Skip to main content
The largest online newspaper archiveArchive Home
The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 20
A Publisher Extra® Newspaper

The Pantagraph from Bloomington, Illinois • Page 20

Publication:
The Pantagraphi
Location:
Bloomington, Illinois
Issue Date:
Page:
20
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

July 7 1WI BloomlngtorvNormal, III. Pantagraph B4 Farm manager ousted (1.1) (2.34) (2.S1) (2.14) 10 9 10 (2.3S) (2.0) wwn emwoa I I 1.9 13 14 13 1.03 16 (3.37) 2.12 iT 28 18 19 II 10 .8 105 16 f-(4.) (4.4) (J.4J) (22) (J.1, www em huoso mot tana iimwoitm twwu teoeaiT -0 265 1 6 .82 8 82 82 (5.15) (4.04) (3.77) 8J (3.05) (2.30) (2.50) (2.20) (2.52) 1 64 1 36 1 66 1 07 1 7 1 03 III 10 10 A. 9 (3.54) (3.51) (3.5)(3.3) (3.44) (2.75) (2.1) (2.55) (2.27) (2.26) eswvrai osovi moai towsnqs aim mown nnttm aNCHoa 24 13 2 85 .75 9 93 (3M) (4 (2.62) (2.S)(2.75) (2.75) 22 223 1 22 1 2 1 0 .87 73 10 9 16 IS 01 3 (3.05) (2.1) CM) (2.1? (24) (2.2) noommatoH 01 toww aawtow miowwith cmwrri oaovt 2 7 2.35 3 1.42 I 31 1.3 2 (3.51 (3.67) (3.67) (3.47, (2.21, (2.17) 2" L. 39 27 2,6 '2 12 (3', 3 (4.85X3.47) (3.11) (3.0) (445, 5.36j (432? 239 MJ 2 3 JJ IT, WOU I fUWKt OVt I HMOOtW OWW Miei wtlf MUWOWW By Wayet Slater HAVANA (AP) When an Italian family secretly bought the Norris Farm through a Chicago bank almost two years ago, Stan Butt was assured he would stay on as manager. Today he Is unemployed.

At 46, after two decades on the sprawling cattle and grain operation deep in Spoon River country, Butt was fired from his job, evicted from his house and forced out of the only community his family has ever known. "You just don't believe things like this can happen to you," said his wife, Mildred. Butt was dismissed after one year under the new owner. Some tenant farmers also were ordered to stop farming Norris Farm land one year earlier, Immediately after the June 1976 takeover. The episode raised concern among neighbors in this river town, especially friends of the Butt family, who believe that families have been disrupted and the community hurt over what some feel is a distant corporation's single-minded goal of maxiumum profit at any cost.

"People must mean nothing to them," said the Rev. John Beiderweiden, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. 'Some resentment' Says Tommy Bohannon, a tenant farmer who moved off Norris land, the bank board, the school board, the church board. They are pillars of the community.

They are very important men, and we're going to see them moved out with very little thought or consideration." Dodd admits that the same thing could have happened if the farm had been purchased by nearby Illinois corporation or a partnership. But he fears the likelihood increases the larger the holding company and the more distant the owner. The history of what happens to American communities when foreign interests buy up farmland is generally unknown, because large-scale buying appears to be a relatively recent phenomenon and often is done secretly. Foreign investors, wary of the xenophobia of farmers and disenchantment from officials In their own countries, often go to extraordinary lengths to conceal their identities. Sources have confirmed that the Busonl family, Italian pasta makers, purchased the Norris farm in a blind trust deal involving NorTrust Farm Management a subsidiary of Northern Trust.

A few others across the country are known. Nobody knows But nobody knows for sure how much land is being purchased, by whom and with what impact on communities. One common fear that the new Interests will exploit the land appears not to be true in the case of Norris Farm. With the transfer of ownership, a Northern Trust bank executive Immediately ordered $2 5 million In new equipment, new construction and heavy fertilization. Drought ravaged the 1977 corn crop and, Butt feels, when production was balanced against the enormous expenditures, It didn't look good.

Four days before Christmas, he was told he was through. Asked if Butt was made a scapegoat for decisions he didn't make, bank spokesman Herb Evert said no. Evert defended the bank's handling of the deal and assured that NorTrust "does not ignore the sensitivies of the people in the community." Some local residents, bitter over the episode, disagree. "I wouldn't treat my dog the way they treated him," said Beiderweiden. "Stan knows how to farm, how to make it pay.

He had a bad year, but everybody did. Sixty percent of my congregation are farmers and I know." Dana Mr. and Mrs. Dawson Olson and Lisa of Ashland, spent the July 4 holiday with Mr. and Mrs.

Dale Marshall. Scoutmaster Burdette Burris and several members of Dana Boy Scout Troop 29 Wednesday were, spending a week camping and boating at Ely, Minn. Lighter figures show rainfall reports for Monday. Totals were compiled only for Dr-t'm irill Pcr'od June through Monday, reporters who submitted cards for each AUIfl lUliy Boldfaced figures in parenthesis show of the five reporting periods during that accumulated rainfall from May 30 to time. (Pantagraph chart) 'Dry spots moke shift "There was some resentment about It.

