Back in the Day- 2/22/23
10 Years Ago
Feb. 27, 2013
The Villa Grove man accused of making terrorist threats against North Ward schoolchildren following a Jan. 27, 2013, domestic dispute with his wife will be on an October jury setting, and there is a chance it may be in a courtroom other than Douglas County.
Defendant Timothy Little appeared before Douglas County Judge Michael Carroll in a preliminary hearing held Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013. He was accompanied by his attorney, Fred Johnson of Mattoon firm Heller, Holmes & Associates. Johnson has indicated he will be seeking a change of venue for the case, citing extensive media coverage that he alleges will make it difficult for Little to get a fair trial in Douglas County.
Tuscola High School’s girl’s softball team finished the 2012 season with a bang, taking home the Class A fourth-place trophy. The Lady Warriors were the cardiac kids of 1A, collecting a pair of one-run victories in the sectional and super-sectional championship games.
Tuscola track-and-field coach Ryan Hornaday’s fifth edition of harriers will be hard-pressed to match the banner season fo 2012. Last year’s team made its mark locally and at the state meet in Charleston, where the 4×200 squad of Jeff Broch, Broc Smith, Chris West and Alex Kemp won a state title while setting new school and Class 1A state marks in the process.
20 years ago
Feb. 25, 2003
The job of maintaining and plowing county roads would now fall under the jurisdiction of the townships in which they were located. The Douglas County Highway Dept. recently entered into agreements with each of the nine township highway commissioners.
The Illinois Dept. of Transportation recognized Beniach Construction of Tuscola as its Contractor of the Year for exceptional work performed during the 2002 construction season.
The Smokehouse Restaurant, a family dining establishment owned and operated by Jim and Margaret Stilwell since 2000, closed at the end of business hours on Feb. 16, 2003.
Lady Warrior Lesley Hettinger advanced to the state level of the 2003 Three-Point Showdown. The junior earned the right by making 6 of 10 in a shoot-off conducted at the sectional level in Flora this week.
Marissa McCumber moved into third place on the all-time Lady Warriors three-point list with 84 treys in her Tuscola career. Also scratching the record book was Chambry Gilmore, whose career total of 491 rebounds moved her into the top 10.
Austin Hogue and his buddies were able to pull off one of their greatest double-doubles of their young lives by delivering an outright LOVC basketball championship to go along with their football title.
30 years ago
Feb. 23, 1993
Tuscola City Council members voted to reclassify city liquor licenses in an effort to curb minors’ attempts to enter local bars. The reclassification affected establishments that derive more than 50 percent of their income through sale of alcoholic beverages.
“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” starring Macauly Culkin was as currently showing at the Gem Theatre in Villa Grove.
The Unity Rockets put an end to the Lady Warriors’ basketball season in the championship game of the Tuscola Regional with a 53-33 victory. Tuscola ended its season with a 19-9 record overall.
The Warrior boys basketball team ended its 1992-93 campaign with a 13-11 record after being ousted from the Heritage Regional via an 82-59 defeat by the Heritage Hawks.
40 years ago
Mar. 1, 1983
Chris Little earned a first-place trophy in the tractor pull at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Ken. He used a John Deere 5010 Pro Stock called the War Wagon to claim the title.
Tuscola School Board recently approved a measure that would raise the number of credits a TCHS graduating senior would have to earn, from 16 to 17, starting with the Class of 1988.
Douglas County Board members were meeting with architectural consultants to determine whether to remodel or rebuild the county jail facility. Space constraints were behind the proposal.
The Tuscola Warriors won their second straight regional title with a 50-35 triumph over the Oakland Oaks in the Arcola Regional. John Brookins had 14 points, while Bill Fruit contributed 11 points.
50 years ago
Feb. 22, 1973
A hearing was scheduled later this week to determine whether an objection filed by one of the Tuscola mayoral candidates against another had any merit. In other “election” news, Don Belz, a candidate for alderman, withdrew his petition to run for the office.
Chris Hill, owner of the Rise ‘n Shine store on Route 36, announced a food service delivery for the Tuscola area. A minimum $5 order would have to be made, and there would be a 50 cent delivery fee.
An open house was being planned to celebrate the 100th birthday of Tuscola resident George Helm.
TFD Chief Dennis Dietrich recently made a daring rescue, saving young Todd and Trent Proffitt’s dog which had fallen through the ice at Patterson Springs Lake.
Teamwork and torrid shooting were most evident in the Warrior camp Friday night, as they thumped state-ranked Decatur St. Teresa 81-73. Leading the charge for Tuscola were Rick Smith with 24 points, Rudy Huber with 19, and 18 each from Doug Dietrich and Phil Waters.