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1 Front Volume 143 No. 4

Friday, December 30, 2016

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The state of school funding in Lostant By Zachary J. Pratt news@tonicanews.com

LOSTANT — Reports have flown around, stating Illinois schools are fully-funded, but Sandra Malahy, superintendent of the Lostant school district, wants people to know that is untrue. She said during the board’s meeting on Dec. 21, that although general state aid payments might be being met, other payments have fallen drastically behind. “When you hear the state’s fully-funding schools, that is a lie,” Malahy said. “It is not true. The state is paying general state aid, but it is not paying categoricals.” These categoricals are different services which the school must provide, and providing these services costs additional money. “They are mandated by the state to provide for chil-

dren. We do not have a choice,” Malahy said. She explained the school is meant to receive some reimbursement for the costs these incur. But the related payments are not coming in. “How much did they pay this year, the state?” Malahy asked, then answered. “Say ‘zero.’” Malahy said she does not believe reports of full-funding are malicious, merely misinformed. “I don’t think they mean to be fibbing,” she said. “I think truly many people do not understand how schools are funded.” Malahy said this misunderstanding could apply to anyone, such as new politicians who are inexperienced in the matter. “I’m going to assume we will receive one more general state aid payment in December because those have been on time. The federal money is being paid on time,” Mala-

hy said, regarding payments such as reimbursement for the federal breakfast and lunch programs. However, Malahy said if all payments cease, the school could then be missing $249,551.76. In related discussion, Malahy spoke about emails she has received about how schools should handle the budget issue. “I thought the one from Senator Koehler in Peoria was interesting, where he held a press conference and said, basically, to shut the schools down until there’s a budget,” Malahy said. Not every politician in Illinois agrees with that idea, as evidenced by a statement from Dr. Beth Purvis, secretary of education, as explained by Malahy: “She said this is not, nor will it ever be, the position of Governor Rauner,

Lostant Page 2

Life-safety issues discussed at Tonica School By Zachary J. Pratt news@tonicanews.com

rience. We provide youth with GED services we’ve contracted through the Regional Office of Education. Being federally-funded, we can assist in furthering one’s education depending on the program of interest. By helping with tuition, we can also help in paying for books and other fees including reimbursement for transportation, required tools, uniforms and equipment.” Covering Ogle, Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Lee, Bureau, Putnam and LaSalle counties, the Step Ahead program provides educational support to prepare for testing. It strives to develop positive relations; so self-esteem is increased, and students can begin to envision the accomplishments they’re working toward. Study sessions are held in public libraries, and personal skills, communication, personal choice, decision making and teamwork are all important components. B.E.S.T. also has a variety of incentives available for youth

TONICA — Tonica Grade School is facing a number of repairs and renovations which have accumulated over the years. The Tonica School Board was visited on Wednesday, Dec. 21, by Matt Lamps of Basalay, Cary & Alstadt Architects, Ltd., who went over some details of the 10-year life-safety survey. “It calls out all the deficiencies that need to be addressed to bring your building up to code,” Lamps said of the survey. A major issue Lamps addressed is the state of the school’s steam condensate piping, telling the board the system has failed. While the school has put the system back together in the past, Lamps says it needs a permanent fix. “It’s running on a Band-Aid,” he said. Failure of this system would spell bad news for the school, as it is an essential element of the heating mechanism. “Keep in mind, if the condensate piping fails, your heat will be gone,” Lamps said. “No heat, no students, no school.” The problems are not news to the school, as the board has discussed the work that needs to be done with it in the past. “This board has been discussing this condensate piping for about five years,” board President Jeremy Hillyer said, adding the funding has been an issue in the past, but the issue’s inclusion in the 10-year life safety survey opens up particular funds which could help in that aspect. The piping is not the only issue facing the school; Lamps mentioned a host of other problems as well. He pointed out roof issues at the building’s west end as well as sections in the 1920s portion of the building, which he says are facing water intrusion. Another issue he noted is the hazardous state of various doors, many of which are passages of egress. These issues have not appeared overnight. “The thing is, these are things that have been needed for a while,” Hillyer said. “It’s just like your house: If you don’t maintain your house, you end up with a lot of things that need done at once. “We’re not asking for lavish things we don’t need,” Hillyer added. “It’s a lot of money, but if you don’t do it now, it’s a problem later.” Interim Superintendent James Whitmore said the items labeled for one year could be paid with the tax levy.

Step Ahead Page 2

Life-safety Page 3

Tonica News photo/Dave Cook

Tera Hicks (left) of the Regional Office of Education works with Mackenzie File of Princeton. File has been enrolled in Step Ahead since May and only has two tests left before completing the program.

A different path — taking a Step Ahead Program helps youth build a new future By Dave Cook

news@tonicanews.com

PRINCETON — Graduate high school, go to college and get a job — this is the path so often laid out for youth. However, things don’t always go as planned. Whatever the reason, family instability, health, youthful restlessness or other issues — some students fall off the prescribed path and don’t complete their high school education. The Step Ahead program helps these students regain their footing and continue toward a brighter future. The Business Employment Skills Team, Inc. (B.E.S.T.) works with the Regional Office of Education (ROE) to assist low-income youth, ages 16 to 24, in obtaining their GED or high school equivalency diploma. B.E.S.T. career advisor Kerri Hicks said, “Our focus is to assist youth in gaining meaningful employment through education, training, job search assistance and work expeVol. 143 No. 4 One Section - 8 Pages

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2 Local

2 • The Tonica News • Friday, December 30, 2016

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.

