Dwight Facebook Page Offers Trip Down Memory Lane

Wed, 1 Feb 2012 21:13:02 -0600

by Madelyn Fogarty madelynfogarty@yahoo.com
It is sometimes strange how life moves for- ward but the recesses of our minds hold all the fond memories of the past – memories of things seemingly forgotten only to come spilling out when triggered by maybe just the right smell, song, picture or conversation. The floodgates open, and we are instantly transported back in time. This phenomenon is happening now for several hundred people currently taking a trip down memory lane through an internet Facebook group titled “You might be from or lived in Dwight if...”.
The idea for the group came from retired DGS Science teacher, Bill King. Mr. King grew up in a small rural Missouri community, and after moving around a bit and spending 24 years teaching in Gibson City, King, and his wife Connie, landed in Dwight where he taught for ten years before retiring. The Kings currently live in Lake Summerset, IL.
With the help of King’s daughter Julie, the Facebook page was formed in August 2011.
“I happened to see some of my friends on Facebook who belonged to pages similar to the one Dwight page. I noticed that Dwight and Gibson City did not have those types of pages, so my daughter Julie King Lyons decided to start one for Dwight,” King told The Paper. “I began to organize the site and invited around 30 of my Dwight Facebook friends to join. Those “friends” began to invite others and it started to mushroom very rapidly.” 
And grow it did. The popularity of the page was “overwhelming” for King at first as more and more requests for membership poured in. Within just a few months, the group has reached 734 members. “At first, it was overwhelming due to the fact that lots of requests came in and wound up on my email account...That problem caused me to have to work a lot just to take care of the requests to join and then delete the email from my inbox. Luckily, I discovered that I could add some more administrators and this took a lot of work off of my shoulders...two women volunteered to help me...I really, really appreciate their help in taking requests to join the page. I also put a message out on Facebook to my connections in Gibson City for someone to start a site for Gibson City. One of my ex students took up the challenge and they now have 600 members.”
Members to Dwight’s page share memories of Dwight and pictures - lots of historic or just nostalgic pictures - that whisk other members back in time and strike up virtual conversations. For example, do you remember going to Harry’s Meat Market? The wooden floors in Andrew’s Grocery Store? Buying candy at Kaiser’s “Dime” store? Do you recall getting your foot measured at Stitzer’s Shoe Store? Do you have memories of buying white gym suits at Van Eman’s and how that store wrapped packages in brown paper and string? Did you buy presents at Roeder's Gift shop? How about shopping at LeDon’s Clothing Store? Or, did you shop at Faith’s for women’s clothing?
Did you waitress at the Triangle Cafe, the N&J Cafe, or Beyer’s Restaurant? Or perhaps you were a car hop at the Dog ‘N Suds? Do you recall stopping at the News Stand for ice cream and a real cherry coke? Do you remember skating on flooded parking lots in downtown Dwight? Did you go to downtown street dances or to movies at the Blackstone Theater? (which by the way, one member confirmed that the last movie to play there was "Airport 79" on Dec. 13, 1979.) Did you take your worn out shoes to Riccolo’s Shoe Repair? Or are you a Keeley Institute history buff?
Maybe your childhood memories take you back to the East Side and West Side schools? Perhaps you just fondly remember the rocket slide in Renfrew Park? Or stopping at Ohlendorf’s bakery on your way to school for a fried cinnamon roll? Speaking of Ohlendorf’s bakery, comments and pictures about these locally famous, unduplicated baked goods generate a lot of good memories – one posted picture of similar looking fried cinnamon rolls and a single smiling picture of a pumpkin cookie received dozens of happy comments....Bob Ohlendorf, as an Ohlendorf bakery fan myself, PLEASE take notice.... Anyway, whatever your memories, you can be sure that others probably have some of the same.
“I have enjoyed the web-site because it lets me stay in touch with people from Dwight that I knew or were in my classes,” said King. “I also enjoy reading the comments from some of the older residents and finding out information about things before our time in Dwight.” Like many members, Rob Carlson who grew up in Dwight, moved away years ago. Carlson, who currently lives in Pasadena, CA, has strong ties to Dwight with his parents, family and lots of memories still here. Carlson loves Dwight’s history and has shared several interesting pictures on the site.
“The memories shared may be from many different eras, based on the person's age, but the overall theme is of gratitude for having been so lucky to have grown up in Dwight,” Carlson told The Paper regarding the popularity of the site. “Some posts are very funny, some sad because so many of the characters are no longer with us, and sometimes you learn a piece of Dwight history that you never knew."
So, if you are looking to take a trip this winter, but don’t want to leave the house, consider joining this nostalgic Facebook page - the trip down memory lane is very inexpensive...and worth a tour.

