TON-12-15-2017

Volume 144 No. 2

Friday, December 15, 2017

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SCHOOL REPORT CARDS: LOSTANT

Measuring academic progress Lostant’s Illinois Report Card information released

BY DAVE COOK news@tonicanews.com LOSTANT — Each year, the Illinois State Board of Education releases a comprehensive report card showing how each school, district and the state are performing across a range of educational goals, as well as demographic information.

IllinoisReportCard.com is the official

source for information about Illinois public schools. It’s meant to help educators, families, students, researchers, policymakers and communities monitor the performance and environments of their local schools as they strive to offer the best education possible.

“Overall, Lostant students are out-performing all students in Illinois as evidenced by the PARCC (test results),” Lostant Grade School Superintendent Dr. Sandra Malahy said.

PARCC The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career

(PARCC) tests were developed to measure academic achievement with challenging standards. The tests require students to use analytical skills, problem solving, and writing effectively, all of which are required for students to be successful in the real world.

Students who meet or exceed expectations will likely be on track for the next grade level and subsequently ready for college and careers. The results are also used to measure student growth for school and district accountability.

The percentage of Lostant Grade School (LGS) students meeting or exceeding the PARCC standards has significantly improved from 2016’s 25

LOSTANT VILLAGE BOARD

See MEASURING, Page 2

Advice to keep your furry friends healthy and safe during holidays

BY ZACHARY J. PRATT

BY DAVE COOK

news@tonicanews.com

news@tonicanews.com

LOSTANT — The village of Lostant is looking forward to a new addition to town.

After negotiations, the Lost Ant Café is prepared to be annexed into Lostant this coming July.

At Monday’s village board meeting, Village President Jack Immel said that the annexation will benefit the village, bringing in some much-needed additional tax revenue.

“I, as the president, thank him, and the board thanks him,” Immel said. “We appreciate it. We really do.”

The negotiated aspects included the business’s ability to retain its current operating hours as well as preparations for sewer, which Immel suggests installing in June.

Finances discussed As Lostant moves forward toward replacement of its water tower, further opportunities present themselves.

John Vezzetti of Bernardi Securities spoke to the board about financing for the water tower grant and about the possibility of refinancing an old loan.

Braves basketball Despite a 47-14 loss against the Wallace Warriors on Dec. 7, the Tonica Braves’ Alex Galindo gave a strong performance as he led his seventh-grade team on the hardwood. Tonica’s eighth-grade squad fell in a much closer competition against Wallace, 49-44. The Braves’ next basketball games are at home against Parkside on Dec. 18 and Putnam County on Dec. 19. Both games begin at 5 p.m. (Tonica News photo/Dave Cook)

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“One-third (32 percent) of Lostant students are college and career ready with almost another one-third (28 percent) of the students approaching college and career readiness,” Malahy said.

It’s no longer the dog days of summer

Leaders look forward to gaining tax revenue

One Section - 8 Pages

Other readiness statistics

HOLIDAYS

Cafe to be annexed next year

Vol. 144 No. 2

percent to 2017’s 34 percent. The state average of 34 percent was the same for both years.

The percentage of students not meeting or only partially meeting the PARCC standards has decreased from 2016’s 43 percent to the 2017 results of 38 percent.

Look for the man in the Orange & White Van!

The holidays may be emotionally exhausting and financially draining, but it’s generally considered to be a fun time of year.

However, pets can find themselves in serious trouble if allowed to follow their natural instincts around Christmas.

With that in mind, Illinois Valley veterinarians Drs. Stuart and Lynette VandeVenter of Princeton Animal Care Clinic shared some of their advice on how to bring pets safely through the holidays and into the new year.

They said the most common complaint received this time of year is of both dogs and cats who can’t seem to leave the Christmas tree alone.

The only real options with this are either the unpopular choice of not having a tree, or the work and time involved with training them to leave it alone.

Chewing on electrical cords is one of the most dangerous threats associated with Christmas trees, so never leave a plugged-in tree with an unsupervised pet.

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Tonica News photo/Dave Cook

Oddly, a Miniature Schnauzer, is no stranger to mischief and Christmas offers the perfect opportunity for his shenanigans. However, by following some simple rules, along with supervision, training and a bit of common sense, fourlegged family members can get through the holidays safely.

Their second biggest complaint is equally serious. Dogs, and cats as well, are highly sensitive to chocolate, and the most dangerous type is baker’s chocolate because it’s so concentrated. It can trigger vomiting, an increased heart rate and possibly seizures.

While a few small pieces of milk chocolate won’t likely cause much of a problem, dogs aren’t known for their dietary restraint.

See DOG, Page 2

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2 • The Tonica News • Friday, December 15, 2017

Seeking Sources Where in the world is The Tonica News? Are you planning a vacation or holiday trip? Don’t forget to take along a copy of the The Tonica News. Once you get to your destination, have someone snap a photo of you holding the newspaper, and then send the photo to us along with pertinent information about who is in the photo and where you are. We’ll be happy to share your photo with other Tonica News readers, your friends, family and neighbors. Email your photo and information to news@tonicanews. com. You can also drop it by our office in Tonica.

• MEASURING

Student demographics

Continued from Page 1

Of the LGS district’s students, 91.5 percent are white, 5.6 percent Hispanic, 1.4 percent black, and 1.4 percent are of two or more races.

Only 1.4 percent of LGS students are learning English, much lower than the state average of 11 percent.

