County Board Rezoning Former Bantz Property
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****************ECRWSS***** PRSRT. STD. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Elmwood, Illinois Permit No. 13 Friday Carrier Route Presort March 12, 2021 The Prairie News RURAL BOXHOLDER Vol. 19, No. 6 LOCAL P.O. BOXHOLDER Hot news tip? “The Voice of Stark and eastern Henry counties” Want to advertise? Serving the fine communities of Wyoming, Toulon, Bradford, Duncan, Galva, LaFayette, Stark, Speer, FREE! Call (309) 286-2185 Castleton, -Bishop Hill, Camp Grove, Princeville, Edelstein, Laura, West Jersey, Monica, Elmira, Modena, Saxon, Lawn Ridge, Broadmoor, Compliments of Elmore, Lombardville, Milo and rural customers at Kewanee and Williamsfield. Our Fine Advertisers! Bradford renovation near completion By ANGIE STANGE village could either rent or sell ing business hours for further For The Prairie News- the property creating the pos- information. Applications to BRADFORD – There’s a sibility of another business in rent are now available upon shiny new storefront ready for Bradford. The Kewanee Com- request. a business thanks to a renova- pany of Hubert Hughes which tion project initiated by the Vil- The building was most re- lage of Bradford. is called AllSIDZ has been in cently used as a place of busi- Last year, the village pur- charge of the renovation. ness for Green Gables, but it chased 164 W. Main Street, lo- Work is very near completion has a long history. cated between the Highlands and the building is ready to be According to information Restaurant and the Village purchased or rented, according from the “Bradford History Hall, with the intent to either to Bradford village officials. Book” by Brydena Schune- demolish or renovate the struc- Anyone interested in renting or man, the building was built in ture. After a vote to renovate, purchasing this property should 1914 and has held a variety of Before (left) and after pictures show the results of a renovation at 164 W. Main St. in the plan was to bring the build- contact the Village Hall at businesses. At one time it was Bradford that the village is close to completing. The village plans to rent or sell the ing up to standards so that the (309) 897-2071 or stop by dur- Continued on Page 2 property to help bring another business into town. Photos by Angie Stange. SONG DOGS SINGING County Board rezoning Coyotes former Bantz property By JOHN A. BALLENTINE foreclosed on, West Jersey Town- searching For The Prairie News ship took possession,” Johnson TOULON – The Stark County said. board of supervisors at its Tues- “Now it’s, ‘Try to get him out of for mates day meeting approved a request there.’ He’s still living there, still By GRETCHEN STEELE by West Jersey Township to re- gathering junk – but their [West For The Prairie News zone the former Larry Bantz prop- Jersey Township] intention is to Song Dogs – or as you may erty from have the property re- know them better, coyotes – commercial to res- zoned to R-1 [residen- are singing right now, and it’s idential. It is located Inside tial] because I think a song of romance. Late Feb- adjacent to Illinois • Toulon Council awards they are just going to ruary and early March are Route 78, in West mowing bid. Page 7. demolish the old ga- considered peak breeding Jersey. • A look Back in Time. rage and the house, season in Illinois for coyotes. The property had Page 9. once he is removed A little like the deer we are been foreclosed on • Obituaries. Page 10. from the property and so familiar with during rut, and there was a • Historical group notes it’s going to just be a the minds of coyotes are oc- Sheriff’s sale where progress on building. grass lot to where cupied by the primal drive to West Jersey Town- Page 11. someone in the future find a mate and their behav- ship took possession could build a home,” iors may be different than of that property, according to Johnson concluded. their usual stealthy and Stark County Zoning Officer Also approved was the rezoning Renee L. Johnson. of 610 S. Seventh Street, in Wyo- sneaky selves. Coyotes are on the move looking for love in early March, as their breeding “It has always been zoned as C- ming – The former Wyoming Mo- Coyotes can be found season peaks in Illinois. Photo by Gretchen Steele. nearly everywhere in Illinois, 2 [commercial property] and he tors property. It is rezoned from in virtually all types of hab- grasslands, and farmlands, “rural areas” to travel into [Bantz] brought all the junk and commercial to light industrial for itat, including urban and sub- but often will prefer a mix- towns at night in search of everything in. West Jersey Town- BOGAR Enterprises, which will urban areas. They are most ture of farmland, woodland easy pickings