TONICA — The 2012 Census of Agriculture is revealing new trends in farming.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final Census data and reported record sales moderated by ris-ing expenses; agriculture becoming increasingly diverse; and farming
and marketing practices changing.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released a statement with the data, saying it illustrates the power of USDA efforts to grow the economy and strengthen infrastructure in rural America.
“The Census shows the potential for contin-
ued growth in the bio-economy, organics and local and regional food systems. USDA will con-tinue to focus on inno-vative, creative policies that give farmers, ranch-ers and entrepreneurs the tools they need to attract a bright and diverse body of talent to rural America.”
An interesting highlight
from the Census data shows that 22 percent of all farmers were beginning farmers in 2012, which means one out of every five farmers operated a farm for less than 10 years.
Young, beginning princi-pal operators who reported their primary occupation as farming increased from 36,396 to 40,499 between
2007 and 2012. That’s an 11.3 percent increase in the number of young peo-ple selecting agriculture as a full-time job.
Jake Warner is one such individual. Warner farms outside of Wenona and wouldn’t have it any other way.
TONICA – The end of the school year at Tonica Grade School brought another tradi-tion that not only the students, but their parents and grand-parents enjoy — the annual Field Day and Picnic.
The Field Day started in the morning with the students being escorted outside by class and taken through a series of games like limbo, fun with chalk and the parachute game. Students enjoyed the weath-er which had finally become sunny and rain free on May 21. Kindergarten students Grant Kumerall and Christian Conrad had fun.
“I liked the limbo; I’m really good at that,” Christian said.
“We also played chalk and the cool parachute game,” Grant said.
For some, it is simply a fun day, being able to be outside and play all day with friends.
“”We get to eat and play all day. That is a lot of fun,” Desiree Sluder said.
Destiny Sluder said, “The para-chute game was the best. You get to go down under the chute, and there are balls under it.”
The picnic part of the day is set up outside, where the caf-eteria staff led by Michelle Car-mean prepares hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, fruit, carrots and dip and chips to eat picnic style with their families. For des-sert, everyone enjoyed ice cream
sandwiches. Carmean noted this meal is a little easier than the Thanksgiving one to prepare. The staff plans on feeding 400 people, between students and visitors to make sure there is enough food
for everyone. Parents and grand-parents were able to make reser-vations through the office to join their children in the three lunch sessions the school has.
Brightly colored picnic blan-kets were placed on the front lawn of the school along with lawn chairs for families to eat together. The Tonica Junior High School Student Council mem-bers were on hand to help serve during the younger student’s lunches.
Hailey Soran said, “I’m glad we get to help everyone.”
Tonica Grade School cafeteria worker Carrie Colemane enjoys the annual event.
“Its a fun day today and the families get to sit and enjoy,” she said. “It goes by grade with kindergarden and goes up from there. It’s pretty nice to see every-one here like this.”
TONICA — Heather Sherman, Tonica village clerk, came into the posi-tion in a roundabout way.
“The neighbor across the way was involved with the board, and the old clerk was looking to retire,” Sherman said. “So I ran in the next election and totally lost.”
However, circumstanc-es were such that Sher-man was tapped to be vil-lage clerk by then-mayor Roger Thompson. It was a great fit. Sherman, a new mother at the time, was able to bring her new daughter to work.
“It kind of turned into something that was help-ing me out,” she said.
The job has ended up being a little of every-thing, Sherman said. The village clerk prepares and sends out the water bills, handles the park shelter reservations and liquor licenses and handles phone calls, answering questions various resi-dents have.
“It’s the meetings and the minutes and a lot of miscellaneous things,” Sherman said.
Being the village clerk keeps Sherman in the midst of what goes on in the village. She gets calls, not always happy ones, about things going on with the village.
“Pleasing everyone is the main thing with this position,” she said. “It’s often about compromise.”
The Tonica NewsVolume 141 No. 14 Friday, May 30, 2014
Single Copy Cost 50¢
1 Front
2012 Census of Agriculture released
A fun way to wrap up a great school year!
Sherman: Getting it done for Tonica
More young people choosing farming as a full-time job
TGS holds annual Field Day and Picnic
Tonica News photos/Dixie SchroederParents, grandparents and guardians eat with Tonica Grade School kindergarden through second grade students during the annual Field Day and Family Picnic held on May 21 at the school.
Holly Gingerich (left) and Ava Engels get condiments from Ton-ica Grade School Student Council members Mary Claire Jesti (right) and Tyler Marcinkus during the annual Field Day and Family Pic-nic event on May 21.
The Korean War flag was raised during the services.
Members of the Tonica American Legion Post 260 performed their role in the Memorial Day weekend services on May 25.
Katie Cawkins, Gold Star mother of Vietnam War veteran Cody Cawkins, puts a flower on the Vietnam Cross during the services. Cody Cawkins died during the Vietnam War.
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Photo contributedJake Warner checks out his planter to make sure all is well before he heads to the field for the day’s work.
Over time she has become familiar with where residents live and who they are. Learning was an on-the-job expe-rience. Sherman credits village treasurer Jessica Schneider with assis-tance, especially in the beginning.
The community service aspect of the position has been a positive side of the job.
“I’ve kind of enjoyed it,” she said. “I might be in that circumstance one day, and so I kind of think what goes around comes around.”
Sherman coaches T-ball and has enjoyed it.
“It’s nice to help out and meet new people. It’s been a great way to meet the village residents,” she said.
Future things Sherman would like to see happen in the village include the completion of the sewer plant.
“That is the main thing right now with the grants and the loans and such. There’s never enough money, especially in a small community. The trustees have also been addressing the issue of the flooding, getting the creek cleaned out and such,” she said. “That would make a lot of peo-ple happy. Otherwise I think the people here do a great job.”
“I love it,” Warner said. “It’s easy to go to work if you love what you’re doing.”
