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Emails for February 2008
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Information on former athletic teams wanted | | | Response to schools being opened | Schools being opened | Questioning schools being open | Furniture store/funeral home update | Vacation Bible School's Fundraiser March 1st | Sen. Rutherford reveals survey results | Deadline for U of I Children of Veterans Tuition Waiver | Editorial response | Hank's Reunion on March 15th | Congratulations to Fieldcrest for great defense | 8th Grade Sectional Basketball game changed | Thanks for calling parents | Appreciates phone call from school |

Information on former athletic teams wanted

I know that Basketball has changed since my days and Fieldcrest does draw from several small schools that have talented athletes, but to be paired up against a powerhouse like Peoria Manual who have a very wide range of potential players and then see Fieldcrest perform as well as they did, is a real tribute to the Fieldcrest Players and Coaches. The 1948 MCHS has gotten a lot of press and pictures, but the "49 or '50 team (I believe) did play in a regional starring "Moose" Woltzen who was on the ISNU "B"team in 1952 and became a prominent College coach. Does any one have pictures and info that could be used to develop stories these teams and players? I for one would love to see these on Minonktalk.

Albie Johnson

Editor's reply: I agree that it would be great to get stories and pictures of former athletic teams. If anyone has an interesting story or pictures about former athletes or athletic teams, please forward them to this web site so that I can compile a separate section for them.



Schools being opened

I AGREE WITH MR. JUDD AND FOR THAT REASON I DID NOT SEND MY CHILD TO SCHOOL TODAY. THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO PUT HER ON A BUS IN THIS NASTY WEATHER. MY OTHER CHILDREN DID ATTEND SCHOOL AS THEY ATTEND HERE IN MINONK.
I HAVE A SCANNER AND IT HAS BEEN GOING CRAZY ALL DAY TODAY WITH ACCIDENTS, ALSO THE ROAD GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW HORRIBLE THE ROADS ARE FROM THE BLOWING AND SNOWING. I CAN NOT BELIEVE MR. VINCENT DID NOT CANCEL SCHOOL TODAY.
AS LONG AS THE ROADS ARE THIS HORRIBLE I WILL NOT BE PUTTING MY CHILD ON ANY SCHOOL BUS!!!

KELLY LANE


Furniture store/funeral home update

Dave

I found your Editorial, "On death and dying in Minonk" specially interesting, especially about the furniture and funeral home connection. The day before I read your editorial I found the following web site.
http://mclaughlinfuneralchapel.com/index.html
.

I had been searching the web for the funeral home that was in charge of a person we knew in that area. McLaughlin Funeral Chapel wasn't the one but I was intrigued by the fact that this Chapel has maintained this furniture funeral tradition for nearly 126 years. After reading your editorial I decided to see if there were any more funeral homes that still practiced the tradition of furniture and funerals and found Burkey And Driscoll. http://www.burkeydriscoll.com/. They have maintained this tradition for 156 years.

Just thought you might be interested.

Don Ludwig


Sen. Rutherford reveals survey results

Dear Dave,

You have recently responded to my Opinion Survey and I appreciate you doing so. I have taken everyone's responses, tabulated them and posted the cumulative results on my website.

The totals are not from a scientific poll, come by voluntary responses from people like you and each person's reply is only counted one time, regardless of how many times one may submit the Survey.

The results are at
http://www.danrutherford.com/surveyresults.htm
. Updates will be posted periodically.

Since you have already responded to the Survey, submitting a reply again will not add to the totals of a specific question. I encourage you to ask others to reply, please direct them to: http://danrutherford.cmititestbank.com.

You may find these results of interest. Be in touch!

Sincerely,

Dan Rutherford
State Senator
320 North Plum Street
Pontiac, IL 61764


Editorial response

Dave,
As a former Minonk resident who enjoys your website, I would like to respond to Mrs. McCulley's wonderful editorial, and to the comment from "well".

I would also like to share my view of the Blue Ribbon Schools. When my husband, a MDR alumni and I heard that Fieldcrest was awarded the Blue Ribbon, we were extremely excited. Firstly because we can say we are a product of a fine school, which didn't need an award to prove it. Secondly because of what a great incentive it is for people to move into the district. It certainly was a factor in our decision when we moved out of state last year. Schools were our number one consideration when choosing a home. We found a home in a community that reminds us both of our small town upbringings and is in a Blue Ribbon School. In the town we live in, there are 3 other grade schools in our district. We are the only one with the Blue Ribbon distinction, but all of the schools benefit from the one. It wouldn't have mattered what school our children went to, we just knew we wanted a home in that school district.