Everything had been so good under Norris." Life in this tranquil community appears to go on much as it has for years. The farm still trades with some of the local merchants, and many of the hired hands have stayed on. A new manager, an Iowa native hired away from a farm in Canada, is on the job. On paper it all looks the same. And yet, things are not the same at all.

BLOOMIIJGTOII LIVESTOCK COMM. CO. 1 Mile South of Bloomington on U.S. SI Col. Harold Kindred, Owner TOPS FROM OUH WEEKLY SALE Butcher v.

wt. Veal Calve av. wt. Feeder Pin Fdr. Steer avft.

wt. (by the head) av. wt. Fdr. Heifere av.

wt. 8owe av(. wt. 2K.1...S.W.25 SI. Cowa av.

wt. 9.M...S.IS.SO Lamb avR. wt. 5.1...S6.VOO SI. Bull avg.

wt. I0.15...I5I.5O fee tap artcst, yaw lama rww tar nasi wash's Sal. McLean County raingauge network. Rain which fell last weekend con-siderably altered the moisture situation in several townships of McLean County. Areas which had become short of moisture since the end of May, resulting in tightly curled corn leaves and uneven soybean stands, suddenly had adequate or surplus moisture.

Empire Township and parts of Downs Agriculture and West townships, for Instance, previously were among the driest in the county, according to rainfall records reported by farmers serving in the FUNICS GROVE Wooded Country Lots NOTICE OF SALE OF WOODED RURAL IOTS IN FUNKS GROVE TOWNSHIP, MclEAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS. The Peoplei Hank uf Bluominton, aa Trualee of the Oliva V. Siubblerit Id Truat. will tail at public auction on Saturday, July n. I7S.

commencini at 10 UU A.M., tha Mlowini daacribrd real rat a la McLean County youths win in 4-H Stan Butt and his wife and two children have moved IS miles away into the house of a friend while he searches for a job. They no longer attend St. Paul's on Sunday. The choir has lost its deep baritone, the congregation has lost its chairman and the church men's club has lost its president. For the first time in years, Stan Butt won't be in charge of the Miss Fulton County contest at the county fair.

He has dropped out of the Rotary Club and the local Boy Scouts. Losses There are some losses which no balance sheets show. "This is what I've been talking about," said Harold Dodd, head of the Illinois Farmers Union. "We're going to see tenant farmers, and I put farm managers in the same category, who are on Until rain fell last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, most reporters In those three townships had recorded only between .7 and .98 of an inch of rain. Most other township reporters had recorded at least an inch of rain and some in Danvers, Mount Hope, Dry Grove, Normal and Bellflower townshipshad received as much as 2 Mi inches or more.

But storms, which sometimes were damaging, passed through the area Friday and again on Saturday and boosted the total rainfall to more than three and in some instances nearly five inches. Empire Township, in particular, went from one of the drier townships to one of the wetter ones. Moisture, as the chart above shows, was most abundant on the far western and far southern edges of the county during the period of May 30 through Monday. Again, most of the rain fell last weekend. The drier-area designation now goes to the far east and northeastern townships.

Using the averaging June rainfall figure from Illinois State University 4.03 inches only 18 reporters have received "average" amounts of rain to date. And because much of the recent rain came the first two days of July, all reporters in the county had less than average rain for the month of June. From May 30 to June 26 four reporting periods no reporter in the county had anywhere near the 4.03 average. The closest was in far northwestern Danvers Township where 2.75 inches was received during the period. During the reporting period which ended June 26, most rainfall reporters indicated their soil moisture was short.

uiairu Twm run unwi ivmvivry ana auum oi ine puonc fitaa: ttoct No li The Weal Ona-Half of Lot Four in tha Subdivision of tha South Half of Section 18, Townahip t2 North. Kann Eaat of tha Third Principal Meridian, accord in to tha flat thereof found in Chancery Record 31, Haja 44. in McLean County, Illinois, containing 5 acrea, mora or lew. Tract No II, The Wait 20.5 acrea, mora or leaa, of that part of Lots Ona and Two of the Subdivision of tha South Half of Section IH. Township 22 North.

KAnae 1. East fo the Third Principal Meridian, according to tha Plat thereof found in Chancery Kecord 31, Page 44, which lies South of the County Koad in McLean County. Illinois. Tract No. II will first be offered for sale as one tract of 20.5 acres.

It will then be offered for aala in separate parcels of 5.01 acres, more or less. The bid resulting in tha highest total price will be submitted to tha Court for approval. Possession will be delivered at time of closing, which shall be on or belore Sept. 1, 197H. TERMS Of SALE A.

All sales made pursuant to this public auction are subject to approval of the Circuit Court of McLean County in Case No. 78 CH 13. B. Tha successful bidder shall enter into a contract for sale on the day of tha sale at which time he shall pay 15' of the purchase price and shall pay the balance under the terms of the contract on or before Sept. 1, 1978.