Warner is a third-gen-eration farmer and always
knew it was what he want-ed to do. After graduating from high school, he went to Joliet Junior College where he studied predom-inately agricultural sub-jects. Afterward he came back to the farm where he said the real education began.
“The best teaching is hands-on,” Warner said. “The more you get involved, the easier you’re going to learn.”
While family tradition is one reason young peo-ple turn to farming, it’s not the only one. Prof-itability in farming has
been higher lately than in the past. Increased demand driven by more overseas exports and ethanol production have driven prices for crops up substantially.
Tonica News staff writer Ken Schroeder contributed to this story.
CensusFrom Page 1
ShermanFrom Page 1
Office of State Fire Marshal urges campers to practice fire safety
Two concerts open the Peoria Municipal Band season
SPRINGFIELD — With the season for outdoor cooking and camping trips now here, the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is encouraging campers to consider fire safety as a priority to ensure a safe and fun experience.
“Camping and other out-door activities that involve building a fire should be enjoyable for the entire family. It’s important for campers to be aware of rules and regulations gov-erning open fires. Every-one should use common sense and keep fire safety in mind when cooking or engaging in other activi-ties that involve fire,” said State Fire Marshal Larry Matkaitis.
Campers that fail to fol-low adequate fire safety measures can jeopardize the safety of themselves, their friends and loved
ones. Lack of caution can also cause wild fires, brush fires, serious dam-age to natural resources and personal property. Fires should never be left unattended and campers should check with state parks, campsites and rec-reation areas for rules on cooking and campfires.
More than 200 uncon-trolled campsite fires were reported in Illinois between 2005 and 2012. Many of those fires could have been prevented if proper safety procedures were followed.
The following is a list of additional fire safety tips for campers:
• Be familiar with the campsite rules on camp-fires or grilling. If a fire ring is not available, select a site a safe distance away from dry grass, trees and tents.
• Choose a site down-wind from the sleeping area to prevent catching camping equipment or other combustibles on fire.
• Avoid building fires in dry or windy conditions. Campfires should be at least 15 feet away from tent walls, shrubs or other flammable materials.
• Do not use gasoline or other petroleum based-liquids, as they can cause dangerous explosions.
• Avoid using gel fuel pots, as the product may explode and can cause serious injuries.
• Keep your fire at a manageable size and always have a pail of sand or water nearby along with an extinguisher and a shovel in case they are needed to control a fire.
• Never leave a grill or a campfire unattended.
Keep children at least three feet away from grills or campfires. Keep matches and lighters away from children.
• Make sure that grilling areas and campfires are completely extinguished before going to bed.
For more information on campground fire safe-ty, visit www.sfm.illinois.gov or www.fire.ca.gov.
PEORIA — The Peoria Municipal Band, under the direction of Dr. David Vroman, will begin their 77th season of summer concerts at 7 p.m. June 1 in the Glen Oak Park Amphitheater in Peoria and follow up in the Peo-ria Warehouse District on June 4. The 2014 Peoria Municipal Band Summer Season consists of 27 con-cert performances by a band of 50 musicians.
The June 1 concert is opening night! The Peo-ria Fire Department Color Guard will be on hand; Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis will narrate the first half of the program; and a select number of area high school musicians will per-form in “A Salute to Peoria Area High Schools.” Libby
Snyder is the featured vocalist and the trombone section will be at the front of the stage for their ren-dition of “Lassus Trom-bone.” Concerts in Glen Oak Park this summer will be June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 July 3 (fireworks), 6, 13, 20, 27, Aug. 3 and 10.
On Wednesday evening June 4, the Warehouse District performances will begin. These concerts are
presented at the corner of Water and State Street each Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. Libby Moore will be the featured vocal solo-ist. and the Peoria Munici-pal Band Dixieland Band will be featured in a Dix-ieland Salute. Concerts in the Warehouse District will be June 4, 11, 18, 25, July 9, 16, 23, 30 and Aug. 6.
The Peoria Munici-
pal Band was formed in 1937 through the efforts of Local 26 of the Ameri-can Federation of Musi-cians and interested citi-zens. Prior to 1937 the band was a professional municipal band complete with management and “Soloists of National Rep-utation.” Current band members come from all walks of life; many are currently music teachers in the local schools. They are selected by audition and then commit to a full season of rehearsals and performance. Hundreds of thousands of people have enjoyed their music since 1937. Today, with the sup-port of the city, the band continues the long-stand-ing tradition of excellence in music.
Amy MisselSTREATOR — Amy K. (Bangert) Missel,
39, of Streator passed away Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at her home surrounded by her loving family.
She was born Aug. 13, 1974, in DeKalb, the daughter of John and Catherine (Strack) Bangert. She married John E. Mis-sel on Nov. 24, 1995.
She is survived by her husband, John of Streator; her children, Zachary, Isaac and Nora, all at home; her parents, John and Catherine Bangert of Peru; two brothers, Jeff (Dianne) Bangert of Ottawa and Jerrod Bangert of Streator; one sister, Jennifer (Barrett) Good-man of Johnston, Iowa; her maternal grandmother, Marge Strack of Peru; and her father- and mother-in-law, Ron and Sarah Missel of Streator.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grand-parents, Louis and Catherine Strack; her paternal grandparents, Anton and Bretice Bangert; and her mother-in-law, Patricia Missel.
Raised in Streator, she attended St. Anthony Grade School and graduated from Streator High School, Class of 1992. She earned her associates degree in nursing from Illinois Valley Community College. She was an OB nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital for 13 years. She later became the administrative director for the newly established Evergreen Assisted Living in Streator.
Diagnosed with colon cancer in October 2010, Amy battled courageously with the disease. The way that she dealt with her illness was an inspiration to her many family and friends.
Amy loved being a nurse as it was truly her call-ing. She loved and was loved by her family and close friends and will be dearly missed by them all.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Amy’s name may be left to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.solontelford.com.
