1 Front Volume 143 No. 3
Friday, December 23, 2016
Single Copy Cost 50¢
Finances tied up in Tonica Sewer plant work ahead of schedule; squad car still for sale By Zachary J. Pratt news@tonicanews.com
TONICA — In Tonica, the check may not be in the mail. The Tonica Village Board learned at its meeting Monday, Dec. 19, developments have diminished the village’s ability to readily utilize its funds. Because of unexpected changes to the village’s accounts, Tonica cannot write checks using a large amount of its funds. To solve this problem, the village plans to move these funds to a local bank. “They changed all our checking accounts into savings accounts,” village treasurer Jessica Bonnell said. “We have a lot of money sitting around. I can’t even
access it.” Some funds allow for checks to be written, but the village needs the ability for these as well. “Those couple accounts, they don’t have that. They used to,” Village President Kevin Sluder said. “They were bought out, and nobody let us know.” Bonnell said either she or Sluder should be able to access the accounts, but a change in her last name has caused difficulties in her interactions with the bank. “It’s an external bank, and they don’t recognize me,” Bonnell said. The village plans to switch its funds to a local bank, from where it will be able to directly write checks. As an added bonus, Tonica would receive higher interest
rates on its money. Bonnell indicated this would net Tonica .4 percent interest on the funds, as opposed to the .01 percent the village currently receives. Also at the meeting, the board heard the cold has slowed construction on Tonica’s new sewer plant, but progress still looks good. Tonica engineer Jack Kusek provided an update on the sewer plant project, explaining that despite the weather, progress is still advancing steadily. Regardless of whether the cold relents any time soon, the weather could soon have a diminished effect on construction. “They’re getting ready to lay the block for the buildings,” Kusek said. “Once they get the blocks and
Tonica Page 2
Living with Grace
A new business for Tonica? Owner is hoping village’s ordinance can be amended
Tame deer offers chance for gentle interaction
By Zachary J. Pratt
news@tonicanews.com
By Dave Cook
news@tonicanews.com
TONICA — A new business coming into Tonica wants to know if the village would be willing to amend its ordinance to allow operation later on weekdays. A business, described by Village President Kevin Sluder as a restaurant with a bar, is hoping the hours could be extended beyond midnight on weekdays. The Tonica Village Board discussed the issue at its meeting Monday, Dec. 19. The current hours run until midnight Sunday through Thursday and 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. The business owner would like the option to be open until 2 a.m. throughout the week. “He wants the ability, if he could or needed to, to stay open later,” Sluder said. “Doesn’t mean he’s going to utilize them. Doesn’t mean he’s going to be open until two.” The business will run gambling machines, which requires paperwork sent to the state, including the allowed hours of operation. “It’s not about the booze; it’s about the gaming,” trustee Mike Supan said. “It’s all about the gaming.” “That’s big money,” Sluder said. “People go to certain spots and just play the machines.” With the current ordinance, the gaming machines need to shut off once the clocks roll around to a new day. “He can’t use the machines after midnight,” Supan said. “He gets caught, he could lose it.”
New business Page 2 Vol. 143 No. 3 One Section - 8 Pages
© The Tonica News
Tonica News photo/Dave Cook
Grace and Deb Moreland both enjoy sharing their special bond with those who visit with the Furry Friends zoo. While it’s more enjoyable to meet her indoors or during warmer months, Grace doesn’t seem to mind the single-digit temperatures we’ve recently been experiencing.
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PRINCETON — While a common site, deer aren’t known for being approachable. The only times you can get close is unfortunately after either hitting them with a vehicle or by successfully hunting them. There is one, however, who is quite friendly. Grace is owned by Deb Moreland of rural Princeton and is part of the mobile menagerie known as the Furry Friends Petting Zoo. For 18 years Furry Friends has travelled throughout the area and allowed people to interact with animals including Grace, a white skunk named Peaches, a Patagonian Cavy, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, cockatiels, chickens, a chinchilla and many more. Moreland has visited places from anywhere between the Quad Cities and Joliet and from Rockford to Bloomington. During the week she regularly visits nursing homes. “For that I usually take the soft, cuddly things they can hold and enjoy. Going to the nursing homes is, to me, the most rewarding part of the whole thing because it just lights them up,” Moreland said. She’s often told by staff how differently people react during her visits. People who rarely talk, socialize or even smile will eagerly participating in visiting with animals. She also is a common friend at several schools, libraries, town celebrations and other special events including several at Starved Rock State Park. Depending on the loca-
Grace Page 2
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