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‘We will never forget it,’ Utica Gathers to Memorialize Deadly Tornado

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Utica unveils new tornado memorial Perhaps fittingly, the Saturday sky was gray and overcast with a biting wind. If anyone in Utica needed a reminder of the life-altering weather 20 years ago, Mother Nature delivered on cue. None of the 100 spectators gathered Saturday in Utica needed any such reminders. Ten lives were lost in the 2004 tornado including Vivian Goetz of Granville. The other nine died in Utica, which bore the worst of the storm. Saturday, Pastor Lloyd Johnson read aloud the nine names while village trustee John Schweickert rang handheld bells. “We will never forget it,” Mayor David Stewart told the throng. A new memorial now stands at the corner of Mill and Church streets, on the parcel where the Milestone Restaurant and Lounge once stood. Eight of the nine Utica victims took cover in the Milestone Restaurant and Lounge and died in its collapse. The wood carving displays an eagle in a somewhat abstract outline. “The artist wanted to leave it open to interpretation so eve
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Marquis Donates $10,000 to Support Stateline Farm Rescue Training

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30 individuals from 10 local fire departments participated Marquis in Hennepin made a $10,000 donation to support the Stateline Farm Rescue training class for MABAS Division 57, conducted on March 16. The training session engaged 30 participants from 10 local fire departments. Through the utilization of the grain entrapment simulator provided by Stateline Farm Rescue, attendees simulated scenarios involving individuals trapped in grain and other on-the-farm rescue scenarios. This exercise equipped area first responders with essential rescue techniques tailored for such situations. This training is closely aligned with National Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week, a collaboration of agricultural industry groups that provides a collective industry focus on and commitment to safety, and training exercises like these provide hands-on training for area first responders. The simulator featured triangle-shaped openings cut in grain panels using metal cutting tools to facilitate the controlled releas
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Putnam County EMT Basic Students Receive Hands-on Training with Special Needs Students

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‘Sometimes they can’t tell you what’s wrong,’ director says Putnam County EMS Director Andy Jackson strives to ensure his EMT basic students receive training beyond what’s addressed in the national curriculum by providing hands-on experience. Thursday was one of those lesson days. EMT students received training on how to handle emergencies involving people with special needs at the McNabb Fire Station. The class collaborated with special education students from Putnam County schools, and everyone involved ended up learning something new. “We go above and beyond the curriculum,” said Mark Hameister, parametric lead instructor. “We don’t think that’s enough. We want to put competent EMTs out and to do that we have to expand the curriculum and think beyond the national level.” Wendy Louis, an EMT and special education teacher, said she usually shows a PowerPoint presentation and tells some stories, but this year she asked Jackson about bringing her students to the EMT class. “We did a mo
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Hennepin to Hold Town-Wide Garage Sales April 26 and 27

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Hennepin's spring townwide garage sales will take place Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27 . Individuals that live in Hennepin or Hennepin Township that would like to have their sale added to the town’s map can contact the pool at 815-925-7319 or hennepinparkdistrict@mchsi.com .  
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Hennepin Library Displays Abraham Lincoln Collection

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The Putnam County Public Library District has an Abraham Lincoln collection on display at its Hennepin headquarters, 214 N. Fourth St. Lonna Nauman’s Lincoln collection is on display through February. Pictures, books, notecards and plates, among other items are on display. This collection will be open to the public. Collectors interested in creating a display at the Hennepin Library can email Matt Miller at mmiller@putnamcountylibrary.org . Source: Putnam County Record
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Putnam County Rotary Announces Scholarship Opportunities to Seniors

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Putnam County Rotary announced the availability of several scholarship opportunities for Putnam County High School seniors. Each provides $500 toward college, vocational or other post-graduation educational expenses. The club’s Knute Hammel Memorial Scholarship honors the memory of a member and past president whose own goal was to establish a scholarship for graduating seniors. Priority is given to students who demonstrate academic achievement, extracurricular involvement and participation in Interact or other avenues of community service. Added consideration is given to qualified students intending to attend Illinois Valley Community College in graphic arts or business, reflecting Knute Hammel’s own professional achievements. The club’s Bill Klein Memorial Scholarship honors the memory of a member and past president who “fought the odds,” and persevered to become a successful businessman while also tirelessly serving our community.  This award is given to a student who demonstrates th
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NCICG Seeks Input on Local Broadband Projects

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Help shape North Central Illinois’ broadband future by taking a 5-minute survey from the North Central Illinois Council of Governments as it develops a Broadband Strategic Plan in hopes of improving broadband connectivity throughout the region. Access to reliable high-speed internet is vital for education, business, health care and overall quality of life. Broadband access affects every aspect of daily life and is as important as any other utility. Your input is vital in identifying key gaps in broadband access. To develop the plan, NCICG and TPMA, working in partnership with the University of Illinois Extension, are surveying to gather insights about internet service in the seven-county region of Bureau, Grundy, La Salle, Livingston, Marshall, Putnam and Stark. Participation in the survey will provide crucial information on the state of broadband in the region and help inform decision-making. As part of this survey effort, they will be collecting information about internet service at
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American Red Cross to Host Blood Drive in Granville

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Putnam County High School in Granville will host a blood drive for the American Red Cross from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29. The high school is located at 402 E. Silverspoon Ave., Granville. The American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. The Red Cross blood supply has fallen to critically low levels across the country, and the organization is urging blood and platelet donors to make a donation appointment to help alleviate the shortage and help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not put on hold. Over the last 20 years, the number of people donating blood to the Red Cross has fallen by about 40%, the organization said in a news release. When fewer people donate blood, even small disruptions to blood donations – such as the nearly 7,000-unit shortfall in blood donations the Red Cross experienced between Christmas and New Year’s Day alone – can have an impact on the availability of bloo
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