Volume 141 No. 37
Friday, November 14, 2014
Single Copy Cost 50¢
Tonica gets $350,000 CDAP grant By Ken Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
TONICA — Another step in the renovation of Tonica’s wastewater system has been taken. The village recently received a Community Development Assistance Program
grant for $350,020 from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities. The CDAP grant is being administered through the North Central Illinois Council of Governments. NCICG Executive Director Nora Fesco said it was one of only three projects
approved in the northern half of the state. The DCEO received 161 applications for grant funding this year, and 36 of those applications were awarded. CDAP is a grant program funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development which assists Illinois
communities by providing grants to local governments to help them in financing economic development projects, public facilities, and housing rehabilitation. The program is targeted to assist low-to-moderate income persons and participating communities must have
a minimum of 51 percent of the population classified as low-to-moderate income. The grant will pay for repairs and upgrades to the village lift station as well as a force main and new control valves and structures, said Tonica Village Engineer Jack Kusek. The grant
is a 75/25 grant, which means the village must pay 25 percent of the cost of the project, or approximately $117,000. Kusek said the village portion will come from the loan from the Environmental Protection Agency which will pay for the new wastewater treatment plant.
LaSalle County returns Republicans to office By Dixie Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
OTTAWA — The voters have spoken in the two contested races in LaSalle County. With just under 53 percent of eligible voters turning out for the fall election, the county sheriff and treasurer race were decided in favor of the Republican candidates. In the county sheriff race, unofficial counts show the Republican candidate incumbent Tom Templeton winning with 23,746 votes over challenger, Democrat Rodney Hampton, who earned 10,719 votes. In the county treasurer race, challengers James Spelich, a Republican and Jared Hicks, a Democrat, ran for the office of long-time county treasurer Don-
ald Lamps. Spelich took the race with a total of 19,879 votes over Hicks, who earned 14,490 votes. In the national race for U.S. Senator, LaSalle county gave their majority votes to James Oberweis, a Republican who earned 18,414 votes over the incumbent Democrat Dick Durbin. Durbin was given 14,882 votes in the race to Libertarian candidate Sharon Hansen who earned 1,911 votes. Statewide, Durbin retained the seat. The Republicans also ruled LaSalle County in the Governor/Lieutenant Governor race with challenger Bruce Rauner taking 19,771 votes over incumbent Pat Quinn’s 13,806 votes. Libertarian candidate Chad Grim earned 1,542 votes. Statewide, Rauner was named Illinois’ new governor.
Tonica News photo/Dixie Schroeder
LGS salutes area veterans Lostant Grade School students Landon Rockey (left) and Jordan Ladson read the short story, “America’s White Table,” at the LGS assembly to honor area veterans. The story, by Margot Theis Raven, talks about the Vietnam-era practice of setting a white table to honor fallen, captured or missing soldiers. Mason Kreiser (right) and other LGS students performed the ceremony of setting the table that goes along with the story.
TVFD to host deer and chili supper By Dixie Schroeder news@tonicanews.com
TONICA — The Tonica Volunteer Fire Department will sponsor its annual deer and chili supper from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 22. Chairman of the event is Tonica resident Dave Huss. “The deer and chili night was established about eight years ago,” Huss
Vol. 141 No. 37 One Section - 8 Pages
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said. “The hunters bring in their deer for everyone to view from adult hunters to youth hunters. We have chili there that night, but there is no deer meat in the chili. We are also offering hot dogs for the kids.” Huss said other hunters enjoy seeing the young hunter who brings in his first deer. “It’s interesting to see a young hunter come in there and have his first
deer that he has harvested. To see the pride, hard work and dedication it took to get the animal is amazing,” Huss said. Huss noted they are offering a Chief’s Choice Award which allows the Tonica Volunteer Fire Department chief each year the honor of awarding a $100 prize to whom the chief determines has the best deer. “Their name will go on
a plaque that is donated by the Ron Busch family and will be on display at their family tavern,” Huss said. “The Busch family has been a tremendous supporter of this event. Ron Busch was a very, very interesting person in regards to trapping and hunting. While he has passed, the family has stepped up to remember him in this way.” Other prizes that will be
awarded during the event will include a $50 prize for the biggest doe and a $50 prize for the biggest deer for a hunter under the age of 13. Tickets for the evening’s meal will be $6 for all the chili visitors can eat. Tickets will be available at the door. Hunters who bring in a deer to display eat for free. Vendors who will be on hand include Lenone’s
Polaris displaying four-wheelers, the Bone Collectors of Ottawa and Common Sense, who will display deer lures. “This is a great social event for the community. We will have a 50-50 drawing and other area merchants have donated money to help support our night,” Huss said. “All proceeds will go to the Tonica Volunteer Fire Department.”