Back in the Day–July 24, 2019
10 YEARS AGO
July 29, 2009
Nancy Runge was the winner of the Tuscola High School Warriorettes American Flag raffle held over the Fourth of July. Presenting Mrs. Runge with her prize were Kylie Amick and co-captain Laura Knight. Sen. Dale Righter donated the flag to the dance team.
The Tuscola Woman’s Club received special recognition while attending the Illinois General Federation of Women’s Clubs Central Region meeting in honor of its 115th anniversary.
The Warriorettes dance team attended the IDTA summer intensive held in Urbana. Classes were taught by professional choreographers from New York, Chicago, LA, and Hawaii. Attending were coach Dee Lenzi and Katrina Hanners and team members Kaitlyn Carter, Becky Hemmer, Chloe Kerns, Lexi Wasiloski, Jessica Knight, Kylie Amick, Alex Brown, Laura Knight, Amy Wilson, and Rachel Craddock.
Tuscola athlete Kylie Amick was part of the Champaign based Little Illini U-14 Soccer Team that sent forth to North Carolina over the weekend of July 18 and 19 to compete in the President’s Cup National Soccer Finals. After taking on three other teams the Little Illini brought home the National Championship.
20 YEARS AGO
July 27, 1999
Lt. Gov. Corrine Wood and her children visited Winterberry and Friends Remembered when their Winnebago made a stop in downtown Tuscola as part of a whirlwind tour of 15 Illinois Main Street communities.
Umpires John Harris, Jerry Ring and Joe Harris were at the center of attention during the Little League sectional baseball tournament held in Tuscola. The three men were honored for having amassed a total of 100 years umpiring experience.
Millikin University in Decatur would be welcoming TCHS product Josh Wakefield to its campus and football program. Wakefield was a First Team All-Conference selection and Tuscola Most Valuable Defensive Lineman.
30 YEARS AGO
July 18, 1989
Medicare and Medicaid were partially to blame for a budget deficit at Jarman Memorial Hospital, County board members learned at their regular monthly meeting. There currently was a $175,000 deficit in last year’s $2.8 million hospital budget.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Newman for Recontek, a $15 million plant that would recycle 13 million gallons of hazardous waste from electronics and metal-finishing industries.
A farewell party was held for Elsie Crady, who retired after working for 20 years as bookkeeper and clerk manager at Sav-Mor Pharmacy.
PowWows held a raffle to raise money to “save high school baseball.” Duane Bruce won the $100 grand prize drawing, and Sally Doud and Kenneth Downs won season passes.
Tuscola’s slow pitch softball team Rockin’ Rodney’s qualified for state finals being held in Kankakee next month. Team members included David Page, Jim Grimm, David Quick, Eric Foster, Greg Wilks, Lee Grimm, Mike Shepherd, Paul Hammett, Keith Rotyoll, Kevin Conner, Scott Tobbs, and J.R. Hutchinson.
40 YEARS AGO
July 26, 1979
Among the winners in the Ladies Golf Tournament held at Kaskaskia Country Club were Virginia Reed, Betty Atchison, Betty Cunningham, Rosalie Benedict, Ellen Thomas, La-Quinta Morris, Dorothy Voigt, Gail Behm, Imogene Fitzgerald and Thelma Reed.
The Tuscola Woman’s Club voted to contribute $100 toward the rewiring of the downtown business district. Mary Harrington suggested the project.
Les Sluder, Bruce Nofftz and Dave Penrod ran the annual Peach Tree Road Race in Atlanta, Ga. The 10,000-meter race attracted 20,100 entries. Nofftz was clocked 45:05; Penrod came in at 45:42 and Sluder came in at 45:25. Winner of the race was Craig Virgin, who set a new course record at 28:30.
A contract to manage Jarman Memorial Hospital in Tuscola was awarded to United Hospitals of Memphis, Tenn. by the Douglas County Board.
50 YEARS
July 24, 1969
Eight men from Douglas County left for induction into the Armed Forces, Thursday, July 17, according to a release from the local Selective Service Board. Those who were drafted were John Kenneth Beazley and Robert J. Williams Jr., of Arcola; Darrell L. Little of Hindsboro; and Craig E. Sanderson, Philip F. Deaver, Dennis E. Stewart, Max W. Albrighton and Larry Cromwell, all of Tuscola.
William McCarty was elected as president of the East Central Illinois Development Association board of directors. Other officers elected to serve were Jim Finks of Shelbyville, Wilbur Beery of Atwood, Thomas Monahan, Jr., of Arcola and George M. Pendell of Mattoon.
The Tuscola Jaycees presented a proposal to the city council, offering to take a leadership role in developing a park on the 31 city-owned acres located just south of the new sewer plant and east of Hillcrest subdivision.
Tuscola recently learned it was virtually out of water during last week’s heat wave, as Eastern Illinois Water Company had to truck in 495,000 gallons of water from the industrial water supply plant just west of USI to the city water plant on East Wilson Street.