Heather Sherman
Obituary
Amy K. Missel
For more information contact:Band Director David Vroman at 309-677-2605Band Manager George Graves, Jr. at 309-691-
3318Band Publicity Coordinator, Liz Driscoll at 309-
697-2275/309-635-6389.
Hurst Funeral HomeTonica, IL223-0380
4 Biz Ag
4 • The Tonica News • Friday, May 30, 2014
What’s in a name?
Peru Mall offers fun Indoor/Outdoor Expo
Play it safe
A recent column on quinoa prompted a read-er to alert me to a similar grain, which is grown in Illinois named amaranth. I did some research and learned a lot about ama-ranth, which has been in the food chain for a long time. It was important to the Aztecs and can today be purchased at our local grocery stories, under the name Bob’s Red Mill Organic Amaranth. I also learned it is referred to in some circles as pig weed, since it appar-ently has been fed to pigs. Given the choice, I prefer the name ama-ranth to pig weed — it certainly seems to have considerably more com-mercial appeal. Bob’s Red Mill Organice Pig Weed doesn’t really do it for me.
Amaranth is not the only food product that benefits from a consum-er friendly name, with the name changed from something unattract-ive to something more tasteful. For example, kiwi fruit has tradition-ally been called Chinese gooseberry. When farm-ers in New Zealand start-ed to commercially har-vest and export the fruit, they sold it as kiwi fruit to emphasize its country of origin. There are two fish whose names have been modified to sound a little more attractive – Patagonian toothfish is now sold as Chilean sea bass and the fish called slimehead has been renamed to orange roughy.
Another area where names are important is in the dairy industry. The nation’s largest dairy farmer organization, the National Milk Produc-ers Federation (NMPF), doesn’t approve of non-animal based products being sold as milk. For example, there is soy milk, almond milk and rice milk, all of which are available in the local gro-cery store’s refrigerator – cheek by jowl with milk
from dairy cows. The NMPF doesn’t like that and has been battling for several years to stop the use of “milk” by their competitors when they name their products. This is important to the dairy industry because per capita fluid milk con-sumption has steadily declined for the past 25 years. On the other hand, until recently, soy milk sales had steadily increased. Almond milk has started to take mar-ket share away from soy milk – and fluid milk consumption continues to fall. NMPF is frus-trated that a white fluid is put into a container identical to milk, sold as a substitute for milk and that non-dairy interests benefit from the ability to use “milk” on their products.
Clearly, names mat-ter. Or do they? William Shakespeare wrote, and Juliet spoke, in “Romeo and Juliet” – “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
In keeping with this thought, I suspect Shake-speare would agree that a slimehead tastes the same as orange roughy. In contrast, both the NMPF and its fluid com-petitors think everything is in a name. They just can’t agree on that name – “milk, soy milk or soy juice. What do you think?
Professor William Bailey formerly was the Chief Economist for the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Nutrition. He also has served as Deputy-Under Secretary of Agri-culture. He is now affili-ated with the School of Agriculture at Western Illinois University.
PERU — Is boating your summer past time? Or play-ing 18 leisurely holes at the nearest golf course? Or slid-ing, splashing and family fun at an all inclusive resort?
Find a summer activity for every member of the family at an Indoor/Outdoor Expo, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Peru Mall, where a variety of vendors will dis-play boats, camping gear, custom vehicles, sporting goods and outdoor adven-tures. The event, organized by Starved Rock Country, celebrates the many oppor-tunities for summer fun in the Illinois Valley.
Wander through displays located throughout the shopping center and in the
mall’s east parking lot.Big boys can check out the
big toys from Quest Boats at Heritage Harbor, Starved Rock Marina of Ottawa, Bed-ford Marine of Morris, and Custom Marine and Hot Rod Barn, both located in Seneca.
Families can find activities and recreation for all ages at the Grizzly Jacks Grand Bear Resort display, Utica.
Get acquainted with the many miles of trails, muse-ums, historical sites and state parks in and around the Illinois Valley with a visit to the Starved Rock Country display.
Live entertainment from music events to commu-nity theater abounds in
the Starved Rock Country. Stop by Odeum Main Stage, Ottawa or the Eagle Lane Theater, Streator display for tickets to a summer perfor-mance.
Talk to the folks at Library Extreme Sports Gear, Otta-wa about tackling sports that get the adrenaline pumping.
Other expo participants include: Oak Ridge Golf Course, LaSalle; Buffalo Range Shooting Park, Otta-wa; Streator Drugs, Streator; Skydive Chicago, Ottawa; and Time on The Water, Spring Valley.
Starved Rock Country is a regional initiative, includ-ing a magazine and web site, which celebrates the many attractions that draw
millions of visitors to the Starved Rock State Park area. For more information, visit www.starvedrockcountry.com.
Peru Mall offers value shopping close to home. Located at Route 251 near Interstate 80, Peru Mall is home to Bergner’s, JC Pen-ney, Marshalls, Sears and a variety of specialty shops and services.
The shopping center is open Monday through Sat-urday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more informa-tion, visit www.perumall.com.
Peru Mall is owned and managed by GK Develop-ment Inc.
(Family Features) Sum-mer is a time of playground fun, camping, swimming and other outdoor activi-ties. When kids are outdoors, their sense of adventure and curiosity soars, which can, unfortunately, lead to a high-er risk of injuries.
In fact, according to the Safe Kids Worldwide orga-nization, each year one in four children 14 years of age and younger will sustain an injury that requires medical attention. The good news is that many of these injuries are preventable by following a few simple tips and learn-ing how to avoid accidents and injuries.
“We know kids are active, especially during the sum-mer months,” said John Cinotto, chairman of the board of directors of Shri-ners Hospitals for Children. “At Shriners Hospitals for Children, we see patients every day with life-changing injuries caused by accidents. We’re always working to help raise awareness that our medical experts are here to get young patients back on track to the childhood they deserve, regardless of the families’ ability to pay.
Here are some tips to help your family safely enjoy all the fun summer has in store.
