Back in the Day –– April 24, 2019
10 YEARS AGO
April 29, 2009
Senior Zach Bosch signed a letter of intent to play football for Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Witnessing the event were his parents Mindy and Mike Bosch, TCHS football coach Rick Reinhart, TCHS athletic director Ron O’Hearn and former TCHS football coach Stan Wienke.
John Ervin formally committed to play football and join the track and field team at McKendree University in Lebanon IL. Witnessing the event were his parents Richard Ervin and Julie Miller, TCHS football coach Rick Reinhart and Athletic director Ron O’Hearn.
TCHS seniors Justin Hood and Rachael Brewer were crowned prom King and Queen. The theme for prom was Shanghai Moon with coronation followed by dinner and dancing at Tuscany Steak and Pasta House in Tuscola.
Douglas County EMA director Joe Victor of Tuscola was sworn in as president of the Illinois Emergency Managers Association at the annual conference in Decatur on April 27.
20 YEARS AGO
April 27, 1999
Business operations officially began at the newly constructed First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust at 410 S. Main St. Those present for the ribbon cutting ceremony were Jay Curry of Curry Construction who was the general contractor for the project, Jim Holland who was the Curry site manager, architect Charles Reifsteck, Tuscola FMIB president Doug McCumber, Miss Tuscola Jenny Gensler, Mayor Dan Kleiss, chief executive officer of FMIB Daniel Marvin Jr., and chief financial officer of FMIB Bill Rowland.
Debbie Reed, secretary for the Douglas County Probation department, was recently awarded Secretary of the Year honors during a Secretary’s Day luncheon that was sponsored by The Tuscola Mainstreet organization.
Tuscola Firefighters were called out to fight a blaze at 12:55 a.m. at 108 E. North Central on April 21 when an old two-car wooden garage behind a home became “fully involved” in flames. The structure was determined a total loss.
Beta Sigma Phi members took part in the Race For Life walkathon fundraiser held at the Coles County Airport hangar. Those who walked into the wee hours of the morning were Deanna Woodard, Johnna Megeff, Charlie Barkley, Cecelia Yoakum, Linda Scribner, Denise Bosch, and Shawna Bosch.
30 YEARS AGO
April 25, 1989
Duane Dunn was inducted into the Champaign County Bowling Association Hall of Fame. He was honored for his bowling accomplishments over the past 32 years. Dunn started bowling in 1957 at the Hiway Bowl in Tuscola. Duane was elected into the board of directors in 1965 and served as fifth vice-president in 1972. He was voted a life membership in 1973 after serving as president.
The Tuscola Kiwanis Club held a Car Wash in the DeKalb parking lot for a fundraiser benefiting the Tuscola Torpedoes swim team. They estimated that more than 50 cars were washed and 20 were waxed.
Tuscola students excelled at the regional Illinois History contest at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. The 13 students took home eight first place ribbons and two second place finishes. The first-place winners were invited to attend the state history fair on May 18. The students who participated in the Illinois History fair included Heather Graven, Tara Willmore, Dean Mann, Laci Weatherford, Shelby Rahn, Carrie Wiesener, Darren Stenger, Casey Clifford, Jenny Wiesener, Julie Benner and Holly Henderson.
40 YEARS AGO
April 26, 1979
The Tuscola City Council unanimously voted to name the central Little League baseball diamond at Ervin Park Wayne Neal Memorial Field.
Newly installed officers of the Tuscola Moose Lodge were Larry Sanders, Art Blaney, Ebart Smith, Robert Kellogg, John Cler, Jim Kleiss, Lawrence Johnson, Jerry Wildman, Hiram Scott, Myron Stolley, Francis Warters and Edgar Swartz.
Littelfuse Tracor vice president Jon McAler told Rotary members that expansion plans were in the company’s future following a 25 percent boost in earnings and a 5-4 stock split.
50 YEARS AGO
April 24, 1969
Rita Duensing and Jim Irwin received awards as outstanding youth by the First Christian Church. Church youth sponsor Dennis Hanner made the presentation.
Forty-five people attended the first organized meeting of the Tuscola Senior Citizens. Officers of the local organization were Pearle Farnum, president; Mrs. Burley Burnett, secretary; and Mrs. Cecil Tate, treasurer.
Varsity cheerleaders for the 1969-70 school year were Judy Kleiss, Vicki Runyan, Johne Huber, Jean Waters, and Sara Metheny.
Staff Sergeant William C. Kleiss, a member of an Air Force Communications Service unit in Vietnam, earned the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the fourth consecutive year. Sergeant Kleiss was a radio repairman with the 1964th Communications Group at Pleiku Air Base that was cited for outstanding proficiency in providing direct communications, navigational aids and air traffic control in the combat zone during the period from July 1967-1968. The Sergeant is a 1961 graduate of Tuscola Community High School.