1 Front
Volume 142 No. 48
Friday, November 4, 2016
Single Copy Cost 50¢
Women of Distinction honored
IVAC plans breakfast seminar Speaker to discuss minimum salary hike for exempt employees
“Nothing would limit her. No matter how difficult it was, she pressed forward,” she said. “Don’t look at a challenge as a setback, look at a challenge as a positive to make yourself better,” she said. Rezin shared her own success story of when she was first stepped into the Senate. Coming from being a stay-at-home mom, Rezin described herself as being shy and petrified of speaking in public.
PERU — The Illinois Valley Area Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development (IVAC) will hold its Business Breakfast Seminar on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 a.m. at Mario’s Maples in Peru. The focus of the seminar will be the “Increase to the Minimum Salary for Exempt Employees.” As you may know, the Department of Labor recently issued final Fair Labor Standards Act regulations, which substantially increase the salary level at which an employee must be paid to qualify for most overtime exemptions. Under these new regulations, most employees making less than $47,476 per year ($913/week) must be treated as non-exempt and are, therefore, eligible for overtime. These regulations take effect on Dec. 1, so employers need to be aware of these new requirements now and make necessary changes prior to the effective date.
Women Page 2
Seminar Page 2
Tonica News photo/Shannon Serpette
The six Illinois Valley Living 2016 Women of Distinction were honored Oct. 25 at an awards luncheon at The Barn at Hornbaker Gardens. Pictured from left are Deb Wood, Sheryl Churney, Joy Kauffman, keynote speaker Illinois State Sen. Sue Rezin, Nancy Heiden, Monico Huber Nunez and Barbara White.
State Sen. Sue Rezin offers words of inspiration By Goldie Rapp news@tonicanews.com
PRINCETON — Six women from the Illinois Valley were honored for their outstanding service and dedication to our area communities at the fourth annual Illinois Valley Living Women of Distinction event held Tuesday at The Barn at Hornbaker Gardens. Nearly 200 people — mostly women and a handful of men — attended the event to hear the stories of Sheryl Churney of LaSalle, Nancy Heiden of Princ-
eton, Joy Kauffman of Tiskilwa, Monico Huber Nunez of Princeton, Barbara White of Cherry and Deb Wood of Princeton. The honorees shared stories about what led them to successful careers and willingness to led a helping hand. The women also shared secrets to overcoming challenges, told of their inspirations, thanked their encouragers and motivated fellow women in the crowd to go above and beyond in their own lives. This year’s keynote speaker was Illinois State Sen. Sue Rezin,
who was also a 2015 Women of Distinction Award winner. Rezin’s message to the crowd of women was to never let their surroundings limit them. She got personal when she shared a story of her mother, who to this day continues to serve as Rezin’s role model and inspiration. Rezin’s mother worked on the family farm, raised a family, managed a household and went to night school, which led her to college, a career as a teacher and eventually a school superintendent.
Learning the library Lostant’s new librarian is updating the collection By Dave Cook
news@tonicanews.com
LOSTANT — Since mid-September, library patrons in Lostant have been seeing a new face. Resident Zach Hartenbower, who is a recent graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago, is the newest caretaker of the library’s collection. Saying the timing worked out well with his graduation and the village’s need for a new librarian, Hartenbower also said he’s been updating the library’s bar code catalog system as well as its collection. His grandmother, Katie KenVol. 142 No. 48 One Section - 12 Pages
nel, was also once a librarian in Lostant. “I’m learning as I go, but it will make things faster and easier to use,” he Zach said. “The board Hartenbower said they want the collection wellkept, as well as updated.” Saying the focus will first be on updating the children’s section, he also hopes to incorporate art-related projects into the programming for children and teens. “I’d also like to have a graphic novel section,” he said, noting they’re a personal favorite.
Hartenbower is working toward building an active relationship with the school and hopes to take advantage of being located just down the street. While there are currently no adult programs being developed, Hartenbower said if the board tells him they’d like to have some, he’d be happy to begin work on them. He’d like to eventually become a freelance artist and hopes to begin to build his portfolio during his time at the library. “A library is a good place to be with an art background,” he said.
Karen Donnelly STATE’S ATTORNEY
© The Tonica News
Tonica News photo/Dave Cook
Lostant’s new librarian, Zach Hartenbower helps a new patron get his library card. Hartenbower is starting to update the library’s collection and organizational system.
SM-PR2651567-1104
Paid for by Friends of Karen Donnelly. A copy of our report is or will be available at the Illinois State Board of Elections.