Volume 141 No. 24
Friday, August 8, 2014
The Tonica News
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More EAB confirmations Be proactive with your ash trees By Goldie Currie Shaw Media Service
The destructive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has been confirmed in Peoria and Tazewell counties, raising the number of infested Illinois counties to 36. The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) recently announced the detections occurred in residential areas.
In Peoria County, arborists discovered the beetle first near Dunlap, and then subsequently in Peoria. In Tazewell, IDOA staff made the find in Minier using surveillance traps. The EAB is a small, metallicgreen beetle native to Asia. Its larvae burrow into the bark of ash trees, causing the trees to starve and eventually die. Since the first detection of the pest near Detroit, Mich., in 2002, it has killed an estimated
According to a press release issued by the IDOA, the quarantine currently includes 49 Illinois counties and is intended to prevent the artificial or “human-assisted” spread of the beetle through the movement of potentially-infested wood and nursery stock. Although the boundaries officially haven’t been redrawn, Goetsch has encouraged residents to put the quarantine guidelines into practice by making sure not to transport any firewood or untreated
250 million ash trees. Warren Goetsch, IDOA Bureau Chief of Environmental Programs, said the finds are significant because they occurred outside the boundaries of the state quarantine that were established to prevent the spread of the beetle. “Until now, all the new infestations this year — in Carroll, Stephenson and Vermilion counties — were within the quarantine area, and therefore, didn’t require any boundary changes,” Goetsch said.
wood products outside their county of origin. “I’d also encourage them to identify the trees on their property, and if ash are present, be proactive in managing them through treatment or removal. Tree companies, villages and cities should familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations pertaining to the processing and transporting of ash materials,” Goetsch said.
EAB Page 3
What happened to tilt-a-whirls? The high cost of carnivals forces local communities to forego them By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
Summer is here, and with that comes county fairs and village celebrations. The smell of corn dogs, the joyful taste of lemon shake-ups and the laughter of children on carnival rides fill the air. At least, that used to be the case. More and more, villages and counties are bypassing hiring amusement companies in favor of inflatable attractions. There are several reasons, but it usually comes down to money. Bob Johnson is the chairman of the Outdoor Amusement Business Association, the business association that most carnival operators belong to. Johnson said although the carnival ride business is experiencing a comeback from the damage done by the Great Recession of 2004, there are still festivals that are eschewing the use of tilt-a-whirls and Ferris wheels for bouncy houses and slides. “It’s expensive to operate a carnival, and that makes it hard to compete price-wise,” Johnson said. “Because it’s mobile, the operating costs include diesel fuel, and with the ever-changing cost of fuel, the expenses from week to week are hard to predict.” A new carnival ride is between $200,000 and $300,000. That doesn’t include any maintenance, fuel costs or labor. By comparison, Johnson said inflatable attractions can be purchased at Walmart for less than one-hundredth the price.
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Tonica News photo/Ken Schroeder
Tracy Daugherty puts students through their paces at the Motorcycle Safety Program behind JC Whitney’s in LaSalle. At right, Jodi Wilson rides the course during the class. Motorcycles and helmets are furnished for students for the course.
It’s more than just the wind in your hair Learning motorcycle safety By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
LASALLE — Summer means motorcycles on Illinois roads and an increased awareness of bikes and cars sharing the roadway. For many people, seeing a motorcycle rumbling along the highway is an enticing vision, spurring thoughts of purchasing their own motorcycle. The problem for many is learning to ride them. That’s where Tracy Daugherty of Lostant comes in. Daugherty spends a few weekends each year helping
new riders learn how to drive a motorcycle and refreshing them on the rules of the road where motorcycles are concerned. The Motorcycle Rider Program is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Transportation and offered locally through the University of Illinois. Daugherty is just one of several instructors for the local program. “I started riding around high school, so it’s been 17 or 18 years,” Daugherty said. “I took the training course to teach about 11 years ago.” Small engine motorcycles — usually 250 cc — and helmets
are provided by the University of Illinois. A typical class locally is 12 riders, and the learning track is behind JC Whitney’s east of LaSalle. Two classes are run at a time, with one class starting the rules of the road instruction in a trailer on the lot while the other class learns how to drive a motorcycle before the classes switch places. The course costs $20, which is refundable at the end of the class. Classes are offered — depending on weather — from April to October. When the course is completed, the students receive a waiver which will allow them to receive their license without taking the driving exam at the Driver’s License Bureau, although they
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still must pass the written test. The class can also be taken as a refresher course for people who have ridden in the past but whose skills may have gotten rusty. “I took the class because other members of my family ride,” Jodi Wilson of Lostant said. “It just seemed like a good idea, so I could feel safer and more confident on a bike.” Classes are still open. To enroll, go to http://www.mrp. uiuc.edu/howtoEnroll.aspx. Several locations are available throughout the state. The class is a great way to learn how to operate a motorcycle and see if riding one is right for you. No experience is necessary.
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