Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, April 26, 1990 -- LIVINGSTON SPRING CARNIVAL IS SATURDAY-- The annual Livingston PTO Spring Carnival will be Saturday, April 28th, at the Livingston High School gym. The carnival stands will open at 5:30 p.m. featuring games, crafts, baked goods, and a lunch stand. Tickets may be purchased that evening for prizes to be awarded during the carnival.

King and Queen candidates from Kindergarten through 8th grade were chosen by the students to represent their class. The candidates this year are: Kindergarten, Michael DalPozzo and Andrea Prante; 1st grade, Jeremy Busch and Stephanie Dennison; 2nd grade, David Hiscox and Kimberly Cuppett; 3rd grade, Robert Conway and Heather Washburn; 4th grade, Brandon Syniski and Brandy Cowley; 5th grade, Timothy Moore and Donita Lutes; 7th grade, Seth Atwood and Nikki Hainaut; 8th grade, Tommy Mertz and Amy Ray. Messengers from the Kindergarten classes are Jared Roddick and Kayla Johnston. Mistress and Master of Ceremonies are Amy Johnson and Brent Pfeiffer. The retiring king and queen, Gerald Prante and Elisabeth Johnson, will crown the new king and queen for 1990 during a coronation ceremony beginning at 8 p.m.

Proceeds from the PTO Carnival help fund the summer swimming program, field trips and audio-visual equipment for the school.

LAKE GRANT WOULD REQUIRE INCOME SURVEY -- Monday night City Engineer Deborah Ramsey told the Staunton City Council a confidential income survey of Staunton water users was necessary for the grant application of Staunton Lake improvement. "It's a gamble, but you won't get the grant without it," Ramsey said.

Ramsey said such a survey must show that more than 50% of Staunton households which use city water are in the low to moderate income category. She said the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs requires that such a survey be done randomly. The survey would include about 350 households. Ramsey suggested the households be chosen at random from the list of city water customers. It was noted that the number of households in Staunton on fixed or retirement incomes has been estimated to be as high as 60%. The City Council passed a resolution to conduct such a survey after the information has been well publicized.

Without a clear understanding by those asked to respond to the survey and a high rate of compliance, the city will be unable to secure the grant.

At its last meeting the Council voted to pursue a $400,000 grant from the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. One requirement previously stated for such a grant to be awarded was the endorsement by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. A project that is funded with such a grant must be deemed necessary and worthwhile by the I.E.P.A. The impetus for Staunton's project arises out of the need to enlarge and protect the City's water supply in a time of drought.

Last year the City began investigating the feasibility of enlarging Staunton Lake by hiring Hansen Engineers to do basic scientific studies. Hansen has stated that raising the present dam and the lake level by about 9 feet would be possible. The cost has been estimated at about $1 million dollars. No contracts have been awarded for design or construction of the project. However, the City Council has indicated the project could possibly begin in 1991.

Staunton City League Has T-Ball Teams -- The introduction of "T-ball" by the Staunton City League Board this year will expand the ball playing age for girls to 5 years to 18 years, and boys from 5 to 15 years of age. With about 400 youth registered and the "Kick-off scheduled, umpires will soon yell, "Play ball!" at the Staunton Recreation Park.

According to Terry Odorizzi, League Registration Chairman, "T-ball is purely instructional." He explained the modified ball game which gives more children an opportunity to play and learn, "The ball is not pitched. It is placed on what looks like a very large golf tee. Each team bats its entire line-up." Odorizzi says each player gets a turn at swinging at the stationary ball. The teams are coeducational and no score is kept.

"Everybody gets a chance. There's really no such thing as a "strike-out," he said.

The season officially begins Tuesday, May 29, with a parade at 6 p.m. from City Hall. Lloyd Garde is in charge of the "kick-off ceremonies.

Odorizzi said the work to keep the League operating never ends. "The City League Board began making plans for this season as soon as the last one ended," he said. The Staunton City League schedules games at four diamonds at the Recreation Park on Leonard Street. The northeast field is being used for the first time this year. A new concession stand will also serve park goers this summer.

Dozens of volunteer coaches, managers, umpires, and concession workers are enlisted to maintain the Staunton City League program. Teams practice all over town with Wall's pasture and the public school community room field being most used.

The Staunton City League is not affiliated with franchises such as "Little League" or "Khoury League" but teams play according to popularly accepted rules. The girls' team generally play by the rules of the American Softball Association. The boys play by those of the American Baseball Congress.

The breakdown of teams this year is:

T-Ball: 8 teams

Girls: 7-9 years old, 3 teams; 11- 13 years, 2 traveling teams; 13-15 years, 1 traveling team; and 15-18,1 traveling team.

Boys: 7-9, 5 teams; 9-11 years, 5 teams (traveling team); 11-13, 5 teams (traveling team); and 13-15, 2 traveling teams.

Thursday, May 3, 1990 -- Choir To Present Annual Spring Show -- The Staunton High School Choir will present their annual Spring Show on May 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the grade school community room. This year's theme is "Ice Cream In The Park." Everyone is invited to attend and enjoy a variety of songs. Tickets are $3 for adults and $1.50 for students. Tickets will be sold at Bill's IGA in Staunton on May 6 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. or call 635-8242.