TLC Baby Line with Spuds is Abandoned

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:39:24 -0600

by Tom Tock
Dori McGuire of Discovery Communications informed The Paper this week that Discovery “is not moving forward with the TLC Baby line with Spuds.”
Discovery Communications, the nation’s number one non-fiction media company, announced in March of 2011 that they had a partner- ship with Spuds, 200 South Franklin St., Dwight, to introduce a line of infants and toddlers feeding products created from reclaimed potato starch.
It was to be the first product launch under a new TLC Baby franchise from Discovery Communications franchise division.
The feeding products were to be designed and manufactured by Spuds. Spuds had created “natural and organic infant and toddler essentials inspired by the Discovery network’s popular baby programming.”
Originally, the TLC Baby line of products was to have been introduced to retailers in the Spring of 2011, but the date was changed to Spring of 2012.
Discovery Communications was asked, but gave no reason for abandoning their partnership with Spuds. No future plans were indicated.
An attempt to question Tim Wymore, president of Spuds, about his company’s present and future plans was unsuccessful.
February 21 of 2011,
Spuds received a loan of $150,000 from Dwight’s revolving loan fund, after Wymore and Maurice Birt, Spuds officers, told Village Council members that Spuds had deadlines to meet with the TLC Baby division of Discovery Communications, and that Spuds production would have to be outsourced in order to meet those dead- lines.
According to Wymore, the $150,000 would facilitate marketing and personnel to get the product moving. Sales, design, and tooling would remain in Dwight with 15-30 jobs.
Dwight’s Council had to make a quick decision or Spuds could take the entire operation elsewhere, according to a March 2, 2011, story in The Paper. Only three Council members were present, but they were joined by the Mayor in casting the necessary four votes to approve the $150,000 loan.
The loan nearly depleted the village’s revolving loan fund.
A $75,000 loan to Spuds had been approved by the four Dwight Village Council members present at a July 26, 2010 meeting.
In May, 2011, the Greater Livingston Co. Economic Development Council announced its participation, along with the Bank of Pontiac, Freestar Bank, and State Bank of Graymont, in a $272,000 mortgage loan to Spuds.

Dwight’s Damaged Garrett Park ‘Unacceptable

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:57:32 -0600

Dwight Village Board
by Madelyn Fogarty madelynfogarty@yahoo.com
Frustrated community members gathered at the January 9 meeting of the Dwight Village Board of Trustees wanting answers regarding the tornado-damaged Garrett Park ball fields and calling the current situation “unacceptable.”
With three years approaching since the June 2010 tornado swept through Dwight, little has been done to repair damages at the park used for Dwight Youth baseball and softball. Summer of 2010 saw no play on the fields following the tornado and last summer the fields saw limited use as the village waited to find out if a requested Illinois Parc Grant would be available to help fund a new facility. The grant, a State 75 percent /Village 25 percent proposition, had been applied for by the Village in November 2010 with hopes of being used for a proposed four-field base- ball/softball complex with an estimated cost of $1.3 million. Awarding of grant money was continually delayed by the State, and when finally made, it excluded Dwight’s request. Organizers of the league and the community members have expressed their exhausted patience with the situation and pushed the board to take action.
“My frustration comes from knowing in September or October that there was no grant money and here we sit in January and still no plan,” said Youth Baseball Vice President Mike Calandro.
“Keep in mind, it is January 9 and our season starts in April”, said Calandro. “We are under the gun.”
While no bids have been secured for the repairs, Mayor Wilkey indicated that the village is still working to resolve several insurance questions and that there is not enough insurance money available to cover the pending repairs.
“We don’t have nearly enough money for what you people are asking for,” Mayor Wilkey told the group, indicating that $39,000 was received for concession stand damages, but the lowest replacement cost, with additional bathroom facilities, that could be found was $150,000.
But League representatives would not settle for the response.
“What we are asking for is to have the weeds pulled out of the ground and give our kids a place to play,” said Calandro. “We are not asking for LED lights or astro turf.”
Dwight Village Trustee Jared Anderson sided with the League indicating there was money available to start repairs for things such as the damaged fence and crow’s nest.
“October 3 is now over three months ago,” stated Anderson, regarding how long it has been since news of the denied Parc Grant was received. “The things we know that could be done aren’t being done. It is inexcusable.” Anderson went on to say that “best case” scenario for starting repairs now would be middle of March since securing formal bids requires a “six to eight week window” for the bid process.
Pushing the Mayor for a commitment on getting the project completed, local resident Sean Connolly asked for a deadline.
“Is it safe to say that by the end of 2012 it will be done?” pressed Connolly. “Yep,” responded Mayor Wilkey before moving to other business. A Properties Committee meeting has been set for January 16 to discuss plans for Garrett Park .
In other matters, the board passed an ordinance reducing the speed limit on Fieldman Road from Columbia Street east to Route
47 (blacktop running behind South Subdivision). The new 35 mph speed limit will be posted and is effective immediately. Columbia Street west to Route 66, which is in the jurisdiction of Livingston County, will remain at 55 mph until a study can be completed to determine if a reduction in speed is necessary on this stretch of road as well.
The board also:
• approved a SHOW BUS donation of $500.
• approved a GLCEDC annual investment of $8,520 ($2 per capita based on a population of 4,260).
• learned that newly-hired Dwight Police Officer Brett Middleton has started academy training and is expected to graduate March 29.
• approved a fund transfer of $70,794.55 from the Sewer Fund to the Sewer Replacement Reserve Fund for paying interest on the wastewater treatment plant loan.
• a Dwight Community Chest donation request was not considered by the Board since the Village has opted to donate to individual group requests instead.
The next meeting of the Dwight Village Board of Trustees will be Monday, January 23, 6:30 p.m., in the Public Services Complex.

