1 Front Volume 143 No. 2
Friday, December 16, 2016
Single Copy Cost 50¢
Chicken issue runs a-fowl
Hendrix: ‘Please, gentlemen, allow me to keep my pets’ By Zachary J. Pratt news@tonicanews.com
LOSTANT — The fate of Lostant’s chicken population has been postponed once more, with the decision set for January 2017. Lonnie Hendrix once again spoke to the Lostant Village Board on Monday, Dec. 12, to ask if he could keep his five hens. He said he wanted to leave with the same warm feelings that led he and his wife, Darlene, to the village. “I don’t want to leave here a disgruntled citizen,” he said. “Please, gentlemen, allow me to keep my pets.” Hendrix said the board could impose whatever lim-
itations it needs to — limiting him to the current five, confining them to a pen, charging a fee reminiscent of the dog registrations. “I realize I’m on the wrong side of this ordinance,” he said. “If I could do it over again — if I knew — there would not be a problem.” “I’m not trying to change the world,” Hendrix said. “I just want to have my five pets.” Trustee Jack Immel said he understands the issue, but the board also has to consider the precedent allowing Hendrix to keep these hens would have. “I don’t want to see the day when I look out my window and see my neighbors with pens full of chickens,” Immel said.
“What are we going to do if we say yes to you, and at our next meeting in January, we have more people wanting chickens?” he asked. Dave Mertes agreed the ruling could have unfavorable effects. “From where we sit, we’d be setting a precedent that we allow farm animals,” he said. “What’s to stop the next person from saying it was a mistake?” He brought the thought further: “What if the next person wants a goat?” One issue that was mentioned is the geese at a local pond. Village President Fred Hartenbower explained
Lostant chickens Page 2
Lostant being plowed with questions By Zachary J. Pratt news@tonicanews.com
LOSTANT — Lostant residents have noticed various alleys have remained unplowed during this winter’s snowfall, and some haven’t been happy about it — to the point where Village President Fred Hartenbower noted they were suggesting these roads are being ignored in spite. However, the reason these locations have gone unplowed is much less sinister. “The reason we didn’t plow the alleyways this time was because they were too soft,” Leland Decker explained, adding plowing them in such a state would cause damage, tearing the roads up. This does not mean the snow will continue to pile up, however, but it does provide limitations on when the plow can take care of the problem. “If the road is frozen, it’s hard enough to drive on, it will be plowed,” Trustee Jack Immel said. However, heavy snowfall would necessitate the village take action in this area, even with the softness. “If it’s 3 inches, it’s impassable, and there are people who need to go through there,” Hartenbower said.
Lostant plows Page 2
Will work for love The joys and challenges of therapy dogs By Dave C ook
news@tonicanews.com
Tonica News photo/Dave Cook
Spreading cheer from the 16th District Congressman Adam Kinzinger visited the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle on Dec. 12 to deliver Christmas cards. Families and classrooms have sent Kinzinger’s office hundreds of holiday cards wishing veterans a merry Christmas. Here, he delivers a card to veteran Roberta Berthoud. Vol. 143 No. 2 One Section - 8 Pages
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PERU — The small group of children gathered at the library and each selected a favorite book. One by one they were called forward to read with their friend, Ruby. She listened intently and non-judgmentally, as friends should, and though she doesn’t say much she provides a special way to help young readers — as a therapy dog. For the past five years, Ruby, a 7-year-old Cockapoo, and her handler, Julie Condie, a pediatric occupational therapist, have routinely visited the Peru Public Library. “Our Reading With Ruby program helps children build confidence in a neutral environment, and anything we can offer to engage children in reading will improve their skills,” children’s services manager Lynn Sheedy said. Sheedy said several of the children have essentially grown up with Ruby, and even the newest readers can be seen to quickly
Therapy Page 2
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