Village of Hennepin, Illinois

Again this holiday season, the Putnam County Food Pantry, in collaboration with Toys in the Pantry, organizations, businesses, churches and schools from across the county, will be distributing Christmas baskets to local families in need.   This is the 33rd year the pantry has sponsored the basket project. The baskets contain food and gifts for the children and senior citizens. Included are items for a full Christmas dinner, breakfast and pizza for Christmas Eve. The baskets will be distributed on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 19. To support the basket project, cash and food donations continue to be needed. Products such as coffee, hot chocolate, drinks, Jell-O, canned fruit, easy-to-prepare meals and personal care items will be especially appreciated. A cash donation of $75 will support the cost of food for one average-size family. Donations may be sent to the Putnam County Food Pantry, Box 96, Granville, or deposited directly at the Granville National Bank. Food may be left at any of

Granville Township has $2,000 towards Toys in Pantry organization. Jim Moriarty, township supervisor, said when he read that the annual pork chop dinner fundraiser had to be canceled this year due to COVID-19, he knew the township needed to step up to help make up for the organization not being able to host its largest fundraiser of the year. Cathy Oliveri, Toys in Pantry chair, recently met with Moriarty and Granville Township Clerk René Twardowski to accept the donation. Toys in Pantry works through the Putnam County Food Pantry to ensure all children in Putnam County receive a present or two under the Christmas tree. While Christmas only comes once a year, the Toys in the Pantry organization works through the year to ensure they serve every family in need. Toys in the Pantry is currently accepting donations. The committee accepts unwrapped new toys or monetary donations, or monetary donations can be made to: Toys in the Pantry, P.O. Box 247, Granville, IL 61326. Toys may also be dro

North Central Bank and the CBAI Foundation for Community Banking announces its annual scholarship program which enables Illinois high school seniors to enter a statewide essay-writing contest. It is all part of a program sponsored by Illinois community banks and the CBAI Foundation for Community Banking to increase public awareness of locally owned banks and their contributions to the community.   North Central Bank is a member of the Community Bankers Association of Illinois (CBAI), which formed the Foundation in 1996. A monetary award in the amount of $1,000 a year for up to four years of higher education will be given to the author of the best entry submitted to the CBAI Foundation by a participating Illinois high-school senior. Up to 11 additional first-place $1,000 awards and 12 second-place $500 awards are available throughout the state. An additional $500 will be awarded to the high school of the overall winner. All high school seniors, regardless of their financial need or plan

 Among a host of high school honors — class valedictorian and a U.S. Military Academy appointment, for example — Owen Mallery ‘21 experienced a singular one at his graduation.   He was given a choice of sitting with his fellow students or his fellow school board members. He chose the students. Mallery, a biomedical sciences major at Bradley University, is the first person in Illinois to attend and graduate from a high school while also member of its school board. Back and neck injuries from a car accident left him physically unable to attend the academy and become a soldier but left him with an even greater appreciation of first responders and medical personnel than he gained as a teen member of the volunteer Hennepin Fire Department. When his college plans were altered, he looked about an hour from his hometown. “Being on the school board and still on the fire department, I knew I wanted to stay closer to home,” he said. Mallery remains on the fire department, where his father and gra

Early and mail-in voting totals are up this election Putnam County is seeing brisk traffic in early and mail-in voting, the county clerk reported last week.   Dan Kuhn told board members on Tuesday, Oct. 13, that his office has received about 1,000 requests for mail-in ballots for the upcoming general election. Since early voting started, he reported about 200 residents casting their votes so far. The board discussed whether to use available funds to purchase drop boxes to be used for future elections and potentially for other government payments like tax bills. Kuhn said drop boxes come in at nearly $1,000 so it would behoove the county to purchase them with non-taxpayer money. Drop boxes could be permanently installed and potentially monitored by camera. The board also heard positive news from treasurer Kevin Kunkel who reported revenues to date are in the black. The general fund balance is at $2,659,000, whereas expenses to date are $2,333,000. Strict budget cuts across the board ha

Restaurant owners brace for the slower, winter months Restaurants have been hit hard this year. Coronavirus and the restrictions created to prevent the spread have forced many to change the way they do business. Some businesses began allowing outdoor seating, others found ways to ramp up their carryout orders and all have dealt with lower seating capacity indoors, which was mandated by the state. What businesses face now is the winter months, which historically are known as the slower months. Businesses that relied on the outdoor seating to attract customers will also no longer have that option. At Spratt’s Tavern in Hennepin, owner Jen Spratt said this fall and winter, she is going to start focusing on catering side of her business and providing deliveries to customers. Business is always slower in the winter months until holiday parties begin, she said. But, this year Spratt is not banking on too many holiday get-togethers due to COVID. As she keeps her eye on decisions being made in

Responding to the increasing number of people wanting to assist law enforcement officials and build a stronger partnership in the fight against crime, Putnam County Sheriff Kevin Doyle has announced that citizens are invited to become Associate Members of the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association. Membership appeals will go out in the mail shortly, Doyle said in a news release. Individuals choosing to join the voluntary program can do so for as little as $20, while business memberships begin at $50. The funding provides critically important technical resources, training and legislative support on key criminal justice issues. Contributions are tax-deductible, and unlike other organizations in the state, the Membership Program does not solicit membership by telephone. “With government funding becoming increasingly difficult to secure, the membership drive has taken on great importance than ever before,” said Doyle. “The funding is vital to helping us carry out our mission of making our communit