Back in the Day–June 13, 2018
10 YEARS AGO
June 17, 2008
City workers were cleaning up debris and downed trees after a brief, powerful storm ripped through town. AmerenCIPS also had to repair downed power lines.
Douglas County was declared a disaster by the governor due to the flood damage that occurred the previous week. The Douglas County EMA was seeking disaster relief funding.
Tuscola 1 baseball team defeated Ogden 7-5. The two winning points were scored in the seventh inning.
The Douglas County MissFits played in the Mt. Zion Shootout. They advanced to the quarterfinals where they were defeated by Moultrie County.
Tuscola 1 girls softball team was working on gaining their first win of the season. Meanwhile, Tuscola 2 girls celebrated their fourth win of the season.
20 YEARS AGO
June 16, 1998
Members of the Tuscola United Methodist Church put their green thumbs to work to raise funds. Nine gardens were featured in a garden walk, and proceeds went toward a new kitchen in the church’s new location.
The workload in the Douglas County probation office increased 81 percent in a ten-year span. The department went from handing 16 juvenile and 122 adult probation cases to 24 juvenile and 221 adult cases.
C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation and the Illinois Action Association honored ten employees who earned their certification in Family and Community Development. Jaki Ottolini of Tuscola was one of the ten employees who received recognition.
Bill Riley received the Wild Turkey Award at the Tuscola Open Golf Tournament. The award was for the individual with the highest score. Technically, Tom Morris won but declined the award, leaving Bill the recipient. Yale Westjohn was the winner of the first place trophy in the tournament.
30 YEARS AGO
June 14, 1988
Former staff members of Tuscola’s WDZ radio station planned a reunion and banquet. 33 WDZers were expected to attend.
Illinois Secretary of State Jim Edgar announced the fourth, fifth, and sixth grade Railroad Safety Poster Contest winners. Stephanie Hall of Tuscola received first place in the fifth grade category, and Becky Sudduth placed first in the sixth grade category.
Hardee’s sponsored the Learning Is Fun Too program. Managers of Hardee’s were David Stuckey and Beverly Lovewell.
Tuscola Girls’ Softball Team was coached by Greg and Jan Hastings. The team members were Shelby Best, Kendra Blaudow, Josie Kramer, Jamie Donnals, Cadis Carie, Buffy Marrs, Dawn Barnett, Elizabeth Spomer, Amy Seibold, Mindee Hastings, Heidi Gaddy, Amy Shaw, Amy Cottle, Amy Baird, and Angie Gaines.
40 YEARS AGO
June 15, 1978
Greg Jamison was preparing to open Country Fresh Meats. Jamison had been an employee of Myers Meat Service in Atwood and discovered a need for a meat market in Tuscola.
The Chamber of Commerce Announced Tuscola 4th of July events planned at Ervin Park. An antique tractor pull, Little League and Senior Division games at the diamonds, and a chicken dinner were scheduled prior to the fireworks display.
Todd Hausman and Leonard Jackson were greeted in Washington, D.C. by H.N. Hunsicker, National Advisor of FFA. Hausman and Jackson attended the week-long National FFA Washington Conference program.
TCHS baseball won their final game of the season against Villa Grove 13-5. They ended the season with a 5-1 record.
50 YEARS AGO
June 13, 1968
A contract was being worked out between the City of Tuscola and McCarty Improvement Company of Davenport, Iowa, for the excavation of landfill dirt. The dirt was needed for the approaches to the bridge on I-57 where it crosses Rt. 36. The hole left behind by the excavation was expected to span 7-10 acres and create a natural lake. It was proposed that the area would be ideal for a park. The City was expected to close on the deal, but there were still details to iron out.
TCHS graduates received Teacher’s Scholarships. Recipients were David Willoughby, John Cox, Sandra Helm, Mark Stanberry, and Joe Wilhelm.
TCHS cheerleaders were announced for the 1968-69 school year. Judy Kleiss, Bobbi McKinney, Johne Huber, Jean Waters, and Vicki Runyan were chosen.
Mayor Burns and Miss Tuscola Kit Koehnemann took part in the Senior Division Little League opener. Kit threw in the first ball of the season to get league action underway.