In regards to the woman not getting help for her struggling child, who asked what she is to do. As Mrs. McCulley so eloquently stated, we, the parents are the key to our Children's education. I too have a child with learning difficulties. It is my responsibility to see that he gets the best possible education. I make sure my child gets the help he needs. I make myself known, and am a constant presence in the school. (Not annoying, just constant!) I stay in close contact with his teachers at all times. I am my child's advocate! I have demanded the help and did not stop until I got it! It was not easy. It took 4 ½ years to get it done. During that time, we paid for private tutoring, and other alternative help. We dipped into our savings more than we would have liked, but we still did it, and my child succeeds. I also have a child on the other end of the spectrum. Again, I am his advocate in making sure he is challenged enough. I am just as big a part in his education as my other son's.

Sincerely,

Kim (Johnson) Arndt
Severna Park, MD


Congratulations to Fieldcrest for great defense

Congratulations to the Fieldcrest Knights for their fantastic defense in defeating Eureka Tuesday night. Their play was excellent. Also, I wish to thank Kristie Ruestman for recovering the garbage lids that blew away at Veterans Park during last week's wind storm.

Jim Brown


Thanks for calling parents

I want to add that I agree with Peggy's email. I realize that it is time consuming to call all the parents when they close the school, but it is greatly appreciated.

Thank you Mr. Vincent for this idea. Becky Quick



Response to schools being opened

We all know the roads are not the best today, but did you see any schools closed within the surrounding area? NOT! Obviously all of the administrators within the surrounding area felt the same. Maybe you should email or question all of the administrators.

Sherry Stalter


Questioning schools being open

This letter is in regards to school being open today. I was wondering if Mr. Vincent looked out his window this morning? Did he check road conditions? Did he think of the safety of our children that have to ride a bus? Did he think about what the conditions would be for the ride home? There has been no plow down our road yet today. The conditions with the wind are horrible! Evidently NOT!

Jeff Judd


Vacation Bible School's Fundraiser March 1st

Dave
Could you please announce that 2008 Vacation Bible School's Fundraiser will be March 1st at St Paul's Church from 4:30-7:30pm. The dinner will be $5 per person and includes BBQ sandwich, coleslaw, chips & dessert. Carry-outs will be available. Any help or donations are appreciated!! For questions please contact Jaime Mool at jaimemool@yahoo.com or leave a message at 309-527-3704. Thank you!!

Jaime Mool


Deadline for U of I Children of Veterans Tuition Waiver

Dear Dave,

I wanted to make you aware that the application deadline for the University of Illinois' Children of Veterans Tuition Waiver is fast approaching.

The four year tuition waiver is available to any natural or adopted child of a veteran who has served at any time from World War II to the current conflicts in Afghanistan or Iraq and who is a permanent resident of Illinois. Awards are limited to one per Illinois' county and per conflict. The waiver is good for any University of Illinois system school or degree program.

Applications are due by March 1, 2008. Interested students should visit http://www.DanRutherford.com or call the University of Illinois, Office of Student Financial Aid at 217-333-0100.

These tuition waivers are a good way to express Illinois' gratitude to our veterans. God Bless our Veterans and God Bless America!

Sincerely,
Dan Rutherford
State Senator
http://www.DanRutherford.com


Hank's Reunion on March 15th

Hi Dave.
A group of us would like to get the word out that we will be meeting at the former Hank's Alley Saloon on Saturday, March 15tth @ 3:00. We would like to extend the info to all that used to go there. Hank & Julie will be in attendance.

Hank's Reunion
Saturday, March 15, 2008 @ 3:00

Further details will be posted soon.

Take care.

Mary Kay Hock


8th Grade Sectional Basketball game changed

The location of the 8th grade sectional basketball game has been changed from Gridley Middle School to Eureka Middle School. The game is Wednesday, February 6th at 6:00. The Knights play Washington Middle School. Good luck boys and coaches!!

Sherilyn Klendworth
Grove Elementary
2nd Grade


Appreciates phone call from school

With all the negativity about Fieldcrest just thought I would like to thank the school for the curiosity phone call (recording) this morning letting us know that there was no school today. It was easier than looking online, watching tv or listening to the radio. Thanks again.

Peggy Winters