Harm’s Farm Being Built Despite Objections

Thu, 5 Jan 2012 21:49:45 -0600

by Rachel Ramsey
On November 30 the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) sent a letter to Patrick Harms of Forrest stating that construction of one of his proposed 4,500-head hog facilities could proceed.
This project, named Harms-Kevin’s House, is a swine finishing facility that will be located 2.9 miles south of Saunemin.
The IDOA’s approval of this project ignored a September 15 non-binding recommendation from the Livingston County Board.
The Livingston County Board’s Ag Committee voted against the building of the two hog facilities after listening to concerns from the local community that would be affected by the projects.
Eldon Ruff, chairman of the Ag Committee, noted of their September 15 decision, “Our main concern is the water system and how it will affect the neighbors, especially the ones to the east of the proposed sites.”
The county board recommended a hydrology study of the area to judge the impact the farms would have on the surrounding community; however, the IDOA approved construction of the Harms-Kevin facility without requiring a study.
The application for the other farm, Harms-Stoller Facility, is still pending. The State’s Department of Agriculture explains that even though construction is underway, the department still has to sign off on the project before it goes into service.

CDR Matthew J. Jerbi, U.S. Navy,

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:14:53 -0600

A Change of Command Ceremony, an honored product of the rich heritage of naval tradition, took place onboard U.S.S. Independence (LCS 2), on October 1, when Commander Matthew J. Jerbi assumed command of the U.S.S. Independence - Blue Crew, at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL.
Commander Matthew J. Jerbi is a native of Gardner and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science.
After completing Surface Warfare Officers School Division Officer Course, his first assignment was on the U.S.S. Vincennes (CG 49), where he served as Main Propulsion Division Officer. During this tour the Vincennes executed Counter Narcotics Operations, multiple bilateral exercises and its homeport shifted from San Diego to Yokosuka, Japan.
CDR Jerbi’s next assignment was on U.S.S. O’Brien (DD 975). While serving as the Navigator and Training Officer, Cdr. Jerbi completed a Middle East Forces deployment in support of Operation Southern Watch in the Arabian Gulf and multiple Forward Deployed Naval Forces operations and exercises.
In January 2000, CDR Jerbi enrolled in the Naval Postgraduate School and earned a Master of Arts Degree in National Security Affairs (Western Hemisphere Studies) and completed Joint Professional Military Education Phase 1.
After completing Department Head School in 2002, he transferred to Pre-Commissioning Unit MUSTIN (DDG 89) as the Operations Officer, serving through MUSTIN’s commissioning until June 2004 and participating in Summer Pulse 2004 and Unitas multi-nation exercises.
He next served as operations Officer in U.S.S. Normandy (CG 60) until January 2006, completing a CENTCOM deployment with KEARSARGE Expeditionary Strike Group including operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Northern Arabian Gulf.
 CDR Jerbi’s previous sea tour was as a Flag Secretary/ N1 on the Carrier Strike Group TEN staff embarked on U.S.S. George Washington (CVN 73) for Partnership of the Americas 2006, and on U.S.S. Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) for Strike Group Unit level and integrated training. He was last stationed at Surface Warfare Officers School in Newport, RI, as a Maritime Warfare Instructor from 2007 through 2009. CDR Jerbi’s awards include the Meritori- ous Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Commander Matthew Jerbi is the son of Dan and Evelyn Jerbi of Gardner. He and his wife Kerenza have two daughters, Isabella and Natasha.

