1 • Wednesday, June 21, 2017 - Shopper’s Guide
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Serving the communities in Stephenson County
Shopper’s Guide
VOL. 79 • NO. 25
YOUR FREE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
HELP US CELEBRATE DAIRY MONTH! June is National Dairy Month and Citizens State Bank is proud to support the hard work of our local dairy farmers. Visit the Lena Lucky Clovers 4-H Club and their Dairy Month display Saturday, June 3 at the Lena Location. Stop by any of our three locations for special treats: Friday, June 2 – Ice Cream • Friday, June 16 – Cheese & Crackers While supplies last
Confident. Courteous. Close By.
WWW.CSBNOW.COM
Lena: 815-369-4524 • Stockton: 815-947-3366 • Freeport: 815-801-4524 Citizens State Bank NMLS #740680
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017
Citizens State Bank awards 14 scholarships to area graduates Leaders from Citizens State Bank presented $500 scholarships to 14 extraordinary high school graduates at each school’s awards ceremony and then recognized the recipients at a special luncheon Friday, June 9 at Stella’s Café in Stockton. “We are so proud of the Class of 2017,” said Citizens State Bank President and CEO Fritz Kuhlmeier. “We had quite a few exceptional candidates, and we were pleased to have handed out 14 scholarships this year.” Citizens State Bank, with locations in Lena, Stockton, and Freeport, awards a minimum of twelve $500 college scholarships each year to graduating high school seniors who have displayed excellence in academic achievement, community service, and extracurricular activities. This year’s scholarship recipients were: Griffin Koester, Aquin Alexandria Geiser, Freeport Sabree Hull, Freeport Samuel Morgan, Freeport Marissa Buss, Le-Win Brianna Haight, Le-Win Tanner Lawfer, Le-Win Sondra Winters, Le-Win Shayna Drake, Pearl City Mikayla Baysinger, Stockton Addiah Broshous, Stockton Courtney Haas, Stockton Olivia Kepner, Stockton Hannah McGivney, Warren
COURTESY PHOTO Shoper’s Guide
Citizens State Bank presented $500 scholarships to 14 extraordinary high school graduates. This year’s scholarship award winners are, left to right, with CSB staff: Front row: Shayna Drake (Pearl City); Addiah Broshous (Stockton); Hannah McGivney (Warren); Brianna Haight (Le-Win); Sondra Winters (Le-Win); Courtney Haas (Stockton); Mikayla Baysinger (Stockton). Back Row: CSB Loan Officer Dennis Groezinger; CSB Marketing and Business Development Officer Carrie Hass; CSB VP Commercial/ Consumer Lending Mike Mammoser; CSB CFO Amy Baker; Olivia Kepner (Stockton); Marissa Buss (Le-Win); CSB Loan Officer Brock Musser; CSB President and CEO Fritz Kuhlmeier; CSB Trust Officer Amy Powers. Not pictured: Tanner Lawfer (Le-Win); Griffin Koester (Aquin); Alexandria Geiser (Freeport); Sabree Hull (Freeport); Samuel Morgan (Freeport).
Lena Community Park District has fulfilled a promise OP/ED CORRESPONDENT
The Park Board made a promise to pay off the debt and cut your taxes. Hooray, we have worked toward this goal starting in 2009, making this the end of an 8 year project. As you pay your property taxes, just scroll down the different taxing bodies until you see the park district. Check your taxes this year compared to last year. You should see about a 42% decrease. Plus, we have decreased your taxes every year since 2011. The park has been debt free since last December and our financial situation is quite healthy. Now, if you have built and addition or made major upgrades you may see a different result, but most of you will see a large drop in your park taxes. How can this happen? It was the efforts of the board to watch the purse
strings. The park staff all jumped on board and have been wonderful partners in finding the best ways to purchase our supplies and make repairs. Not only have we been able to cut taxes, but we have made many upgrades such as metal roofing, updates to the pool, efficient lighting, new playground equipment, etc. At the park we understand that every penny that comes to us through taxes, comes from a property owner that has expenses that they struggle with. It is our intention to treat our taxpayers money with wisdom and frugal spending habits. As we jump into full swing, we are struggling with many of the same problems as other years. Our parks are “NO SMOKING” properties, and yet some people feel free to light up and then throw their cigarette butts on the
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By Deb Dietz
sidewalks, in the planters, etc. Really smokers, please realize that when you use our parks like an ash tray, we have to pay staff to clean up behind you. Not good for keeping taxes down. Our parks are “DOG FREE” zones. We all like dogs, but within the park it is difficult to police who does and does not clean up behind their dog, or who has a dog that will bite or jump on others. We do not enjoy reprimanding smokers or dog owners, so please respect the park ordinances. These rules are in place to allow everyone to enjoy a
safe and enjoyable park experience. We have had 2 performances of Music in the Park and look forward to more wonderful Sunday evenings throughout the summer. We also have movies in the park starting soon, make sure you attend and enjoy some oldtime fun with our movie lineup. I ask that you remember that the park board serves for free with no payment whatsoever. Your board members are Jim Arnold, Rhonda Schoeny, Gordon Dammann, Ethan Lartz (our newest member) and myself. Nikki
Leverton just retired after 6 years as a board member and secretary. Thank you, Nikki. Shari Staton started as our Recreation Director this year, be sure let her know how much you appreciate her efforts. We are always looking at ways to improve our programs and better serve the taxpayers that support us. Feel free to contact us with programs or ideas to improve our park district. Also, if you ever have any questions regarding the park finances, let us know. We will gladly answer your inquiries.
CONGRATULATIONS MAKENZIE FOLEY!
301 Dodds Drive, Lena, IL
815-369-4148
Makenzie is the winner of the 2016-2017 Lena-Winslow Junior High Perfect Attendance Award. She was the lucky recipient of a new 32” LED HDTV donated by Koning’s Precision Paint & Body Inc. 285497
Postal Customer **ecrwss