Only 3 percent of the district’s students are chronically truant, lower than the state average of 11 percent.

A 9 percent increase from last year, 46.5 percent of students are from families receiving public aid, living in substitute care, or eligible to receive free or reduced price lunches.

“Low enrollment and special education numbers have a high impact on overall student achievement when report-

Fifty percent of LGS students have passed Algebra I, much higher than the state average of only 29.5 percent.

District environment Lostant students benefit from a low student-to-teacher ratio with an LGS ratio of 7:1, almost three times lower than the state average of 20:1.

However, the school’s low enrollment numbers result in higher per-student spending.

The yearly operational per-pupil spending at LGS is $19,150, compared to the average $12,973.

The yearly instructional cost per LGS student is $10,572, higher than the state average of $7,853.

• DOG Continued from Page 1

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Contact Editor, General Manager Jim Dunn jdunn@bcrnews.com Associate Editor Rita Roberts rroberts@bcrnews.com

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“Remember, too, the sugar-free snacks can be a problem for dogs.

Anything with Xylitol can be life threatening, can cause liver failure or low blood sugar, and should be avoided in both dogs and cats,” the VandeVenters said.

Those owning garbage pickers will also want to make an extra effort to keep their garbage cans out of reach.

“You’ll want to avoid high-fat treats and getting into the garbage around the holidays. We see a lot of pancreatitis cases around the holidays,” they added.

Another common problem during the holidays, especially among cats, is the ingestion of foreign objects. Long strings, ribbon, tinsel, garland, paper, ornaments and other decorations can cause life-threatening problems, so be sure to keep the areas pets have access to picked up, or try to avoid decorating with such items, if possible. Eating these can cause intestinal damage requiring surgery, and they’re also capable of causing death.

Parties and family gatherings are stressful not only for humans, but for pets as well. Large groups of unfamiliar people in their homes can cause anxiety and increased stress levels in both dogs and cats.

“If your animals get anxious with guests around, there are two pheromones for dogs and cats that can be helpful,” the VandeVenters advised, “Adaptil for dogs and Feliway for cats.

“You can start these at the beginning of the holidays. They come in sprays and diffusers and come in a collar for dogs. Nutramax makes a great stress/anxiety supplement called Solliquin, as well.

“Other stress products include

ing student growth data. Almost one-fourth (21 percent) of the students at Lostant School have disabilities. Even with these challenges, Lostant students improved overall PARCC college and career readiness scores by 11 percent compared to the previous year,” Malahy said.

Teachers and administrators Regarding LGS educators, 33.3 percent have a bachelor’s degree and 66.7 have their master’s degrees. In 2013, the percentages for those with a bachelor’s was 52 percent and only 48 percent had their master’s degrees.

The percentage of full-time teachers who returned to the school year to year at LGS is 78.3 percent, a 4 percent increase from last year. The state’s aver-

Composure and Pet-ease, which include essential amino acids and other herbal remedies that have been shown to decrease stress and anxiety. Many pets use Thunder Shirts through the holidays to help with stress, and they’re perfect to help with the cold, as well,” they said.

They added that probably the most important thing is to try to keep pets on as normal a schedule as possible, which is also helpful to their owners.

And while the thought of someone opening a box on Christmas morning to reveal a lively and playful puppy or kitten sounds like a classically perfect gift idea, it rarely works out that way.

“Pets are only good gifts when the receiver is actually involved with the decision. This way they’re invested in the choice and the initial bonding period. This increases the chances the newness doesn’t wear off.

“If people have been planning on getting a pet, sometimes the better gifts are items to use for the pet such as dishes, kennels and toys. Then go afterwards and pick out the pet together. Holidays can be a very stressful time and makes training a new pet difficult, so sometimes it’s better to plan for the addition of a new family member during a calmer time,” the VandeVenters said.

Additionally, keeping puppies and kittens away from a shiny and brightly twinkling tree is almost impossible, which takes us back to the most common holiday pet complaint, so January is often a better choice for introducing a new family member to the home.

For more information, call the Princeton Animal Care Clinic at 815-875-4419; Bridgeview Veterinary Hospital in Peru at 815-7808378; or Crossroads Veterinary Hospital in McNabb at 815-882-2000.

The weather outside is frightful. m” But that “hummmmm” is so delightful.

age is higher at 86.3 percent.

Salaries for LGS teachers have increased to $44,976 over the previous year’s average of $38,831.

However, the salaries are still well below the average state salary of $64,516.

From 2013, the number of fulltime educators in the district has dropped from 12 to eight.

Sixty percent of the district’s teachers were absent 10 days or less, lower than the state average of 75.3 percent. For 2016 the district’s percentage was 100 percent.

The district’s average administrator salary for 2017 is $111,918, higher than the state average of $106,273. 2017 is the only year since 2008 that the district average has surpassed the state’s.

For more information, visit www.illinoisreportcard.com

PERU

Ruse burglary being investigated by police PERU — At around 5 p.m. on Dec. 2, a ruse burglary occurred in the 900 block of 25th Street in north Peru.

The elderly resident was distracted and deceived when a white male in his 20s, baby face, wearing a baseball hat, presented himself as a member of the water department, stating the water lines were contaminated and they needed to check inside.

Once inside the residence, the suspect turned the kitchen faucet on while engaging in conversation with the victim, keeping him in the kitchen. At some point, a separate suspect entered the home, without the victim knowing, and stole several items of value including U.S. currency. The victim was unharmed in the burglary.