TRAGEDY STRIKES

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:09:27 -0600

by Madelyn Fogarty madelynfogarty@yahoo.com

Residents in the peaceful Village of Emington were shocked last Friday as news quickly spread that a local family of five, including three young children, had died as the result of an apparent murder/suicide.

“It is a very, very sad day,” EmingtonMayor Dan Delaney told The Paper after helping to put tape up to cordon off the crime scene area.

Dead at the scene of single and multiple gunshot wounds were Sara McMeen, 30; Daniel T. Warren, 29; Skyler Lemke, 8; Ian Lemke 7; and Maggie Warren, 10 months.

According to the police investigation report released on Monday, the children's mother, Sara McMeen, was the sole shooter of all four victims before taking her own life with a self inflicted gunshot wound. All victims were found outside the family’s home with the exception of Daniel Warren whose body was inside the house. Police recovered a 40-caliber semi-automatic hand gun that had been in the possession of McMeen and was still lying next to her hand. All shell casings found at the scene matched the caliber of the handgun recovered. The autopsy report showed evidence of soot on her hands.

An eyewitness account to reporters from neighbor Annelise Fiedler indicated that several gunshots were heard before Fiedler stepped outside her home and witnessed Sara
McMeen standing over her ten month old daughter, Maggie, in the family’s backyard.

"I asked her, 'Is everything all right?'" Fiedler told reporters. "She said, 'No, every- thing is not all right.'" According to Fiedler, McMeen then shot her baby daughter. Fiedler ran for help.
No other eyewitness accounts to the shootings have been presented, and investigators are still trying to piece together what might have led up to this tragic incident including the actions and whereabouts of Sara McMeen and Dan Warren during the 24 to 48 hours prior to the killings. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone who had contact with McMeen or Warren to call Detective Sgt. Earl Dutko at 815-844-2774 or 815-844-0911.

Amidst rumors of possible motives, Livingston County Sheriff Martin Meredith told reporters that the police had been called to the residence only one time prior to the December 16 shootings, in August, for reasons of child custody and exchange of children. According to Livingston County Coroner Burke, there were neither bruises nor any signs of physical abuse present on the bodies. Questions regarding psychological issues with Sara McMeen were disregarded by Sheriff Meredith as “all speculation” at this point.

Regarding current increased patrols in the Emington and Livingston county area, Meredith assured the public that they are safe. “This is a sole incident, but we still want residents of Livingston County to know that they are safe and we are out here just as we are every day,” stated Meredith.

A statement from Sheriff Meredith said EMS of Emington first responded to the crime scene. Campus, Cullom Ambulance Service, Dwight EMS, Forrest, Strawn, Wing, and Duffy Ambulance then arrived and found victims without signs of life. Livingston County Coroner Michael P. Burke pronounced all five victims deceased at the scene. Sheriff Meredith called the scene “gut wrenching.”

According to neighbors, Sara McMeen and boyfriend Daniel Warren lived together with the three children, having moved to the rental house at the 104 South Street location in Emington just months earlier. Neighbor Darlene Lithgow, who was not home at the time of the incident, called the family “quiet.”
“They were nice people,” Lithgow told The Paper. “They kept to themselves.”

Second grader Skyler Lemke and First Grader Ian Lemke were students at Saunemin Grade School. According to sources, school had released early on Friday, at 2 p.m., with students looking forward to the Christmas holidays. Within minutes of arriv- ing home from school, the tragedy took place with emergency personnel responding to a 2:36 p.m. call for help.

“We feel like we have been hit so hard,” said Saunemin school teacher Shelly Beyers, as the school has also felt the loss of two other students in recent years. Beyers indi- cated that the school had arranged to have counselors available to help the school’s approximately 130 PreK – 8th grade students cope.
Skyler and Ian’s father, Brad Lemke of Ottawa, was
not reached for comment. Emington resident Jennifer Billingsley and a neighbor, who requested his name be kept private, knew Skyler and Ian, but knew lit- tle about McMeen and Warren. They described the chil- dren as friendly and well known in the small community where all the children played together. Billingsley said the community is “devastated.”
“It’s a shock,” Billingsley told The Paper. “There really is no word for it. It is something you see on TV or in movies.”
A distraught Mayor Delaney told The Paper, “The biggest thing we have
ever had happen was a dog bite. If this can happen here, it can happen anywhere.” Delaney has been Emington’s mayor for 24 years.
Sara McMeen’s mother, Cynthia McMeen of rural Dwight, released a statement saying the family realizes “this tragic incident affects not only their family, but other families as well. The family is drawing together during this time, relying on God, and grieving.” Cynthia McMeen asked for prayers and privacy.
As members of this quiet rural community of approximately 150 people struggled for ways to cope with this horrific and unthinkable tragedy, many came together for a prayer service on Saturday morning at Emington’s only church, the United Church of Christ.
“The important part for those of us here is that God is here to comfort,” said Minister Pam Gansch-Boytche. “God will walk through these horrible, dark times with those who grieve and mourn”.