Fueling a relationship Tonica School considers a partnership with a fuel provider He said when the school here is start a relationship,” many years. By Zachary J. Pratt Where Tonica Edgcomb explained the contracts fuel at a fixed rate, he said. “I’d love for Grainnews@tonicanews.com it’s going up against the marco to work directly with the drawbacks of this system, Stands illustrating his point with ket. The process, he said, is TONICA — Tonica Grade school.”

School is looking at a potential partnership with a fuel provider. The school has been in contact with Grainco FS, and Matt Edgcomb from the company spoke to the board at its meeting Wednesday, Dec. 21.

Relationshiporiented

Edgcomb’s goal is to become more than just a provider — he would like to initiate a partnership between the company and the school. “What I’m trying to do

He explained the company’s ties to area communities provides a beneficial relationship to both sides, as what benefits one will benefit the other. “We’re always looking at building relationships,” he said. “We’re pretty well tied to the community. A lot of our kids go to these schools, so often your best interests are our best interests.” Such a partnership would be in contrast to going out for bids when fuel is needed, the generally assumed method of doing business and the method which the district has maintained for

Lostant From Page 1

to shut the schools down.”

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A new levy is adopted

The school board has adopted its new levy, leaving the tax rate where it is. The levy could see as much as a $50 increase on a $100,000 home; while the number cannot go higher, it could be lower. This depends on what happens with the equalized assessed value (EAV). “The absolute most it would be is $50,” Malahy said. “That would be the maximum.” She expects the estimates are high as they are, as they are based on her own estimated 5.65 per-

Step Ahead From Page 1

attaining their GED, equivalency diploma or by showing an increase in one or more educational areas. Kim Sellers, director of learning support services with the ROE, said the program offers opportunities to students who haven’t been successful in a school setting. Since 2011, the ROE’s Tera Hicks has been regularly meeting students twice a week at public libraries to tutor and encourage them, as they prepare for their various tests. Tera said in 2016, 18 students were served, and 11 have received their diploma or GED. The other seven are still progressing, Instability is one of the most common factors in a student dropping out of high school, according to both Sellers and Tera Hicks. “One student lived in three different towns during the six months he was in our program,” Tera said. She also said the student successfully completed his studies and has since applied for student assistance and will soon be attending Illinois Valley Community College. “We help break down the barriers these students face, whether it’s personal, trans-

the example of a different district, though he did not specify which one. “Every single time they need a delivery, they ask us for a bid,” he said. “The vendors just sell them the cheapest fuel they can.” While this might seem to save on fuel costs, it means the school goes into the winter with fuel not suited for the cold environment, which can cause other problems. Edgcomb said the proposed relationship allows for an ongoing conversation, which would help the school district to receive the best fuel it can for the best prices.

Historically, the Tonica School District has put out a fuel bid in November, a decision that drew Edgcomb’s attention as he questioned what led to that decision. “People make decisions because ‘the previous board did it this way, so we’ll adopt that,’” Edgcomb said. However, he said this has been an inefficient way of going about purchasing fuel. “There are historical times of year that are the best times of year to buy fuel,” Edgcomb said. “Anywhere from a 30-year chart to a 5-year chart, you’re looking at January.”

cent increase in the EAV. “I think that’s a little high, to be honest,” Malahy said. “I bumped that up a little bit just in case there was an increase somewhere.” The adopted levy required a truth-in-taxation hearing, which had been held based on the possibility this levy would be chosen. “If we do not vote on leaving the tax rate where it’s at, we’re holding this hearing for nothing. But that’s OK,” Malahy said before the selection was made. “At least we’re discussing this, informing each other and the public as to our thoughts.”

Dancing up a storm

Lostant students in grades fifth through eighth might want to prepare their dancing skills, as a school dance is being planned. Tracy Daugherty, president of the Lostant PTO

portation or financial; It’s a huge relief for a lot of our families,” she said. Mackenzie File, 18, of Princeton has been enrolled in Step Ahead since May. File has two tests left before completing the program — social studies and the Constitution. She became aware of the program through the high school when she dropped out during her junior year. She said she became frustrated after being held back because she had missed so much school because of health problems. “They told me they wanted me to continue my education,and I’m so excited to almost be done,” File said. “This program has helped me a lot and actually made me grow up. Tera has given me so much confidence with my studies. I struggled with math, but with her help I scored very high on my test.” File plans to continue her education at IVCC and become a certified nursing assistant, and B.E.S.T. will also be able to assist her to reach that goal. She ultimately wants to become a radiologist. File concluded her thoughts on Step Ahead by saying, “Without this program I probably would’ve never sought an education or ever thought about college. Honestly ... I would’ve just given up.”