A ruse burglary is one of distraction or diversion where a crime is committed against a person, many times an elderly person. The perpetrator seeks to draw the resident out of the house or dis-

tract them while inside. Once the resident is occupied, an accomplice enters the home and takes valuables such as jewelry and money.

“Please remember if a city of Peru employee is at your door, they will have a city of Peru Identification tag with them and they are required to show this to you,” Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei said.

“Do not allow anyone inside your home that you do not know. Call the police right away if you are uncomfortable with any situation such as this,” Bernabei said.

This matter is under investigation by the Peru Police Department Detective Division who will coordinate with other police agencies along the Interstate 80 corridor, as offenders in these types of cases oftentimes travel from city to city.

Anyone with information should call Detective Sgt. Dennis Hocking at 815-224-6017 or the Peru Police Department tipline at 815-223-1432.

POLICE REPORTS LASALLE COUNTY SHERIFF Revoked license • At 10:23 p.m. on Dec. 10, deputies arrested Lee Lumpkins, 48, of DePue for driving while license revoked and operating a motor vehicle with no valid insurance following a traffic stop on Route 18 in Eagle Township. Lumpkins was transported to the LaSalle County Jail.

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Friday, December 15, 2017 • The Tonica News • 3

Tonica Braves in action

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION

Relationship science: How couples can keep moving forward

BY STEPHANIE HENRY U of I Extension

Tonica News photos/Dave Cook

Tonica Brave Ty Stillwell was challenged as he looked for an opening to teammate Alex Galindo during their game against the Wallace Warriors on Dec. 7.

URBANA — For some couples in romantic relationships, just staying together is good enough. But others want to see their relationship move forward — to get better and better — and are willing to put in the effort to get there.

Family studies researchers at the University of Illinois who study the science behind maintaining romantic relationships focus their work on the central organizing unit — the relationship — rather than on the individual.

Through their work, they hope to find out what works and, maybe, what doesn’t in keeping a relationship moving forward. “We know relationships are key,� Brian Ogolsky, associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at U of I, said. “We spend all of our time in these relationships. Whether we are at home, with our siblings, our parents, or our colleagues, these are all extremely important. And consequently we spend very little time alone with our thoughts. So it’s critical that we carefully and methodically understand what’s going on in relationships and what is unique that two individuals bring that you can’t get from studying person ‘x’ and person ‘y’ separately.�

In a recent study published in the Journal of Family Theory and Review, Ogolsky and his research team discuss romantic relationship maintenance and the two primary

• CAFE Continued from Page 1

Tonica seventh-grader Noah Rietgraf showed plenty of hustle as he worked through the Wallace opponents and successfully advanced the ball to his teammates during the Braves’ home game on Dec. 7.

While the village continues on its route to replacing its water tower, Vezzetti sees an additional opportunity — a 2003 rural development bond that could be refinanced at a current interest rate of 4.625. “That loan goes out to 2042. It’s kind of lengthy,� he said, further indicating that refinancing now could save $60,000 to $80,000 in interest.

When questioned how the financing

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motives behind a couple’s attempts at staying together: threat mitigation and relationship enhancement.

Ogolsky calls these “macro-motives,� or the main reasons people maintain their relationships. In their study, the researchers provide a visual framework of how relationships may be maintained by staving off threats or moved forward by relationship enhancement strategies, which involve putting effort into the relationship for the pleasure of it. For the most part, relationships include a combination of both. “Threats to the relationship come from all kinds of different places,� he explained. “Generally, there are many threats early in relationships that can cause problems, but that is not to say that these disappear later. We know couples cheat in the long-term, people end up in new work places and in new situations where possible alternative partners show up, conflicts arise, or a lack of willingness to sacrifice time for your partner emerges.�

Some threat mitigation tactics can actually become enhancement strategies over time, Ogolsky says, but adds that the reverse is not usually true. “We get to a place where we are pouring energy into the relationship simply because we want to keep the relationship moving forward rather than just mitigating threats.�

In their integrative model of relationship maintenance, the researchers also illustrate individual versus interactive components of maintenance. “This question of ‘is this an indi-

process would move forward if Lostant were to not secure its grant, Vezzetti explained that no money would change hands. “We won’t borrow the money until we know you have the grant. That

vidual thing or is this a couple-level thing’ often goes unanswered.

But as we were doing this review, we started noticing that there are ways to maintain the relationship that we can characterize as ‘more or less in our own heads.’ We are doing something to convince ourselves that this is a good relationship and therefore it’s good for our relationship,� Ogolsky said. “Things like positive illusions, the idea that we can believe our relationship is better than it is or that our partner is better than he or she is.

We can do that without our partner.�

Mitigating conflict, however, is something that partners must do together. “Good conflict management or forgiving our partner for doing something wrong is an interactive process. When a threat comes in, we can do one of two things: we can ditch our partner or forgive them over time.�

The same is true of enhancement strategies: partners can do things individually or interactively. “Individually, even the act of thinking about our relationship can be enhancing. Whereas engaging in leisure activities together, talking about the state of our relationship, these are all interactive,� Ogolsky said.

But why study relationship maintenance as a science?

While Ogolsky rarely offers direct interventions to couples, he explains that he tends to study the positive side of relationships because of what can be learned from people who are going through what, he says, is inherently a very turbulent thing.

would be fiscally irresponsible,� Vezzetti said. “To put it bluntly, we’re not going to let our investors put forward the money if it looks like they might not be paid.�

The investors, he indicated, will be “local inves-

tors, local banks, local businesses.� “I think we’ve done everything we can to try to get this grant,� Village President Immel said. “We’ve raised rates.