Clip a Little, Save a Lot

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:32:43 -0600

by Rachel Ramsey
 With these tough economic times, “couponing” has become a sport. TLC has even created a show, Extreme Couponing, capitalizing on it. This sport consumes the people’s lives and portrays the most extreme coupon users you will ever see, searching, clipping, shopping and saving a ton of money. Many people would like to save money, but do not have the time to devote to such extreme measures. Thankfully, online websites and blogs offer helpful tips and tricks for saving with coupons.
Shelley Peck of Dwight will be launching a couponing blog in January of 2012. The blog, High5Saver.com, was named by her children. Their reasoning, “every time we save big we ‘High 5,’” she explained. 
According to Shelley, “Couponing was new to me until about four years ago when we moved from Florida to Illinois. I was unemployed and I felt I needed a way to contribute financially to my household. So, by couponing I was able to save money for my family and I found out that I really enjoyed doing it.”
Her blog will consist of everything from couponing, organization, money- saving tips, and thrifty ways to live and save.
“There will be actual links to coupons you can print and helpful tips on where to find coupon codes and store deals as well as giveaways and freebies,” explained Shelley. “I also want the site to be about being a mom and how to juggle everything whether you are a stay at home mom or a working mom.”
Currently, Shelley devotes about 30 minutes a day to organizing and finding deals online and in papers. She also spends approximately two hours on Sundays going through newspapers that she picks up at Dwight’s local grocery store, Berkot’s.
“I take that time to clip the coupons, organize them, and plan my shopping trip for the week. The average person could do this. I was able to keep with this when I worked full time and kept up with my husband and three children's social calendars. I think you always get back what you put into something. So the more you put in the bigger you are going to save!,” stated Shelley.
After clipping or printing off the coupons, storing them, remembering them and using them before the expiration date can be a challenge. This is when a filing system comes in handy. Depending on what works for you, coupons can be organized by grocery category, aisle or expiration date. It’s also very important to have a landing spot for those coupons. Shelley uses recycled cardboard boxes, which just happen to be free, too.
Couponing, if done correctly, can really add up on savings. “I think the greatest amount I've saved in grocery shopping has been 90% of my bill. My total was almost $300.00 and I spent about $28.00.”
Shelley noted, “Couponing has helped our family's budget in a great way. I am by no means an ‘Extreme Couponer,’ but I will say that if it isn't on sale, clearance or I don't have a coupon for it we don't buy it.”
Furthermore, coupons are available for much more than just grocery items. “I use coupons for eating out, clothing, groceries, toys, personal items, and vacations. There are really coupons or savings available for almost everything out there,” she explained.
In fact, Shelley found a way to save big on a family vacation. “About 2 years ago my family participated in a promotion that Walt Disney World was running, called ‘Give A Day Get A Day.’ You volunteered for one of their approved non-profits and each family member that participated received a free ticket to Disney World. My entire family made baby blankets for babies and children who were patients at a hospital in Chicago. I paid about $25.00 for the material, but we saved (getting the tickets for free) $410.00. So we saved while doing a good deed!”
Shelley’s blog will also offer more than just couponing and savings advice. “Since I am a mom to a special needs child, I would like to offer great ideas and options for parents like myself that could be helpful for them when planning vacations, gift ideas, and helping them find great companies, stores, and restaurants that embrace our children and offer incentives for families like ours,” explained Shelley.
With her blog scheduled to launch next month, Shelley is preparing her helpful tips for all who will view her site. She is hoping that the local community, as well as the people on the world wide web, will be able to use her advice.
“I am excited about my blog and I hope it will reach out across the world as well as our community,” stated Shelley. “My family loves Dwight and I would really like to find great deals in our community and locally for my future blog followers. I also am hoping to plan some coupon classes in Dwight in the coming months to help people out with their shopping needs.”
This coming January, look for Shelley’s blog at High5Saver.com. To find dates and times for Shelley’s coupon classes, look on the blog or the Facebook and Twitter sites linked to her blog.

Peace Corps turns 50....