C. The 1978 real estate taies shall be paid by the Seller and the Seller shall furnish sufficient title evidence to Buyer evidencing Seller's ownership of tha premises. Such title evidence shall be subject only to the usual and customary esceptions, including but not limited to road right-of-ways, easements for drainage ditches, public utilities, feeders, laterals and underground drain tiles, etc. D. If Tract No.

II is sold as separate lots. Seller will cause a Subdivision Plat to be recorded and each of the lots in said Subdivision shall contain a restriction prohibiting the construction of mora than one dwelling thereon and a further restriction prohibiting any resubdivision of the lot into two or more lots. Seller reserves the right to reject any and all bids. F. Seller shall furnish a survey to the successful bidders prior to closing providing an accurate legal description of the premises.

PUCE Of SAIE: Public auction will be held at the Ollices oft'ostigan 4 Wollrab. Attorneys at Law 308 East Washington Street, Bloomington, Illinois at 10:00 A.M. on July 22 1978. Inquiries concerning the sale may be made of: foul Faith Oovid C. Wochner co Peoples Bank of Bloomington Coatigan It Wollrab, Trust Department Attorneys at Law Bloomington, Illinois 308 Kant Washington Street, Ph: 828-5311 Hlonmington, Illinois Hh: 828-4310 JOINT DECREASING TERM INSURANCEI TO PROVIDI FOR YOUR JOINT OBLIGATIONS UNDER 1 POLICY.

Farmland's Joint Dacraating Ttrm policy will halp your family meet your financiol obligation! and provida for tha continuing oparotion of your farm or ranch. a Twenty-nine McLean County 4-H'ers came away with their share of awards when 1,000 youngsters from 100 counties met in Champaign last week for the Illinois 4-H judging contest, according to Butz to speak in Oglesby OGLESBY Former Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz will be featured speaker at a barbecue and farmer meeting July 21 at Lehigh Park at the east end of this LaSalle County town. A pork chop dinner will be served by the LaSalle County Pork Producers beginning at 5 p.m. The meeting to follow is sponsored by the farm department of the First National Bank. A group of agribusinesses is sharing in arrangements.

Information on reservations may be obtained from Tony J. Sorcic of the bank. In case of rain, the affair will be moved to Holy Family School gym. Randy Fry, assistant McLean County extension adviser. Last year's livestock judging team, invited back to participate this year, again placed first, according to Fry.

However, the youngsters are not eligible to compete for advancement to the national contest in Kansas City, in November because they made the trip last year. Members will be allowed to compete as individuals, however. The county's poultry and meats teams each received third places. In individual competition, Gary Huth of Heyworth was named high individual in poultry judging. Ken Builta, rural Mansfield (a student at Bellflower High School), tied for second-high individual in livestock judging and Lee Denzer, rural Bloomington, was named fourth-high individual in livestock judging.

Lori Yoder, rural Bloomington, was named third-high individual in meats judging. Kara Schleuter, Towanda, received an A rating in the horticulture demonstration contest. Overall, McLean County youngsters garnered 10 A ratings, 13 B's and 6 C's. Those receiving A's will go to an invitational contest at the Illinois State Fair. FARMLAND Dan Schmidt Horn.

OHk 2416 C. Wothington Bloomington PHONE 661-0491, Horn 663 4065 Auto in Htallh CropHail I Member of fhe lp) Family A However, of the 101 reporters who submitted cards for this reporting period, 17 indicated moisture remained short; 2 said moisture in their areas was in surplus; and 62 said they had adequate moisture. The remaining 20 did not designate their moisture situation. Reunion dates McLmm-Sunday, July 30, horn of Kenneth Wex-tils, Bishop Hill. Basket dinner at noon.

McCey-Sunday, July It, Branch Park, Piper City. Basket dinner at noon. ranriE. FS GRfllfJ HANDLING SYSTEMS waff ir MM HE Al JUL 10 TWICE DAILY 6:20 A.M. 12:30 P.

WKIfM 1440 i mi i ill 1 America's most successful FARM twice daily at 6:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. on "American 1440 on your dial. Brought to you by: Contact the McLean County Service Co. for all of your grain handling needs.

MIDWEST FARM MACHINERY East of Hopedale Rt. 1 22 IMPLEMENT CO. East of Eureka Rt. 24 Hutchinson Augers Super Automatic Batch nw. S.P.I.

Unidrivo Stirring Units Dryers Galvanized and painted bucket elevators F5 Bulk Tanks ffWafafafID Ik P'AJI-Atri wmmk 0 Preseason early order discounts are now in effectl Phone 309-663-4347 Ask for John Feit Bloomington, Illinois 1440 ON YOUR DIAL.

Get access to Newspapers.com

  • The largest online newspaper archive
  • 300+ newspapers from the 1700's - 2000's
  • Millions of additional pages added every month

Publisher Extra® Newspapers

  • Exclusive licensed content from premium publishers like the The Pantagraph
  • Archives through last month
  • Continually updated

About The Pantagraph Archive

Pages Available:
1,648,610
Years Available:
1857-2024