We’ve contacted bonding agencies.

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4 • The Tonica News • Friday, December 15, 2017

The Editorial Page The Tonica News Jim Dunn Editor, General Manager

I

On Texas visit, it’s no fun being from Illinois

attended a spiffy wedding (cruel and unusual punishment) in Dallas this past Saturday, at a park on the Texas State Fairgrounds. After the reception, at a dinner table for eight with Dallas executives, both male and female, we played the “Where are you from; what do you do?” game.

UNDERSTANDING I said, “From Illinois, was in politics and government much of my life.” I could ILLINOIS swear I saw at least a couple of grimaces, and one noted the corruption in Illinois’ Jim Nowlan government. I could sense around the table all had their perceptions of Illinois—and they weren’t good.

Very briefly, I told them about all that we have in Illinois, the hard-to-beat infrastructure, the booming Loop in downtown Chicago and, to get in a dig in, all the bounteous water we have.

“Oh, guess I didn’t know that,” responded one of them.

And they don’t “know” that. They and all of us live largely in a world of perceptions, all having probably a grain of truth or more, but certainly not the whole, or even correct, picture.

And here in Illinois, we are the opposite of cheerleaders for our state. Even the title I gave this column is negative. Most of us are guilty.

Recently, I wrote about the efforts by Rochelle (population 12,000), located 75 miles northwest of Chicago, to land a new auto plant. Several emailed me about how stupid I was to think Rochelle even had a chance, given all the writers’ various beefs about our state.

Rochelle didn’t win the plant, as the many cities seeking big prizes don’t win them. But Rochelle just held a ground-breaking ceremony for expansion of another business there. Rochelle isn’t about to give in to naysayers.

We have our problems here in Illinois. So do other states. I saw a major piece in the Wall Street Journal recently about Oklahoma, “the failed state.” Nearby Kansas isn’t much better off.

And we aren’t so bad as we think. The Tax Foundation recently came out with its 2018 “Business Tax Climate” rankings of the state. Illinois came in 29th, not great, but not an outlier as many here think. Three neighboring states had worse climates: Iowa (40), Wisconsin (38) and Kentucky (33).

The state with the 48th worst such climate, California, has shown more economic growth than any state in recent years.

Yes, we are a state whose leaders oppose Right to Work (RTW makes union organizing harder), and I have supported making downstate Illinois a RTW region. I believe the issue today is more about symbol than substance.

While Illinois ranked 29th in the ranking above, a survey of CEOs ranked Illinois 48th worst for business. It’s all about perception, according to a site selection specialist.

“CEOs don’t get involved in the numbers that much, and we seldom meet with them,” says Dean Uminski, a site-selection specialist with Crowe Horwath in Chicago. “But it’s their perceptions that really matter, because usually they end up making the ultimate decision.”

In a book I co-authored in 2014, I cite an in-state economic developer who recalls a visiting CEO who “joked” about whether he had to make a bribe to get any business done. Not a great start for the conversation.

Sure, Illinois has work to do, so let’s do it.

We have to change the narrative and, over time, the perceptions.

We’re so down on ourselves that we can’t see the sunshine from the bottom of the deep hole we have dug.

The pluses outweigh the minuses. I have written ad nauseum in this space about the interstates, railroads, airports, location, educated workforce, and the water here. All these factors put us above, often near the top among the states.

What to do?

Stop caterwauling inside government.

Stop holding government hostage to politics.

Fight like dogs politically on the outside, but solve problems on the inside.

I know that is tough, but it can be done.

Do some long-term thinking about where we want to be in 10 or 20 years, and of how to get there.

Not all such efforts gather dust on a shelf. In the early 1900s, the Burnham Plan gave Chicago its magnificent, open lakefront, great parks and wide boulevards. It took years and leaders didn’t get all they wanted, but they transformed the city.

Finally, let’s use the 2018 bicentennial to change the narrative to the positive. We have so much glorious history and present-day resources to brag about.

Let’s make it fun to be from Illinois, as it was when I was a boy.

Note to readers: Jim Nowlan of Toulon can be reached at jnowlan3@gmail.com.

Words of counsel help both sides I had a unique experience a few years ago. I was able to witness to a former acquaintance of mine whose life has not traveled the path he had hoped. It had been years since we had spoken. He phoned me from jail (again). He lamented the fact that he was there, and tried to deny the fact that it was his own mistake (or as I like to call them, misguided choices) that put him there.

Oh, he tried to say the blame belonged to the person who dialed the phone and ratted him out. He tried to say the police were to blame. But in the end, after I continued to ask the same question, he came to the understanding that it was HIM. I just calmly kept asking, “Whose fault is it that you are there?”

So often, we overlook the obvious. Have you ever scolded a toddler that you have caught red-handed with the crayon in their hand, and the writing on the wall (literally), and yet they scan the room, looking for a scapegoat? It’s human nature.

In the past, when I have counseled him in these areas, he has gotten angry with me, with God, with others. In the past, I did not have God guiding my words. I truly felt the Holy Spirit speaking through me as he and I spoke. In the past, my words were spoken to him as a wife and a judge. Yesterday they were spoken as a friend and Christian sister.