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almost like gambling. At this time, the district has been floating on the market, going month-bymonth, and Edgcomb recommends continuing that for the time being. “I think the point is, you’re not gambling. We’re thinking about this,” he said. Interim Superintendent James Whitmore said Grainco has been doing more for the district than just explaining the nuances of purchasing gas. He said the tank is checked every day, and the cold-weather mix is added when necessary.

addressed the board about a winter dance for students in those grades. The dance is set to take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Jan. 6. Because there might not be a multitude of students to attend, Daugherty added attendees could bring a friend of the grade range from the school area. Lostant School Board member Dianna Loerger asked about whether the PTO would clean up after the event. She also asked whether there would be any men to chaperone the children, rather than just women. Daugherty said she could try to arrange this, though, she could not guarantee it. Daugherty added the PTO will soon have details regarding a spring lock-in, though a date and all the particulars have not been set at this time.

Step Ahead requirements According to the ROE, the target population will be youth ages 16-24 who have not experienced success in a traditional classroom setting. The targeted youth have one or more of the following barriers to employment or academic achievement, placing them at risk: • Not in school. • Between 16 and 24-years-old at time of enrollment. And at least one of the following: • A school dropout. • A graduate who is low-income and basic skills deficient or an English language learner. • An individual involved in the juvenile justice or adult corrections system. • Homeless or a run-away. • In or aged out of foster care. • Eligible for Chafee Foster Care Independence funds. • In an out-of-home placement. • Pregnant or parenting. • Disabled. • Low-income requiring assistance to complete education or attain employment. The ROE, school administrators, court services and parents will be responsible for referring youth. The Step Ahead staff interview potential youth to determine if they meet program requirements.

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Friday, December 30, 2016 • The Tonica News • 3

New levy adopted by Tonica School Board

Board looks at water issues, changes, new educational materials express my deepest appreciation for the board of education, By Zachary J. Pratt Water shut off at the external the teachers, the staff, and Principal Schneider,” Whitmore news@tonicanews.com said. storage building He said the district has seen a transformation for the TONICA — The Tonica School District has adopted its

new levy, and residents could see themselves paying a bit more. Despite any personal misgivings about raising taxes, board members said at the Dec. 21 meeting they saw the levy increase as the option they had to take to ensure continued operation of the school. “I think we need to do something,” Tonica Board President Jeremy Hillyer said. “As a taxpayer, I don’t like to raise taxes, but we do need the school to stay in town.” Vice President Brian Marcinkus echoed these sentiments. “I’m not one to raise taxes,” he said, before explaining he believes the increase will not be enough to bother most people. One factor taken into consideration was the trade-off between the increase and the maintenance of property value. “People also don’t want their houses to go down the toilet if the school goes down,” Julie Rietgraf said. She noted the value of property in the village would decrease if the school could no longer continue. The levy adoption tentatively put the levy at $1,216,751 with a tax rate of 3.3566. The levy increase was within the restrictions, so the district did not need to hold a truth in taxation hearing, though they opted to hold one anyway.

Life-safety From Page 1

In contrast to the work that needs to be done, the school has recently conducted some much-needed repairs. Lamps provided an update on the asbestos work in the boiler room and the tuckpointing in the gymnasium. The projects only require payment before they can be filed as complete. Whitmore is pleased with the work Lamps has done. “The district was looking for service with an architect, and I tell you, we get it with Matt,” Whitmore said. In other news, the school has adopted policy revisions, highlighting the district’s issue with its policy books. As new policies are added, and old ones revised, the local policy books have been found lacking. “Our policy, to each and every board member, is really shameful,” Whitmore said. “We have some members here that don’t have a full book; some that don’t have a book at all; and some that have some sort of a book.” The issue came to light with the latest policy revisions, which require the books to be updated. “This is the largest one that has been rolled out,” Whitmore said of the revisions. “The state is broke. That’s OK, but we’ve got all kinds of new laws.” The recently proposed transfer to online books would provide accurate policies for every board member, according to Whitmore. “Your online policy book would be constantly correct,” he said.

The external storage building at Tonica Grade School has had its water shut off, and the exterior shut off should soon be uncovered. The exterior shut off remains unreachable, so the school will need to take additional precautions to avoid a freeze, which could lead to a rupture. “We will have a heat tape on that, or a light — I assume heat tape — to keep it from freezing,” Interim Superintendent James Whitmore said. To avoid further complications and work related to the building, it will have to be evacuated before school recommences. “If that building is occupied, then it has to be up to code with health/life safety,” Whitmore said. The village has agreed to help excavate the external water shutoff. Furthermore, Whitmore mentioned another service provided to the school, as the village salted the parking lot.

Lots of changes in 2016

As the year draws to a close, Whitmore reflected upon the transformation he has seen occur. This past year has seen many changes for the school, from teachers to administrative staff, including transition in the positions of both principal and superintendent. Whitmore expressed his appreciation for those involved in the school. “As we break at the end of the first semester, I want to

New education materials

Tonica students will soon be receiving a more complete education, as an incomplete program the school employs will gain its missing parts. “We bought a new reading series last year,” Hillyer said. But there was one caveat: The series was not complete. Completing the material comes with its costs, but the alternative is an incomplete program. “I know it’s a lot of money, but we’re talking about a lot of books, too,” said Kirsten Augspols, a first-grade teacher at Tonica. Despite the price associated with the materials, the board decided it needed to make the program whole in order to provide the intended education to the students. The school might not have to take the brunt of the costs. Whitmore said there should be other avenues of payment. “We need this stuff, and I believe I can find a grant to pay for that,” Whitmore said.