for food. ship took it to court – I think they manufacture steel goods at that lo- abundant in areas that pro- and grassland. It is not at all An average home range for paid $18,000 for cleanup of the cation. vide a mix of woodlands, unusual for coyotes from Continued on Page 2 property – had liens on the prop- The board approved the pur- erty, and so once they [Bantz] got Continued on Page 2 Page 2 THE PRAIRIE NEWS • March 12, 2021 www.illinoisweeklies.com COYOTES: Simple steps to keep coyotes at bay Continued from Page 1 counters can be greatly reduced. If your pet gets in a fight with a a coyote can be 2-10 square miles. First, do not feed coyotes, or any coyote, do not use your own hands or Some coyotes that are considered other wildlife. Don’t leave food out- feet to separate them. Try to break up “loners” may have a larger range side handy and available – this in- the fight with a weapon, such as a than a pack group or family. Sizes of cludes things like pet foods, garbage walking stick. home ranges are also influenced by cans, etc. Providing food, especially Don’t corner a coyote, if you en- habitat quality, presence of nearby as a way to get a coyote closer for counter one. Make noise, wave your packs and seasons of the year – espe- photos or in a misguided attempt to arms, blow a whistle and send it cially when coyotes are breeding or pet or tame the animal, increases the packing. rearing pups. A “city” coyote often risk of being bitten and the odds of Keep small livestock secure in has a smaller range than rural coun- neighbors having a coyote issue. houses, coops and shelters that have terparts. When taking smaller indoor pets been predator proofed. Are coyotes a bit more aggressive out for potty breaks or a walk, vary If, despite your best efforts, you during breeding season? Absolutely. the schedule. Coyotes can notice a find yourself a little too close for Will they attack you or your child? distinct pattern. Be aware that if you comfort with a coyote, make noise, The odds are slim to none that any have an intact female dog, if she is in human is going to be attacked. heat, she will be attractive to a coyote wave your arms, stomp, shout and But it pays to be “coyote aware” looking for love. generally present a threatening and to avoid behaviors that encour- Male dogs are not exempt from ag- stance. Most often, this is enough to age them to visit our homes and areas gression, either. They may be per- send them on their merry way. where we recreate. Coyotes that be- ceived as a threat with whom a If you have a coyote who remains come acclimated to humans and to a coyote does not want to share his ter- aggressive, contact your local De- more populated environment tend to ritory, or girlfriend. partment of Natural Resources Con- be bolder and less fearful. That is Many negative encounters between servation Police Officer, biologist, or where problem encounters occur. coyotes and pets occur because pets a nuisance wildlife removal service. With a few commonsense precau- were not adequately supervised or In the meantime, enjoy listening to tions, negative coyote/human en- were allowed to roam freely. the song dogs sing! BRADFORD: Building once an office for doctors Continued from Page 1 was a women’s and chil- called the Bradford Ex- dren’s clothing store change Bank and run by called the Little Shop and Robert and Rosa Thomp- was operated by Fern son until the Bank Mora- Williams and Helen torium of the early 1930s. Hotchkiss. The building later was Bill and Marti Rouse used as an office for Doc- purchased the building in tors Ross Hermann and 1972 or 73 and trans- Ed Scholes at separate formed it into a candle times. The space was and antique shop, the be- also shared by Greg ginnings of Green Gables. Owens, Dr. Hermann and After that it was used as a An interior picture of renovations at 164 W. Main St. in Bradford. beautician Anita Hen- Head Start location and Photo by Angie Stange. nessey. then a video store. It was During the 1950s and later used as an office for business moved to a dif- ing had been vacant since early 1960s, the building Green Gables until the ferent facility. The build- then. BOARD: County employees to get panic buttons Continued from Page 1 would presumably be tourism in the county. Supervisor Robin Now- chase from TeamAlert of desk-mounted hardware. A Second, a resolution lan reported that County “panic buttons” for the one-time setup fee is $75 passed for the Marshall- Engineer Judd Giffin has county employees to uti- and 10 buttons will cost Stark [Counties] Down- been working on obtaining lize in case of an emer- $1,390 with a monthly state Operating Assistance funding for the new county gency or dangerous maintenance fee of $50 for Program (DOAP) to pro- highway building.