As his mood began to escalate like the sizzling wick on a stick of dynamite, God was more powerful and figuratively spit on the wick and stopped him from exploding. What I said seemed to make sense to him for the first time. I don’t remember my actual words being much different than the thousand other times we had spoken about such matters, but with the power of God behind them, his mood dispersed, and he was open to their message.

COMMENTARY Lori Boekeloo

We talked about entitlement.

He claimed he was entitled, as one of God’s children, to be happy. I countered his comment with the observation that to me, it seems we are not ENTITLED to anything. We have done absolutely nothing to deserve any sort of happiness, and that every shred we are given, is a gift.

(There was silence.)

When he sobbed about the persecution of his life (and it HAS been a tough one!), I asked whether he had seen the movie “The Passion of the Christ.”

I asked him to remember the whipping scene and challenged him to recall an event on his own life that could rival THAT persecution. I’m sure he could have come close to recalling physical as well as mental cruelty that was as difficult to endure, but maybe not quite.

I also asked him if Christ deserved what he endured.

To think that we deserve to be treated better than Christ, seems arrogant to me. Why should we endure less pain and suffering than our Savior? Why should we EXPECT to? If you read historical accounts of the tools that were used and the process of death in that way, you will understand. (Again, there was silence.)

He ranted about how people had treated him unkindly and said horrible things about him. I asked how he spoke of them. He had used some unkind words to describe his new wife, and I told him that if he wanted her to speak highly of him, he needed to speak highly of her. As the words left my own mouth, the counselor became the counseled. I suddenly recalled all of the times I had been harsh and

critical to those I supposedly loved. WHOOPS! My brain was saying, “Lori shut up,” but my mouth kept talking.

I didn’t tell him what he wanted to hear. I’m sure he called me for sympathy. I gave him anything BUT sympathy.

I told him what he NEEDED to hear (and in reverse, what I needed to hear). I told him time and time again that my words were harsh, but they were truth and that they were spoken in LOVE, not judgment.

I admitted my own frailties in the area and let him know he was not alone in the muck and mire of life. I held him accountable with God at my side, and it made a difference. For once, in 15 years, I felt like I made a difference with him. Our conversation ended with him in tears, thanking me for my friendship, my guidance and my compassion — not sympathy. I also left that conversation being convicted of the mistakes (misguided choices) I was making in my own life and relationships.

As Christians, we are called to hold our fellow Christians accountable to what Christ has asked of them (and of US). We can do so in a loving way. We need to ask God to open the hearts and minds of those we confront in order to be able to speak the words boldly and with confidence. In doing so, we need to open ourselves to those words, because they are from God, and intended for MAYBE more than one set of ears.

Trust in God to guide us, and he can take an ordinary conversation and make it EXTRA-ordinary, and we might have wisdom and insight to correct our own lives in the process.

Note to readers: Lori Boekeloo of Hennepin is a mother of three. She can be reached at lorianne67@hotmail. com, or friend her on Facebook for more humor and inspiration on a daily basis.

How politicians use religion to promote goals Praise the Lord and pass the (political) ammunition

T

hey call him the “10 Commandments Judge.”

You know the fellow I’m talking about. Yes, Roy Moore, Alabama U.S. Senate candidate.

Before the most recent controversy swirled around him, he was best known for defying a federal court order to remove a monument of the 10 Commandments that he had erected in the entryway of the Alabama Supreme Court.

The controversy raised his prominence to a level that has enabled him to be the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate.

We’ll find out next week whether Moore is elected. But what we already know is that he has used a perception of religious persecution to further his political career.

He’s hardly alone.

Just last week, President Donald Trump was in St. Louis bragging that he brought “Merry Christmas” back to the

SPRINGFIELD SCOOP Scott Reeder White House.

It seems, Trump’s charge that “you don’t see Merry Christmas anymore” was directed at his predecessor, former President Barack Obama.

You know, the fellow whom Trump falsely suggested was a Muslim.

Just to set the record straight, Obama repeatedly used the term “Merry Christmas” during his time in office.

And, when Obama was a state senator, I spent a fair amount of time chatting with him over lunch about religion and other things. He is not a Muslim.

But hey, The Donald had “Merry Christmas” printed on the White House holiday cards this year.

Whether it’s the 10 Commandments or “Happy Holidays vs. “Merry Christmas” on White House stationery, the controversies remind me of another I covered about

a decade ago when a group wanted to place a nativity scene in the Illinois Capitol rotunda.

A private group spent $7,000 to do just that. And then an atheist group demanded and received equal space. They put a display next to the Baby Jesus. And then a menorah was erected next the Christian and atheist exhibits.

Why is it so important to some folks to use taxpayer-owned property – whether it be a statehouse rotunda or White House stationery – to promote a religious viewpoint?

This holiday season, do we really care what is etched into a courthouse monument or printed on a White House holiday card?

Isn’t it more important what’s inscribed in the hearts of men and women?

Note to readers: Scott Reeder is a veteran statehouse journalist. He works as a freelance reporter in the Springfield area and produces the podcast Suspect Convictions. He can be reached at ScottReeder1965@ gmail.com.

Friday, December 15, 2017 • The Tonica News • 5

Community blood drive planned in Tonica

Principal for a Day

Photos contributed

Tonica Grade School students Abraham Wiesbrock (below) and Lily Dombrowski (above) had the chance to be Principal for a Day. They are each pictured with Principal Charles Schneider.

