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Expansion project has Black Bros. Co. thinking big

MENDOTA — Black Bros. Co. is excited to announce progress has begun on an additional 18,000-square-feet of manufacturing space at its headquarters.
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Briana Morales
Illinois Teacher of the Year to share her knowledge with Mendota educators
MENDOTA – Teachers from Mendota schools will spend the afternoon of Wednesday, March 20 in the Mendota High School Auditorium for professional development. The collaborative afternoon time will be spent with the Illinois’ 2023 Teacher of the Year, Briana Morales.
Taxpayers can check on the status of their refund
WASHINGTON, D.C. — With millions of tax refunds going out each week, the Internal Revenue Service reminded taxpayers that recent improvements to “Where's My Refund?” on IRS.gov provide more information and remains the best way to check the status of a refund.
State Rep. Brad Fritts, right, welcomed Sam Setchell of Mendota, center, and Haley Brill of Rochelle to an Emerging Women Leaders event in Springfield. (Photo contributed)
Rep. Fritts honors local women at Emerging Women Leaders event
SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Bradley Fritts (R-Dixon) welcomed Haley Brill and Sam Setchell to the Emerging Women Leaders event in Springfield on March 5.
Story time set at Graves-Hume Library
MENDOTA – Join Graves-Hume Public Library for Saturday Morning Story Time with a special guest reader on Saturday, March 23 at 11 a.m.
Faculty awarded tenure this spring join IVCC President Dr. Tracy Morris, front left, and Vice President for Academic Affairs Gary Roberts, back left. Next to Roberts, left to right, are Cathy Lenkaitis, Emily Morgan, Theresa Molln, Samantha Whiteaker and Chrissy Boughton. (Photo contributed)
IVCC awards tenure to 5 faculty members
OGLESBY – Five faculty members representing nursing, welding and mathematics were awarded tenure by the Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees this month.
OSF schedules blood drive for March 22 at Saint Paul
MENDOTA – OSF HealthCare will host a community blood drive with ImpactLife from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, March 22, at OSF Saint Paul Medical Center in conference room C.
Sports
Mendota's Izaiah Nanez gets ready to fire a pitch to an Amboy batter on March 11 at the MHS field. (Reporter photo)
Nanez shuts down Amboy
MENDOTA – It was a solid start to the 2024 baseball season for the Mendota Trojans as they cruised to a 10-0 victory over Amboy in a non-conference game on March 11 at the MHS field.
Mariyah Elam
Elam grabs pair of firsts at First Chance Invite
STERLING – The Mendota girls’ and boys’ track teams opened the season at the First Chance Indoor Invitational on March 9 at the Westwood Complex in Sterling. Freeport, Galesburg, Rock Falls and Sterling joined Mendota in the meet.
MHS girls beaten by Amboy in season opener
MENDOTA – Amboy spoiled the season-opener for the Mendota softball team as it downed the Lady Trojans, 16-4, in a non-conference contest on March 11 at the MHS field.
Obituaries
Obituaries
Shirley A. Bogren
SPRINGFIELD – Shirley Ann Bogren, 90, of Springfield, formerly of Bloomington and Mendota, passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at The Bridge Care Suites, Springfield.
Earnest L. Serr
WACO, Texas – On March 7, 2024, during yet another of several recent hospital visits for a variety of age-related conditions, Earnest Larue Serr, 92, finally received his long-awaited call from God to join his beloved late wife Beverly in heaven.
Dr. Richard L. Pommier
ARLINGTON – Dr. Richard Louis “Dick” Pommier, 88, of Arlington, passed away peacefully at home on March 11, 2024.
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