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 20:47:04 -0600

by Madelyn Fogarty
madelynfogarty@yahoo.com

In 1961, under the direction of President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps was formed calling Americans to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. Since that time, over 200,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in 139 host countries to work on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation.
2011 marked the 50th anniversary of this organization. In last week’s edition of The Paper, former Peace Corps volunteers Paula Benjelloun and Nancy Norton Ammer shared insight to the Peace Corps and some of their experiences. This week in part 2 of two, three more area individuals share their experiences while serving in the Peace Corps.
Dan Duffy is from the Sunbury area and currently lives in Dwight. Duffy served in the Peace Corps after graduating from ISU in 1999 at the age of twenty two. Dan has a degree in Agriculture Industry, with an emphasis in Agronomy. He returned to ISU and received his Masters in Political Science through the Peace Corps Fellowship Progam. Dan was driven to the Peace Corps by his desire to help people directly, and experience life overseas.
“I served in the Solomon Islands and worked in Sustainable Forestry Management, teaching agro forestry methods and promoting alternatives to large scale logging in the Pacific.”
“The [Peace Corps] experience gave me a much broader perspective on life, and simply put, the Peace Corps made me a little more humble in life. I lived without electricity during my service and simple things like a glass of ice became a luxury. I keep a picture of my Solomon host family in my office to keep me grounded, in case I start taking the simple things for granted. I still work in civil service, managing a small Village, Minooka, Illinois. I’ve continued down the path of public service because the Peace Corps got me started.”
“My experience was unique in that after one year of service the country was taken over by rebel forces, so my fellow volunteers and I went through a couple of weeks of civil unrest and eventually the ethnic tensions led to the U.S. pulling the country program, and to this date has yet to return. But some memories would include spending many nights exchanging jokes and explaining what Americans were like around a camp fire under a make shift leaf hut and mosquito net deep in the Solomon rainforests. After several days of measuring out hectares, designating what trees could be cut, and finally milling and stacking the timber, we’d make camp. I recall several market runs lining up boats to ship lumber out of the islands, and taking small puddle jumper planes over island mountains and through crazy tropic storms to coordinate it all. Those were the days when time seemed to stand still and you could easily forget what day it was. The times that I still laugh about today, were sometimes on the weekends my little five to ten year old neighbor kids would take me lobster diving at night and I recall hearing about it for weeks of how big of a ‘sissy’ I was… always clinging to the boat as they’d dive down deep. My excuse of ‘someone has to hold the light for you guys’ made them laugh even more, and I learned early on that humility is a valuable trait when forging friendships.”
“In the Solomons it was primarily a subsistence life style, that is, you either made your living by the forest or the sea. My absolute favorite experience, was when my host father and his brother-in-law found out I liked to fish, it was an instant cross culture bond. About a day or two later we went on an early morning fishing run. Leaving around 3 a.m., I recall Saturn being so close and so bright over the horizon that it felt like we had two moons to guide our small boat that night. When light broke, I could barely see the 14 mile long island I lived on and all that surrounded me was Pacific blue. They taught me how to use hand rigs and how to identify where schools of fish were in relation to seagull flocks. They loved that fact that I was a Mivaka (white man) that didn’t get ‘sick on the sea’ - little did they know I snuck about three Dramamines into my peanut butter sandwich. We caught about ten different tuna and just as I was gloating over my eight to ten pounder, [my host father] hauled in a massive yellow fin that took about twenty minutes to bring up and had to be at least fifty or more pounds. I soon found out how fast sharks can smell blood in the water because minutes after knocking out the large yellow fin and heaving it into our hull, two showed up. [My host father] said to relax it was normal and he was gonna try to club one as it went by our boat so he could sell it for fin soup. A set of shark fins would have paid for one of his four kids’ school fees for the year, and the fish we caught would last his family and relatives for about a week. But, what I considered crazy, was a normal, basic way of life…and it was those experiences that really made my stay in the Solomons priceless”
“If you want to experience another culture, but do so by working day to day and side by side with people, Peace Corps is a great opportunity to do so. The Peace Corps has come a long way in the last 15-20 years - not just building bridges, and digging wells. Some of my volunteer friends have taught computers, worked on disease control, and my best friend was a legal consultant for domestic violence. The Peace Corps is a great way to see the world, learn about other cultures and a little about yourself along with way.”
Chad Masching grew up in Dwight before graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Masching has a BS in Civil Engineering with his major having an emphasis in environmental engineering (toxic site cleanup). He currently lives in Golden, Colorado and works as a civil engineer designing and constructing water resource projects. Chad served in the Peace Corps from 1999-2001. Chad shared his experience.
“I had studied abroad in college and picked up the travel bug at that time. Peace Corps was an easy way to live in another part of the world, become integrated with a new culture, and help some people along the way.”
“I served in the Russian Far East, in a small town along the Sea of Japan, about eight hours north of Vladivostock. I was assigned to a small environmental club and taught ecology to school aged children. My Russian counterpart was a biology teacher who had an incredible ability to make the club function on little or no money. The club held an annual summer camp, weekly nature hikes, and encouraged scientific research projects with the high school aged kids.”
“Life in the Russian Far East is very unforgiving, and it takes a certain amount of stoic determination to make it through the days. The winters are long and frigid. On the surface, people on the street seemed equally cold, which may be carryover from the Soviet era. However, I found Russians to generally be extremely hospitable once introductions were made. The people grow as much of their own food as possible and have a very grounded connection to the land.”
Masching shared one unusual memory that started in Russia and ended back in Dwight.
“I convinced my wife (girlfriend at the time) that it wasn't safe to leave her money in our house when we went on an extended trip. She gave me all of the money that she had to her name ($900), and I stashed it in a hole in the wall. When we returned, a rat had made a nest out of the wad of bills. I spent several days piecing the money back together and was more than happy when the Bank of Dwight allowed me to trade them in for new bills.”
“The Peace Corps is a good option to pursue for someone that wants to expand their horizons, make some lifelong friends, and help other people along the way. However, there are also plenty of other organizations out there to consider. A potential volunteer should research their options and talk to as many people as possible prior to committing to one organization or another. My program was loosely structured and gave me flexibility in how I spent my time, but not all programs are the same.”
“Volunteers in my group ranged from recent college graduates to retired couples. A volunteer only gets out of the experience what they are willing to put in.”
Christina Sancken is from Emington and graduated from DTHS in 2006. Christina then went on to Truman State University in Kirksville, MO graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and minors in Spanish and Biology. Christina has just recently completed her Peace Corps training period and has just begun her journey – she started her assignment in early November. With limited internet access, Christina shared some of her experience to date.
“I am serving in Peru, South America . My site for two years will be Lluin, La Libertad, Peru , SA. [I joined the Peace Corps because] I wanted to do something good in the world. There is so much to be done to help others. I also wanted to learn about another culture and share our culture in the US with others. [So far], I have learned patience, that the people of Peru are generous, helpful, and live a very interesting life full of family and great food!”
“My title is "Community Health Promoter" and my job is to better the health of a community through projects specific to the needs of the people who live there. These projects must be sustainable so that when I leave, the people can keep them up. Topics that I work in could be nutrition, hygiene, hydroponic gardening, ect. My job in the Peace Corps is directly related to what I studied, but this is not the case for some.”
Christina offered advice for anyone considering the Peace Corps.
“I would say to really think about it. I waited almost a year before I applied. I would also say that it is not for anyone faint of heart. It's a lot of work, a lot of long days, a lot of misunderstandings, a lot of new things to learn, and totally worth it if your heart is in it.”
To learn more about the Peace Corps or to find out about being a Peace Corp volunteer, visit
www.peacecorps.gov\