Photo contributed

Santa recently visited some of the residents in Tonica. He is seen here with his helper, Al Stremlau, at one of his stops with Katherine Dauber. Santa also made an appointment with Al to donate blood on Monday, Dec. 18, at the Tonica community blood drive. This is an American Red Cross blood drive that will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Tonica United Methodist Church. The Illini State Bank is the sponsor for the blood drive in Tonica, where Stremlau is CEO. Appointments can be made by calling Illini State Bank at 815-442-8211. Walk-ins are welcome.

JD ’S Libations S MOKEHOUSE B AR & G RILL • Live Music s d n ie r f r o f e c la p t a e r g A

Live Video Gaming Downtown Magnolia

Phone (815) 869-3301 | Open 7 Days A Week!!

Mon-Thurs 3pm–Close • Fri-Sun 10am–Close

Tuesday...............................................Tacos Wednesday..........................Regular Menu Thursday ..................................Wing Night Friday.........................................Fish Night or Smoke Special Saturday...............................Smoke Special

SAVE THE DATE Sat. Dec. 29 - Prime Rib! SM-PR1487488

Reservations Required!

6 • The Tonica News • Friday, December 15, 2017

MENUS LOSTANT GRADE SCHOOL

PERU

Breakfast Dec. 18 — French toast stick and syrup, yogurt, granola, fruit, cereal, juice, milk.

Dec. 19 — Cinnamon roll, yogurt, granola, fruit, cereal, juice, milk.

Dec. 20 — Doughnut, yogurt, granola, fruit, cereal, juice, milk.

Dec. 21 — No school.

Dec. 22 — No school.

Lunch Dec. 18 — Pretzel, cheese cup, carrots, fruit, gelatin with Cool Whip, milk.

Dec. 19 — Cheese quesadillas, baked beans, cookie, fruit, milk.

Dec. 20 — No lunch, early dismissal.

Dec. 21 — No school.

Dec. 22 — No school.

TONICA GRADE SCHOOL Breakfast Dec. 18 — Sausage, egg and cheese muffin or cereal, toast, granola, yogurt, fruit, juice, milk.

Dec. 19 — Toaster pastry or cereal, toast, granola, yogurt, fruit, juice, milk.

Dec. 20 — Pancake and sausage on a stick and syrup or cereal, toast, granola, yogurt, fruit, juice, milk.

Dec. 21 — Glazed doughnut or cereal, toast, granola, yogurt, fruit, juice, milk.

Dec. 22 — No school.

Lunch Dec. 18 — Crispy or hot and spicy chicken patty, bun, onion rings, lettuce and salad dressing, fruit, milk.

Dec. 19 — Cheesy garlic French bread, marinara sauce, green beans, fresh fruit, graham cookie, milk.

Dec. 20 — Corn dog, french fries, fruit, Rice Krispies treat, milk.

Dec. 21 — Pizza bosco stick, carrots, fruit, cookie, milk.

Dec. 22 — No school.

PUTNAM COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER Dec. 18 — Smoked sausage, mashed potatoes, carrots, pears.

Dec. 19 — Creamed chicken with biscuits, tossed salad with toppings, sliced peaches, dessert.

Dec. 20 — Ham salad on wheat bread, red quartered potatoes, steamed spinach, pineapple.

Dec. 21 — Turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttered green beans, roll and butter, applesauce, dessert.

Dec. 22 — PCCC closed.

Bread, butter, fruit juice and 2% milk are available with meals. For reservations, call 800-757-4579 24 hours in advance of the day’s meal. The menu is subject to change.

Meals are available to senior citizens 60 plus at no cost, but donations are appreciated.

The meal program is partly funded by donations, so they have a suggested donation of $5 per meal. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m.

SBA seniors recognized in Wendy’s High School Heisman PERU — There are some students who set the bar.

They work harder, show more passion and lead by example — in the classroom, on the field and within the community.

Recently, Wendy’s High School Heisman recognized Kaelyn Condon and Tyler Marcinkus from St. Bede Academy and their dedication to never cutting corners by naming them school winners.

“These students are known by their teachers and friends for their commitment to excellence. We are excited and honored that a program like Wendy’s High School Heisman is also recognizing their hard work,” said principal Michelle Mershon.

Since 1994, Wendy’s and the Heisman Trophy Trust have been running the same play to perfection: honoring more than 600,000 of the nation’s most esteemed students.

This year, Wendy’s will celebrate the accomplish-

ments of thousands of the best high school seniors, awarding winners in five phases.

Condon is the daughter of Dr. Michael and Kristy Condon of Spring Valley.

While she has been a student at St. Bede Academy she has been a four-year participant in volleyball, track and field, Spanish Club, Interact Club, Lectio Divinia and Student Government. She qualified for state in the long jump and was on the 2017 BCR Track and Field Honor Roll Team during junior year. She was selected for the all-conference academic team for track and field her freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years, and for volleyball her sophomore, junior and senior years.

She is a student ambassador for St. Bede and is an active volunteer at the Faith Assembly of God in Peru and St. Margaret’s Hospital. She plans on attending the University of Iowa to pursue a career as

Kaelyn Condon

Tyler Marcinkus

a nurse practitioner.

Marcinkus is the son of Brian and Shannon Marcinkus of Tonica. While he has attended St. Bede Academy he has been a four-year participant in bowling, baseball and Lectio Divinia. He was selected for the all-conference academic team for bowling and baseball his freshman, sophomore and junior years. He played football during his junior and senior years. He is a student ambassador for

St. Bede and is an active volunteer at his church.