Drive with careAccording to the Ameri-
can Academy of Pediatrics, motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death and acquired disability for chil-
dren and teens. These tips can help you and your chil-dren to stay out of harm’s way while in or around vehi-cles.
• Teach your children to buckle up every time they get into a car, regardless of the length of the car ride. Buck-ling children in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats and seat belts dramatically reduces the risk of serious and fatal injuries.
• Check around your parked car for children before you pull away. Teach children to be aware of mov-ing vehicles and to wait in safe areas where drivers can see them.
• Accompany young chil-dren when they get in and out of a vehicle. Hold their hands when walking near moving vehicles, in drive-ways and parking lots.
Mowing mattersWhile it may seem like just
a common household tool, thousands of children are injured in lawn mower acci-dents each year, some with severe effects.
• Teach children to never play on or around a lawn mower, even when it is not in use. They should never be permitted to walk along side, in front of or behind a mov-ing mower.
• Children under 6 years of age should be kept inside the home while mowing.
Fire safety simplifiedEvery hour, approxi-
mately 16 children are
injured from fires or burns, according to the Safe Kids Worldwide organization. Use these tips to keep your little ones safe around fire-works, grills and other heat sources:
• Teach kids never to play with matches, gaso-line, lighter fluid or light-ers. Make a habit of placing these items up and away from young children.
• Do not leave children unattended near grills, campfires, fire pits or bon-fires. Always have a bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby when burning fires.
• To ensure a safe cel-ebration, leave fireworks to the professionals.
• If your child is injured by fire or fireworks, imme-diately take them to a doc-tor or hospital.
Playground 101The Centers for Disease
Control revealed that emer-gency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related inju-ries every year. Before you let them play at the park or school playground, be sure they keep these pre-cautions in mind:
• Use appropriate and properly fitting safety equipment when partici-pating in any sport, such as helmets and goggles, which can greatly reduce the risk of head and eye injuries.
• Take your children to playgrounds with shock
absorbing surfaces. Choose parks and playgrounds that are appropriate for their age. Check for hazards or broken equipment and continuously supervise your children while they are at play.
• Teach children to use playground and sports equipment properly.
• Remind children that pushing, shoving and crowding on the play-ground can result in acci-dents and injuries.
Make a safe splashWhile playing poolside
may be a blast, the Safe Kids Worldwide organi-zation also revealed that drowning is the leading injury-related cause of death for children between 1-4 years of age. Fill your family’s summer days with these safe practices around the water:
• Teach children to never go near or in the water without an adult present. Children and adults should never swim alone.
• Give children your undivided attention when they are swimming or near any body of water.
• Always have your chil-dren wear a Coast Guard approved, properly fitting life jacket while on a boat, around an open body of water or when participat-ing in water sports.
To learn more, visit www.shrinershospitalsforchil-dren.org.
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Since 1975, the children from the shantytowns of Venezuela have been given the opportunity to participate in classical music training. The program also known as El Sistema, encour-ages children as young as 2 years old to sign up for free music lessons or vocal training. They practice at what are known as “nucleus” centers where the kids are given free access to instruments, and the tutors there help prepare them to join one of the 102 youth orchestral systems available.
The creation of El Sistema started as the brainchild of economist, musi-cian and reformer José Antonio Abreu, who wanted to encourage the Venezuelan youth living under the poverty line to strive for a more fulfill-ing life. His belief is that children who have a passion for the arts at a young age will grow up to be more moti-vated and lead happier lives. Little did he know, his project would positively change the lives of more than 250,000 children.
I recently saw a documentary on the youth orchestras called “Tocar y Luchar” (To Play and to Fight), direct-ed by Alberto Alvaro (2006), and I am in awe of the passion and dedication these musicians have developed at such a young age. Throughout the film we see the children playing their violin, cellos, basses, etc. with such
concentration on their faces. They practice diligently at home as well as in rehearsals. And when they perform together, they “live the experience of agreement” and create beautiful sounds in harmony with one another. What is even more impressive is the love these kids have for their craft. One musician, Daniel, tells the inter-viewers that he prefers to sleep on the bottom bunk because that way he is never far from his cello.
Through programs like El Sistema, kids like Daniel have been given a chance to grow as individuals. The benefits of the program are far grander than the music halls the kids have been lucky to perform in. For instance, practicing to learn an instru-ment teaches the kids self-discipline and concentration. They learn to have faith in themselves as well as others. And above all, playing music makes them incredibly happy. Joyce, a musi-cian featured in the documentary, “Tocar y Luchar,” noted when she played her viola she forgot all about
her vices. She no longer felt like a child in poverty but a musician wor-thy of achieving her aspirations.
The work of El Sistema is so important and necessary for all who participate. From an early age, the musicians are taught that they are responsible for their own success in life. They learn that no matter how dire their circumstances, their situa-tion does not have to be an indication of what is to come. I hope that the programs continue in Venezuela for many more years, and I hope that we can promote similar projects here in the United States.
Maybe in the future we will even be able to create free programs support-ing fine arts education for all youths. Until then we can focus on a simpler goal. We can continue to remind our-selves to focus on why we do what we do. Rather than being bogged down by the reality that dreams are hard to accomplish, we can work hard at what really matters to us and see how far we can go. Lucky for us, the early founders of El Sistema figured it out: “What is done with love and convic-tion cannot be detained.”
Kathy Tun of Spring Valley is a sophomore at Illinois Wesleyan in Bloomington. She can be reached in care of this newspaper at P.O. Box 340, Princeton, IL 61356.
5 Perspective
Friday, May 30, 2014 • The Tonica News • 5
The Editorial Page
Sam R FisherPublisher
Terri SimonEditor
The Tonica News
On the street June is National Candy Month. What is your favorite candy?
“Tootsie Rolls are good. I like the blue ones; there’s the wrapper that is blue and the candy
is white.”Abraham Wiesbrock, Tonica
“I like Skittles. I like the green ones the best.”