Holiday Sales: Lines or Online

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:12:19 -0600

by Rachel Ramsey

Many Americans spend Thanksgiving Day relaxing, eating and enjoying a day off with friends and family. Come the morning, or late night after dinner, the opposite is true. Shoppers get up at the crack of dawn to snag holiday deals from retailers.
Katie Mixen of Dwight stated, “I think it is a great way to generate business for so many stores and get the holiday shopping season started. There are great deals out there if you are willing to fight through a crowd.”
Black Friday is a time for retailers to kick off the holiday shopping season and lure in consumers with shocking steals and deals. Some extreme shoppers will even camp out in front of stores, such as Best Buy and Target, to get the hot ticket item that has been advertised.
Although some consumers are out to buy one thing, such as a low-priced gadget or the most popular toy, others have made a tradition out of Black Friday and have strategically mapped out a route of stores and deals.
Abbey Schafer of Herscher has been participating in Black Friday for as long as she can remember. Her mother, Brenda, and two sisters, Ashley and Amber, wake up every year to find great deals on Christmas gifts.
According to Schafer, “I think last year we made it into town when most stores were opening up around 3 a.m. We usually plan out the order of what stores we want to go to according to what we see in the ads and when they open. We shop for a few hours, go to breakfast around 7 or 8 a.m. and then go back out to the stores for as long as we can last.”
“I think the tradition began because we were always able to find good deals for Christmas gifts, but now I think it's more so a fun tradition and we look forward to spending time with each other,” Schafer added.
This year many stores are even opening up on Thanksgiving evening to lure in shoppers. Mixen remarked, “I personally don't think it's right that stores are forcing employees to be there on a holiday like Thanksgiving. These workers have families too. Call me old fashioned, but isn't Thanksgiving about being thankful for what you have, and not about what you can race to the store and get? I think they should save the crazy shopping for Friday, and let employees enjoy their holiday like everyone else.”
Not even the Schafer’s will be partaking in the early openings, “This year I've heard some stores are opening at midnight. I don't think we're planning on making those openings. We'll probably head into town around 3 or 4 a.m. like we have in the past.”
Although the earlier openings are controversial, consumers will still line up for Black Friday deals.
For those weary of the Black Friday crowds, Cyber Monday was created in 2005. Cyber Monday occurs the Monday following Black Friday and kicks off the online holiday shopping season.
Cyber Monday was based on the idea that shoppers who couldn't find something in stores on Black Friday would purchase it online using their offices' high-speed Internet access on Monday. While typically not as successful as Black Friday, Cyber Monday is marketed heavily by the online retail community, with hundreds of promotions and sales offered.
With the invention of Cyber Monday, shoppers can still snag great deals while sitting in the comfort of their own home, skipping the lines and the crowds at the mall.

