1 Front Volume 141 No. 30
Friday, September 19, 2014
Single Copy Cost 50¢
Intersection still a problem Sluder: ‘Apparently, we have to wait for someone to die for them to make a change’ By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
TONICA — The intersection at Route 251 and Ray Richardson Road
was under discussion again at the Tonica Board meeting on Sept. 15 due to clarifications in the recently passed golf cart ordinance and a twovehicle accident at the
intersection that occurred just moments before the start of the meeting. The intersection has been a problem for the village with a large number of collisions
recorded there throughout the years. Village officials have often requested a change in the lighting or the addition of a fourway stop from the Illinois Department of Transportation, but Mayor Kevin Sluder told the board IDOT feels the intersection is not hazardous enough.
“In 2011, we had seven accidents at that corner. In 2012 it was four, and last year, there were three. IDOT said that’s not enough accidents annually to warrant a change,” Sluder said. “They said if there’s a business that goes into the Village Inn lot, they’ll reconsider. If there’s an
attraction that opens in town, they’ll reconsider. If traffic patterns change, they’ll reconsider. If there’s a fatality there, they’ll reconsider. “Apparently, we have to wait for someone to die for them to make a change,” Sluder said.
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Lostant Library and BEST A great opportunity By Dixie Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
LOSTANT — The Lostant Library has had an additional smiling face around this past summer and into early fall. Michael Templeton of Lostant has been employed at the library, assisting Lostant head librarian Chris Hubbard. “Last fall I saw something in the paper about the BEST (Business Employment Skills Team) program, so I called and asked to keep us in mind for this year. Supposedly I heard they got a little extra money and had about 80 people out and spread out through more than one county.” Hubbard said. Templeton has been
working at the library since July. The program has Hubbard creating a list of job duties which she then rated Templeton on how well he performed them. His job duties have ranged from yard work around the outside of the library to assisting library patrons, dusting and organizing books and cleaning. To be employed through BEST, Templeton took a pre-employment test, assessing his skills and attitudes toward various work positions. He will take a post employment test when his job is complete. “Mrs. Hubbard told my brother about the job here at the library, and I had helped Mrs. Kenel here at the library a long time ago. It was a nice job right here in town, which saved some gas money,” he said. “I have done yard work, worked with books,
getting them ready for the shelf and have learned about the Dewey Decimal System and things like that. I’ve also had some experience with children in the summer reading program. I’ve always like books; it has been a good experience with what I have been doing.” Earlier in the summer, Templeton worked on average of 25 hours a week; now he is averaging 15 hours a week as the program winds down. The BEST organization is a not for profit business which provides potential employment services to an eight-country area. The organization receives federal funds and uses them to provide training services to adults jobseekers which includes adults who are laid off due to a plant closing or
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No cases of EV-D68 reported locally By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
OTTAWA — So far, LaSalle County has apparently been spared the respiratory virus that’s sweeping through the state. Illinois is among 12 states reporting an increase in enterovirus illness cases and one of six with confirmed cases of Enterovirus D68, also known as EV-D68. Enteroviruses, which can cause a variety of symptoms, aren’t unusual. If you’ve ever had a bad summer cold, it was likely caused by an enterovirus. The Center for Disease Control estimates there are 10 to 15 million viral infections each year in the United States. The season often hits its peak in September. This Vol. 141 No. 30 One Section - 8 Pages
year, hospitals are reporting a 12 to 15 percent increase in reported instances. “This particular strain, enterovirus D68, which is not seen very commonly, has been associated with more severe respiratory illness,” said Dr. Larry Kociolek, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago pediatric infectious disease specialist. “Very common complaints in children are fever, rash, pink eye, diarrhea. Specific symptoms to look out for include wheezing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing — anything that seems more severe from a respiratory standpoint should prompt you to seek care in the emergency room.” “As of Sept. 10, we haven’t received word of any unusual increases in the number of viral cases or
incidents of D68,” LaSalle County Health Department health educator Jennie Barrie said. “Medical services are not required to report medical issues by state law, but they should report anything unusual.” The virus making a comeback now is from the 1960s. It is in a class of enteroviruses that sicken children every year at this time as they head back to school. EV-D68 impacts breathing. It is not more contagious than other enteroviruses, but it can be more dangerous. EV-D68 seems to complicate any breathing problems that aren’t under control with medication. People infected with the virus initially experience cold-like
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Tonica News photo/Dixie Schroeder
The changing of the board Jackie Wilson (left) and Megan Wiesbrock work on using the pulley system to lower the scoreboard down where they can update names of their opponents. Physical education teacher Kyle Enervold supervised the students.
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