Back in the Day
10 years ago
October 14, 2009
F.H. Jones Lumber owners Steve Hilgendorf and Alan Michener entered into a merger agreement with Tuscola Do It Best. The newly formed company, to be known as Tuscola Do It Best Home Center, becomes official as of November 1, 2009.
Workers were on site at Bob’s Super Service for over a week, unearthing the underground gas storage tanks at the service station. The project was part of a remediation plan being paid for largely through Illinois EPA funding, along with a $10,000 TIF grant from the city.
Officers choses for the TCHS National Honor Society, who happened to be all seniors, included Dylan Walker, secretary; Liz Bosch, vice president; Rachael Sapp, president; Chris Adams, treasurer; and Miriam Romine, attendance secretary.
20 years ago
October 12, 1999
Veteran TCHS teacher Warner Eiben was among 12 finalists for the 1999-2000 Illinois Teacher of the Year award.
The first of three outdoor tornado warning sirens were delivered to city officials last week and was to be installed at a location near the Tuscola United Methodist Church.
The city’s request for $1.48 million in grant money to help fund the downtown Tuscola renovation plans was ultimately denied, though it was under consideration right down to the final cut.
Dr. John N. Cunningham of Tuscola was honored recently by his college alma mater, Kirksville College, for his service to the college and to the profession of osteopathic medicine.
The Tuscola golf team qualified for the sectional meet for the first time in school history by placing fourth as a team at the Maroa-Forsyth Regional held at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth. Members whose scores were counted included Tom Sluder, Andy McGillen, Joe Sluder, and Derek Minear.
30 years ago
October 10, 1989
Randy and Eric Hastings won the coveted dinner gun at this year’s Duck Unlimited banquet, but offered the gun for sale at auction, with 25 percent of the proceeds benefitting DU. A record $10,580 was raised at the 1989 DU dinner.
Tuscola City Council approved two TIF applications for restaurants. One to John and Peggy Monts of Atwood to open a family restaurant and bakery at the corner of Main and Sale streets, and another to Haus, Inc. to re-establish a family restaurant in the former Clarence’s Family Restaurant on Sale Street, which was currently in foreclosure.
The Tuscola JFL Lightweights team went undefeated on its season, ending with a perfect 6-0 record, and the boys and their coaches were treated to a free lunch at McDonald’s in recognition of the accomplishment.
The Warrior varsity and JV volleyball teams breezed past two conference foes last week while winding up the regular season, beating Atwood-Hammond and Cerro Gordo with little trouble. The varsity team was 19-2 on the season.
40 years ago
October 9, 1979
Tuscola auto dealers P&H Motors, Ferguson Motor Sales ad Century Motors were unveiling the 1980 line of new cars at a weekend car show on their respective lots.
Negotiations were still underway between the city and Country Communications of Rantoul in attempting to bring cable television service to Tuscola.
An injured quarterback and pair of muffed kick returns gave the Sullivan Redskins the extra advantage they needed to hand the Tuscola Warriors their first loss of the season (14-6) and knock them out of first place in the Okaw Valley Conference race.
Tuscola resident John Turner’s interest in tools and gadgets of yesteryear had blossomed into an impressive display of his finds unearthed over numerous decades of collecting.
50 years ago
October 9, 1969
Near tornado strength winds caused many thousands of dollars in damage between midnight and 2 a.m. Saturday in Douglas County. The most severe damage was reported in Tuscola, Villa Grove, and Newman.
TCHS seniors Eric Seip and Vicki Runyan were crowned king and queen of Homecoming and reigned over the dance held immediately afterwards in the cafeteria. The theme for decorations was “Romeo and Juliet.”
The City Council voted Monday evening to undertake the task of supplying ambulance service for Tuscola residents, following a discussion of the survey done by the Tuscola Jaycees showing a good majority of the citizenry was in favor of such a decision, even knowing the high cost involved.
FM radio station WITT would be going on the air sometime in November according to station owner Fred Seibold and would operate daily from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a signal radius od 35 miles.