He has played club soccer for many years and is one of the founding members of St. Bede’s club soccer team as a senior. He plans to attend Illinois State University where he will major in physical education with a minor in health.

Both students will receive a school winner certificate and a Wendy’s High School Heisman patch.

LASALLE

FPU will offer nine-week program in LaSalle LASALLE — Financial Peace University (FPU) will offer a nine-week program on money management created by financial guru Dave Ramsey.

Participants will be walked through the basics of budgeting, dumping debt, planning for the future and much more.

Classes will start at 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018, and will be held for the following nine weeks (adding one

week in case of inclement weather).

Classes will be held at the First Congregational Church in LaSalle.

Classes are about an hour and a half to two hours.

Registration is required. To sign up, visit www.fpucentral.com/classes/1047496/registration. There is a one-time fee for FPU membership.

Spouses and engaged couples can attend together with a single mem-

bership, and teens living at home are welcome to attend with their parents. FPU membership covers the nine-week class, the ability to attend future FPU classes and access to FPU Central.

For more information, Luke and Emily Maltas can be reached at 815-878-3207 and 815-228-0452 respectively, or Dave Ramsey’s website at www.daveramsey.com/fpu/faq.

OGLESBY

IVCC Adult Education program will offer classes OGLESBY — The Adult Education program at Illinois Valley Community College will offer free Adult Basic Education (ABE), High School Equivalency (HSE) traditional and online preparation classes as well as English Language Acquisition (ELA) and Citizenship classes beginning Jan. 16 and

17.

ABE/HSE and ELA classes are offered at IVCC’s main campus and the IVCC Ottawa Center at 321 W. Main St. In DePue and Streator, only ELA will be offered. Visit https://www.ivcc. edu/adulted for a class schedule or call Cindy Lock at 815-224-0358.

Before joining a class, all students are required to attend a pre-registration session. It is important for ABE/ HSE students to call Lock and for ELA students to call Sara Escatel at 815-2240355 to sign up for a session before Dec. 19. Para preguntas en Español, llame al 815-224-0355, Sara.

––––––––––––––––––––– Classifieds –––––––––––––––––––– General Terms and Policies

228 • Help Wanted

The Tonica News reserves the right to classify correctly, edit, reject or cancel any advertisement at any time in accordance with its policy. All ads must be checked for errors by the advertiser, on the first day of publication. We will be responsible for the first incorrect insertion, and its liabilities shall be limited to the price on one insertion.

Paraprofessional Vacancy Full-time Parapro Vacancy at Putnam Co. Primary School. Must hold IL Parapro Licensure (Assoc. degree or higher, 60 semester hours or Pass ETS Parapro test) Apps sent to: PCPS 400 E. Silverspoon, Granville, IL 61326 ★Apps due: Dec. 18th

CLASSIFIED LINE AD & LEGAL DEADLINES: • Friday Paper deadline Friday before by 3pm We Accept Call 815-625-3600 classified@bcrnews.com

Need To Get The Word Out? We Can Help You Get It Out Right Here!

Give Us A Call 815-625-3600

Buy It! Sell It! See It Right Here!

The Tonica News Classifieds 815-875-4461

232 • Business Opportunities ********** THE CLASSIFIED Advertising Department of the Tonica News Does not have the opportunity to fully investigate the credibility of each advertiser appearing within these columns. If an offer sounds “too good to be true” it probably is.

Proceed with caution if you are asked to send money or to give a credit card number.

Proceed with caution in calling 900 phone numbers. All phone numbers prefixed by”900” are charged to the CALLER. Charges may be assessed on a “per minute” basis rather than a “per call” basis.

The Tonica News Classifieds makes every effort to qualify these charges for the reader.

If you have a concern about an advertiser, please contact: Better Business Bureau 330 North Wabash Chicago, IL 60611 312 832-0500

450 • Under $1000 A vintage Fyr-Fyter extengusiher, $45, a Mirro Pressure Cooker/Canner, $25, & 2 cabinets on wheels, $20, 815-4882934 Blow up chair with Bud Light logo and office desk chair with arms and on rollers. $60 for both.

Call 815-872-0058 Cabinet Maker's Clamps 1 pair of 6 ft & 2 pairs of 3 ft; $50 815-303-5810 Lots of new material, $.50 and up or offer; 1963 Book All About Rifles & Shotguns $20/offer; New Boy's 4-5 Winter Clothes $2/offer.

Leave Message 815-646-4741 New MoJack EZ mower jack $60.

Phone 815-872-0923 Therma-tru entry door, excellent, $40; 4 maple chairs, $30 each; yellow pine baseboard, 12'x16', $20.

815-830-8153 Vintage door, oval window, with beveled glass, in good condition, $100.

Call 815-719-2572 or 815-915-2050

450 • Under $1000 ************ HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL? Put your ad in for FREE Items $1,000 or less can run FREE for 1 time. Limit of 5 lines.

Up to 3 items with price and price totaling under $1,000. 1 ad per household per week.

No commercial ads, firearms or animal sales.

E-mail information to: classified@ bcrnews.com (include your name, address & phone number)

PROMOTE YOUR GARAGE SALES Call 815-625-3600

451 • Free 12 Needlepoint Canvas with design in center with yarn $50 815-875-1025 50 Pieces of Printed Feed Sacks Fabric Some full size $50 815-875-1025

767 • Mobile Home Sales **************** PUBLISHER'S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.”

Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

To complain of discrimination call, HUD tollfree at 800 669-9777.