Dwight’s High Speed Questions

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:45:32 -0600

by Sara Peters

The late-night toots and whistles and the sounds of construction on the train tracks running through Dwight have barely faded from memory as discussions of the next phase of high speed rail have begun.
Recent meetings were held in five cities throughout the state to talk about the environmental impact and routing logistics of adding a second set of tracks to the Chicago to St. Louis corridor.
But before that plan - which is currently not funded - will come to fruition, many details remain in the air about the current phase, possibly including whether Dwight will even be a stop for high speed trains.
Recent upgrades to the tracks were part of a $1.1 billion grant from the federal government that will allow trains to travel 110 mph on the 284-mile Chicago to St. Louis route.
This summer, workers replaced track and upgraded crossings from Dwight to the south.
Improvements are expected to shorten travel time between the two cities and enhance travel experience, according to the Illinois Department of Transpor-tation.
Today, trains make five round trips between the two cities daily. Once high speed rail is up and running, expected in 2014, three of those trips will be by high speed trains and two will run at the current speed of 79 mph, said IDOT Spokesperson Guy Tridgell.
However, in an initial conversation with The Paper, Tridgell said there’s a chance that Dwight might not be one of the stops by high speed trains. Those locations have yet to be determined, he said then.
“Naturally, Joliet, Chicago, Bloomington Normal, East St. Louis will be the likely locations for the high speed rail stops,” Tridgell said. “In order to achieve the true accelerated service, we need to limit the number of stops.”
(continued on page 2)
In a follow-up conversation, when asked for clarification about Dwight being a stop by high speed trains, he said:
“It’s easy to get caught up in the whole promise of high speed rail,” he said. “It’s some high speed service, in addition to the upgrade of nicer rail and the benefit of a smoother ride.”
The plan includes new rail cars equipped with Wifi, he said.
“There might not be the benefit of high speed service, but there’s the benefit of more reliable service, more comfortable service, in addition to the service that is provided now.”
Later, in a third conversation, he cited a miscommunication with those overseeing the project and said:
“Dwight is a stop on the high speed rail route,” he said.
Village Administrator Kevin McNamara said no one has indicated to him that Dwight would not be a stop.
Regardless, Dwight was among four communities picked for station improvements or new stations including Carlinville, Lincoln and Pontiac.
In August, the village board approved an agreement that would construct a new train station at Columbia and James streets on the village-owned site formerly occupied by the grain elevator.
Plans are underway for a station that would be unstaffed and include one unisex bathroom and that will act largely as a shelter for those waiting to catch a train, McNamara said.
There’s no timeline on when plans will be ready or construction would begin on that station, Tridgell said.
In the next year, one change is for certain: Dwight residents can expect to see changes to the crossing guards.
However, several other proposals by IDOT officials are still in the air.
IDOT has offered the village of Dwight a one-time $100,000 incentive to close the pedestrian crossing that leads from the current depot across east Main St. near JT’s Saloon, McNamara said.
IDOT officials also requested that the village consider reconfiguring crossings at Mazon Avenue and Prairie Street so that north and south traffic won’t be able to cross, he said.
Village officials agreed to closing the pedestrian crossing and have not further considered changes to the traffic crossings.
“It would change the alignment so there’s not two roads crossing at once,” McNamara said. “The village board had said that’s not their preference, and IDOT is not forcing any closures.”
These changes, if approved, would likely take place before the 2014 grand opening of high speed rail.
Currently, about 99 percent of the 35 million annual trips made between the two cities takes place by car or plane, according to the IDOT high speed rail website. The project has included laying 250,000 new concrete ties and improving more than 90 crossings from Dwight south.
The purpose of the project is to create a “more balanced modal use of the transportation network by improving rail service,” the IDOT site reads.
The next phase of that track improvement is from Dwight to Joliet, which is currently being bid out.
Some high speed travel will take place in 2012 between Dwight and Pontiac, Tridgell said.

Recent Articles from The Paper