Kyle Grubar, Tonica
“Suckers. My favorite flavor is blueberry. I like
M&Ms plain too.”Lanie Ploch, Tonica
“I like gum. Really like watermelon. We get it at
Walmart.”Emily Richardson, Tonica
“I like Skittles. The red ones are great. We get them at Grandma’s.”
Evan Grubar, Tonica
Of schadenfreude and irony
Spreading awareness
Practicing for the future
I admit it. If you want to make me laugh, two things will do it every time: Schadenfreude and irony.
As you may know, schadenfreude is laughing at other people’s misfor-tunes. Obviously, not all misfortune, but few things give me more anticipa-tion than hearing someone say, “Hey, watch what I can do.”
A few years ago, I watched a video of a teen trying to ride his skateboard down a heavily slanted roof onto a handrail down some steps. His goal was to slide on his board sideways down the rail. He left the edge of the roof at a pretty decent rate of speed. Unfortunately for him, his skateboard found the roof’s gutter and decided that was as far as it wanted to go. The teen, however, ended up exactly where he wanted to go, straddling the rail. Since he did so without his board, it didn’t end the way he hoped.
I swear I passed out from laughing so hard.
Irony has several meanings — none of which are understood by Alanis Morrisette — but my favorite from Miriam Webster is “a situation that
is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite of what you expected.”
A great example is the current situ-ation the Illinois High School Athletics Association finds itself in. There have been accusations of having too large a staff to get things done and mis-managing their money, not filtering as much of it to where it should actually go, in this case to schools.
The IHSA is a not-for-profit, private organization (which I never would have guessed), and one might think as such, it might be investigated by the Better Business Bureau or the Illinois Attorney General.
Instead, it’s being investigated by members of the Illinois General Assembly. Yes, the same Illinois Gen-eral Assembly that has a long, well-documented history of filling jobs with
lazy relatives to the point of bloated staffing and mismanaging money. (I’m just guessing, but I wouldn’t be surprised if per capita, the Illinois state debt is higher than the federal debt.) And currently owes the state’s schools millions of dollars.
Pot, meet kettle.As a sidenote, there is a bill going
through the Illinois General Assem-bly — Senate Bill 16 or the School Funding Reform Act of 2014 — which would take funding away from schools that are performing well fiscally — which would be most of the schools in the area — and giving it to schools that are not performing well fiscally.
So, not only does the state govern-ment do exactly what it’s accusing the IHSA of — withholding money from schools — but now it wants to penal-ize schools that are doing the opposite of what the government does — being fiscally responsible.
That’s ironic. The only problem is, I’m not laughing. But I bet your con-gressman is.
Lately, I’ve been finding out that the month of May has been proclaimed a lot of things. For example, May is National Bike Month, Motor-cycle Awareness Month, Mental Health Month, National Stroke Awareness Month, Older Ameri-cans Month and National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, among many more.
However, going through the list, there is one proc-lamation that hits near and dear to me— Arthritis Awareness Month.
You might be asking yourself, of all things, why would a young, seemingly healthy lady care about that one? Truth is, I am one of millions who have been diagnosed with arthritis.
Just three years ago, when I was 23, I found out I had been suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Crazy, huh?
Leading up until the day of my diagnosis, my hands had become so swollen and stiff that my mother had to start getting up with me in the mornings to help me do the basic everyday things like twist the shower nozzle, brush my hair and teeth and get the little buttons on my work blouse.
It was a bit scary and very unsettling at the time. I was beginning a new post-college chap-ter in my life and just starting to get the hang of things in my news reporting career. It seemed very unfair to be burdened with such an over-whelming diagnosis.
For those who are a little unsure about what exactly RA is, unlike the wear-and-tear damage of osteoarthritis —the stuff our grandmas and grandpas get— it’s an autoimmune disorder that affects the lining of the joints and causes painful swelling and can lead to bone erosion and joint deformity if not properly managed.
The day I was diagnosed, I came home con-fused and upset. How did this happen? Where did I pick this up? Will I be crippled in five years? What will my hands look like in 20 years? The questions consumed me.
I was put on medications that eventually took away the pain, and my fingers went back to look-ing normal. However, I had to make some life changes. I was told to stay away from alcohol as much as possible — not a fun deal for a young, social person. I had to avoid “high impact” activi-ties — bike riding and swimming were not on my favorite list of things to do. And I had to learn to give myself an injection each week— this is something I’m still getting used to today.
I remember wondering how I would explain arthritis to my friends. I felt a sense of embar-rassment and was ashamed to admit to others that I had something lingering that made me just a little weaker, a little slower, a little different.
It wasn’t until I started reading the monthly arthritis magazines my mom had purchased that I began to really feel comfortable with my situa-tion. I read articles about people my age —some even younger— telling their stories of the disease and the medications they were forced to take and the things they learned to do to cope and move on with life.
When reading these stories, I felt comforted, a sense of relief and sometimes even grateful, as things could always be worse. Besides a limp here or there, sometimes a few swollen fingers in the morning or aches in my hands on days when there’s a dramatic weather change, I’m a pretty healthy person living with RA.
I believe reading those stories proved to me that having RA didn’t make a person odd or inca-pable. It just made them unique and maybe more cautious.
So today, I hope someone reads my story and is able to, in a sense, shed a feeling of being ashamed or embarrassed of a diagnosis they may be dealing with. Embrace what you have, and be grateful for the things you can do, rather than dwell on the things you cannot do.
Shaw Media Staff Writer Goldie Currie can be reached at [email protected].
GoldieCurrie
COMMENTARY
KathyTunCOMMENTARY
KenSchroeder
COMMENTARY
6 Life
6 • The Tonica News • Friday, May 30, 2014
Community Panthers win regional game in extra inningsBy Dixie SchroeDer
GRANVILLE — It was a pitcher’s duel in the Illi-nois High School Associa-tion regional champion-ship game on May 24 and the Putnam County Pan-thers were up to the task. The Panthers, facing the Amboy Clippers took a 2-2 tie into extra innings, winning in the bottom of the eighth by a score of 3-2.
