Friday, December 1, 2017
Volume 143 No. 52
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TONICA
Fixes finally finalized for town flagpole Legion representative says repairs worth cost BY ZACHARY J. PRATT news@tonicanews.com TONICA — A Tonica flagpole in need of repairs has been taken care of, Tonica Village Board members learned at their November meeting. “The flagpole’s done, thankfully,” said Lowell Beenenga, who represents the Tonica American Legion. A bevy of issues impeded repairs and brought costs up, he said.
“It cost more than I anticipated, which I am sorry about,” Beenenga said. Nevertheless, Beenenga indicated that repairs were worth the cost, as the flagpole should now last a long time. “It lasted 15 years to begin with,” he said, noting issues that shortened the pole’s period of use. For instance, the pole had previously contained a cable inside, which he has been informed will “wear it from the inside out.” In other discussion, Beenenga had other issues around town to bring to light, namely, the lack of lights. He noted a number of nonfunctioning street lights that the village should look into. “There’s quite a few street lights out in
town,” he said. “They’re charging you for poles that aren’t lit.”
Levy presented Tonica’s proposed tax levy was presented at the November board meeting. The total amount proposed was $106,900, which comes out to a slight increase over last year. “This is a slight increase over last year of about four percent,” said Village Attorney Robert Steele. Overall, the presented levy might not appear to be an increase. The previous levy had been $108,000; however, the larger number included a truck levy. With that left out, Steele indicated, the number was lower.
Sewer plant update Operations at Tonica’s new sewer plant continue to move forward as the plant is updated, board members learned. The plant still runs mostly on manual operation, but some areas have transitioned to being automatic. “Some of the functions of the plant are automated now, but most we’re still doing manually,” Public Works Superintendent Marc Lemrise reported. One aspect that is automated is aeration. Lemrise indicated the settings are key for the plant’s smooth operation.
See FIXES, Page 2
LOSTANT
HOLIDAYS & HEALTH
‘A little bit of a break’ for district taxpayers School district will lessen tax rate slightly for coming year BY ZACHARY J. PRATT news@tonicanews.com
HEALTHY EATING
Extension shows how easy changes can help you maintain weight BY DAVE COOK news@tonicanews.com STANDARD — Thanksgiving may be past, but with Christmas parties, family dinners, New Year’s Eve and Super Bowl Sunday ahead of us, there’s still time to avoid making those poor decisions which can affect your waistline in a way you’re not going to enjoy. To help fight the battle of the bulges, Susan Glassman, a nutrition and wellness educator with the U of I Extension, recently presented “Healthy Holiday Cooking” at the Putnam County Community Center.
In the photo Susan Glassman, nutrition and wellness educator with the U of I Extension, asked those in attendance “Who has been guilty of emotional overeating on the holidays?” It was no surprise everyone was familiar with that concept and Glassman provided several tips on how to avoid the dreaded winter weight gain. (Tonica News photo/Dave Cook) “During the holidays you need to be aware of the difference between emotional and physical hunger because you’re often eating
memories this time of year,” Glassman said of those family favorite recipes. “You should still bring those dishes you’re famous for, but there are often plenty of ways to sneak in some healthy ingredients to limit their impact and you can also bring some additional dishes which offer a healthier choice,” she added. Glassman said many old family recipes call for a large amount of sugar which can be cut by a third or even in half. Many times reducing the sugar lets the other flavors play a bigger role.
See EATING, Page 2
LOSTANT — The Lostant School Board approved its tentative levy to be voted on next month, which should provide some relief for taxpayers. The tentative levy is estimated to bring the tax rate down from 5.49 to 5.44, lowering the taxpayers’ obligation by $23 a year on a $100,000 house. However, numbers cannot yet be finalized. Superintendent Sandra Malahy said she sees the lower rate as a deserved respite for district taxpayers. “Why not give the taxpayers a little bit of a break?” Malahy said. She also indicated that the lower rate could be a sign of goodwill, an indication that the district is not going to ask for taxpayers to give more than necessary. “When we need them to support us, it’s because we really do,” she said. Most years, Malahy submits a few proposals for the board’s consideration, but she submitted only the one this year.
See BREAK, Page 2 Vol. 143 No. 52 One Section - 8 Pages
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