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PERU — A New Jersey woman was arrested for allegedly having marijuana in her vehicle that was concealed in wrapped Christmas packages. The Peru Police arrested Maryann T. Conneely, 23, of Little Ferry, N.J., at 1:24 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 22 for a turn signal violation on May Road near Plank Road in Peru. Peru Police Chief Doug Bernabei said approximately 2.5 pounds of marijuana was recovered during the arrest, as well as the seizure of $9,000 in currency. The LaSalle County State’s Attorney’s office approved a Class 3 charge of unlawful possession of cannabis. Assisting the Peru Police Department Patrol Division with the arrest was Ace, the department’s newest K-9 officer. Ace was also instrumental in the recent arrest of a Princeton man suspected of being in possession of a large amount of raw heroin and suspected crack cocaine. Conneely was taken to the LaSalle County Jail to appear in bond court.

LaSalle County Sheriff • At 2:05 p.m. Dec. 17, deputies investigated a single-vehicle accident occurring on North 19th Road in Eden Township. A vehicle driven by Stephanie Curry, 26, of Streator lost control on the icy road, went into the ditch and struck a utility pole. Neither Curry nor her four passengers, Justin Vargas, 25, of Streator, Brittany Moats, 26, of Streator, and two juveniles, were injured. There were no citations. • At 3:50 p.m. Dec. 17, deputies investigated a single-vehicle accident on Route 18 in Richland Township. Jacob Moyer, 23, of Streator lost control of his vehicle. There were no injuries or citations. • At 4:39 a.m. Dec. 20, deputies cited Carmen L. Stenger, 26, of Chillicothe with speeding 77 mph in a 55 mph zone while traveling on Route 18 in Richland Township. • At 4:03 p.m. Dec. 22, deputies arrested Christina Weibel, 36, of Tonica on an active Joliet warrant for failure to appear for driving while license expired more than a year and using an electronic communication device. Weibel was transported to the LaSalle County Jail. Bond is $20,000 with 10 percent to apply.

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Sandra Brown and Clay Begly never have thought of, helping them avoid costly mistakes that may not be able to be undone.” Sandra Brown, owner, of Senior Watchdog, Inc., said. Brown is a licensed broker who is a member of National Association of Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage Plans. She is certified in longterm care and is a certified senior advisor for health, retirement and social needs. As a retired nurse, she has worked in the health care field for more than 20 years. She is a lifetime member of “Who’s Who in Business.” Clay Begly, a licensed broker, adds, “We also educate our clients; for

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better, “to a place today where the students come into the building happy, full of life and ready to learn.” The district experienced tumultuous times throughout the year, which led to resignations, cut programs and positions. “We had heroes step up this fall,” Whitmore said. “You just don’t see that in a place that doesn’t care about their kids, and Tonica cares about its kids.”

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4 Perspective

4 • The Tonica News • Friday, December 30, 2016

The Editorial Page The Tonica News Sam R Fisher

Terri Simon

Publisher

Editor

Resolutions worth keeping Every year at this time, I find myself contemplating all the resolutions I need to make. The list is a long one — clearly, I have a host of things needing my immediate attention. Topping the list are all the regulars — losing weight, limiting my intake of sugar, coffee and soda and eating healthier, getting up off the couch or out of the recliner to get more exercise, getting organized, going Terri Simon through my mail in a COMMENTARY timely fashion (I hate mail), being on time, keeping my car, counter tops and office orderly — I could go on and on, but you get the idea. I’d be surprised if your regular resolutions aren’t too similar to mine. But what we have to remember when it comes to resolutions is those changes in lifestyle are only as good as the ones we keep. While I usually start off really well on Jan. 2 — no sense starting on Jan. 1 — it only a takes a couple of weeks (maybe less time) before the scale says the same thing; the coffeepot continues to drip; the exercise routine gets put on hold until it’s warmer (good excuse); my organizational skills continue to lack efficiency; the mail is stacking up; and the clutter in my car, the counter tops and on my desk remains all too similar to the way they looked before Jan. 1. In other words ... plain and simple, I don’t keep those resolutions. I hate to admit it, but it’s just who I am. Do I hear an amen, my friends? Because of all the stress of those dreaded resolutions — or maybe the disillusion of thinking I can keep those promises when I already know I probably won’t, a couple of years ago I decided to change my ways. No, I still don’t keep those resolutions which deal with personal lifestyle changes, though I wish I did. Rather, I make resolutions that are not only easier to keep, but the benefits to them are just as worthy — if not more so — than the old ones. For the past couple of years, my main new year’s resolution sounds simple, but it’s something I worked diligently on throughout the course of those entire years. Simply said, my resolution was to be kinder. OK, you’re probably thinking, “Come on, Ter. What a cop out!” But I have to tell you, making the promise to be kinder to all who I come in contact with has had a myriad of benefits, plus by and large, I’ve done a fairly good job at it. Don’t misunderstand. In my line of work, that clearly presents some big challenges, but keeping kindness in mind — well, it has changed the way I look at situations and more importantly, the way I respond to them. It’s not as easy as one might think, given the way many treat others in this world, but I have to say looking in the mirror has become much easier by sticking with this resolution. And not only do I like myself more by being kinder, those whose paths I cross hopefully benefit as well. After all, kindness really is a priceless commodity, and who doesn’t deserve your kindness? That’s what I’ve continually reminded myself every day. The really cool part of practicing kindness is it becomes easier as time goes on — kind of a way of life. If you’re stuck on a resolution for this year, you might want to give that one a go, for it’s become really rewarding for me. This year — while I’ll keep with my kindness promise — I also want to add another resolution that focuses on keeping in better contact with those friends and family who I cherish. Whether they live close by or far away, it really doesn’t matter. I want to be the kind of friend/relative who calls or texts just for the heck of it — for no reason at all except to say I’m thinking of them. I want to get a real handwritten greeting card in the mail to them — for their birthday and other occasions, but also for no reason at all other than to just say hi and they are in my thoughts. Life is so short, and as many of us know all too well, It can change in the blink of an eye. Now is the time to keep those I love in my daily thoughts, instead of waiting for tomorrow, when there are never any guarantees. This newest resolution kind of goes along with my desire to be kind to everyone, but with my family and friends, I want to take it a step further. Unlike that proverbial list of resolutions I have trouble keeping every year, this one comes from the heart, and anything that comes from within is worth our time and efforts. Plus, there are many who benefit from the resolutions, which encompasses far more people than just myself. I guess my point to all of my rambling here is I hope you don’t get caught up with the disappointment of not keeping resolutions. While I’m sure there are those of you out there who do a bang-up job of keeping those promises, I’d suggest your resolutions for the new year focus on matters of the heart. When we do, it becomes a win-win for us all. Tonica News Editor Terri Simon can be reached at tsimon@ tonicanews.com.