Dan Pavlovich started and pitched six inning for the Panthers. Pavlov-ich gave up only four hits, two walks and struck out seven Clippers. Harold Fay came in the top of the seventh in relief and pitched two innings of shutout ball, giving up only one walk and strik-ing out three.
Defense in the cham-pionship game was shaky as Amboy committed one error and Putnam County two.
Panther batters collect-ed only five hits over the eight innings, but made them count. Neal Stasell was two for three, scoring a run. Evan Kreiser went one for one, scoring a run.
R.J. Copeland was one for three. The Panthers ran the bases with steals by Kreiser, Stasell and Austin Biagini.
The big inning came in the eighth, when Biagini walked, and then stole second base. He then was brought home by Har-old Fay who knocked a clutch hit which allowed the Biagini to score for the winning run.
PC 17, Earlville 0To get to the champi-
onship game, the Pan-thers made short work of the Earlville Red Raiders
on May 21, winning by a score of 17-0. Harold Fay pitched one for the IHSA record books: a no hitter. The perfect game had Fay striking out nine in the contest.
Heavy hitters were a plenty in the contest with eight Panther players knocking in at least one RBI. Copeland hit three for three with four RBIs while Stasell went three for four with two RBIs. Kreiser went two for three with an RBI. Nick DiazDe-Leon hit two for four with four RBIs. Biagini went
two for four as well with two RBIs. Fay, Baker and Magana all had an RBI.
The Panthers ran the bases with no fear as they tallied seven steals on Earlville. Fay, Kreiser, Copeland and DiazDe-Leon all had doubles and Copeland had a triple.
The Red Raiders also made three errors allow-ing Kreiser, Baker and Pavlovich to reach base.
The Panthers took on Illinois Lutheran in the sectional semifinal game at 4:30 p.m. May 28 in the IHSA sectional contest.
Tonica News photo/Ken SchroederPutnam County’s Neal Stasell (00) rounds third base during the May 24 game against Amboy.
Interactive NASA space exhibit opens June 4 at LaSalle Public Library
LASALLE – The LaSalle Public Library will host Journey to Tomorrow, a premier NASA traveling exhibit which will engage visitors in the history, technology and chal-lenges of air and space exploration from June 4-7. The exhibit is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.
Journey to Tomorrow is a 53-foot trailer trans-formed into an interac-tive informal learning environment, outfitted with user-friendly com-puter kiosk displays and hands-on workstations which communicate fascinating discoveries and complex concepts in easy-to-understand and memorable ways. The entire exhibit and park-ing is accessible for per-sons using wheelchairs.
Visitors are invited to explore at their own pace. After viewing a video, guests will explore interactive kiosks like Improving Today’s Flight, which looks at the technologies of space flight. NASA Home and City, an exhibit which highlights spinoff prod-
ucts, created from NASA’s research pro-grams, which improve our quality of life. Sci-Fi vs. Science Fact lets visitors test their knowl-edge of space travel and the search for extrater-restrial life, while Brain Bites answers common questions about air and space travel. Guests work with a lunar landing sim-ulator, and explore the earth, sun and solar sys-tem via Dynamic Planet. Additional workstations include glovebox activi-ties, a planetary grav-ity demonstrator and a solar system scale where visitors can find out how much they would weigh on the moon and on each of the planets. Journey to Tomorrow is staffed by NASA scientists who are available to provide additional information.
Models of various space vehicles, rock-ets and launch systems extend the learning into three dimensions. The ultimate artifact is a real moon rock returned from one of the Apollo lunar landing missions.
After exploring Journey to Tomorrow, visitors
may visit NASA’s Picture Yourself in Space photo kiosk located inside the library, to receive a free, lasting souvenir of their visit. They can also examine an inflatable display of the Mars rover and, using X-Box tech-nology, try their hands at landing the Curiosity Rover on Mars.
The Journey to Tomor-row exhibits are part of the LaSalle Public Library’s summer read-ing program, Space for Curiosity. Funding for Journey to Tomorrow has been provided by the Alwin C. Carus Trust. Accommodations for NASA personnel have been donated in-part by Days Inn, Oglesby. Additional parking areas have been made avail-able by Trinity Catholic Academy and Kaskaskia Holdings.
The LaSalle Public Library is located at 305 Marquette St., LaSalle. For more information, call Cristy Stupegia, library director, at 815-223-2341 or visit the LaSalle Public Library website at www.lasalle.lib.il.us.
Starved Rock Lodge plans June events
UTICA — Starved Rock Lodge has released its list of activities for June.
Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center at Starved Rock State Park offers a variety of tours and hikes during the summer season. Take a hike and a lunch on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. which includes a 4.5 mile guid-ed hike, a packed lunch and souvenir backpack for $17 per person. Land and water cruises take place on Mondays, Wednes-days and Saturdays and include lunch at Elements, the Lodge’s main dining room, trolley tour and a one-hour boat ride on the Illinois River for $40 per person. Historic trol-ley tours are on Saturdays at 3 p.m. and Sundays at noon and 1:30 p.m. This 90-minute narrated tour is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for chil-dren 10 and under. Canal boat and trolley tours are offered every Friday at 11 a.m. and include a trol-ley tour with lunch and canal boat ride for $39 per person. Music of the river
tours on Tuesdays at 10:45 a.m. include a gourmet box lunch, a 90-minute musical boat tour and a historic trolley tour for $42 per person. Dinner and evening cruises include a 90-minute evening boat ride and dinner at Ele-ments, the Lodge’s historic dining room for $38.50 per person.
