out that last month’s board minutes had listed the same participant twice. The error was Vol. 141 No. 34 Two Sections - 16 Pages
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amended. The board recognized the RC Flyers for its donation of $305. A date was set for the finance committee to meet: Aug. 3 at 4 p.m. As stated in the financial report, audits are scheduled for the final week in July. It was mentioned the school has $200,000 in deficit, but the expectation is another 4.0 rating for the year. Samantha and Matt Farb, who are applying for positions at the school, were introduced to the board. Marjorie Archdale and Melissa Einhaus provided an update on the math workshop they have been attending at Illinois Valley Community College. The workshop meets two weeks a year for three years. Archdale also mentioned a science conference, the same variety of conference as the math workshop. “I have 22 days of workshops this summer,” Archdale said. The curriculum and instruction report began with praise for the students’ literacy scores. The report transitioned into a summary of the school’s plans for its literacy program, which had to be put forward for board approval. The plan involved keeping the third graders in the Read Well program, which has been in use by earlier grade levels. However, it was decided the material for grades four and up was too low for Lostant students. Thus the school intends to use Fountas and Pinnell materials for fourth and fifth grades. The material was unanimously approved by the board. There is no final figure yet from the school auction, but it stood at $3,322 as of last week. The school found a company which will take old television sets as long as there are other electronic materials to offset the cost of disposing them.
Tonica News photo/Dave Cook
Tasha, a rescued Pitbull mixed breed, sails over the hurdles during an agility dog demonstration at the Putnam County Community Center in Standard. Trainer Jen Rhodes had several dogs there who ran the agility course, caught discs and helped show the importance of training. Lucky audience members helped guide the dogs through the course and throw discs.
Keeping best friends together LaMoille dog trainer is doing what she loves By Dave Cook
news@tonicanews.com
STANDARD — The crowd of approximately 40 people at the Putnam County Community Center broke into applause and cheered as Chase, a Border Collie, charged toward the obstacle and effortlessly cleared a high jump which was several feet high. They were equally impressed as he darted back and forth, leaping into the air and catching discs thrown by his owner/trainer. With
every throw, Chase was exactly where he needed to be in order to make the catch. Jen Rhodes was initiated into the world of dog training when she was 12. Her family raised Cocker Spaniels, but when she brought home a puppy who was going to grow up to be a big farm dog, her mother wanted her to take it back. “But, my dad said I could keep it if I trained it, and I did. It’s been a passion of mine since,” said Rhodes, who began showing her family’s dogs
and also training police dogs with the woman who taught her how to train. “I’d already been training for years when the hype for having certification came about, but I went online and got certified. There are schools now, but I learned everything hands on,” said Rhodes. Rhodes has a 100 percent success rate of dogs she’s trained passing their Canine Good Citizen test or Therapy Dog International test. So far, 108 dogs have received their certifications. “I deal with aggressive dogs all the way down to the most meek and mild dogs you’ll see,” said Rhodes. She additionally
trains dogs to high jump and run agility courses along with basic obedience. There are multiple vets and rescuers who call her to help recondition abused dogs, so they have a chance of being adopted into a loving home. “If for some reason you get hurt, get ill or die, what’s going to happen to your dog if it’s not social? Who can adopt? Most dog lovers willing to take on another dog need it to be dog social. There are rescues in the area which won’t even take dogs who aren’t social with other dogs, so I’m really a stickler about socialization,” said Rhodes.
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