Partying with the younger generation When I was a kid, there was one night I looked forward to every year. It was right up there with Christmas and Halloween. It was New Year’s Eve, and there were always plenty of reasons to be excited about it. We would either go to a relative’s house for a big get-together or we would occasionally host one ourselves. This holiday seems like it is tailor-made for a kid. You get to stay up until midnight, which at a young age seems almost too good to be true. When you have a strict 9 p.m. bedtime you never deviate from, and then you’re told that this one night every year you can stay up until midnight — well, that’s pretty incredible stuff. To help you in your quest, you get unlimited snacks that fuel you with sugar, so you can stay up and have plenty of energy. I remember having an endless supply of snack foods and drinks at New Year’s Eve parties when I was a kid. They were things we never normally had in our house -- cans of mixed nuts, soda, so many bags of potato chips that I didn’t know where to start first, and tray after tray of brownies and cookies. I wasn’t used to having that many food choices in front of me, and I took full advantage of the situation, cramming in as much food as my little stomach would hold. Depending upon where the

Shannon Serpette COMMENTARY

party was held, I would either play with other relatives close to my age, or I would watch television. My favorite program to watch every year was Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve special. It always had great musical acts to keep me entertained, and I loved seeing the crowds gathered on the scene. They always looked like they were having a blast. The adults had their own activities to keep them busy at our parties. My dad, grandpa and other male relatives would sit around a small table playing poker with pocket change, and sometimes you’d see the occasional dollar bill sticking out of the middle of the pot. That’s when you knew it was getting to be high stakes. They’d drink beer, laugh and play their cards for the better part of the night. The women at the party would fuss over the refreshments, filling plates that were empty, and walk around cleaning up the mess we left in our wake. When they weren’t refreshing our supplies, they would sit and talk — about what, I’m not sure. I was always more interested in the poker

game or the television. Those days of carefree New Year’s Eve celebrations are long over for me. I’ve become the host of the annual celebration for our family, and as such, I am the person who makes sure there’s enough refreshments out. Even though I have a different role now, it’s still one of my favorite nights of the year. My children love these celebrations as much as I do. I tend to go overboard on the food — sometimes because I remember how seeing all those plates piled high let me know the occasion was truly special. The kids love snacking on whatever they want, and they get caught up in the excitement of seeing their young cousins and watching the men in their lives play poker too. Not much has changed about New Year’s Eve parties since my younger days. The only real difference is the faces have changed in the past four decades, and I feel sad when I think of all the people from past celebrations who are no longer here to ring in the new year with us. But I know they would be pleased to know that our family ties are just as strong as ever, and they would take delight in knowing our youngest generation looks forward to these nights just as much as we used to. Tonica News Copy Editor Shannon Serpette can be reached at sserpette@bcrnews.com.