Enjoy an afternoon or evening of classic contem-porary music with nation-ally touring performer Matt Barber with a trib-ute to the classic crooners. Barber will perform hits from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams and many more. Perfor-mances are on June 16 at 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and on June 17 at 11:30 a.m. Show packages include lunch or dinner buffet and show. Evening shows are $37 per person, and mati-nee shows are $32 per per-son.
For more information and to book your reserva-tion, call 815-220-7386 or go to the website at www.starvedrocklodge.com
12:45 p.m., Bingo; 1:30 p.m., Open cards.June 3 — 9 a.m., Forever fit; from 10 a.m. to noon,
Soldier’s angels; noon, advisory board meeting.June 4 — 9 a.m., Forever fit; from 10:15 a.m. to
12:15 p.m., Beginner computer class.June 5 — Center closed for meeting.June 6 — 9 a.m., Forever fit; 1 p.m., Open Wii bowl-
ing.Bridges senior center is located at 221 W. Etna Road,
Ottawa. For more information, call 815-431-8034.
Photo contributedStarved Rock Lodge will offer music of the river tours at 10:45 a.m. Tuesdays and include a gourmet box lunch, a 90-minute musical boat tour and a historic trolley tour for $42 per person.
Agricultural summary
Warm temperatures allowed soybean planting to reach 64 percent com-plete, 28 percentage points above the previous week. Other activities included spraying chemicals and cutting hay.
Statewide precipitation averaged 0.19 inches, 0.74 inches below normal. Tem-peratures averaged 67.1 degrees, 1.7 degrees above normal. There were 5.0 days suitable for fieldwork.
Corn planting increased to 95 percent complete. Oat and sorghum planting progressed to 90 and 35 percent complete respec-tively. Winter wheat headed reached 81 percent.
Topsoil moisture was rated at 1 percent very short, 12 percent short, 76 percent adequate and 11 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture was rated at 4 per-cent very short, 20 percent short, 72 percent adequate and 4 percent surplus.
Winter wheat condi-tion was rated at 2 percent very poor, 6 percent poor, 27 percent fair, 47 percent good and 18 percent excel-lent. Pasture condition was rated at 1 percent very poor, 4 percent poor, 34 percent fair, 42 percent good and 19 percent excellent.
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Fly in and drive inPancake BreakFastJUNE 8 • SERVING 7 AM TIL 11 AM
Hartenbower AirportMcNabb RoadBetween Rt. 251 & Rt. 89For more information: 815-882-2573Next Breakfast Dates: Juy 13, Aug. 10 & Sept. 14
7 Life
Friday, May 30, 2014 • The Tonica News • 7
Mike Phillips speaks to eighth-graders
LOSTANT — On May 20, the Lostant School eighth-grade science class had a guest speaker. Mike Phil-lips, who is a geologist, works for Illinois Valley Community College and is also a Lostant School Board member, visited the class to speak to them about land use. The class is currently on the section of land use and will be hold-ing a debate in class.
After college, Phillips started his career work-ing for an environmental consulting firm. The firm he worked for contracted with the EPA to investigate contamination at super-fund hazardous waste sites. He would help rate the sites based on their soil samples, interviews, population density and the history of the site. The score would give the EPA the information needed to decide if cleanup was needed and the order of priority of the sites.
Phillips’ next posi-tion was at the Geologi-cal Survey. He checked for contamination in the soil where highways were going to be built. If found during construction, the project would have to be stopped until cleanup could be done; so he did corridor studies to see which spots were best prior to construction.
He also informed the students there used to be clay and coal mines in the area prior to the agri-culture that takes place
now. Whenever land use changes, approval must be given by the government. This helps to ensure the neighbors, environment and future owners of the property are protected.
Because of the recent controversy of the hog facility proposed outside Lostant and Wenona, Phillips went over the eight criteria the Depart-ment of Agriculture uses to approve livestock man-agement facilities and explained what each of the criteria meant. The stu-dents have been learning about this in their class. He explained how farming is changing; livestock are being moved into more concentrated areas; and how there is now less vari-ation in crop production compared to the past.
Phillips was interested in the hog facility when it was proposed because he lives nearby and also has worked at waste sites for most of his career. He explained the possibil-ity of contamination to the groundwater and also ways to help prevent con-tamination by using liners under the manure pits to prevent leaks. He showed the students how to find soil surveys on the USDA Web Soil Survey website, which he had used to research the area of the proposed facility. These reports explain where the groundwater should be located and what types of soil are in the area.
Photo contributedMike Phillips talks to eighth-grade science students at Lostant School about land use. The class is currently on the section of land use.
Photos contributedPerformers for the 2014 Taste of Chicago include Nickle Creek (clockwise from above), Janelle Monáe, Jeff Tweedy and Saints of Valory.
Taste of Chicago announces headlinersCHICAGO — The city of
Chicago and the Depart-ment of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is pleased to announce the lineup of performers at the Petrillo Music Shell for the 34th annual Taste of Chica-go, July 9-13 in Grant Park. Admission is free, and fes-tival hours are 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
“We are thrilled to announce this fantastic lineup of performers for this year’s Taste of Chi-cago,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “The free admis-sion Taste draws a million plus residents and visitors to downtown Chicago each summer to experience award-winning entertain-ers while enjoying a taste of Chicago’s diverse culinary scene.”
Tickets for the seating area at the Petrillo Music Shell went on sale on May 22 at the Taste website, tasteofchicago.us.
AWOLNATION will head-line the Petrillo Music Shell on July 9 to kick off the Taste of Chicago. The dynamic electronic rock band was formed and fronted by Aaron Bruno, formerly of Under the Influence of Giants, Hometown Hero and Insurgence. The band’s 2011 debut album “Mega-lithic Symphony” includes the mega hits “Sail,” “Not Your Fault” and “Kill Your Heroes.” The band is cur-rently working on a sec-ond studio album and they released two new songs from that album, “ThisKid-sNotAlright” and “Some Kind of Joke.”