The toll-free telephone number for the hearing impaired is 800 927-9275

DO YOU HAVE A PLACE TO SELL? The Tonica News Classified can help you find the right person to move in.

E-mail items for sale to:

classified@bcrnews.com

999 • Legal Notices

A2

IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LASALLE COUNTY Estate of ) DONALD L. ) SALISBURY, ) Deceased. ) No. 2017-P-249 NOTICE TO CLAIMANTS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the death of DONALD L. SALISBURY. Letters of office as Independent

Friday, December 15, 2017 • The Tonica News • 7

999 • Legal Notices

999 • Legal Notices

999 • Legal Notices

Administrator were issued on November 22, 2017 to DONNA L. FINNEY whose is address is 215 S. Bloomington Street, Streator, Illinois 61364 and whose attorney is M.G. GULO & ASSOCIATES, LTD., 123 S. Monroe Street, Streator, Illinois 61364.

The estate will be administered without Court supervision, unless under Section 5/28-4 of the Probate Act (Ill. Compiled Stat.

1992, Ch. 755, Par. 5/28-

4) any interested person terminates independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the Clerk.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 119 W. Madison Street, Ottawa, Illinois 61350, on or before June 20, 2018, or if mailing or delivery of notice from the representative is required

by Section 5/18-3 of the Probate Act of 1975, the date stated in that

notice. Any claim not filed within that period is barred. Copies of any claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the estate representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed with the Clerk.

Dated this 8th day of December, 2017.

Greg Vaccaro, Clerk of the Circuit Court 13th Judicial Circuit, LaSalle County, Illinois Published in the Tonica News Dec. 8, 15 and 22, 2017.

PEACH CONSTRUCTION CO. Full Service Remodeling Specialists in Concrete, Plumbing, Electric & Carpentry No Job too Small “For A Peach of A Deal”

Call Now at 815-437-9026 • 630-569-0734 Doing business as Peach Construction Co. Since 1981

See Castles Built at facebook.com/Peach1981

Fully Insured

red CArpet ServiCe For the World’s Best People

Our Customers

Al Cioni Ford inC.

504 S. McCoy Granville, IL 815-339-2511

No baloney with Al Cioni!

Tonica Telephone Co. Toncom Long Distance

Now Offering Higher Speeds!

815-442-9901 • www.tonicacom.net Auto Body Specialists Truck Toppers & Accessories

“You bend ‘em, we mend ‘em” Mike Supan Jr. ∙ Linda Supan ∙ Michele Straughn

325 North 25th Rd, Route 251 South of Peru

815-224-1506

EMERGENCY: 815-252-0032

PASSINI PLUMBING & HEATING David Passini

Visit us at www.tonicanews.com for the stories that people are talking about!

Mon--Fri 8AM - 5PM M

JODY TALIANI Owner

202 W Harper Ave PO Box 326

ROUTE

Granville, IL 61326 PH:

815-339-9181 FAX: 815-399-9182

71

AUTO BODY

route71autobody@frontier.com

815-339-4108 815-481-2639

Plumbing • Heating • Electrical

Always FREE Estimates

24 Hrs. Service • 815-442-3415

Sieg Tire & Tube Repair Shop

GLYNN’S DEMOLITION

Selling & Repairing all makes of tires

DEMOLITION & EXCAVATING Raejean Glynn, Owner Terry Glynn, Owner

Open 7 days/week 8-5pm

112 S. St. Paul St. Mark, IL 61340

815-878-8948 Free Estimates Fully Insured 9286 East Power Plant Rd. Hennepin, IL 61327 Fax 815-925-7475 gngdemolition@yahoo.com

Interstate Battery Sales

Johnny Sieg

Cars, Trucks, Trailer, Motorcycles, ATVs, & Lawn Mowers also Bicycles

Owner/Operator

815-878-7367 Where We Always Keep You

Rollin!

Mounting, Balancing, Rotating, Patches, Plugs and all tire repairs plus Small Implement Farm Tires Now accepting all major credit cards!

We’ll keep you in hot water!

COMPLETE CAR AND TRUCK CARE 24 HOUR TOWING SERVICE Rt. 89, McNabb, IL • Jack Bima, Owner

Need a new water heater installed?

Turn to the experts. Grasser’s is your local,

trusted installers. Licensed and insured.

We are the READER’S CHOICE for #1 PLUMBER!

JACK’S GAS & SERVICE

Turn to us for your plumbing needs.

404 W. Main St. McNabb

882-2191 Monday-Saturday 882-2250 Evenings & Sundayss

PLUMBING & HEATING, INC.

815-882-2111

www.grassersplumbingheating.com State ID No 58-100249

GRANVILLE

FLOOR & WALL

We Have A Great Selection Of Floor Coverings To Meet Your Every Need!

Granville, IL • 815-339-2345

Mon-Wed & Fri 9-5 • Thurs 9-2 • Sat by Appointment

• Business Cards • Envelopes • Booklets • Forms • Pamphlets • Letterheads For all your printing solutions call

875-4461

Licensed-Bonded-Insured 116 South 2nd St. Standard, IL 61363

Since 1919

800 Ace Road PO Box 340 Princeton, IL 61356 815-875-4461 fax 815-875-1235

Quality Pre-Owned Vehicles Towing Available

FOLEY MOTORS

Full Service Store

Inc.

Sales & Service

Rt. 29, Henry, IL 309-364-4711 www.foleymotorsinc.com

8 • The Tonica News • Friday, December 15, 2017

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