The stuff does matter I know all of you have been reading and seeing the pictures from the wildfires in, near and around Gatlinburg, Tenn. Having visited that area a few years ago, I am very sad to realize that much of the scenery I enjoyed is now ashes. I rode the skylift that is now gone, I drove through the forests of the Smoky Mountains, I saw many of the other landmarks that have been shown on newscasts and in pictures. A total of more than 17,800 acres have burned. I was recently discussing the fire with my grandson, and he asked how big was an acre. Good question. I am not a person with those kinds of facts at my fingertips, but I did tell him that an acre is a measurement of area and not necessarily a measurement of width and length as inches, feet and yards are. An acre can be a variety of widths and lengths. Google told me (since I did not know) that an acre is equal to 43,560 square feet. If you had a perfect square equal to an acre, each side would be approximately 208 feet. To compare to something most of us are familiar with, a football field is 100 yards long or 300 feet long and 160 feet wide. So a square acre would be two-thirds of a football field long and one and one-third football fields wide. My non-mathematical brain is just using this for a rough estimate. If you can imagine 17,800 of those stacked around, that is the amount of space that has been burned. And, even more importantly, as of today when I am writing this

Nita Wyatt COMMENTARY

column, 13 lives have been lost. A very sad disaster for the people of that area. In thinking about the people who suffered losses, I try to imagine how I would feel, how I would react, how I would move on. Just imagine if you can, you wake up today and you are told that you must evacuate your home. You understand that with this evacuation you may be leaving your home for good, leaving behind much of your personal property, with only the hope that you will return to something other than a shell of your current life. What do you take with you? What do you make sure is kept? After your family and your pets, what goes with you? Everyone always says they would take their family pictures. I totally agree. Along with taking my actual paper pictures, I would have to take my laptop, my iPad and of course my phone. All of those have pictures on them that are not replaceable. OK, I have those, but I still have space in my evacuation vehicle to hold other memories. What now? I am sitting in my house writing this, and it is really hard to make those choices. Of course, I would need the necessities, i.e. clothes, toilet-

ries, pillows, a couple of blankets. I think of my mother’s china and silverware; those are not replaceable for me. If I had enough space, I would take an antique trunk originally owned by my oldest sister, a sister that was gone before I was born. That to me is not replaceable. I would take a bowl belonging to my great-grandmother and a toothpick holder from my grandmother. I would bring some special gifts from my daughter and some special items from my husband — the earrings he gave me for our wedding, those kinds of things. The fabric and memories of my life. The rest, well it is just stuff. But I can’t imagine how those evacuated feel if they return to where their home was and find everything gone. You are safe and your family is safe, but that stuff still matters — that stuff is still part of your life. My heart goes out to the people affected by these wildfires. Help for these victims has come from both a long-time famous singer and a group of newly wealthy lottery winners as well as individuals and groups of volunteers. I am sure all help is appreciated. If you had to leave your home, what would you take? What would be irreplaceable for you? As we spend more time inside our homes this winter, take stock of what’s important; take time to enjoy your stuff; take time to enjoy your blessings. Nita Wyatt of Wyanet can be reached at wyattnm1950@yahoo. com.

First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” Constitution of the United States, 1789

5 Life

Friday, December 30, 2016 • The Tonica News • 5

Community

LaSalle County Stockman’s annual banquet held

Photo contributed

Collect items for food pantry The Lostant Grade School Student Council collected 196 food items during its holiday food drive. The items will be delivered to the Illinois Valley Food Pantry.

Briefs Mignone named to dean’s list KENOSHA, Wis. — Kylie Mignone of Peru was named to the fall 2016 semester dean’s list at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis. Dean’s list honors are accorded to Carthage students who achieve a 3.5 grade-point average while carrying at least 14 credit hours during a semester.

LIFT event planned for Jan. 15 LASALLE — Christian women of all ages are invited to attend a Ladies In Fellowship Together (LIFT) event at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, at the Grace United Methodist Church in LaSalle. The theme for the afternoon, “Winter Picnic,” will focus on relaxing, having fun and enjoying delicious picnic food. The featured guest presenter will be local storyteller Jeanne Struna. All women in the Illinois Valley area are encouraged to come take a break as they enjoy fellowship and refreshments. The church is located at 1345 Chartres St. in LaSalle. RSVPs are encouraged, but are not required to attend. Contact Lois at 815-663-1724 or vcroasdale@ comcast.net.

Comfort Food Makeover class planned PERU — Everyone is invited to join University of Illinois Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator Susan Glassman to get some new ideas on how to cut sugar, salt and fat and still enjoy delicious food that connects us to our heritage. Comfort Food Makeovers will be offered at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the Peru Public Library, 1409 11th St., Peru. To register, call University of Illinois Extension at 815-224-0889 by Monday, Jan. 9, or register online at: https://web.extension.illinois.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=15790.

LASALLE — The 13th annual LaSalle County Stockman’s Harvest Rewards Banquet was held Nov. 22 at Seneca’s Oak Ridge in LaSalle. An audience of more than 300 enjoyed the banquet honoring LaSalle County’s finest young people who raise and show breeding stock. Chris Over welcomed the group and Clay Sundberg offered invocation. Stockman President Larry Stillwell welcomed and thanked the audience who were there to honor and recognize the youth of LaSalle County. Recognized guests were state Rep. Jerry Long of the Illinois 76th District; O.J. Stoutner, liaison for Illinois state Sen. Sue Rezin; Reed Wilson, representing IVCC’s ag program; Emily Bernard, Illinois Hereford Queen; and Amber Schifbauer and Lizzie Shafer, Illinois Angus Ebonette Princesses. The Grand and Reserve Champion Market winners from the 2016 LaSalle County Junior Fair were recognized and then by live auction each sold their champion market animals. The Grand Champion Market Animal winners who auctioned their animals were as follows: steer — Austin Walter; barrow — Ryan Payne; wether — Karly Reel; pen of chickens — Lillian Hladovcak; wether goat — Rachel Nelson; and dairy basket — Keegan Boldt. Reserve Grand Champion Market Animal winners who auctioned their animals were: steer — Nolan Lukach; barrow — Bernadette Dittmer; and lamb — Nick Angus. Dalton Walter was awarded Top Rate of Gain Steer and Premier Carcass. The “Win-A-Show-Animal” essay contest winners were announced by Dan Lukach. Each winner