The alternative rock band Saints of Valory from Aus-tin, Texas, is set to open
for AWOLNATION on July 9. The band is fronted by lead singer and bass guitar-ist Gavin Jasper, along with guitarist Godfrey Thomson, drummer Gerard Labou and keyboardist Stephen Buckle.
Janelle Monáe, the award-winning songwriter, performer, producer and “avant-garde funkstress” will headline the Petrillo Music Shell on July 10, pre-sented by Illinois Lottery. With her 2013 album “The Electric Lady,” Monáe pres-ents a collection inspired by her life experiences while the powerful women in her life were inspiration for the first single “Q.U.E.E.N.” Her “superpowers” are sure to be on full display for Chi-cago fans.
The musical universe of Gary Clark Jr. will take over Taste when he opens for Monáe on July 10 with his soulful sounds.
Nickel Creek, the Gram-my Award-winning root music trio is celebrating 25 years as a group and has returned to the stage after a seven-year hiatus. They’ll perform for Taste-goers on July 11, the concert is pre-sented by Bud Light. With their new album, “A Dotted Line,” the musical strengths of violinist Sara Watkins, mandolinist Chris Thile and guitarist Sean Watkins fore-sees an exciting future for this trio.
Twelve-time Grammy Award-winner Emmylou Harris will grace the Petrillo stage on July 11. Just off her 2014 award-winning collab-oration, ‘Old Yellow Moon’ with Rodney Crowell, Harris is one of the most promi-nent harmony vocalists and songwriters of our time. As a legendary American musi-
cian, Harris’ performance at the Taste of Chicago will be a special treat.
Opening the Petrillo Music Shell on July 11 is Oklahoma native Parker Millsap. Millsap, who was brought up in the Pente-costal church, first picked up the guitar at age 9, the now 21-year-old singer/songwriter delivers a pow-erful show with the fire-and-brimstone fervor of a preacher. Most recent-ly, Millsap was cheered at South-by-Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, with a vigorous perfor-mance and was the talk of the festival.
Chicago’s Jeff Tweedy is one of America’s most accomplished musicians and on July 12 he will bring his brand of contemporary rock to Taste of Chicago, presented by 93XRT. Best known as the founder and leader of Wilco, Tweedy tours quite often as a solo artist. Showcasing his tal-ent as a songwriter with a 400-plus collection of songs to pull from, he also dis-plays his skill on the guitar, a charismatic stage pres-ence and a unique sense of humor. Additional artists will be announced at a later date.
Aloe Blacc will bring the mega hit “Wake Me Up” and “The Man” from his recent album, “Lift Your Spirit.” “Wake Me Up,” which he sang and co-wrote for Swedish DJ Avicii, was a No. 1 hit in 102 countries and garnered more the 320 million hits on YouTube. Headlining the Petrillo stage on Sunday, July 13, Blacc has proven himself as an adventurous singer/songwriter, who started as a rapper while pushing fur-
ther into folk, soul and pop fusion with incisive lyrics, huge hooks and feel good grooves.
With more than 250 mil-lion albums sold worldwide, reggae superstars the Wail-ers will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of the Legends album featur-ing their greatest hits when they open for Blacc on July 13. Best known for their leg-endary collaboration with Bob Marley, the Wailers are considered the greatest liv-ing exponents of Jamaica’s reggae tradition. The Wail-ers have performed for an estimated 24 million people across the globe.
For more information on the 34th annual Taste of Chicago, visit tasteofchica-go.us. Join the conversation on Facebook (TasteofChi-cago) and follow them on Twitter, @TasteofChi2014 and #TasteofChi.
To add your lisTing To This page conTacT ashley aT (815) 875-4461, exT. 270
NOTICE OF PREVAILING WAGE
ORDINANCE Lostant CUSD 425 passed an ordinance on May 19, 2014 estab-lishing prevailing wage
rates for workers on new construction or improvement (not main-tenance) projects, to be the same as those in LaSalle County as deter-mined by the Illinois Department of Labor. Anyone wishing to inspect the Ordinance may do so at the office of Lostant CUSD 425, 315 West 3rd Street, Lostant, IL 61334 by calling 815-368-3392 for an appointment. Dianna Ioerger, School Board President, Lostant CUSD 425.Published in the Tonica News May 30, 2014.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE THIRTEENTH
JUDICIAL CIRCUITLASALLE COUNTY,
OTTAWA, ILLINOISPROBATE DIVISIONESTATE OF )THORA A. MILLER, ) Deceased. )
No. 2014–P–97CLAIM NOTICE
Notice is given of the death of THORA A. MILLER of Peru, Illinois on March 14, 2014. Letters of Office were issued on May 7, 2014 to Mary Louise Mini, as Executor and Representative, of 2229 Frontier Drive, Peru, IL 61354, whose Attorney is Lisa Olivero of Olivero & Olivero Law Offices, 1611 Fifth Street, Peru, IL 61354-2603. Claims against the estate may be filed in the Office of the Circuit Clerk, Probate Division, in the LaSalle County
Courthouse, 119 W. Madison Street, Ottawa, IL 61350, or with the Representative, or both, within six (6) months from the date of the first publication of this Notice. If a claim notice is mailed or delivered personally to a credi-tor of the decedent, the creditor’s claim may be filed within three (3) months from the date of mailing or delivery of this notice, or within six (6) months from the date of first publication, whichever is later. Any claim not filed within the time allowed is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the Clerk must be mailed or delivered to the Representative and to the Attorney within
ten (10) days after it has been filed with the Clerk of the Court.
ANDREW F. SKOOGCIRCUIT CLERK –
LASALLE COUNTY LASALLE COUNTY
COURT HOUSE119 WEST MADISON
STREET OTTAWA, IL 61350
ATTORNEY
LISA OLIVEROOlivero & Olivero Law OfficesAttorneys for the Estate1611 Fifth StreetPeru, IL 61354-2603Phone (815) 224-2030Fax (815) 224-2900Published in the Tonica News May 16, 23 and 30, 2014.