Photo contributed

Grand and Reserve Grand Champions Market Animal winners at the 2016 LaSalle County Fair were honored at the LaSalle County Stockman’s 13th annual Harvest Rewards Banquet. They are (front row) Keegan Boldt, Ryan Payne, Bernadette Dittmer, Karly Reel and Nolan Lukach; and (back row) Rachel Nelson, Austin Walter, Lillian Hladovcak and Nick Angus. was to write a 250-word essay on “Why I want to win a show animal.” Each is animal is donated and given to the winner to be shown at the July 2017 LaSalle County Junior Fair. This year’s swine winner is Nathan Hicks, donated by Triple C Livestock, the Cave family. This year’s sheep winner is Lance Moritz, donated by McVicker Club Lambs. This year’s goat winner was Ella Robson, donated by the Jim Thomson family. 2016 winners of the Grand Champion Breeding Animals were recognized and honored. They are: heifer — Isabella Widman; grade heifer — Brooke Schiffbauer; bred and owned heifer — Nolan Lukach; gilt purebred — Kendall Nelson; gilt X-bred — Jenna Simmons; ram — Nick Angus; ewe — Tyler Angus; and doe goat — Ethan Robson. 2016 winners of Reserved Grand Champion Breeding Animals were recognized and honored. They were: heifer — Nolan Lukach; gilt purebred — Kendall Nelson; gilt X-bred — Cole Ewers;

ewe and ram — Ben Temple; and doe goat — Ethan Robson. Showmanship winners in junior, intermediate and senior divisions from the 2016 LaSalle County Junior Fair in each animal category were recognized and honored. In the beef category: junior showman — Nolan Lukach; beef intermediate — Alyson Utegg; and senior beef — Allie Pfalzgraf. In Swine category: junior showman — Ryder Baxter; swine intermediate — Brooke Schiffbauer; and swine senior — Kendall Nelson. In the sheep category, showmanship winners were: junior showman — Tyler Angus; and senior sheep showman — Karly Reel. In the goat showmanship category, winners were: junior showman — Lydia Robson; intermediate goat — Hueston Wilson; and senior showman — Ashley Passwater. The 2016 master showmanship winner was Theresa Dittmer. The LaSalle County Stockman awarded two

$1,000 scholarships. Presented by David Isermann, scholarships were awarded to Austin Walter of Ottawa, who attends Lake Land Junior College majoring in animal science, and Martha Hoffman of Earlville, who attends Illinois Valley Community College majoring in agriculture communication. Life memberships were presented to the Kevin Schiffbauer family. Information on life memberships can be obtained by calling George M. Lukach at 815-672-7329 or by contacting any Stockman member. Floyd Crane presented the 2016 Stockman of the Year to Sharon Reel and Scott Freebairn. They are the LaSalle County senior and junior 4-H livestock judging teams leaders. They participated as LaSalle County youth in livestock judging as a 4-H member and then throughout college judging in the United States and Europe. Their years of experience, skill and enthusiasm for judging are now being passed to

Banquet Page 6

Physician to talk about vitamins and supplements PERU — Finding the fine line between getting what you need and overdoing it when it comes to taking vitamins and supplements will be the topic discussed by an Illinois Valley Community Hospital physician at a free public program at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, in the IVCH room at the Peru Mall. Dr. Kelly DeBoer’s topic is “Vitamins — Getting What’s Essential.” She’ll talk about the benefits taking vitamins can

have for some people, but she will also discuss the dangers of overuse. Dr. DeBoer is a family practice physician on the staff of

the IVCH Oglesby Medical Clinic. Although there is no charge to attend the program, pre-registration

is encouraged either by going online at ivch.org or by calling the IVCH event registration desk at 815780-3337.

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6 • The Tonica News • Friday, December 30, 2016

Menus Lostant Grade School Breakfast Jan. 2 — No school. Jan. 3 — Pancakes and syrup, yogurt, cereal, fruit and juice. Jan. 4 — Peanut butter and jelly, yogurt, cereal, fruit and juice. Jan. 5 — Breakfast toast, yogurt, cereal, fruit and juice. Jan. 6 — French toast, sausage and syrup, yogurt, cereal, fruit and juice. Lunch Jan. 2 — No school. Jan. 3 — Pretzel bits, mixed vegetables, peaches, milk. Jan. 4 — Turkey and noodles, peas, apricots, bread, milk. Jan. 5 — Hamburger horseshoe, corn, pears, milk. Jan. 6 — Barbecue pulled pork on bun, chips, carrots, applesauce, milk.

Tonica Grade School

Photo contributed

Hennepin Power Station makes donation The Hennepin Power Station recently donated $3,000 for instructional equipment for Illinois Valley Community College’s revitalized agriculture program. IVCC ag instructor and program coordinator Willard Mott (from left) joined IVCC President Jerry Corcoran, Hennepin Power Managing Director of Plant Operations Byron Veech and administrative manager Jennifer Pembleton for the check passing. The equipment will be used across several courses including crop science and soil science. “Hennepin Power has long been a generous supporter of our college,” said Corcoran. “This gift will provide top-notch equipment to prepare students for productive ag careers.”

Banquet From Page 5 the today’s LaSalle County’s judging senior and junior teams. The reward of seeing the teams compete in local, state and national shows and watching the members grow into young adults is very rewarding. Over the past 13 years, the Association has provided the platform to return more than $218,000 to the youth of LaSalle County through programs such as animal essay contest, scholarships, breeding awards and live market animal auctions. During this past year, the Stockman’s Association sponsored or donated to: LaSalle County Junior Fair’s livestock premiums; The Tri-County FFA Board’s tractor safety certificate event; bred and owned

class sponsorships at the LaSalle County Junior Fair and the Tri-County Fair; Farm Bureau’s Ag in the Classroom; Streator Ag Days; LaSalle County Livestock Judging Team; LaSalle County Stockman’s Scholarships; Harvest Rewards Banquet Rewards; and Tri-County Opportunities Association donation of a half hog. 2017 Stockman’s events include: January — National Western Livestock Show in Denver; June — scholarship applications due; July — bred and owned class at the LaSalle County Junior Show; September — Tri-County Fair of the bred and owned class; October — 2016 Win-AShow animal essay applications due; and November — Harvest Awards Banquet, always held the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The 2015-16 Stockman officers

were recognized and honored. New president Terry Patyk recognized outgoing president Larry Stillwell and his wife, Nancy; vice president John Glascock Sr.; secretary Lisa Corcoran; and treasurer Sarah Lukach for serving as officers the past four years. New officers for the 2016-18 year are: president Terry Patyk, vice president Larry Goodbred, secretary Laura Patyk and treasurer Mary Ellen Goodbred. 2015-2017 Board of Directors are George A. Lukach, David Isermann, Andy Goodbred, Chris Over, Ralph Walter, Floyd Crane and Ken Bernard. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month at various locations throughout the county. Follow and like the Stockman on Facebook-LaSalle County Stockman’s Association for information of activities.

Breakfast Jan. 2 — No school. Jan. 3 — Waffle and syrup or cereal, toast, granola, yogurt, fruit, juice, milk. Jan. 4 — Scrambled eggs or cereal, toast, granola, yogurt, fruit, juice, milk. Jan. 5 — Bagel with cream cheese or cereal, toast, granola, yogurt, fruit, juice, milk. Jan. 6 — Powdered sugar or chocolate doughnuts or cereal, toast, granola, yogurt, fruit, juice, milk. Lunch Jan. 2 — No school. Jan. 3 — Chicken crispitos, refried beans, rice, fruit side kick, salsa and sour cream, milk. Jan. 4 — No lunch, early out. Jan. 5 — Grilled cheese, tomato soup, celery, carrots, fruit, cookie, milk. Jan. 6 — Pizza crunchers, lettuce and salad dressings, fruit, milk.

Putnam County Community Center Jan. 2 — Center closed. Jan. 3 — Hamburger, baked beans, coleslaw, peaches, dessert. Jan. 4 — Chicken patty on bun, baked beans, tropical fruit, carrot sticks. Jan. 5 — Meatloaf, au gratin potatoes, corn, rolls and butter, orange, dessert. Jan. 6 — Tuna salad on wheat bread, navy bean soup, broccoli, orange. Bread, butter, fruit juice and 2 percent milk are available with meals. For reservations, call 800-7574579 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.

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- 200 Employment

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.

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YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND right here in the Tonica News Classified! You could find furniture, appliances, pets, musical instruments, tools, anything. You might even find a kitchen sink!

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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

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7 Class

Friday, December 30, 2016 • The Tonica News • 7 999 • Legal Notices

999 • Legal Notices

IN THE THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF ILLINOIS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF LASALLE COUNTY Estate of ) SHIRLEY M. KEEN, ) Deceased. ) No. 2016-P-178 NOTICE TO

CLAIMANTS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN of the death of SHIRLEY M. KEEN. Letters of office as Independent Administrator were issued on November 3, 2016 to KENNETH

C. DANIELS, 1102 W. Bridge 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 27, 2017, 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. Further, notice is hereby given to the

UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES of SHIRLEY M. KEEN, deceased that an Estate has been opened for SHIRLEY M. KEEN and KENNETH C. DANIELS was appointed as Independent Administrator of the Estate on November 3, 2016 and said Estate

is now pending in said Court. Dated this 16th day of December, 2016. Jim Olson, Clerk of the Circuit Court 13th Judicial Circuit, LaSalle County, Illinois Published in the Tonica News Dec. 16, 23 and 30, 2016.

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